Caminha · Portugal
Arca Nova Guest House & Hostel
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Booking.com
I worried about bed bugs but I didn't need to.
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Possible Google Maps
Nicht zu empfehlen. Insekten und Bettwanzen!
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Possible Google Maps
Tratándose de un lugar con tanta afluencia de gente deberían de asegurarse muy bien de desinfectar todo bien y de las plagas. Había chinches en la cama y tanto yo como mi compañero hemos cogido chinches en este hostal. El personal de allí es muy agradable pero deberían de controlar estas cosas. Camas número 9 y 10
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Possible Google Maps
Pues pille chinches en el albergue, con eso lo digo todo. En si el albergue no es culpable, pero sí que tiene que responsabilizarse de que las camas estén limpias y claramente no lo hicieron. Tengo el cuerpo lleno de picaduras y realmente se responsabilizaron 0 de la situación.
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Possible Booking.com
Habían chinches en mi cama, CUIDADO! Me picaron todo el cuerpo, horrible
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Confirmed Google Maps
I booked a private room based on the positive reviews and the Clean & Safety Certificate issued by Tourism Portugal. I can confirm, this place is neither clean nor safe. Safe: Upon arrival I was greeted by a very arrogant old man who spoke and treated me like a five-year old. The guy was so peculiar, opinionated and constantly in the mood for arguing. Honestly this is not what you want after a long day of walking. He didn't help me with my backpack and was clearly annoyed that I was wearing my face covering. I felt so unwelcome and was not really in the mood for that. Having walked a particular long and difficult day on the Camino I didn’t appreciate his attitude at all. He didn’t wear a face covering and spoke poor English, even though I apologised for not speaking Portuguese. His demanding tone continued telling me that my breakfast was at 8am. I politely replied that I want to take a train at 7:50am and would need breakfast before that, which seemed to be a huge hassle. I’m a pilgrim, what do you expect? It was a huge deal to get me a bottle of water, orange juice and a banana. The orange juice was in a Tetra-Pak, enough said! When I left the next day, the “reception” wasn’t even occupied, so I didn’t get a stamp for my Credential. I need no memory of this rubbish and horrible place! Clean: My private room was small with outdated broken furniture. The room wasn’t cleaned at all. Broken furniture, a used spoon in one of the drawers, the bedsheets weren’t changed from the previous person, lots of hair on the bed and in the bathroom, yellow stained pillows, an old shower. This place was filthy and disgusting, do check for bedbugs! Luckily the towels were clean, but anything else wasn’t. The bed was disgusting and children-sized so very uncomfortable for me to sleep in. What a horrible place, luckily I left with the first sunlight. Would never in a million years stay here again.
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Vibe Analysis
A pilgrim foot bath is one of Arca Nova's most useful touches: after a long Camino day, it gives tired feet a practical reset instead of just another bunk and shower. The hostel also has a shared kitchen, a common area, and at times a paid massage option, so it can work as a simple Camino stop rather than a polished hotel-style stay. The location is the easy win. It sits close to the train station, near the center of Caminha, and handy for onward Camino logistics toward the river crossing. Private rooms may have balconies or open views, and dorm beds may include privacy curtains or individual sockets, depending on the room. Keep expectations basic. The building and rooms can feel old, worn, cramped, and unevenly maintained, with hard or tired mattresses, thin walls, small bathrooms, limited storage, stairs with no lift, and occasional noise from trains, other pilgrims, or early departures. Cleanliness and hot water seem inconsistent, and the breakfast gets mixed reactions.
Signals to check
- Late arrival can be risky if check-in instructions or staff contact are not clear before evening.
- Bathrooms may be small, dated, or busy, and hot water pressure can be unreliable.
- Beds and pillows may feel hard, old, or uncomfortable.
- The taxi-and-boat transfer can save walking distance for Camino logistics, but it has also caused confusion, pressure, or safety concerns.
- There is no lift, so luggage may need to go up several flights of stairs.