Hotel Reviews

HEM Hotel

Amsterdam, Netherlands

We stayed at the HEM hotel as we got it on an Expedia special rate. Rated on Expedia as a 3* it was more like a 2*. Outdated decor with a very strange outdoor indoor bit (we never did spot Yogie the Bear) but it was okay. It is a little out of town about 20 minutes from Central Station but only a short walk from the tram which runs to just after midnight, after which there is an hourly night bus. The room wasn't filled with all the mod cons but was clean and warm. Nothing to write home about but adequate for a quiet night's sleep away from the action. Value for money it was an excellent choice but don't expect too much!

6.0/10
5.0/10 Revised 2013-05-18

Ibis Berlin Ostbahnhof

Berlin, Germany

As with all major cities Berlin has a mass of hotels ranging for the cheap to the blinking ridiculous! We chose the Ibis Berlin Ostbahnhof simply because it is located next to the one of the main railway stations in Berlin which is very convenient for our train from Amsterdam and one to Warsaw. The hotel is just across the street from the station and is only a couple of minutes' walk as long as you leave by the nearest doors! The station is massive and if you leave at the wrong end it is can easily double the distance you have to walk outside something you won't do twice in this weather! After getting off the train head for the main hall and then follow the signs or smell of Subways, go past Subways and use the exit at the end of the hallway you can't miss the hotel which is to the left.

The hotel is what you would expect from an Ibis, clean, warm and modern and only cost 45EUR a night. Based in East Berlin most tourist sites are a little further away but are easily accessible on the metro from the station right across the street. We would recommend this hotel to other travellers.

7.0/10

Tapir Hostel

Warsaw, Poland

The first hostel of our trip and we hope the Tapir hasn't set our expectations too high for other hostels! The Tapir hostel is a small hostel with just 4 rooms, 2 dorm style and 2 double rooms. We opted for a double room which had bunk beds! Neither of us can remember the last time we slept in a bunk bed. The room was basic as you would expect in a hostel but very comfortable and had everything you need. The hostel has two modern bathrooms which are kept in a spotless condition, luckily we never had a problem but with only 2 bathrooms for 12 people we are sure at times there could be a long wait! Included in the price is a hearty breakfast, not cooked but filling nevertheless. The hostel has a very fast internet connection which works in the room so you can easily backup those photos online :-) One thing we would change would be the lack of curtains. You have to wake up when the sun does and people in the next building can easy see your every move. We ended up using a towel as makeshift curtain! Also the walls are a bit thin so you can't miss the young'ens coming in after a night on the Vodka. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and couldn't do enough for us during our stay and with a great location just a 5-10 min walk from the main train station we would recommend to other travellers.

7.5/10
6.5/10 Revised 2013.05.18

Ivan Hostel

Moscow, Mongolia

Hotels in Moscow are ridiculously priced so we decided early on to stay in a hostel. After lots of research we settled on the Ivan Hostel which is another small hostel with 2 private rooms and 2 dorms. We chose a private room AKA the 'white room' a very large room and the best located in the hostel right next door to the bathroom and kitchen. The hostel is in a good location within walking distance of a lot of the main sights. If it's cold you can take the metro but if often quicker to walk when but the time you have deciphered the metro map. The hostel is hard to find at first as it is on the second floor in a block of flats and you need to buzz reception to let you in. Finding the 'secret' door would have been a right pain but as we stood around looking lost the manager happened to be walking past and helped us. In fairness the directions the hotel provides were very accurate but following them is easier said than done. The hostel was very nice with a lovely kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities. But there is only 1 shower and 1 toilet for the whole of the hostel! Totally ridiculous in our opinion especially when the bathroom was large enough to convert into several shower rooms. The heating is amazing, actually way too good and after coming in from the cold it was like walking into a sauna. -15 outside but our window was often open! A nice, hostel in a good location.

6/10

UB Guesthouse

Ulaanbaater, Russia

We stayed at the UB Guesthouse as recommended by Lonely Planet. The hostel is well located within 5 minute walk of the Main Square and main museums, and by 5 minutes we really mean 5 minutes as you don't want to be out for a minute more when it's -30! It's also located near a great restaurant and not too far from the main supermarket to get supplies. This is not the place to stay if you a finicky about running paint, chipped door frames or general shoddy DIY but it is a cheap place to get a safe, warm bed for the night. What the hostel lacks in facilities and features it certainly makes up for in atmosphere. The staff were fantastic and are super helpful even before we arrived they had organised our itinerary in UB. We only paid US$20 per night for a double room and the whole stay for 4 nights including a tour to the national park with an overnight stay in the Ger only cost US$176 approx. £110. We would recommend this hostel but after 5 days on the train you might want to treat yourself to somewhere else. Do not expect anything too much as it certainly not the Ritz!

6.0/10 - based on the helpfulness of the staff

Beijing City Centre Youth Hostel

Beijing, China

We stayed at the Beijing City Centre Youth Hostel. We chose the hotel based on its location just across the road from the train station we arrived at from Mongolia and only 20m from the metro for sightseeing, it is in a great location. The hostel is a strange hostel/hotel spread over 6 floors the bottom 4 referred to as the hostel and the top 2 the hotel although anybody can just use the hostel facilities. After so long on the train we opted for a double private with en suite, the last time we had our own bathroom was Berlin! A nice room with good facilities but badly let down by the poor internet, strange smell in the bathroom and the bed, which is currently winning the most uncomfortable bed award. We wanted to use the kitchen facilities but were put off but the cockroach going for a walk across the sideboard! Reception staff were pretty useless and unhelpful with most things unless it's taking your money. Nice room shame about the bed which really lets it down.

