Guest User
February 21, 2023
Hostel is clearly discriminatory. Prior to booking, I sent some polite emails with some questions. It took several attempts to a chase a response before I heard back. When I finally did, the infromation provided was incorrect and only partial. For example, I was told the prices on their website included the city tax. They didn't. I was also told by the 'Manager' that all pricing details are listed in their FAQ including the hidden charge of the resusable cup they charge for. This was also untrue. Whilst now amended, it's incredible this incorrect information had come from the 'Manager' who clearly hadn't bothered to verify the accuracy of the information he was providing, nor apologizing once apparent he was in the wrong. I was then told I didn't have the right 'vibe' for staying here. Unsure how that could be determined when they were yet to meet me. I can only assume the hostel searched for me online and then made a racially based decision to deny me the option of staying. Further issues occured, as highlighted in my response back to the 'Manager': Hi X Thank you for your email. Firstly, it is a shame the issues I have made you aware of (lack of timely responses, incorrect information provided by your colleague in terms of total cost, failure to accurately inform guests at booking stage of total applicable cost until they've booked, confirmation that your hostel is full when it isn't etc) have gone ignored and unaddressed. Slightly ironic you would ignore these matters after I specifically escalated the issue to you as Hostel 'Manager'. You claim the city tax and reusable cup charge are covered during the reservation process. Please provide a time and date stamped screenshot of this as I have shown you in my earlier screenshot that this is not the case. Furthermore, I attach screenshots of your FAQ - please confirm exactly where within this I find the mentioned information as I disagree it's listed. Listing the charges, if different to what a customer has authorised to pay, only once a reservation has been made, is both immoral and illegal. I find it amusing you claim my 'vibe' is not right. An interesting conclusion to draw for simply asking booking related questions and pointing out inconsistencies discovered as I tried to give you my business. I'd hate to see how you handled a serious issue if a customer actually complained. I suppose they wouldn't have the right 'vibe' either. In my 20+ years of hostelling, I'm yet to be greeted with such hostility and unprofessionalism. As you'll be aware, Lisbon is full of excellent hostels and I've since booked elsewhere. I'm sure you're familiar with Deco Proteste, in addition to Portal da Queixa. Both are platforms a good Portuguese friend of mine, a highly rated travel blogger, has since made me aware of. He's asked for copies of this email trail and exactly what has taken place with the view of updating his blog on Lisbon hostels (of which you currently feature). I am considering filing comp