The word ‘hostel’ is enough to conjure up images of 12-bed dorm rooms, with smelly shoes and snoring room mates. But this is far from the truth nowadays.
No longer just for students and backpackers on a shoestring budget, hostels can be an excellent accommodation option in their own right. With travellers demanding more from accommodation without the increased price tag, hostels often step up and meet this demand, offering plenty of perks that include free breakfast, wifi and drinks to fitness classes and co-working spaces.
Now in its 20th year, the annual HOSCAR awards are scored across criteria, including value for money, security, location, staff, atmosphere, cleanliness, facilities and overall customer experience. The perfect way to meet other travellers, HostelWorld has done the hard work again, amalgamating over 1.2 million reviews to find the crème de la crème of hostels worldwide.
Here are the best hostels in the world:
Best Small Hostel
With the distinct advantage of being brand new, The RoadHouse Prague is located a mere 150m away from the Charles Bridge. With separate bathrooms, the kitchen is fully equipped with all the essential spices and tools you need to put a Masterchef to shame and the lounge not only features Netflix but a wide range of books and boardgames for when you can sightsee no more.
Best Medium Hostel
A multi-HOSCAR award winner – Soul Kitchen in St Petersburg has also been recognised by the Guardian and in the Russian Hospitality Awards. A true example of what hostels mean today, it features ensuite private rooms, custom bunk beds with curtains for privacy and cool interior design. With three common rooms, Soul Kitchen even offers free coffee and tea, wifi and international calls to 56 countries.
Best Large Hostel
With a greenery-filled lounge the Star Hostel Taipei Main Station offers a clean and contemporary place to rest your weary head. Free breakfast, tea and coffee awaits you in the morning and at night there’s a bar serving local craft beer. With activities from bubble tea tutorials and dumpling-making parties it’s hard to imagine what more you would want from your Taiwan trip!
Best Extra Large Hostels
Let’s start with the rooftop hot tub … yep – it’s not hard to see why the M Montreal hostel wins this round. With rooms ranging from apartments, studios, private rooms and dorms, cleaning and towel service are included daily. As is high-speed wifi, access to Mac computers and breakfast. Seems like a no-brainer to us.
Best Hostel Chain
A mere 100 metres 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 Hostel for Groups
Preferring to be referred to as a ‘poshostel’ due to the cool design and great atmosphere, Mola is located in Madrid’s old town close to many famous sites, bars and restaurants. Spacious rooms offer clean lines and privacy and the 24-hour reception means you can check in and out anytime you like.
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 a 15minute walk to the lagoon, there’s also hammocks, AFL on the big screen, 1500 movies to choose from and the offer of a free transfer in the colourful Kombi or VW Beetle.
Read the full list of best hostels in the world at HostelWorld. Have you stayed at a great hostel?
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