4.0/10

Shanghai City Central Youth Hostel

Shanghai, China

We stayed at the Shanghai City Central Youth Hostel. A good location just a few minutes' walk from the metro. It's a bit difficult to find at first not helped by the hostel directions which were very good apart from they missed out 2 vital words 'turn right' after leaving the metro! We opted for a double private, a nice room with fast free internet. The free breakfast was more than adequate and as well as saving a few pennies it's nice not to have to find something to eat each morning. The reception staff where incredibly helpful and organised our tickets for the Acrobatic show and were always willing to help with directions and suggestions for restaurants and the supermarket. The best big hostel we have stayed in so far.

6.5/10

Han Tang Inn Hostel

Xi'an, China

We stayed at the Han Tang Inn recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best budget stays in Xi'an. Well it's all about first impressions and after taking 2 hours to locate the place after the dire instructions provided by the hostel it had a lot of making up to do! We stayed in a double private, a tiny room but it had everything you needed including a tiny wet room. Apart from the initial problems finding the hostel the location is great, just a 5 minute walk from the Bell and Drum Towers and the main shopping centre. This is the first hostel we have ever stayed at that has a sauna! Free to use on Sunday and Thursday, on other nights the hostel arranges other free activities. Apart from the Christmas songs playing in the reception area (come on its February!) it was a very nice hostel with a cheap bar in a good location. Great value for money at only £16 per night.

7.0/10

Sim's Cozy Garden Hostel

Chendgu, China

We stayed at Sim's Cozy Garden Hostel after reading some really great things and we must say everything we read is true. Sim's is a top budget stay. It has a great cheap bar and restaurant and the staff are amazingly helpful. They helped us sort out train tickets, day trips and fixing our mobile there is nothing any of them wouldn't go out of their way to do for us. The free map they provide is more like an encyclopaedia a bit like WikiTravel very useful if at times a little out of date or plain wrong. With valuable info on bus routes and restaurants to name a few it's a great guide to Chendgu. The only negative with Sims is the location is slightly isolated and unfortunately the tourist bus 902 which used to run past the hostel has been cancelled. This means everything has to be reached by foot or local bus which is an experience in its own right. The metro is currently under construction and when finished will put Sim's right back on the map. The best hostel in Asia so far.

7.5/10

Wada Hostel

Guilin, China

We stayed at Wada hostel and opted for a double private with en-suite. The hostel is well located just a 10 minute walk or 3 stops on the number 10 bus from the train station. It is also just across the road from a large shopping centre, the botanical gardens and a cinema. The staff were very helpful and although we were partly expecting it as we are in a very touristy area they spoke the best English we have come across yet in China. The hostel has a free DVD room and free pool table along with free Wi-Fi in the common areas. They have also found a way to get round the Chinese firewall, the first time we have seen this in China! The rooms are basic but what you would expect from a hostel and had a good shower and wet room. It does have its negatives but they are small and the blatant lie about 'The best dumplings in China' makes us laugh. It is out of season so the hostel was running lots of promotions but you would be hard pushed to find somewhere else that can offer a double private with en-suite and free breakfast for just 99CNY, yes around £10 per night. Value for money helps the rating.

7.5/10
6.5/10 Revised 2013.05.18

Yangshuo Outside Inn

Yangshuo, China

We stayed at Yangshuo Outside Inn located just outside Yangshuo. The Inn is owned and run by a European and the story behind what he went through in redeveloping the run down farm buildings to what they are today is a real tale and adds to the hostel's charm. Our room was gigantic but lacked a few mod cons no heating and a pitiful shower to name a couple. The shower wouldn't normally be such an issue but with all the outdoor activities we really needed a good one. We are staying in the middle of the countryside so you can't expect everything but the internet is infuriatingly slow even by Chinese standards. The staff were again fantastically helpful and spoke amazing English. A great budget stay but unfortunately lacks a few essentials.

6.0/10

Lotusland (Bus Station) hostel

Nanning, China

We stayed at the Lotusland (Bus Station) hostel. Note the subtle difference in name as we booked to stay at the highly rated Lotusland (Train Station) hostel. Due to us having to tweak our trains a couple of weeks ago we had to subsequently change a lot of hostel booking and everyone replied quickly and understood the problem apart from Lotusland. We should have suspected something and changed hostels but we didn't and we had to chase the 3 times before we even had a response. The response was highly confusing and directed us to the Bus Station hostel but at the time we thought this was a simple mix up, so on arrival in Nanning we jumped on the bus to the Train Station hostel only to find it had closed down :-( So against what it says on the internet there isn't two hostels they have shut the centrally located one and moved out of town to near the bus station, which incidentally is stupidly located 1 hour from the centre of the city. The hostel is located on the 1st and 2nd floor of an apartment block 45 minutes from anything you want to see and visit. The location is only good for the bus station and onward travel to Vietnam. When we mentioned we had a booking for the other hostel we were told in no uncertain terms they had emailed us to tell us they had moved, it's a shame they didn't! Food options in the local area are limited and a good 10 minute walk. The hostel does have a few plus points including a free Vietnam Visa service where you just pay for the Visa and they arrange everything on your behalf. Being new everything works well and the showers are great it's just a shame that the shared bathroom facilities are just off the common area so you have to trek past everyone to get to them! Unfortunately the plus points don't outweigh the negatives and we would not recommend this hotel unless it is a simple night stopover on route to Vietnam as it is well located for the bus station. It was the worst accommodation on our trip to date.

