If you haven’t read Part 1 of this post, be sure to check it out. It’s filled with some interesting stories!
As you all know, I’ve stayed in almost 100 hostels in my life, so I have a good idea of what makes a stay exceed all expectations. The following five hostels all wowed me in different ways. Spanning three continents, these five places all made a deep impression on me and helped me become more selective when selecting future hostel stays.
Number 5 – Suneta Hostel Khaosan, Bangkok, Thailand
Would any backpacking trip be complete without the inclusion of Bangkok? Made particularly famous by Khaosan Road’s infinite party, Bangkok is a city that almost every backpacker in Asia will pass through at least once. Don’t however, make the mistake of thinking that staying on Khaosan Road is a good idea. Find yourself a place a few minutes away, just like I did.
I arrived at the hostel having spent five weeks in India and the difference was stark. While there were still tuktuks to avoid, the ambience was completely different and this struck me no more than in the hostel.
The most impactful sight was the average age of the backpackers. In India, I was one of the youngest, at just 25, while in Bangkok, though I wasn’t old by any means, I was no longer considered the baby of the group. Not only that, the levels of alcohol consumption went through the roof. (It’s Khaosan Road…it’s to be expected.)
But what made this hostel so special?
On my first night in the hostel I instantly struck up conversation with Jonas and Claudia, two German speakers, both with their own individual mixes of heritage. The trio of us soon clicked and were about to head on to Khaosan Road for a meal and a few drinks (here, the phrase ‘a few’ is being sarcastically used to mean ‘a lot’.) As we came to the hostel common area though, we were greeted with the smell of Thai spices floating through the air.
“We’ve got a free meal for all guests this evening, if you want!”
How could we say no?
We sat together, grabbed a beer and enjoyed one of the most satiating meals of our lives. A spicy Thai curry, with mini eggplants, chicken and chilli, all served with rice. Of course, after that we went out and had a crazy night on Khaosan Road, but that’s a story for another day.
Furthermore, the hostel had a beautiful setup for rainy days, with a couple of couches and a TV with Netflix, great for those afternoons when the rain seemed to go on forever. (Which, if you have ever travelled in South-East Asia during rainy season, you know can occur.)
For more information: https://www.sunetahostel.com/
Number 4 – Kiwi Basecamp Backpackers – Christchurch
December 31st 2018. New Year’s Eve and I arrive at the hostel in the early afternoon. A two storey white house on a semi-busy road, all recently furnished, perhaps the cleanest hostel I’ve ever stayed in and so warm and cosy, it puts my own home to shame.
Not only this, but there were two fully equipped kitchens, both of which looked industrial style, with plenty of space for the guests, huge fridges and the best knives I’ve ever experienced in a hostel. For someone that likes to cook while on the road, this was a God-send.
I arrived fully with the intention of meeting some friendly people in the hostel, getting some drinks and ringing in the New Year with my new friends. This place did not disappoint.
Soon after settling in, I met another Tom in the garden. With a cheeky grin and baseball cap which he never removed he told me he had 20 litres of homemade beer in the fridge that needed drinking that evening and I would be allowed to help myself whenver I wanted – perfect?
Perfect.
But what made this hostel so special?
Around six in the evening a gang of us were gathered in the garden along a huge table, drinking, getting to know one another and playing a game I’d long wanted to acquire, Avalon. This is a game of social deception, similar to Werewolf, Mafia or Secret Hitler, but with the added benefit of no eliminations. What occurred was five hours of non-stop fun, spirits high and those 20 litres of beer being consumed rather rapidly.
As midnight approached, New Zealand’s skies began to open and rain started to fly down into the garden.
“Do we stay here or go to the park for the fireworks?” was the ongoing conversation, but ultimately we decided to go to the park.
11:45
We were walking up the road, all joyfully talking standard drunken conversation. The rain was still spitting.
11:50
We found the park entrance and wandered closer to the centre. The rain was getting a little heavier.
11:55
I’d become separated from most of the rest of the group, too busy in conversation with a Swedish girl from the hostel. The rain was getting worse.
11:57
The Swedish girl went to the bathroom. The rain was worse.
11:59
The Swedish girl exited the bathroom. We quickly rejoined the others. The rain was not stopping.
12:00 Fireworks in the rain!
The rest of the night was relatively calm, while the next day the hostel was like a zombie world – everybody was joined at the hip to their hangover. Mind you, myself and a guy I’d met the night before sat down and watched a bit of Black Mirror, so it wasn’t such a bad day after all.
If you feel like staying at Kiwi Basecamp Backpackers, the link is here.
Number 3 – Black Tomato Hostel, Kutaisi – Georgia
Have you watched our series in Georgia and Armenia? (If you haven’t you definitely should check it out after reading this post – link below!) One of out best experiences was at Black Tomato hostel. Keep reading to find out exactly why!
After our first night in a quiet homestay, we felt we wanted something a little more backpackery, so we booked a couple nights at Black Tomato, not sure what to expect.
On arrival, we were impressed.
“Here’s the bar, we make wine, so don’t miss that during the evenings.”
“Here’s the kitchen – delicious breakfast every morning.” We were being shown around at 10AM, so there were many plates filled with hearty food – khachapuri (cheesey Georgian bread), fruits and vegetables. The smell of coffee wafted through the kitchen and the rest of the hostel. Stepping out of the hostel, there was a balcony, filled with people laughing, smiling and getting ready to start the day.
“And here are you beds.”
TRIPLE BUNK-BEDS!
But that was not what made these beds so good…
So what made this hostel so special?
