The Best Hostels in
Southeast Asia
For Backpackers & Travelers
Looking for Somewhere Specific?
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Cambodia has some epic hostels to start us off, obviously Mad Monkey dominates the hostel scene across SEA, but there is also alternate options which are amazing too!
Starting with Siem Reap, home to the famous temples, I would choose between Mad Monkey or the White Rabbit Hostel. Obviously Mad Monkey is going to be the social center, plus they have 2 swimming pools, bars and restaurants, nightly events and all the fun really goes on here. If Mad Monkey isn’t your vibe, check out the White Rabbit Hostel which is still social and has great facilities, yet has a bit more of the family vibe you might want. It’s Alice in Wonderland themed and has mainly everything Mad Monkey has. Over to the capital, you have two big names to pick between, which is again, Mad Monkey and also Onederz which own plenty of great hostels in Cambodia. Not much needs to be said about Mad Monkey again, but here in Phnom Penh their pool parties are awesome. Onederz is in the amazing riverside area and you can get an awesome view from their rooftop which has a relaxing pool. Their beds are also really nice, and they are great with the events including the boat tours, which is why they are probably my top choice here. Over to Kampot, where you can find yourself a really unique hostel in Arcadia Waterpark Hostel. It is a bit out of the city centre, but I would recommend it just for the amazing experience of living in a place which has a personal waterpark in its backdoor. I prefer to be away from the city if it means I get a massive slide and swing complete with a mountainous backdrop. The final recommendation for Cambodia comes on Koh Rong island, and here it simply has to be Mad Monkey. The island is a very big Party island especially in the warm season, so Mad Monkey is kind of perfect here. You can hang out in their beachfront bar, and they have all kinds of fun activities to bring everyone together on the waterfront of this amazing island. Say what you want about Mad Monkey, but here in Cambodia they are always very social and have reliable and comfortable facilities.
Mad Monkey
Koh Rong
Hostelworld
Onederz
Phnom Penh
Hostelworld
Arcadia Waterpark
Kampot
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Cambodia
1) Mad Monkey, Siem Reap
White Rabbit Hostel
Siem Reap
Hostelworld
Mad Monkey
Siem Reap
Hostelworld
Mad Monkey
Phnom Penh
Hostelworld
Starting with Siem Reap, home to the famous temples. My first pick has to be the Mad Monkey Hostel. Obviously Mad Monkey is going to be the social center of Siem Reap, and they have 2 swimming pools, bars, restaurants, nightly events, and to put it simply, all the fun really goes on here. The rooms are good too, but you have to stay here to make friends with the opportunity to have constant fun.
Hostel Link
2) White Rabbit Hostel, Siem Reap
If Mad Monkey isn’t your vibe, check out the White Rabbit Hostel, which is still social and has great facilities, yet has a bit more of the family vibe you might want. It’s an Alice in Wonderland themed hostel and has mainly everything Mad Monkey has just with a different vibe. I really like their pool and rooms here.
Hostel Link
3) Mad Monkey, Phnom Penh
Not much needs to be said about Mad Monkey again, but here in Phnom Penh their pool parties are awesome and they’re centrally located too. It is 100% party orientated and they often have 4+ events daily.
Hostel Link
4) Onederz, Phnom Penh
Onederz is in the amazing riverside area, and you can get an awesome view from their rooftop which has a relaxing pool to chill at. Their beds are also really nice, and they are great with the events - including the boat tours, which is why they are probably my top choice here.
Hostel Link
5) Arcadia Waterpark Hostel, Kampot
Over to Kampot, where you can find yourself a really unique hostel in Arcadia Waterpark Hostel. It is a bit out of the city centre, but I would recommend it just for the amazing experience of living in a place which has a personal waterpark in its backdoor. I prefer to be away from the city if it means I get a massive slide and swing complete with a mountainous backdrop.
Hostel Link
6) Mad Monkey, Koh Rong
The final recommendation for Cambodia comes on Koh Rong island, and here it simply has to be Mad Monkey. The island is a very big Party island especially in the warm season, so Mad Monkey is kind of perfect here. You can hang out in their beachfront bar, and they have all kinds of fun activities to bring everyone together on the waterfront of this amazing island.