3.5/10

Splendid Star Grand hotel

Hanoi, Vietnam

We stayed at the Splendid Star Grand hotel situated in the Old Quarter. The first hotel since Europe and with a New Year promotion we only paid US$15 a night. We got a free upgrade to the Honeymoon suite and although not as grand as some Honeymoon suites certainly a step up from our recent accommodation. The room was well equipped and even had a jacuzzi. The staff were extremely helpful, too helpful and at times they bordered on pestering us. As with all places (ref note on beat the scammers) the hotel tried to sell us numerous tours, take your time to review prices outside of the hotel before buying anything. Ask for a room at the back of the property anything ending in a 2, not such great views but the Cathedral bells won't be as loud! With a free all you can eat breakfast, great room, nice staff and great location all for US$15 this place is hard to beat. A great stay in Hanoi.

7.5/10

Jade Hotel

Hue, Vietnam

We stayed at the Jade Hotel. A small hotel about 15 minutes' walk from the Citadel, located just off a street with a bewildering array of restaurants and small shops. Staying in many budget hotels and hostels they start to look and feel the same but the one thing that made the Jade hotel stand out is the amazing service. All of the staff really did provide a service with a smile. Each and every time that we came back to the hotel we were welcomed back with a big smile, a cold towel and fresh drink. A small touch but in the sweltering heat it was just what we needed. A smile costs nothing and it changed the whole atmosphere of this hotel. It was a great budget stay with free breakfast, reasonable internet and only 3km from the train station. We would definitely recommend this hotel to other travellers.

7.0/10

Mojzo Inn

Nha Trang, Vietnam

We stayed at the Mojzo Inn and opted for a private double. Mojzo is another small hostel/hotel with privates at the front and dorms at the rear. The hotel is well situated just one road back from the buzzing nightlife and a 5 min walk from the beach. If we squinted very hard we could see the sea from our room, so just about qualifies for the first 'beach view room' Our room was well appointed with a great, air conditioner, TV and fridge but was let down by the shocking shower and uncomfortable beds. To get the right balance between burning hot water and ice cold water in the shower it was like cracking a safe. As in all places we have stayed in Vietnam the staff were extremely helpful, we never thought you could be too polite but the 20 questions each time you wanted to leave or comeback to the hotel became tiresome very quickly. The free water bottle on arrival with free refills was a nice touch. It was a good budget stay, in a good location.

6.5/10

Thanh Thuong Guesthouse

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

We stayed at Thanh Thuong Guesthouse in a double private. Our guesthouse and room was nothing special but equally we had nothing to complain about either, apart from the ant infestation! The guesthouse was in a great location, situated on an alleyway adjacent to the main backpacker road with just about everything you could need or want within a few minutes walk. However there are literally hundreds of small guesthouses and hostels to choose from within a few blocks, with so much choice availability is unlikely to be a problem if you want to have a peek before you part with your cash. A great location with okay facilities and service.

5.0/10

Waterview Guesthouse

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

We stayed at the Waterview Guesthouse. We opted for a double private without a window to save a few £'s. The guest house was in a good location as the name suggests it is right on the Mekong River and close to the Palace, market and lots of bars and restaurants. On check in we were shown to a large room with a window and balcony but didn't think anything about it. On check out we were presented with an additional bill for the room upgrade! After a heated debate they got the message that we weren't prepared to pay the extra. The hotel was in a good location probably a little too close to the nightclub opposite which went on way into the early hours. If it wasn't for the bill discrepancy we would have given a higher score.

4.0/10

Bou Savy Guesthouse

Siem Reap, Cambodia

We stayed at the Bou Savy Guesthouse after reading some great reviews on the web and we were not disappointed. Unfortunately on check in the main house was fully booked so we were shown to a room above the breakfast area and were told we would be moved in the morning. After spending the night with a gecko and an ant colony we were moved to one of the best rooms we have stayed in since Europe. A very well appointed room with cable TV, great air con and an amazing shower, two things you badly need after being out in the searing heat. The breakfast was nothing to write home about but was free and we were also given a free evening meal for booking for 4 nights. You can get cheaper accommodation in Siem Reap but with a free transfer from the bus station, free internet, free breakfast and help organising onward travel at no additional cost you would be hard pushed to beat Bou Savy for value for money at just US$17 per night.

7.0/10

Phoungchampa hotel

Vientiane, Laos

On our first night we stayed at Phoungchampa hotel. Although we are now throughly into the travelling way of life we still don't like to turn up somewhere without any digs. We know you can (sometimes) get a better walk up rate than pre-booking but for peace of mind we would rather spend a couple of quid to know we have a bed for the night. But Laos was proving to be difficult to pre-book. We could only find a few places online and couldn't find any way to pre-book any of Lonely Planets recommended accommodation, so we hedged our bets with just a one night stay. In fairness the hotel wasn't bad for a one night stop over but the electrics were dam right scary. The air con had a mind of its own and went off when we turned the shower on and came on when we unplugged a socket from the wall! The burn mark next to the ceiling light looked like the electrics were a disaster waiting to happen. Not the cleanest room we have ever stayed in, but again okay for 1 night. There is better accommodation available and we were happy to move on.

5.0/10
4.5/10 Revised 2013.05.18

Mixay Paradise Guesthouse

Vientiane, Laos

After a quick scout round we found the Mixay Paradise Guesthouse. Only a 5 minute walk from Phoungchampa but a world of difference. Although still only budget accommodation the room had everything we needed including a TV with some English channels for the first time in weeks. With a good location, good service and only 2/3rds of the price of the Phoungchampa it was a great place to stay. We would recommend the Mixay to other travellers.

