Daisuke Sato
★★★★★
[Pros] • It wasn't too far from the city center, making it a convenient location for walking around Mindelo. • There were a few staff members who could speak English. • Once checked in, the entrance was locked, which was convenient as it allowed for flexible entry and exit. • The Wi-Fi was reliable throughout my stay and the speed was sufficiently fast. • The room, bed, toilet, and shower were generally clean. • Noise was not a major issue. Most of the other guests were quiet, and I didn't feel uncomfortable during my stay. • There is no air conditioning. I stayed in September, and São Vicente was cooler than Praia, making it relatively easy to sleep with just a fan. • If you're looking for a private room, I recommend a room on the 3rd floor if possible. • A portion of this accommodation's profits goes towards animal rescue activities for dogs and cats in São Vicente. Choosing this accommodation with this in mind and contributing to these activities through your travels is a good idea. [Cons] * The layout of the private rooms within the building was a bit unique, and I found it confusing at first. * I felt there was a significant difference in responsiveness among the staff. Some staff members understood my needs and resolved them immediately, while others were slow to respond, resulting in lengthy communication. * The dormitory beds were single-level, but the beds were quite close together. * There were toilets on each floor, but some were out of order and unusable. * Because the toilets and showers are in the same space, it can be inconvenient, such as not being able to use the toilet while someone is using the shower. * There was a terrace, but it didn't seem to be very clean. Also, the space was limited, making it difficult to use when other guests were using it, so I didn't use it. * The area around the hostel gets quite dark at night. It wasn't noisy, but I think it's a good idea to check your surroundings if walking around at night. This hostel is run by the animal protection organization SIMABO. Accommodation fees contribute to animal protection activities. There were cats at the entrance of the hostel. * SIMABO is an animal rescue organization that focuses on spaying/neutering, deworming, treatment, and adoption of dogs, cats, and other animals. The hostel's revenue also supports its activities and the employment of local staff. * The hostel itself does not generally house rescue animals; the clinic and shelter are located elsewhere. Visits to their activity sites are possible upon request. * The location is within walking distance of Laginha Beach and the town center, and about a 15-minute walk from the ferry terminal. * The rooms are quite simple, with a shared kitchen and common areas. There are about 9 rooms. * A taxi from the airport costs 1,200 CVE, or 150 CVE if taking the aluguer from San Pedro. However, the aluguer does not stop in front of the airport and requires going to the main road; there are no aluguers after 6 PM. * I was able to pay by card using the donation payment page on the SIMABO official website. A private room for one night cost 21 EURO (2310 CVE).
