Pura Vida Hostel

I had some questions before check in and staff was prompt to answer on whatsapp. Staff was friendly during check in. There’s a kitchen. There’s cheap basic breakfast.

I booked a private room with private bathroom for one night out of my 5 nights in rio to see the neighborhood before i decided to settle there. I moved and i am glad i did for these reasons: Price: The price for private room is actually not that much cheaper than hotels or apartments in the area. I paid around usd30 for one night (brl126). I chose to stay here to potentially meet people because i was solo traveling. Location: It’s located on the outskirt of Favela (the ghetto of rio), so NO uber wanted to pick me up nor drop me off there, drivers told me thru google translate that it was too dangerous for them/they were not welcome there. When i asked the staff, they wouldn’t tell the favela reason, they’d just say coz uber drivers don’t know where the location of the hostel (drivers actually do). So, for Uber pickup/drop-off, I had to walk down to the corner of the street which is a bit scary for me as a female solo traveler. There were homeless people around, one of them bumped onto me on purpose from the back when i was walking down. Cleanliness: My blanket was a piece of bedsheet (thin) with some holes on it. There was a LUMP OF HAIR stuck on knee height just outside the door of my bathroom (see photos). Room features: There were 2 flimsy pillows, i asked for an extra one, staff said yes, but it never came. No lift, so i asked for lower floor, which was just by the bar. Eventhough it’s weekday, the loud music will go on until 1AM. Shower’s hot water setting was a switch (and it’s attached to electrical cable, not a safe shower). Eventho i put the switch on hot water setting, the water was not hot. I personally will not come back to stay here.