6.5/10

Pan's Place

Vang Vieng, Laos

We stayed at Pan's Place. We opted for a double private room. Vang Vieng is so small everything is accessible by foot so hotel location is not really an issue. However Pan's Place is ideally located only 300m from the town centre which makes everything accessible within a 5 minute walk but is further enough away from the nightlife not to be disturbed. As expected the room was very basic but perfectly adequate for what we wanted. The room was supposed to be 'mossy proofed' but we would question how affective it is with a massive gap under the door! We have had some dodgy electrics in recent hotels but there was something seriously wrong with our room. The circuit breaker tripped out multiple times a day, mainly when the shower was on. We would have paid extra for air con but unfortunately no rooms at Pan's Place had it fitted. The most amazing thing about the hotel was the value for money, we paid approximately £5 per night, yes just £5! for a double private, unbelievable. A great budget stay, great value for money but let down by the shoddy electrics.

5.5/10
5.0/10 Revised 2013.05.18

Liberty Guesthouse

Luang Prebang, Laos

We stayed at the Liberty Guesthouse in a double private. Luang Prebang is small place so again hotel location is not really an issue as everything is accessible by foot. The guesthouse was about a 10 minute walk into town but about 15 minutes from the main restaurant area. Compared to other accommodation in Laos the Liberty was on the expensive side at US$20 a night but it did show and was definitely a quality budget hotel and didn't have dodgy electrics! Staff where helpful but as we were one of the only people in the hotel we did get a personal service. A nice guesthouse that in our opinion was in an okay location but for some might be too far away from the action.

6.5/10

North Hotel

Chiang Rai, Thailand

We stayed at the North Hotel in a double private. Arguably the best located hotel we have stayed in so far, no more than 200m from the bus station where we arrived and departed and also 200m from the night bizarre. As the hotel was fairly empty we were given a room with 'the large balcony' An area on the second floor that doubled up as a smoking area for the whole hotel. It was nice to have a large space but equally annoying to have people wandering around outside our window. Probably the only hotel we have ever stayed in that had a front and back door, it was like living at home! Good facilities, amazing location.

7.5/10

Green Tulip Hotel

Chiang Mai, Thailand

We stayed at the Green Tulip in a double private. The hotel had recently relocated approximately 300 metres down the road into a much larger property and everything was still like new. The garish multiple colour scheme wouldn't have been our choice of colours and looked like they were using up left over paint. Pink and Green do not go well together! Having said that most of it did look good but but in a few years time will probably look hideous. We had a lovely room and a fantastic bathroom, the best that we have had in ages. Now for the bad bits the hotel is not in a great location and is a good 20 minute walk from the bar area and nearly half an hour to the night market. We walked it regularly but it is just a bit too far and there are many hotels much closer that we passed on our late night treks. The hotel takes security very seriously which is great if you are on the inside but not when you go out for the night. The shutters close at 10pm and if you come back after midnight prepare for a death stare when you ring the bell to be let in. A lovely hotel but too far from the action.

5.0/10

Chaiyapoon Inn

Pattaya, Thailand

We stayed at the Chaiyapoon Inn, in a suite. It is out of season but as Pattaya has hundreds of hotels and Guesthouses accommodation is unbelievably cheap at all times of the year. We decided to upgrade and for just 790B per night (approx £18) we got a 35sq metre suite with fitted kitchen, fridge, freezer, TV, DVD player, air-con and a great bathroom. The hotel was about a 20 minute walk from Walking Street but with tons and tons of nightlife and restaurants in the area you could easily stay local and have a great time. Unfortunately the hotel was about a 15 minute walk from Big C Extra a bit too far to carry supplies home and the tuk-tuk drivers have formed a cartel with extortionate rates, don't waste your time haggling as you won't get anywhere. We absolutely loved the apartment and would recommend it to other travellers. If you plan to stay for 1 week or a month or even longer contact the hotel directly as they offer special rates.

8.0/10

@Hua Lamphong

Bangkok, Thailand

We stayed at @Hua Lamphong for the third time on our trip. In total we stayed 8 nights. The hotel is ideally located for both the main railway station and the MRT with an entrance just outside the front of the hotel. The hotels location was ideal for us with the railway station being key to our transport plans. However the MRT stops around 23:30 leaving the hotel cut off from the main city with a tuk-tuk being the only sensible way to get home. If you want to sample the nightlife be prepared for an expensive tuk-tuk ride as we were quoted 300B! The hotel itself is a hotel/hostel mainly a hotel but with a few dorms, a common area and luggage storage for just 20B a day! We left a piece of luggage for nearly a month as we travelled the North of Thailand and Laos. The room was more than adequate with air-com, private bathroom, fridge, safe and cable TV (although there was only a few English channels) A nice hotel in a good location for our travel plans but not in a tourist area so might not suit everyone.

6.5/10

M&A Guesthouse

Hua Hin, Thailand

We stayed at the M&A Guesthouse in a double private. The Guesthouse is ideally located just a few minutes walk from the beach, a 5 minute walk from bars and restaurants and a 15 minute walks from the Railway station. The Guesthouse itself was nothing special nor was the room but for 700B a night it was good value for money. After a little negotiation we payed 500B for 10:30pm check out which worked well for our evening train. Not a bad Guesthouse but with so much choice in the local area probably worth looking at a few before departing with your hard earned cash.

