Warning: I booked a sketchy hostel in Barcelona instead of spending $80 on a hotel

Last month I had to choose between this super cheap hostel for $15 a night or a basic hotel for $80 in Barcelona. I went with the hostel because I wanted to save cash. Big mistake - the place had bed bugs and no AC in 95 degree heat. Has anyone else had a nightmare stay from chasing the lowest price?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_simon25d ago

Yeah I read this thing online recently where someone stayed at a place that looked okay in photos but turned out to be a converted garage with no windows. They ended up sleeping on a bench in a park because the room smelled like sewage. The whole "you get what you pay for" thing is real, especially in tourist spots like Barcelona. I'd rather pay for a solid hotel than risk ruining my whole trip over bed bugs and heatstroke.

ryan_barnes25d ago

Forget the hotel, bring a hammock and sleep on the beach.

thomas_torres25d ago

Oh totally agree with @the_simon on this one. I feel like people forget that cheap rooms in popular cities are basically a gamble with your sanity. You might get lucky but more often than not you're waking up with mystery bites and a broken AC unit (which is brutal in Barcelona heat). I'd rather spend a bit more on a known quantity than end up sleeping on a bench like that story. Plus, bed bugs don't care how much you paid, they'll ruin your whole trip and then follow you home. Just not worth the risk when you're already spending money on flights and food anyway.