Post: #1

Hey guys,
Anyone have experience with hostals in Spain? I'm curious if you have a private room in a hostal if you can bring a girl back. I just booked my flight to Madrid and found out that hostal and hostel are two different things in Spain with hostal being more like a large b & b. at least that's what my friend told me and a few searches here didn't yield much. Thanks!

Post: #2

There are quite a few lodging distinctions in Spain. A hotel in Spain is typically a business type hotel you would find most places around the world. You will find plenty of backpacker type hostels in Madrid, and hostels that are better known as pensiones. The pensión is more like a bed and breakfast, typically cheaper than a hotel and may have a shared bathroom. If you're staying in Madrid you'll most likely have your own key for the front and room door, in which case bringing guests would not be a problem. A pensión in central Madrid will probably be one or multiple floors of a condo building, very different from a bed and breakfast in the countryside. Don't confuse a pensión with a parador, which is a high-end state owned hotel, usually a renovated castle or former rich family's property.

Post: #3

Just use Air B&B

Post: #4

Slightly OT, but FWIW I've discovered here in Ecuador that a "hostel" is what we gringos call a hostel (usually owned/run by gringos), while a "hostal" is more like a motel: A cheap, small room that has a private bathroom, and no common kitchen/socializing area...and owned by natives.

Post: #5

^ This is exactly correct. Hostals in Latin America are just motels. They can range from a decently nice place to total dumps that are used for sex.

Post: #6

Thanks for the info guys!

Post: #7

There are tons of hostales all over Madrid. As noted these are typically family owned guest houses with individual rooms located in residential buildings. Hostels on the other hand have backpacker dorms, hostales do not.

Post: #8

(10-15-2014 04:39 PM)Trav_Ler Wrote:  Slightly OT, but FWIW I've discovered here in Ecuador that a "hostel" is what we gringos call a hostel (usually owned/run by gringos), while a "hostal" is more like a motel: A cheap, small room that has a private bathroom, and no common kitchen/socializing area...and owned by natives.

I thought hostal was just the Spanish word for hostel... didn't realize that there was a difference in quality. Unless perhaps a hostel will be foreign-owned and thus typically infused with a bit more capital?

Post: #9

I thought hostal was just the Spanish word for hostel... didn't realize that there was a difference in quality. Unless perhaps a hostel will be foreign-owned and thus typically infused with a bit more capital?


A gringo hostel owner in Quito told me it's a cultural thing. Hispanic owners cater to fellow Hispanics, who want to do their eating and socializing in restaurants and bars, not at the hostal.