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To be honest, we picked Base Backpackers largely because of the $20 per night price tag. We'd by lying if we told you it was a perfect situation: we had a private room in the basement that wreaked of mold, had to walk two flights of stairs and across a hallway to go to the bathroom, cold water showers, and internet so bad that old school AOL dial-up would have felt like luxury. With that said, the hostel was in the heart of the city - a safe, bustling area, across the street from Chinese and Indian food, and in walking distance to the Intercape bus station. The managers are extremely friendly, and the "guard" - a mutt resembling a bijon frise named Spudd - made for a warm, tail wagging welcome when we came home. Do we recommend Base when you visit Maputo? Well if you can afford a splurge on a hotel, then this might not be the place to do it. With that said, in terms of value for the dollar, Base was a fair deal.
545 Avenue Patrice Lumumba, Maputo Mozambique
Email thebasebp@tvcabo.co.mz
Telephone +258 (0) 1 302 723
Fax +258 (0) 1 313 750
Google map: tinyurl.com/yexkyv6
A wonderful smart cosy hostel right in the centre of Old Town Innsbruck. Characterful twin rooms in a traditional apartment above a popular wonderful cake shop/cafe where they serve breakfast and give you cake. There is also one six bed dorm and lounge. Two well stocked kitchen areas for self catering including free food. Friendly welcome and local information from owner Anja. Price from 20 euros pppn. Great central place for local night life and further afield excursions.
Kiebachgasse 16, 6020 Innsbruck
0512 584118
www.nepomuk.at
Google map: tinyurl.com/ybseshe
6 blocks from Train and bus station
25 mins bus ride from airport
What makes a good hostel in Africa? If it were just the fact that it was clean and the prices fair, we would have been content with our stay at the Mufasa Lodge in Lilongwe, Malawi. Add on hot showers, friendly staff, Wifi internet, and a fun lounge bar in the back, and you have the best hostel we’ve seen so far.
After more than 30 hostels in 100 days on the road in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda - the Mufasa Lodge stood in a league of its own. Starting at fifteen US dollars a night for a dorm bed, it’s the best value in the city.
Kamuzu Procession Road, PO Box 7 Lumbadzi, SS Rent a Car Building, Lilongwe, Malawi
I stayed here a few weeks ago and was completely floored by the level of accomodation provided. I stayed here because it was a hostel and I am trying to stretch the pocket book as much as possible theses days, but was blown away by the interior, activities and amazing staff. This is more like a boutique hotel than a hostel, without the sticker shock. Can't recommend enough! Fantastic!
www.oasislisboa.com
Rua Santa Catarina 24
1200-402, Lisboa
Close to Bairro Alto (nightlife neighborhood)
Google map: tinyurl.com/ya6j5vu
It's in an excellent location not far from Union Square with trendy cafes within 100 meters. Rooms are ensuite and a lot more effort put in to the overall quality of the hostel than you will generally find in all of NYC hostels.
27 East 7th St
New York City
(212) 228-0828 Phone
reservations@villageinnhostel.com
www.villageinnhostel.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/yb87vtj
A posh location surrounded by Art Nouveau splendor. The hostel has extra large rooms all with original stunning floor boards. An excellent price considering that five-star hotels are being built in the streets around. WIFi in all rooms and WII games console in the common area.
25 Krisjana Barona Street
Riga, Latvia
+371 2910 5939
funky@hostel.lv
www.funkyhostel.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/yej6lpk
Every room has been painted to a high standard by a local artist. Excellent service. They also won Best Hostel USA 2008.
2327 2ND AVE .
SEATTLE WA 98121
1-206-706-3255
reservations@hostelseattle.com
www.hostelseattle.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/yeqpgea
Equity Point is one of the few hostels offering clean if cramped dorms right in the heart of Girona. Shared six bed dorms are around €15 per night, but you do get a very good free breakfast which you can eat as much as you want of.
There is also an adequate kitchen if you can't afford to eat out and want to cook your own food. The staff are really friendly and helpful.
But if you want to use the Internet - don't use their machines as they are ridiculously expensive (€2 just for 1 hour) - instead go to the cultural centre or library where you can use the Internet for up to an hour for nothing (but you must have your passport to show them to get this free usage). On the plus side, the hostel is within walking distance of the train and bus stations making it an ideal base for day trips from Girona. The hostel roof has a terrace with stupendous views of the old walled city of Girona.
Plaça Catalunya 23, 17002 Girona
Tel: 97 241 78 40
www.equity-point.com
20-30 min walk from the train and bus stations
Google map: tinyurl.com/yebwxpv
A charming ecological hostel from the 1920´s with heating from wind power and a bed rock pump. It's by the small lake of Masnaren and has walking trails, canoeing and swimming right next door. It's also only 30 minutes away from central Stockholm.
Stadanvägen 2, Södertälje
www.tvetagarden.nu
info@tvetagarden.nu
+46 8 550 98025
Södertälje central
Google map: tinyurl.com/yz28fzu
HQ is the best hostel I've stayed in, in my entire life. The design is modern, minimal yet very functional. The hostel provided clean bedsheets, a large pillow and soft duvets. Gym facility and chill-out coffee and waffle bar are a plus. Breakfast and wifi are free. What more can I ask for for US$10/ night? The staff were super friendly and always helpful. Loved every second I spent there and will go back everytime I'm Bangkok.