5.5/10

Sunny Guesthouse

Koh Samui - Chaweng Beach

We stayed at Sunny Guesthouse in a double private. A slightly strange setup Sunny Guesthouse is the sister Guesthouse of the next door Penzy Guesthouse and share a single reception. When booking we could find little info on Sunny but quite a bit on Penzy which has good reviews. Our room was nice with the most comfortable bed we have stayed in for a while and it came with a proper duvet! Might not sound like a luxury but a lot of budget hotels in South East Asia only seem to provide a sheet and it was a pleasant change to have proper bedding. The Guesthouse is less 5 minutes walk from the beach but a good 20 minute walk to the nightlife area. Incidentally which doesn't live up to its billing. Samui is known for beaches if you want nightlife go to Pattaya, Bangkok or Phuket. Very helpful staff who went out of their way to sort out a hospital appointment for us and they arranged a fishing tour offering a bigger discount than local agents. We would recommend Sunny/Penzy Guesthouses to other travellers.

7.0/10

Samui Beach Resort

Koh Samui - Lamai Beach

We stayed at the Samui Beach Resort in a double private beach hut. The resort was slightly out of town but the main town was easily accessible in 10-15 minutes by foot via the beach. Our beach hut was just 30 seconds from the pool and bar area which overlooked the beach, probably the closest we have ever stayed to the beach on any holiday. The room was basic and was only fan cooled and did look dated but for 550B a night was exceptional value for money. One of the beach huts was currently being renovated and looked very swanky, we just hope the prices don't rocket when they are all complete. You would be hard pushed to find anywhere else on the beach front in Lamai that offers such good value for money. We would recommend Samui Beach Resort to other travellers.

6.5/10

Hemingway's Hotel

Patong Beach, Phuket

We booked to stay at Hemingway's Hotel in a superior double private although on check in were upgraded to a suite. Hemingway's hotel is the sister hotel to the slightly newer Patong Hemingway's Hotel and is located slightly further away from the madness of Soi Bangla, but still within easily walking distance even after the nightlife ends. The room was very well equipped with a big LCD TV, fridge, safe and although a small extra... a kettle, which is uncommon in Asia. The bed was the most comfortable we have had the pleasure to stay in on our big adventure and combined with the super powerful shower it was a fantastic place to drop our bags for a few weeks. Free use of the roof top swimming pool at the sister hotel only a 5 minute walk away is an easy stop off on the way to or from the beach. A good quality 3* hotel, we would definitely recommend Hemingway's to all other travellers.

8.5/10

Phuttachot Resort

Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand

We stayed at the Phuttachot Resort in a double private. First impressions the hotel was impressive, made completely from wood and nestled into the hillside but as we approached it was evident that little if any maintenance had taken place since it was built. The reception area smelt like Amsterdam in South East Asia. Our room was slowly falling apart, one window wouldn't close and after a bit of jiggling around with the closer a large part of the window frame broke off! The bed was the funkiest we have slept in with the corners made from tree trunks, unfortunately it was not as comfortable as it looked and then there was the bed bugs to contend with. We had the room at the far end of the hotel next to the aviary full of exotic birds, nice to look at for a few minutes but they certainly weren't the quietest of neighbours at night. There is so much choice for accommodation on Phi Phi we would suggest you look elsewhere.

3.0/10

Gafiyah Guesthouse

Krabi, Thailand

We stayed at the Gafiyah Guesthouse in a double private after reading some fantastic reviews on hostelbookers. We were not disappointed, value for money Gafiyah is hard to beat anywhere we have stayed so far and we doubt you would get better value for money anywhere in Krabi. The room was small but amazingly clean and looked brand new. It was well appointed with air con, fridge, TV and a small wet room all for just over £10 per night. The only niggles would be the internet reception on the top floor was quite poor as the router was on the 3rd floor. Also we recommend you try and get a room at the front of the Guesthouse as the roosters at the rear make one hell of a noise at sunrise. A great budget stay which we would definitely recommend to other travellers.

7.5/10

Tune Hotel

Hat Yai, Thailand

We stayed at the Tune Hotel in a double private. There was an abundance of choice within a few minutes walk of the train station but we chose the Tune Hotel as since we first visited SE Asia we have heard good things about the chain. Tune Hotel is very similar to an IBIS although they use the same low cost model as Travelodge i.e. the earlier you book the cheaper it is. Also you need to pay for all extras TV, air-con, internet, towels, early and late check out. If you add all these up often you will find better value elsewhere but we got a flash deal with most extras included. The room itself was typical of a chain hotel, a characterless box with 4 walls and a bed but it served it's purpose and we didn't have any complaints. We wouldn't rush to stay at another Tune as we feel you can get better value elsewhere especially at privately run Guesthouses which have been our favourite haunt throughout Asia. However they do offer a quality service and it is good to have as a backup. As Tune expands in the UK especially London if they provide a similar quality service they will be very good value for money.

7/10

Hotel Mingood

Penang, Malaysia

We stayed at Hotel Mingood in a double private. The hotel is too far from the ferry to walk especially with the lack of footpaths in George Town. A taxi cost us 12MYR or you can take the free CAT bus service to bus stop 7 or 8 and walk approximately 5 minutes. The hotel itself was dated and looked like nothing had been updated since it was built, however it was clean, everything worked well and most importantly it was reflected in the price. Our room had air-con, a TV, safe, fridge, private shower and bath and came with free breakfast and cost the same as shared bathroom facilities in a local hostel. The hotel could do with a refresh but it was more than adequate for our needs.

6/10

amiGo's Guesthouse

KL, Malaysia

We stayed at the amiGo's guesthouse in a double private. We booked amiGo's on the great reviews on hostelbookers. After finding the guesthouse for the first time it is in a fantastic location under a 5 minute walk to the monorail and behind the enormous Berjaya Times shopping centre, which sells just about anything and has a great food court on the lower ground floor. The room was okay, a bit grubby and could do with a fresh lick of paint. The room had air-con and a small wet room and was adequate for our needs for a few nights stay. Don't expect too much as it's not the ritz, but a private room with en-suite for under £20 a night in the centre of KL, is great value for money.

