Sometimes, we want to spend less on a hotel, saving more on activities at the chosen destination. In this case, hostels are a great solution! To eliminate the false belief that hostels are generally pretty bad stays, we have gathered 11 best hostels around the world, featuring every continent. Remember: these hostels are highly popular, so you must book them in advance, at least a couple of months before departure. As for prices, you can learn and compare them using a hotel price aggregator, hotelin.com. With its help, you will find the best possible price in a matter of minutes. Now, it is time to pick your favorite hostel!
Table of Contents
Africa
Riad Versus, Fez, Morocco
Riad is a traditional Moroccan home, so you can explore the vibrant Moroccan culture without even leaving the hostel. The accommodation is run by a local family. However, all the staff speak English fluently and will gladly give you tips on spending time in Fes. Besides, they have English-speaking guides who can take you on a walking tour in Medina. Riad Versus is perfect for sociable travellers as it provides many fun daily and evening activities. The hostel also boasts its complimentary delicious Moroccan breakfast, good quality beds, and a central location, which is excellent for exploring Fes’ main attractions on foot. A hit of Riad Versus is a stunning 360º terrace with a view of Medina. Plus, it offers a lot of free perks, such as city maps and inside tips, board games, luggage storage, etc.
Asia
The Islander Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Islander is the ultimate social hostel, which means that it hosts nightly events featuring music, dancing, and drinking. So, bear that in mind before deciding on a destination — this might not be the best option if you are looking for a quiet stay or travel with children. The hostel’s location makes it even better, for it is only 10 minutes from Sunday Night Market and the Chiang Mai Gate — must-go places for every foodie! Moreover, the Islander offers a wide array of amazing activities, such as city bike tours, zipline tours, Thai cooking school, elephant sanctuary, temple tours, slow boating, and so on.
SnapStay Hoi An, Vietnam
SnapStay is a social hostel, co-working cafe and community hub suitable for backpackers, solo travellers, and groups of friends. The highlight of this hostel is its proximity (just 200 m) to a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An Ancient Town. The owners strive to create a welcoming, homely atmosphere to unite fellow travellers. SnapStay has a daily Happy Hour and hosts various events such as Vietnamese language classes, parties, karaoke, quizzes, and family dinners. Still, this is not a party hostel but a laid-back place for pleasant socialising.
Europe
Yes! Lisbon, Portugal
Yes combines party fun in the lounge and bar zones with relaxation in comfortable rooms. The hostel is located in the city centre, so all the major attractions are within walking distance. Yes organises many special events, including free walking hours (city tours), pub crawls, family dinners, etc.
Hostel Ruthensteiner Vienna, Austria
Ruthensteiner is located in a fantastic spot — between the city centre and the famous Schoenbrunn Palace. The hostel offers its guests nice gardens, comfortable beds, musical performances, a bike rental, free maps, and lots of other stuff. Ruthensteiner proudly calls itself an «oasis in Vienna», which is suitable both for exploration and socialising — in the lounge, garden, or bar. There are many wonderful perks in Ruthensteiner, such as vegan and gluten-free meals, self-brewed beer, book trade, board games, musical instrument library, and so on — every traveller will find something according to their taste! The hostel also offers a unique option — the all-day biking tour to the Wachau wine-growing region.
North America
Planet Traveler Hostel, Toronto, Canada
This hostel aims to «create memories that will last a lifetime». Planet Traveler cares for ecology and implements the following «green» measures — geothermal and solar thermal water heating, photovoltaic electrical production, wastewater heat reclamation, and building-wide LED lighting. Everything in the stay here is about care — take memory foam mattresses, a common area with a fireplace, free breakfast served until 1 p.m. and an incredible rooftop lounge where you can enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Toronto. There are a whole lot of great tourist destinations next to the hostel — Kensington Market, Chinatown, Little Italy, along with the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, etc.
Hi New Orleans, USA
Due to its central location (next to the French Quarter), the hostel is a great starting point for city exploration. Hi partners with a Latin American cuisine restaurant, Besame, so you can visit it straight from the hostel. Alongside dormitory rooms, there are private rooms with amenities that mainly hotels offer: a queen bed, an ensuite bathroom, cable TV, and safes. Travelling families also have an option here — a Bunks private room accommodating four people.
Central America
Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
Casa Angel fascinates with its various activities organized for guests: yoga classes, walking tours, happy hours, salsa dancing classes, street food tours, burrito/pizza nights, games nights, BBQ, cantinas tours, Mexican wrestling, and more. The hostel’s location is superb — only a 5-minute walk from the Santo Domingo Church in Oaxaca’s downtown (Oaxaca itself is a World Heritage City). In a 30-minute walk, another prime attraction is located — the ruins of Monte Alban, dated 2,500 years old. Casa Angel’s dorms are equipped with POD beds and privacy curtains. Besides, there are private rooms with shared or ensuite bathrooms.
Tropicana Hostel, Antigua, Guatemala
Tropicana is one of the best backpacker hostels, with air-conditioned dorms, fine but cheap bars and restaurants, a gym area, a pool, and a rooftop terrace with views of Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes. The hostel even has its own trek to Acatenango, with an equipped base camp, so you don’t have to carry all the camping gear on your back.
South America
Granada Hostel, Bogota, Colombia
Granada is situated near some popular tourist places, such as Casa de la Moneda, Plaza de Bolivar, Museo del 20 de Julio, Museo de Boy, Quevedo Jet and other examples of colonial architecture, as well as modern restaurants and shopping centres. Every room is unique, preserving the original layout of the historic house. The hostel is relatively new, so all the amenities are new and eco-friendly.
Oceania
Adventure Queenstown Hostel, New Zealand
This small hostel (maximum capacity of 50 people) aims to create a friendly and homely atmosphere. Although it is situated in the city centre, the neighbourhood is quite peaceful, with no noisy nightlife in earshot. Spacious rooms feature timber bunks with comfortable mattresses. Adventure Queenstown’s balconies are excellent places for socialising, drinking, and watching the sunset. The friendly staff is eager to help guests plan their activities, and there is much free stuff, for example, laundry service, freesbies, and even mountain bikes. Skiers and snowboarders, attention: Adventure Queenstown offers all kinds of winter sports equipment and clothing. Fun events are hosted 7 nights a week: pool competition, quiz night, scavenger hunt, board games night, Mario Cart tournament, pub crawl, and Potluck dinner.
With such a selection of wonderful hostels worldwide, we are sure your trip will be unforgettable and will make you want to return to that hostel over and over again. We wish you happy travels!
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