Hostel Link
In and out of Bali, you can find some awesome, social hostels and it makes it really easy to make friends in Indonesia. These hostel picks are the best for people who want a welcoming atmosphere and lively nights with events every day, so enjoy!
Canggu Central in Bali’s south is one of the regions most modern and social hostels, with both FREE Breakfast AND Dinner, and lovely common areas which aren’t too big making it a breeze to meet other backpackers. The rooftop bar is the highlight and I recommend making the most of the happy hours here. Option 2 for Canggu has got to be The Farm. Although it’s a chain, they have some of the best hostels in Indonesia and the one in Canggu is a big establishment with fun events every single night ran by the awesome hostel reps. It is definitely social and has that resort type of feel as well. I’d recommend you get involved with their pub crawls as they open up the night for parties. As we had further south down to Uluwatu, I have to suggest Lay Day Hostel which is no doubt the best hostel here, and in my opinion it even beats the Mad Monkey hostel. It’s really social and feels like you’re living in a villa thanks to the lagoon and beautiful design all around the hostel. I’ll admit it’s not for everyone as it can feel too resorty at times, but you can’t pass up a stunning haven like this especially when the rooms are so high quality too. My last stop in Bali is Ubud, and here I’d suggest you stay in the Puri Garden Hostel which has a very unique vibe compared to the rest of the list. It is worth the price simply because it’s basically a wellness retreat inside a hostel. You can get free massages every day, there is free yoga, hammocks in the lovely garden spaces, and it is social too. It is in my opinion one of the most beautiful hostels in Bali. Now let’s go over to Nusa Penida, and talk about The Farm hostel. For this price, this view is amazing. You can go up to their awesome rooftop pool and look out at the mountains and the waterfront as well as the amazing sunsets. There is so much space to relax in this hostel, and for a small extra fee you can use their gym, sauna, and ice bath too. It really keeps the resort vibe up and you still have great opportunities to meet people in your rooms. Lastly, in the lovely Gili T you HAVE to stay in Atlas Gili, it is surely the only option you should be considering. It is so welcoming and beautiful, and they have daily activities including snorkelling! There is breakfast and dinner available too, but the standout is the pool space. It is so gorgeous there and an awesome spot to hang. The rooms are basic enough, some just having straight beds instead of bunks, but the showers attatched are great!
Atlas Gili
Gili Trawangan
Hostelworld
Puri Garden Hostel
Ubud (Bali)
Hostelworld
The Farm
Nusa Penida
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Indonesia
1) Canggu Central, Canggu
The Farm
Canggu (Bali)
Hostelworld
Canggu Central in Bali’s south is one of the regions most modern and social hostels, with both FREE Breakfast AND Dinner, and lovely common areas which aren’t too big making it a breeze to meet other backpackers. The rooftop bar is the highlight and I recommend making the most of the happy hours here, as it is really fun!
Hostel Link
2) The Farm
Canggu Central
Canggu (Bali)
Hostelworld
Lay Day Hostel
Uluwatu (Bali)
Hostelworld
Option 2 for Canggu has got to be The Farm. Although it’s a chain, they have some of the best hostels in Indonesia and the one in Canggu is a big establishment with fun events every single night ran by the awesome hostel reps. It is definitely social and has that resort type of feel as well. I’d recommend you get involved with their pub crawls as they open up the night for parties.
Hostel Link
3) Lay Day, Uluwatu
As we had further south down to Uluwatu, I have to suggest Lay Day Hostel which is no doubt the best hostel here, and in my opinion it even beats the Mad Monkey here too. It’s really social and feels like you’re living in a villa thanks to the lagoon, and beautiful design all around the hostel. I’ll admit it’s not for everyone, as it can feel too resort-y at times, but you can’t pass up a stunning haven like this especially when the rooms are so high quality too.