5.5/10

Crystal Fragrance Hotel

Singapore

We stayed at the Crystal Fragrance Hotel in a double private. We got an advanced promo rate and paid just $60 per night including free Wi-Fi which usually cost $18 per day, per device! The hotel is a 10 min walk to the MRT which is about 15 minutes from the centre of town. The room was basic but had all we needed including air-con and a private ensuite with shower. The TV wasn't worth turning on with just 2 out of tune channels. If you can look past the bright red lights and lots of flesh on show that surround the hotel it is a good budget stay.

6.0/10

Armoas of Bali

Bali, Indonesia

We stayed at the Armoas of Bali in a double private suite. Unfortunately first impressions count so when they forgot to collect us from our flight, even though we only reconfirmed it a week ago things did not get off to the best of starts. We finally arrived 2 hours after landing; our flight was less than 3 hours! The room did not look or resemble anything like the pictures we had seen on Hostelbookers. The finish was poor and the balcony doors were broken. We changed rooms to more of the same. It appears that there is a design fault with the doors as we have seen many people struggling to open and close their doors. As we were on the 3rd floor not being able to close the doors was only an inconvenience but gave us no sound proofing from the noisy pool area below. However if we were on the ground floor it would be a potential security issue as they pushed open at the bottom. Generally the room wasn't well finished and the kitchenette area had virtually no utensils, so if we wanted to use the facilities we couldn't. The hotel staff were incredibly unhelpful and offered little assistance whenever we asked them anything. On a positive note all rooms have a pool view and the pool is gigantic and well maintained. Also the breakfast was extremely good and was the best free breakie we have had on our trip. We nearly walked out on day 1 but on reflection and compared to other places we have stayed, it was reasonable value for money. However there is so much choice in and around Kuta we recommend you compare a few other hotels before deciding on the Armoas.

4.5/10

Albany Holiday Park

Albany, Western Australia

We stayed at the Albany Holiday Park in an ensuite cabin. This is our first experience of a holiday park cabin, and thankfully it's was a good one as we plan to stay in many throughout New Zealand. We booked a winter special and paid less for an ensuite cabin than a budget cabin with shared facilities. The main cabin had a well equipped kitchen, dining area, TV, DVD player and a separate area with a double bed. The cabin had been extended by adding a room onto its side containing bunk beds and a bathroom area. The cabin was spotless and had everything we needed for our stay. After staying in many budget hotels and hostels it was nice to have our own space and be able to do our own cooking. We had an enjoyable stay at the Albany Holiday Park and hope that it hasn't set the bar too high for other holiday parks.

7.0/10

Baywatch Manor hostel

Augusta, Western Australia

We stayed at the Baywatch Manor hostel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hostel was in the middle of Augusta within a few minutes' walk of the few shops the town has to offer. The room was basic and characterless with plain brick walls, but okay for an overnight stay. The common areas were massive with a great kitchen, dining area and TV room. The bathroom facilities were spotless and very well maintained. A great place for an overnight stay but the brick walls would feel like a cell after a few nights. Extremely helpful and friendly staff we would recommend the Baywatch Manor to other travellers.

6.5/10

Travelodge

Perth, Western Australiia

We stayed in the Travelodge in a double private. Accommodation in Perth is ridiculously expensive partly due to the mining boom and the lack of housing for the influx of workers. Although we got the hotel on a special deal it still cost us nearly twice as much as the next most expensive hotel in our entire trip! However it was worth it. The other option being a pick from the wide range of hostels, but these only had shared bathroom facilities and didn't come with great ratings. The hotel's location was excellent on Hay Street right in the middle of the CBD. Most things including restaurants, the shopping area and tourist attractions were all within walking distance. However if walking isn't your thing the number 7 stop on the Red CAT bus (free) service was right outside the hotel. The room was well appointed as you would expect from a quality hotel and had everything we needed including a TV, fridge, safe, kettle, bath and shower. Compared to the competition the hotel was reasonable value for money and we would recommend the hotel to other travellers.

7.5/10

Oz Backpackers

Adelaide, Australia

We stayed at Oz Backpackers hostel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hostel was well located on the corner of Wakefield and Puteney Streets. The hostel is well located close by the free intercity bus service, only a 15-20 minute walk from the main train station (depending how long you spend at the shops on the way) and only 5-10 minutes to the tram. The room was basic but clean and had a hand basin in the room which was an added bonus. The bathroom facilities were good with several showers and a bath, all of which were kept clean if a little dated. The hostel does a lot for guests organising various activities and evening entertainment. We didn't participate in much apart from the free BBQ on Wednesday which was excellent with masses of free food to go round. With free breakfast and free tea and coffee all day Oz Backpackers offers a good night sleep at a reasonable price.

6.0/10

Ritz for Backpackers

Melbourne, Australia

We stayed at the Ritz for Backpackers in a double private room with shared bathroom. The hostel is located in St. Kilda and has a tram stop right outside its doors. There are another 2 tram stops within a short distance which are serviced by other routes just in case the no. 16 is having problems. The hostel claims to be the ritz of backpacking establishments and in some ways it is. They provide free towels and toiletries on check-in, an in room fridge, a massive kitchen and a good common area. However our weekend stay was marred by the noisy guests most of which are still trying to cling onto uni. life having just graduated and are now on a working holiday. Partying and fighting in the corridors at 3.30am is unfair on the other guests! Saying it was the hostel fault is a bit like blaming a football club for its fans behaviour, to some extent it is out of the hostel control, but the hostel needs to show some intolerance to noisy behaviour. If they don't things are only going to get worse. The hostel needs a least one member of staff who isn't also on a working holiday who is easily plyed with alcohol and joins in. Not a bad stay but could have been a lot better!

