HOSTEL- CasAMARelo Salvador

I booked accommodation a few months ago through Booking.com, but due to personal reasons I had to cancel the trip and cancelled the booking within the "free cancellation" period. I had already made the payment, so the company should have refunded me the full amount. However, it has been more than a month since I cancelled and the amount has not been refunded. I have tried to contact them, but no one has responded. All I want is a refund of the amount I paid.

Unbeatable location. Beautiful view. Everyone is super friendly. Very clean. The price is affordable, as is the breakfast. Highly recommend.

Extremely distressing and unsafe experience. Before my arrival, I contacted the hostel several times regarding important matters (health issues, check-in information, bed request). I never received a single response. When I arrived around 8:30 PM, there were no instructions, no signs, and nobody answered the door despite me ringing many times. I was left alone outside at night, in a country I do not know, as a solo female traveler, crying and panicking in the street until local shopkeepers helped me. One of them told me this apparently happens regularly. Eventually, a volunteer arrived and told me they had “assumed I wouldn’t come” despite never replying to my messages. The next morning, I discovered that my Booking reservation had been cancelled without my consent even though I was already staying there and had paid. This felt extremely dishonest. During the entire stay, nobody apologized or even acknowledged what happened. The atmosphere was very uncomfortable: volunteers occupied the common spaces all day drinking alcohol, blasting music and making guests feel unwelcome. I asked to leave early and be refunded for my last night because the place was causing me severe anxiety. My request was refused. The worst happened on my final night when I went to the bathroom around midnight and found someone masturbating in the common living room. I did not sleep afterwards. I felt deeply unsafe, disrespected and humiliated. This experience completely ruined my stay in Salvador and left me in a constant state of anxiety. Despite everything, I never received any apology or explanation from the hostel. This place presents itself as “safe” and welcoming. In my experience, it was the exact opposite, especially for a woman traveling alone. I strongly do not recommend staying here.

Super well located, near the Barra Lighthouse. That's the only reason I didn't give it just 1 star. However, everything else leaves much to be desired. The hostel doesn't have a reception, so check-in and check-out are done independently, in a very confusing way. Communication is also poor, and it's difficult to resolve anything via WhatsApp. The facilities are terrible. The rooms are very small and extremely hot, with poorly distributed fans. I stayed in a room that seemed improvised, like a mezzanine accessed by a wooden staircase with no safety features. Besides that, the hostel doesn't have a laundry room or clothesline. The space for hanging clothes is extremely small. If you arrive wet from the beach or need to hang your towel after showering, you simply won't have anywhere to dry it.

A very welcoming, clean, and colorful place. The breakfast was delicious, and it's very close to the sea. I highly recommend it.