Gone are the days when nice accommodation meant hotels or nothing. Thanks to the way travel is evolving there are a lot more options when it comes to accommodation. And while in the past, hostels may have only been for travellers on a shoestring budget – namely students and backpackers – this could not be further from the truth now.
Forget the stereotypical image of a 20-bed dorm room. Many hostels now offer plenty of perks, from free breakfast, wifi and drinks to fitness classes and co-working spaces.
HostelWorld has done the hard work amalgamating over one million reviews to find out the crème de la crème of hostels worldwide.
Now in its 15th year, the annual HOSCAR awards are scored across value for money, location, staff, atmosphere, cleanliness, facilities, security and overall customer experience. Here are the world’s best hostels:
Best Small Hostel
Featuring private rooms with ensuites, bunk beds with curtains for privacy in dorm rooms, Apple Macs for internet access and incredibly generous lounge and kitchen spaces, Soul Kitchen in St Petersburg, Russia, was the leading small hostel.
Best Medium Hostel
With nightly dinners cooked by the owner’s mother the aptly named Home Lisbon Hostel is renowned for its atmosphere and activities including walking tours, pub crawls and all round ‘at home feeling’. One look at the wood panelled rooms and stunning architecture, and you’ll be sold.
Best Large Hostel
A mere 100m from Milan Central Station, the Ostello Bello Grande team pride themselves on the fact they have visited more than 300 hostels across five continents. With free breakfast and wifi, there are also three open-air terraces featuring hammocks, a BBQ and vegetable garden. We were sold on the nightly Italian Aperitivo!
Best New Hostel
With the beach bang on your doorstep, Lub d Phuket Patong is a new hostel in Phuket, Thailand, catering for all ages and budgets. With chic beach-style dorms to private rooms there are also co-working spaces, business facilities, a pool, patio, as well as smoothie, deli and drinks bars.
Best Hostel in Asia
Located in the heart of Nha Trang, Mojzo Inn offers free breakfast on their rooftop each morning, free wifi, water and even beer between 5 and 6pm.
Best Hostel in Auckland
One street away from the iconic skytower, The Attic Backpackers is spotlessly clean with an industrial sized kitchen and large covered outdoor deck. With private single, double and twin rooms there are large and small dorms and a fully functioning travel and tour desk to help plan your NZ adventure without leaving the hostel.
Best Hostel in England
Housed in a Georgian Regency villa with attached coach house, Park Villa is a new boutique hostel in the East End of London. With oak wood floors throughout, rooms are predominantly ensuites, with family accommodation featuring full sized baths. Breakfast is included, and rooms and showers are cleaned daily.
Best Hostel in France
Recently opened by three young Parisian travellers, Les Piaules is a fully renovated art deco building with a rooftop terrace featuring fantastic views out over the City of Love. With free wifi, late checkout, custom bunk beds and the coolest bar in town. Breakfast is also included.
Best Hostel in Australia
Featuring a swimming pool, outdoor terrace with a BBQ and no bunk beds in sight, Traveller’s Oasis in Cairns took out the title of Best Hostel when it comes to Australia. Only 15-minutes’ walk to the lagoon, there are also hammocks and superb staff, according to the reviews.
Read the full list of best hostels in the world at HostelWorld. Have you stayed at a great hostel? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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