We had planned on checking in at 3:00 and it was now approaching 3:30 so we headed directly to our hostal, Patios del Orfebre.
Located on a narrow street in the old, Jewish quarter, the front of the hostal and the buildings along this street require frequent touch ups as unaware motorists frequently leave evidence of their passage.
Before going further, let me try to explain the difference between hostal, hostel and hotel.
A hostal is a relatively new form of accommodation typical for Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, mainly Hispanic America. Even though these two words look alike, they are used for a different type of lodging.
A hostel offers a shared type of accommodation, typically in dormitories. The rooms usually do not have a bathroom, but instead, there is one large bathroom for the entire floor or even dormitory. Rarely, there is one joint kitchen, which means that it is not possible to have meals as a part of your stay. This type of accommodation is typically popular among young travelers and people traveling in groups. Rooms are usually designed to accommodate more people than other types of lodging, ranging from one or two beds to even eight or more. When staying in a hostel, you pay for a bed, so you might end up sharing the room with people you do not know. Even though a hostel might be cheaper, this type of stay might be inconvenient for many travelers.
We also have a hotel as a possibility where the comfort and convenience are at a much higher level, but the costs are higher as well. The rooms are smaller with each having its own bathroom, and you can choose the number of beds in the room, which usually ranges from one to three.
A hostal is somewhere in between. Hostals usually offer rooms or apartments within one facility which is usually family-run. Unlike hostels, hostal rooms are much more comfortable and with fewer beds. They typically have a private bathroom, with bedding and towels provided like in a hotel. While some hostals do not offer food services, other services can include WiFi, a safe, as well as air conditioning or heating depending on the season. They are usually less expensive than hotels or apartments.
When it comes to classification, hostals are ranked from one to three stars, unlike hotels which are ranked between one and five stars, and hostels which are not ranked at all..
So now you know the difference.