5/3-4, Silom Soi 3, Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
(+66) 02 233 1598
www.hqhostel.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yctyqep
662 233 1598
A beautiful island, close to Cancun but more orientated for those who wish to enjoy a nice relaxed atmosphere as supposed to Cancun's tackified hotel zone. The island is only about 12km long so getting around is fairly easy with plenty of taxi's or if you prefer you can hire bicycles, mopeds and even golf buggies. Lots of nice relaxing bars and restaurants on the beach and some amazing snorkelling and dive sites nearby. I stayed in the PocNa hostel geared for the backpackers out there. At only 100 pesos a night (around £5) including breakfast it is a price that cannot be beaten. With a beach bar and all the islands eateries within walking distance this is a perfect place for those on a very tight budget.
Isla Mujeres can be reached by ferry costing about 70 pesos from Puerta Juarez just north of Cancun. There are plenty of regular buses from the centre of Cancun costing around 5 pesos. Once on the isle of Mujeres the PocNa hostel is just a short walk from the docks and all the locals will be able to direct you.
www.pocna.com/
Google map: tinyurl.com/yag3e7p
www.isla-mujeres.net/home.htm
Really great hostel if you want to make a lot of new friends.
You feel at home and taken care of, as the super friendly staff asks you every day how you are doing and really look after you.
The rooms were very social, we met heaps of great people.
I will definitely head back to this place!
Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 17,1012NG,Amsterdam,Netherlands,
www.hostelcosmos.com
0031206252438
Google map: tinyurl.com/yanf9d5
Palmers Lodge is amazing. First of all, it's an old mansion that has been converted into a hostel. They have private rooms available, but I only stayed in the dorm room and it was unlike any dorm room I've been in. The beds were SOLID wood (no creaky metal), and had curtains which was great for privacy. FREE wifi! FREE breakfast! There's a bar and restaurant downstairs and the staff are pretty helpful. By chance I booked into Palmers Lodge on my first trip to London (they were the top rated hostel in my searches), and I've been back six times now in the last two years. I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else in London and I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a place.
40 College Crescent
Swiss Cottage, NW3 5LB
ph: 02074838470
www.palmerslodge.co.uk
Nearest Tube: Swiss Cottage/ Finchley Road
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9ro9py
An incredible place to stay whilst in Budapest. Everything, and I mean everything, about Goat Hostel is great. Service with a smile is an understatement.
Vamhaz Korut 15 near Kalvin ter metro station.
It's a small personal hostel in the middle of the Old Town in Stockholm. You have everything within walking distance, from historical plays to shopping and night life areas.
They offer single, twin, triple and four-bed room. You have free wireless in all rooms and a guest kitchen.
A more central hostel you can't find.
Stora Nygatan 38 11127 Stockholm
+46 (0)8 22 99 40
www.archipelagohostel.se
8 min walk from central station
As a girl travelling alone in Costa Rica, I felt really safe here and was very grateful for all the tourist information they had. It has only just opened so isn't in the Lonely Planet yet, but is definitely worth a visit. Good value for money and a really good location on the main road.
www.molinorojohostel.com
Phone: 506 2221-6868
On Paseo Colon, the main avenue, in front of the Spanish Embassy.
The main draw of the Anandamayi is the cute, pretty extras it provides. Hammocks, pretty geraniums, colourful patios, a garden with waterfall and fish create an attractive exterior which is a pleasure to walk up to.
The interior is clean and tidy, and the hotel/hostel has a very homely, cosy feel. Most guests however spend a lot of time in the garden and courtyard which are by far the gems of the property.
All the major attractions of Bogota are within walking distance and they have a female dorm available at the same rate for those who would don't want to be in a mixed one.
www.anandamayihostel.com/
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/colombia/bogota/18761/
Cabana Copa gains consistently high reviews from all who stay there, its location is safe and convenient, it is close to the metro and bus stop and is very clean. Moreover, it’s independently owned so there is a very high attention to detail, a more personable approach and the manager is on site everyday.
They offer nice big lockers for all your bags allowing you to explore and enjoy the Copacabana beach (two blocks away) without the constant worry of the safety of your luggage. Friendly and helpful staff complete the package.
Great hostel in Cape Town, in a safe neighbourhood within the City Improvement District. They have an overnight security guard, so there is a sense of safety at all times.
Another highlight of this find is the private courtyard and swimming pool - perfect for relaxing after a night out or a morning of sightseeing.
It's central location means that you can easily pop out for a coffee, look round the shops or go out for a few drinks with the reassurance that it's only a five minute walk back to the hostel.
With so many hostels available in London, it is such a daunting task trying to pick one when you stay. St Christophers Inn’s Orient Espresso is one of the best hostels the capital has to offer, and is extremely popular with female travellers in particular. The St Christopher’s chain has a few hostels in the area, but Espresso’s situated above a coffee shop and smack bang in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. It is one of its best offererings with clean, comfortable, relaxing rooms and a great atmosphere.
It has a special Oasis female only sanctuary with an 8 bed girls dorm which is really good for feeling safer and more comfortable in an unknown city. Even if you want to stay in for a while after you arrive there is free internet, chess sets, travel library and chill out room so there’s little chance of getting bored whatever your mood is.
From the hostel you can easily walk to Southbank, and take a stroll along the Thames which is one of the best way to see the city’s historic landmarks such as the London Eye and Big Ben. Most of the main galleries are also within easy reach of the river so you can soak up all the culture you want, if you only want to see a few of the galleries then definately drop in at the Tate Modern and make sure you keep an eye out for some of the amazing graffitti which is scattered about.
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