5.0/10

Maze Hostel

Sydney, Australia

We stayed at the Maze hostel in a double private with shared bathroom facilities. The place really lives up to its name and is a rabbit warren of old rooms surrounding the kitchen and common room. This is the first hostel we have stayed in with a real hostel atmosphere with people coming and going at all hours. Although the place was gigantic there were enough shared facilities to go round. With a massive kitchen area and 4 rooms full of fridge's to store food. Our room was tiny and literally had a bunk bed, a bin and a plastic chair but was okay for what we needed as we were either sightseeing in a bar or sleeping! The hostel was average but its location was fantastic with only a 5-10 minute walk from Central Station and even less to Town Hall, Museum and the nearest tram stop. Surrounded by bars, restaurants and a shopping centre with a massive supermarket the hostel has everything on its door step.

7.0/10
6.0/10 Revised 2013.10.17

Bunk

Brisbane, Australia

We stayed at Bunk in a double private with shared bathroom. Our room was tiny, just wide enough for a bunk bed and enough room to squeeze down the side. Strangely the room was taller than it was wide or long, we could just about touch the ceiling at arms length when standing on the top bunk! Although we had a shared bathroom it was only shared by one other double private and had key card entry to prevent others from using it which was a nice touch. The hostel caters for the young and hip traveller with lots of alcohol fuelled evening activities, great for people coming off the uni high but not so good for the average traveller looking for some sleep. The staff feel they need to be cool at all times, some people can be cool naturally others just look like idiots trying. We used the hostel as a base to sightsee and book onward travel and was okay for what we needed but unless you want to party all night you are probably best to look elsewhere.

5.0/10

The Travellers Oasis

Cairns, Australia

We stayed at The Travellers Oasis in a double private with shared bathroom. Describing Oasis as a hostel does not do the place justice. It is by far the best hostel we have ever stayed in and compares to many guesthouses we stayed in during Asia. The hostel is in a fantastic location across the road from the train station which backs onto Cairns Central shopping centre, which has just about everything you could need or want. Oasis has great common areas, 2 kitchen areas, communal BBQ, spotless bathrooms, a swimming pool and homely TV room. This is the first place we have stayed in on our entire journey that has felt like home. Combined with amazingly knowledgeable and friendly staff Oasis is a top stay. If we ever come back to Cairns we wouldn't look anywhere else.

Our very first 9.0/10

Base

Auckland, New Zealand

We stayed at Base Hostel in a double private with shared bathroom. Although Base promotes itself as a party hostel, as our room was on the 10th floor and the activities happen either on the 3rd floor or in the basement we were not disturbed but the festivities. The best thing about the hostel was its location right on Queen's Street, just 2 blocks away from the Sky Tower and under 10 minutes to the harbour. Although our room was very basic it did have a fridge but unfortunately was badly let down by its bed and is in a competition with Beijing for the most uncomfortable bed of the whole journey. The best thing about the hostel was its location and the great cheap bar in the basement that had drinks for just $3 until 11pm.

6.5/10

Casa Loma hotel

San Francisco, USA

We stayed at the Casa Loma hotel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hotel is slightly off the beaten track near Alamo Square but was within a 10 minute walk of the tram and light rail services, buses did serve the surrounding roads but we never used them. The hotel room was basic but was clean and was adequate for our needs. The bathroom areas were small but again clean. The staff let the hotel down with a pick from 'Miss Attitude', 'Mr I don't give a dam' and 'Mr I haven't got a clue' we just gave up asking and used the internet to find things out for ourselves. We really struggled to find a budget hotel in the city, especially as it was the America's Cup Final and overall the hotel was a great find. It's just a shame the staff were appalling as they could have made a great stay a fantastic stay.

6.0/10

Ramada

Reno, USA

We stayed at the Ramada in a double private. The Ramada was our first proper hotel for sometime and it felt quite grand. Our room was well equipped with a TV with oodles of channels airing rubbish, air con, a fridge and even a microwave. The hotel wasn't in a great location for the train station but as hotel prices rise dramatically on Friday and Saturday nights we decided against paying through the nose for one of the hotels on the 'strip'. The 20 minute walk wouldn't have been too bad but it did take you past large areas of the city that are inhabited by people down on their luck, not too bad during the day but not the nicest of walks at night. The hotel did have its own casino, restaurants and bars which were all reasonable value for money. All in all not a bad stay but one of the more centrally located hotels would have been more convenient.

6.5/10

11th Avenue Hotel & Hostel

Denver, USA

We stayed at the 11th Avenue Hotel & Hostel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hostel was in a great location just 4 blocks from the end of the free 16th Street Mall ride and within walking distance of most of Denver's sights. The hotel was in a very old building as the receptionist proudly told us 'its over 100 years old' which did give it a bit character but did mean it didn't have any mod cons! The room was basic but okay for our short stay. There was nothing special about the hotel or the room but it was a good price and in a great location.

6.0/10

Chicago Getaway Hostel

Chicago, USA

We stayed at the Chicago Getaway Hostel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hostel is about 5 miles north of downtown but easily accessible by the red and brown metro lines and bus number 8. The hostel looked like it had been recently renovated and the common areas such as the kitchen, TV lounge and breakfast area were some of the best we have seen in any hostel we have stayed at. The room and bathroom facilities were both clean and again looked like they had both recently undergone a refurb. As hostels go the Getaway wasn't the cheapest but considering the free breakfast, facilities and location it was good value for money.

