Na Casa 11 Hostel

Great hostel! The rooms are really nice. There is a good swimming pool. And it has been one of the best breakfasts I've ever tried!! The location is good if you want to go out at night or for bars an restaurants but it's not so good for the beaches, unless you have a car.

This was far and away the best hostel we've ever stayed in. I am honestly baffled that anyone could give this place less than a very good rating, so I'll try to justify and clarify my view a bit:||||The staff was incredibly friendly. Contrary to an earlier review, several of them do speak english very well. This place is owned and operated by a group of women who have tried (and very successfully) cultivated a more "guesthouse" or "pousada" feel to the accommodations. The complimentary breakfast that is included in your rate was hands down the best we found in all of Brazil- freshly made bread, your ham and cheese, great coffee, an assortment of teas, a variety of local fruits and juices, and breakfast cakes. You won't start the day hungry and you can eat as you please up until 10 AM. ||||Internet and computer usage is completely FREE, a nice plus as a traveler without a mobile device. They will wash, dry, and fold your laundry for you for R25 while you're at the beach, which was very helpful. They also have a great common area with a pool table, TV, a picturesque pool and courtyard with hammocks, and a kitchen that is available for use at any time.||||It is in the heart of the town along the bus route, across from a school, two blocks from Banco de Brazil and another block from a grocery supermarket, as well as a variety of good eating options walking in further toward town and/or the beaches. It is a 15 minute walk to the beach along cute cobblestone streets with various boutiques. Praia Pitinga a bit further down along the sand is the better beach in terms of waves, clarity of water, ambiance, and setting (the red cliffs!).||||Now, we visited this place during the low season. With this said, I've heard Arraial really picks up during the summer and tourist season. We paid R70/night for a private double with bathroom after a travel discount, and it was worth every penny (this comes to about $45/night US dollars). This felt less like a hostel and more like a quaint hideaway. I imagine prices jump up during tourist season and it becomes a bit more packed. This hostel seemed very family and couples friendly; my girlfriend and I absolutely loved it, but I can imagine that if you're looking for a more "wild" or youth-oriented hostel, this doesn't appear to be your place. I know we'll definitely be back! Highest recommendations!

Arraial d'Ajuda Hostel is a very charming and cozy place. It seems that they reinvest a good bit of their revenue into keeping the place look like new. The rooms, common areas and everything else are absolutely spotless. The kitchen is sort of open air and also very well maintained.||||The rooms are spacious and have state of the art A/Cs that don't make any noise. The mattresses appear fairly new and are comfortable.||||If there is one thing that is maybe a little below average it is the breakfast. They have good coffee, some bread and a little bit of fruit. In Brazil you often get a little more variety for breakfast. But hey, it's still a hostel and for the money you pay it's totally acceptable.||||Ah, and I loved the black house rabbit that runs around the common areas. A nice change from the standard dog you find in many places. ;)||||Usually I'm not a big fan of hostels as I feel that a lot of them are rather worn down and that I often get better deals for double rooms at regular pousadas / B&Bs. However, Arraial d'Ajuda Hostel is definitely an exception where you get great value.

My friend and I stayed here for over a week during Christmas. Mostly everyone in the hostel was Brazilian and as 2 girls from the United States, we couldnt feel MORE welcomed by the friendly staff especially the manager, Carla. The hostel is clean and beautiful and in a great location just a 2 minute walk from the center and 10 to the beach. There is a lovely swimming pool that is clean as well as a functioning kitchen and delicious breakfast! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

The hostel is located on one of the main street just a couple of blocks from the towns center. Bank and market were located on the same street within short walking distance. Arraial is a small town. Everything was close by. The minivans going to and from ferry to Porto Seguro made stops directly in front of the hostel. ||The hostel had a very nice and inviting courtyard with decent size and clean pool. Rooms were located around this courtyard. There was a guest kitchen, living room with TV and computer, and fairly large area with a pool table for socializing. All areas were well kept and clean. ||My dorm had private bathroom, fan, A/C unit, small fridge, window and a nice private bathroom. Floors were fully tiled and fairly new. The lockers (drawers below beds) could be better. They were hard to open, noisy and awkward to store your things in. Beds were comfortable and clean. Pillows were mostly older and uncomfortable. I had to look to find a good pillow. Linen was white, clean and good.||Wi-Fi was strong and reached the rooms as well. Breakfast was better average, comparing to the Brazilian standard, but it was not bad. Both were included in the rate.||I do not recommend having your laundry done in the hostel. You will give them your laundry and they will ruin your clothes. There was a laundry place very close by on the same street. The staff was hospitable and, with the exception of the laundry, helpful as well. Only the owner spoke English. ||This hostel was not the typical HI hostel. In fact it was not a typical hostel. It was more like a posada than a hostel. I have never seen so many young children in a hostel before.||Overall it was a good place to stay for a few nights.

If you're looking for a great hostel in Arraial, Arraial d'Ajuda Hostel is the place. It's simply perfect. The atmosphere, the architecture, the services.. It's complete.||Most of Arraial are Pousadas not hostels. Arraial d'Ajud Hostel looks more like a pousada but where you can only rent one bed and meet other travelers. I call it the Pousada Hostel.||Carla, one of the owners will make you feel home and will always make sure everything is great. ||There is a nice pool but too didn't have time to try it. As I was always busy with the beach. Which is about 15 minutes walk or you can take a motor-taxi if you want. And the hostel is located only 2 minutes walking away from the main square, Broadway street, and Mucuje street where everything happens.||Thank you Arraial d'Ajuda Hostel for offering such a nice experience.

Positives:||||The owner is extremely convivial and accommodating.||Integrated package tours offered at the hostel are quite convenient.||Quirky decorative style of the public lounge and rooms is rather original and refreshing. ||||Negatives:||||Uncomfortable beds, so those with back problems should stay away.||Construction was ongoing during our stay-begins at 8 am which is extremely inconsiderate for those wanting a lie-in.||We constantly awoke to the sounds of mice scurrying around in the attic above us.||The toilet flush is incredibly loud-I think you can hear everybody flush their toilet||One particular member of staff ( front desk lady in blue who predominantly works the night shift) has an awfully unpleasant approach. Try not to cook in her presence if you are not Brazilian, as she has a tendency to offer condescending advice.||||In brief, it is far too highly priced for what you get, which is mediocrity. I was drawn in by the hype on trip advisor but, in truth, this hostel does not deserve to be #1 under speciality lodging.

If hostels would be rated this one would had 5 stars! I loved the interior design of the common area and the patio with the pool. If I wouldn't be travelling, I could spend a whole day there and enjoy the positive vibe of the place without going out ;)