TELSTAR HOSTEL
We booked this hostel through, yes you guessed it...Hostelworld! We wanted a pool because we knew São Paulo had no beaches. We were advised to stay in either Vila Mariana or Vila Madalena by a girl we met on our travels.
Facilities
Telstar Hostel has a kitchen you can use at any time however I would avoid using it when the cook/cleaner is in to save yourself some hassle. There is also an upstairs lounge area and a pool and bar area outside. Although nice, the pool is quite small so don't expect to be swimming lengths or anything!
The wifi here was good and worked well in all areas despite the fact that we were in a downstairs room. There is also computers which are free to use as you please.
Breakfast
Breakfast was included and if I am honest it was poor. Unlike the other breakfasts we have had on this trip, it was not a buffet. Rather, you are given the choice of a cheese and ham toasted sandwich or omelette. I don't eat cheese so asked for my omelette to be without cheese (in Portuguese). This was a disaster in itself because the cook did not understand my explanation in Portugese, Spanish or English. This was sorted in the end but was a bit of an ordeal at the time. Although, I was offered/forced to eat extra bread because I think the cook thought I wasn't eating... Biscuits, crackers and apples were also provided. The omelette itself was okay but I was glad it was only for two days. Tea and coffee was provided on both days but juice only on one.
All in all, not a great breakfast and one I will be glad not to be repeating if only to avoid the awkwardness.
Showers/Toilets
There were bathrooms both downstairs and upstairs in the hostel. The toilet closest to our room was okay but was very close to the kitchen and with a gap between the ceiling, I just didn't feel it was hygienic. The shower was okay, the only way I can describe it as not clean but not dirty.
Staff
Staff were really nice and helpful! They really make the place. On arrival, we were offered help with our bags and a tour. They gave us advice on places to eat and let us use their phone to call the next hostel. At check out, they also let us leave our bags in the room for longer because they knew we weren't starting on journey until a little bit later on. The cook/cleaner can be a little bit rude/stand offish however I don't know if this is because there is an apparent language barrier. My advice, be nice to her and she will hopefully be to you.
Value for Money
This was less than £10 per night, and if I am honest seemed over priced for what we were provided with.
Dorms
We were in a mixed room for 8. It was quite a basic room with simple furnishings. It has lockers underneath the bed which were big enough to store all of belongings including my large back pack. The lockers don't rely on your own lock either as it is locked with a key provided. They also gave blankets and towels to guests free of charge. The room itself was quite spacious and even had a mirror in it. There were few plugs and some were not in the best condition but we often used the one in the kitchen to charge up our electricals.
Location
As I previously said we were told to stay in either Vila Madalena or Mariana. We stayed in Mariana which is a student area which means there are lots of little eateries and bars which are cheap. Plus. It means you look a lot less like a tourist but more a student who attends the university. To get from the bus station we arrived from we took the metro for about 20 minutes. It is then round the corner from the metro. The metro here is $R3 for whatever journey you make, a very decent price in my opinion. Our coach to Foz do Iguaçu, came from the other coach station so to get there we had to get two metros which again was easy enough.
OVERALL
I think this hostel is a work in progress, there are some really good parts on the hostel but there are areas like the breakfast that definitely need work.
Imogen xoxo
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