7.0/10

Capital View Hostel

Washington, USA

We stayed at Capital View Hostel in a double private with shared facilities. Let's start with the plus points, the location is fantastic only a 15 minute walk from the Amtrak station and within a 20 minute walk of the White House. All sights are walkable and there is a large Safeway just a couple of blocks away, we didn't take any public transport the entire time we were in Washington. For a centrally located hostel the price was fair. Now for the bad points, there are many. The reception staff were useless and when we questioned the bill they didn't even know what the tax rate was. If you decide to stay at Capital View prepare for the 10 commandments, no shoes, no eating in the rooms, no drinking in the rooms the list goes on and on. There are 2 daily room inspections and if you break any of the commandments you will be fined $10 or a whopping $50 if you open the door for somebody else. If you break the no food in your room commandment you will be put on the 'wall of shame' Yes although it is sad, but true there is a 'wall of shame' in the kitchen. Although the rules are there for a reason they were forced down our throat 24/7 and even though we booked a private room we were continually interrupted by pathetic room inspections. In all of the hostels we have stayed in throughout the world we have never had so many rules and regs. If you want to be treated like a teenager this is the place to stay. If it wasn't for the great location this would have easily been one of the worst hostels we have stayed in.

4.5/10

B Hotel

New York, USA

We stayed at the B Hotel in a double private with shared bathroom. The hostel/hotel is located right next to Marcy Avenue Subway station just over the river in Brooklyn. The nearby subway station made travel to and from Manhattan Island easy, although direct 'M' trains do not operate at all times. This was only an issue on arriving in New York when we made our journey from Penn Station as the metro has a distinct lack of accessible ramps and lifts and humping our luggage up and down the narrow staircases was a nightmare. The hotel has a strict 3pm check in time, rules are rules but it was plain stupid when the receptionist admitted that there were rooms available but we couldn't check in! Firstly the good bits.... the hostel recently opened and everything is clean and new. The lounge area is massive and has 2 TV's, pool table, great kitchen area, toilets and even showers which you can use before or after check-in. Now for the bad bits.... the hostel is converted from an old office building and the rooms have been built in the middle of large space. The walls do not go completely to the ceiling and if you stand on the top bunk you can easily look over into the next room. This is a security risk as somebody could easy climb over (the rooms do have security lockers but you need your own padlock); it doesn't give you any privacy and finally does nothing to stop noise. We could easily hear people having a conversation a few rooms away and the hotel is so close to the Metro that you can clearly hear the trains rumbling past. Luckily we had some ear plugs and got a good night's sleep but we wouldn't have got any if we didn't have them! Not a bad hostel but it could have been much, much better and as it only recently opened it is a shame that it has so many negatives. If you decide to stay and we are sure there are much worse places in New York to do so.... DON'T forget to pack some earplugs!

6.0/10

Lisboa Central Hostel

Lisbon, Portgual

We stayed at the Lisboa Central Hostel in a double private with shared bathroom facilities. The hostel is well located just a few minutes from Marques De Pombal, the centre of Lisbon and blue line metro with a direct connection to the airport. Baxia is only a few stops away on the metro or you can walk there in about 15 minutes. The staff were absolutely amazing and were extremely friendly, helpful and humorous. Richard and Joanna couldn't do enough to help us and made our stay a very enjoyable experience. Our room was massive and was spotless. The bathroom facilities and kitchen facilities were top notch and kept in absolutely pristine condition. Although we never used them the living room and dining room were nice add on's and something we have only seen in a few hostels on our travels and really gave the place a homely feeling. Is easy to see why Lisboa has won so many awards from Hostelworld. It is simply amazing and calling it a hostel does not do it justice. If we went back to Lisbon we wouldn't consider staying anywhere else.

9.0/10

Casa Espana

Madrid, Spain

We stayed at Casa Espana in a double private with shared bathroom facilities. Let's start with the only good thing about the hostel.... its location. The hostel is only a 5-10 minute walk from the Palace which is the only time the word palace will ever be used in connection with the hostel. It is clearly not a palace in any shape or form. The outside of the hostel is uninspiring and inside isn't much better. The check in area was more like a bank having to talk through a glass window, is the area really that rough? The kitchen area and bathroom facilities were in a poor state of repair and seriously need an upgrade. Now if this hasn't already put you off and you still decide to book read the small print as it states 'Casa Espana has several locations around Plaza Espana-Gran Via within 3 minutes walking distance from each other. Please note when you make a reservation with Casa Espana your bed can be in any of our buildings' Do NOT pay for anything until you have seen your room as we were only told after paying, our room was in another building. Which was a 5 minute walk away and only had 1 shower, 1 toilet and no kitchen facilities. The accommodation was in a terrible condition and the security of the room and building was dodgy to say the least. After a heated discussion we were told absolutely no refunds but we got moved back to the main building. We nearly upped and left but we haven't done this anywhere on our entire trip and we were determined not to lose our money. The reception only opens at 9am so if you want to check out earlier than that you need to book it in advance otherwise you forfeit your security deposit. A complete and utter joke and another way to try and keep your money, but in fairness somebody was on duty at the time we requested to check out to give us our money back. Apart from the location the hostel has nothing going for it and is one of the worst places we have stayed in 10 months on the road, we strongly recommend you look elsewhere.

3.5/10

© 2014-2021 All rights reserved.
All images and logo's are licenced. Please contact us before copying any content or linking to our blog - Thanks! :-)