Choosing accommodation: What is in Spain hostal?

When looking for accommodation in Spain, you can Booking and other similar websites come across three similar concepts: hostel, hostal and a hotel. 

What exactly do these accommodation categories mean and how do they differ from each other? 

Hotels are clear...

It is probably unnecessary to describe what hotels are. When the word hotel is mentioned, everyone probably thinks of what a hotel room might look like and what services such a regular hotel offers. You can find a whole range of hotels in Barcelona, ​​from cheap ones, through middle class, boutique hotels to luxury ones like the Hotel W. 

...fewer people know about hostels...

Hostels are the cheapest accommodation you can find. They are a characteristic feature of hostels in addition to the low price, also shared rooms, when complete strangers spend the night together in the same room. This concept mainly attracts young people, solo travelers or simply those who don't want to spend a lot on accommodation. If you don't mind this and you like to make new friends and acquaintances, feel free to try hostels in Barcelona, ​​there are a lot of them! 

...and even fewer people know hostals

How does a hostal differ from a hostel? (Except for the letter "A" in the title, then?)

Hostals are an interesting possibility located right now somewhere between a hostel and a hotel. Both in terms of price and services. 

Accommodation capacity type hostal you can find them all over Spain and typically feature private rooms (you're not with strangers) with a private bathroom. All this without the services that are typical for hotels – for example, there is a reception with limited opening hours, usually there is no breakfast, you take care of cleaning the room yourself during your stay, or the cleaning lady does not come every day like in a hotel...

Hostals are a great choice for everyone who doesn't want to go the route of a shared room, at the same time they don't want to spend a fortune on accommodation but still have a good standard and cleanliness. 

In some places you can in the description for hostal also come across the word pension. This is because both terms de facto mean the same thing, but hostal is generally more commonly used. 

Comparison: Hostel, hostal, Hotel

  Hostel Hostal Hotel
For whom For those who want the cheapest possible accommodation For those looking for a ratio between quality and price For the most demanding, who don't want to worry about anything
Rooms Shared Private Private
Bathroom Shared in the hallway In the room In the room
Services and facilities reception with limited hours, less frequent room cleaning reception with limited hours, less frequent room cleaning, air conditioning, television 24-hour reception, daily cleaning, breakfast, dinner, air conditioning, TV
Dinner From €25,00 / night €60,00 / night €100,00 / night

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