Cruce De Caminos Arzua

DO NOT COME HERE! IT’S A SCAM! The hostel looks nice but they are not honest, the guy at the reception insisted we pay an extra €50 even though we clearly saw he had already taken €50 and put it in the till. The shower was cold, and he also said there was a kitchen, but it’s basically missing all the utensils and there’s only one camping induction stove that works really poorly.

Dear traveller, do yourself a favour and find another hostel. I arrived after a long walk and asked to check in. Apparently that was too much, because I didn’t have my ID out fast enough. The receptionist looked annoyed and snapped, “I need your ID.” He vaguely pointed toward the showers and said I was in room two. When I asked where that was, he cut me off and repeated “room two” in the same impatient tone. I had to clarify myself: “Is that in the same direction as the bathroom?” A nearby traveller laughed—he found the exchange just as absurd. Luckily, I had guessed right, and only then did the receptionist confirm the direction. If I’d guessed wrong, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d rolled his eyes and thrown a tantrum. I’ve worked in high-pressure, high-demand jobs where I had to stay professional, kind, and respectful with people at all times—so there’s really no excuse for the way guests are treated here. I paid 8 euros for laundry and drying (4+4), but my clothes came back wet. After that first interaction and the wet laundry, I had no interest in dealing with him again. The owners can put the laundry fee toward hiring someone who actually wants to deal with people. They serve breakfast at 8 am, knowing fully well that all the camino walkers are long gone by that time. How convenient. The men’s bathrooms were always completely wet. They don’t assign beds, so late arrivals end up wandering around the room asking which ones are free. It’s disorganized and avoidable. At 20 euros a night, this place is overpriced. I’ve stayed in better hostels for 12–15. A few basic improvements—respectful service, dry laundry, assigned beds, and proper bathroom cleanliness—would go a long way. As it stands, it's not worth your time or money.

Mixed experience. We booked via Booking.com, but were told to pay in cash. My card was declined, and Booking canceled our reservation — stressful and unprofessional. Due to their mistake, we had to sleep on opposite top bunks, even though we’re a couple. They refused to give us a bunk section, saying it's only for groups of 4+. Felt inflexible and impersonal. Staff later apologized and offered free drinks — a nice gesture and a sign that service may be improving. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m., which is too late for most pilgrims. On the plus side, it's included and free. The shower is awkward — cold at first, only 30 seconds of water per push, no soap. But towels are provided, which is rare. Still, overall this was one of our least comfortable albergue stays on the Camino.