Traveller

When my partner and I arrived at the hostel, after having booked in advance, the hostel owner asked for both our passports. He then went through my partner's passport page by page, which seemed odd to me since he did not look at my passport at all (I have an EU passport and hers is non EU). When I asked what he was looking for he told me that since she was ethnically Asian he was looking for passport evidence of recent travel in Asia. I told him that we both lived and worked in Europe and had not been to Asia for quite a while which he could see from the stamps in her passport. When I asked him what travelling to Asia had to do with anything, he then said that it was his right to know where people had travelled. I then pointed out to him that he had not even looked at my passport and only at hers. (At that point it occurred to me that perhaps he did not want anyone to stay in his hostel that was of Asian origin and was looking for an excuse to get rid of us.) He then got very aggressive with me and told me that if I didn't like it, I could get out of his hostel. We were taken aback with this sudden aggression and promptly left. We were then, luckily, able to find alternative accommodation.

I just wanted to let other travellers know to be careful of this hostel in case you may also end up like we did. Especially if it is in the peak summer months when it would be more difficult to find alternative accommodation. He may only be biased against Asians but maybe there are other nationalities he also does not like. He did not seem to have any problems with people of European ethnicity since there were others I saw there in the lobby.

A concerned traveller.

crionnacht

thanks for the warning, traveller. wow, it's really sad how so many folks are in such a panic about it, when they don't realize how they are hurting other by discriminating. i hope it doesn't turn into another post-9/11 where many arabs living in america were abused both physically and mentally.

crion

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We BAAAAD....

travelpunk

I hear that, Crio.

Traveller, thanks for the warning and kudos to your no-tolerance attitude towards this kind of crap! It's good that you were able to secure other accommodations shortly afterwards.

Backpackers, steer clear of the suspicous activity from this hostel in Madrid!

Congratulations -Hostal Barajas, Madrid! Your suspicious hostel staff, just became proud member of the PUNK ASS HOSTEL PENALTY BOX- SUCKAS!

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Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
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Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

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