Casa Condell advertises itself as a hostal/bed & breakfast. It has an excellent location, in a relatively quiet street of the Providencia neighborhood, accross from the French embassy and 3 blocks from the Salvador Metro station. I stayed one night on 8/12/07.

The owner is an elderly couple, but the main administrator is their son Max. Unlike many hostals, it is quiet and reserved, and caters to an older crowd, that would be willing to put up with the lack of comforts of a hostal, but at the incredible price of $21.00 per night.

The building is a turn-of-the-last-century large house, with comfortable common areas and an excellent "no smoking inside the building" policy. The breakfast is not hot, but plentiful and varied, and the service is friendly and homely. The rooms are spartan, with no mirrors or pictures on the walls, that could use a coat of paint.

There is NO HEAT, except for the dining room, and that only at breakfast time. This can be a significant issue for winter travelers staying several nights.

I would recommend this hostal for the really budget-conscious who want the convenient location, do not want smokey late night parties, and don't mind the few discomforts.