Well, the beds were unbelievable comfortable. I’m talking better than at home comfortable. I’m talking fall asleep immediately. I’m talking it was tempting to lay in them all day.
Not only that, the atmosphere in the hostel was second to none. The staff were perhaps the friendliest of any hostel I’ve ever stayed in, joining in with the evenings’ drinking, but always there to help if we had any problems, even in the middle of the night. Their advice was consistent and well-given and the fact that we re-booked to stay in Black Tomato Hostel when we returned to Kutaisi at the end of our trip speaks dividends to how much we appreciated it.
Did I mention the homemade wine? Each evening, the 20 or so guests gathered downstairs and got to know each other, with wine pouring freely between us. With us being such a small group, we became almost like a family. This is perhaps the trend that we see between these hostels.
If you decide to visit Georgia, you are likely to fly into and out of Kutaisi. If you do, make sure you stay at Black Tomato – you won’t regret it. More information can be found here.
Number 2 – Spicy Pai, Pai – Thailand
If you know me, you knew this was coming.
Pai is one of my favourite places that I’ve visited so much so that it appeared in my top 10 places I want to revisit. One of the reasons I liked Pai so much was this hostel, which from start to finish was unforgettable.
I arrived in the back of a pickup truck, left at the end of a road leading down to a rice paddy field, late in the evening with the sun having already set and the stars beginning to pop out in the sky.
Down the dirt track I went, not entirely sure what to expect, but as I approached, the sound of a large number of people echoed through the air, as if a party was occurring.
Spicy Pai is best described as ‘treehouse-like’. The whole premises is open air, far better than staying in a stuffy dorm. Don’t worry, there are mosquito nets to prevent those bugs from getting you! Yes, the floors do creak a little and yes, on a very cold night, you may not be the warmest you’ve ever been, but it is a truly refreshing experience.
But what made this hostel so special?
Where was I? My arrival, yes.
Did I mention that about 30 people were upstairs, sharing drinks and stories, ready to head out to a jungle party? And that I was invited?
Did I also mention that there was a BBQ happening at the same time?
The atmosphere here was beyond compare. With some of the best people I’ve ever met in a hostel staying here. Every day new arrivals came and each had their own story and was a pleasure to be around. (Well, except one guy, but he was certainly an exception to the rule.)
The slow mornings, sipping coffee in the hammock, reading a book and munching on toast.
The afternoons going into town and grabbing lunch with some new friends, before heading out to sunset at Pai Canyon.
The evenings watching the sunset from the top of the treehouse and the relaxed drinking atmosphere (this was never a party hostel, but you could meet people to party with if you wanted to.)
This hostel is one of a kind and even though it doesn’t have the amenities and comfort of the jazziest of places, it makes up for it with the warmth of community you’ll find there. That, plus the campfire that they get going every now and then.
If you head to Pai, make sure to stay at Spicy Pai – you won’t regret it.
Number 1 – Hostel Costel – Timisoara, Romania
I’ve rarely spoken about my travels to Romania. It’s certainly a blog post I intend to write soon. Put simply, I hitchhiked from Sofia to Budapest, spending most of the three weeks in Romania.
My last location was Timisoara and after a rather uncomfortable hitch from Sibiu (the guy asked me to pay him at the end of the journey – not cool) I was pleased to be able to put my bag down and explore the city.
I spent one night here, but it was enough to make this my number one hostel and you’re probably wondering why.
A house just outside the city centre, it looks nothing like a hostel when you first glance at it, but as you walk down the entrance to the mini-foyer, the flowers either side of you and the colourful artwork shows you that this is no ordinary place.
“Hi there, please take your shoes off’ said the woman at reception, smiling with kindness and a warm mug of tea. I stepped into the hostel, on to the carpetted floorboards, fresh coffee again welcoming me.
After a quick check-in, it was time to tour my home for the night.
“Here’s the living room – you can play Xbox or Playstation if you want here, or just chill on the sofas and read.” ‘Nice’ I thought – a perfect place to relax after a long day in the town.
“Here’s your bedroom – choose any free bed.” The room was open spaced (so much, one could even call it socially distanced) with a window opening outside to allow the fresh air in.
“Here’s the kitchen and pantry. Feel free to help yourself to anything on these shelves” she indicated, showing a huge collection of items available.
“Aaaand, if you come through here….this is our garden”
Never, in all my years travelling have I seen such a beautiful garden in a hostel. There were not just trees and flowers and tables to sit at, but a quiet corner with hammocks, as well as vegetables and herbs growing in allotments dotted around.
“Of course, you can use any of these herbs in your cooking, if you wish.”
I WAS SOLD
But what made this hostel so special?
Isn’t it obvious?
It was the most homely place I have ever stayed. Friendly staff, nature on our doorstep and herbs to cook with. It really was the hostel from heaven.
Alas, I was only able to spend one night here, but I will revisit Hostel Costel and do plenty of cooking!
PS – A funny story about Timisoara – In the afternoon I went on the free walking tour, which gave plenty of history about Romania, particularly the 20th century history. Having been on several tours in a few cities over the previous weeks, my knowledge was at that moment ‘on point’ and I was answering all of the guide’s questions.
After the tour, a few of us went to get dinner together. (Pro-travel tip: After a walking tour, ask people if they want to get food together – most are hungry and there’s always someone daring enough to eat with strangers.) As we left the restaurant to say goodbye, we realised we were all staying in the same hostel……in the same room. Coincidence? Probably.
For more information about Hostel Costel, follow this link
Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my favourite hostels. What are some of the best places you’ve stayed? Let us know down below!
Backpacking Around 