Hostel Link
4) Puri Garden Hostel, Ubud
My last pick in Bali is in Ubud, and here I’d suggest you stay in the Puri Garden Hostel which has a very unique vibe compared to the rest of the list. It is worth the price, simply because it’s basically a wellness retreat inside a hostel. You can get free massages every day, there is free yoga, hammocks in the lovely garden spaces, and it is social too. It is in my opinion one of the most beautiful hostels in Bali
Hostel Link
5) The Farm, Nusa Penida
Now let’s go over to Nusa Penida, and talk about The Farm hostel. For this price, this view is amazing. You can go up to their awesome rooftop pool and look out at the mountains and the waterfront as well as the amazing sunsets. There is so much space to relax in this hostel, and for a small extra fee you can use their gym, sauna, and ice bath too. It really keeps the resort vibe up and you still have great opportunities to meet people in your rooms.
Hostel Link
6) Atlas Gili, Gili Trawangan
Lastly, in the lovely Gili T you HAVE to stay in Atlas Gili, it is surely the only option you should be considering. It is so welcoming and beautiful, and they have daily activities including snorkeling! There is breakfast and dinner available too, but the standout is the pool space. It is so gorgeous there and an awesome spot to hang. The rooms are basic enough, some just having straight beds instead of bunks, but the showers attached are great!
Hostel Link
Laos is probably the weakest country for hostels in Southeast Asia, but I’ve chosen the top 2 hostels for the top 2 destinations of Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng to make sure you can still have a fun stay.
Let’s begin with Luang Prabang. You should either choose to stay in the Mad Monkey Hostel, or The Jam Hostel. Sinc everyone knows how the Mad Monkey hostels go, I don’t need to say to much on it. It definitely isn’t a party hostel like some other variants, but it is still nice and social with lots of events and tours, and it is definitely easy to meet friends here. The swimming pool is pretty cool and gets real lovely around sunset time. Now let’s talk about The Jam Hostel, which is another good choice in LP. The swimming pool here is way nicer and they have a bunch of deck chairs around it so you can get some real nice relaxing time in. It’s still lively and social and has a nice cozy bar where you can meet other travelers. I’d still probably recommend Mad Monkey, but it comes down to personal preference. Now, the two options I would decide between in Vang Vieng is the Riverside Garden Hostel and the Mad Monkey (again). The Riverside Garden Hostel is genuinely so awesome, and my favourite hostel in Laos. You are situated right next to the beautiful river and in the right seasons, you’ll have hot air balloons flying right overhead as well! There’s a massive dance floor and the atmosphere is simply amazing. Look at the photos and I’m sure you’ll be sold. The Mad Monkey hostel is actually just round the road, and is still a major contender in the city. You know what you’ll get with a Mad Monkey hostel and the one in Vang Vieng is no different. You’ve got the fun social nightly events, the well maintained swimming pool, and the epic hostel volunteers. Any of these 4 hostels in Laos will be great.
Mad Monkey
Vang Vieng
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Laos
1) The Jam Hostel, Luang Prabang
Mad Monkey
Luang Prabang
Hostelworld
The Jam Hostel
Luang Prabang
Hostelworld
Riverside Garden Hostel
Vang Vieng
Hostelworld
The Jam Hostel is a good choice in LP. The swimming pool here is really nice and they have a bunch of deck chairs around it so you can get some real nice relaxing time in. It’s still lively and social and has a nice cozy bar where you can meet other travelers. I’d still probably recommend the Mad Monkey here, but it comes down to personal preference.
Hostel Link
2) Mad Monkey, Luang Prabang
Everyone knows how the Mad Monkey hostels go, so I don’t need to say to much on it. It definitely isn’t a party hostel like some other variants, but it is still nice and social with lots of events and tours, and it is definitely easy to meet friends here. The swimming pool is pretty cool and gets real lovely around sunset time as well.
Hostel Link
3) Riverside Garden Hostel,
Vang Vieng
The Riverside Garden Hostel is genuinely so awesome, and my favorite hostel in Laos. You are situated right next to the beautiful river and in the right seasons, you’ll have hot air balloons flying right overhead as well! There’s a massive dance floor and the atmosphere is simply amazing. Look at the photos and I’m sure you’ll be sold.
Hostel Link
4) Mad Monkey, Vang Vieng
The Mad Monkey hostel is actually just round the road, and is still a major contender in the city. You know what you’ll get with a Mad Monkey hostel and the one in Vang Vieng is no different. You’ve got the fun social nightly events, the well maintained swimming pool, and the epic hostel volunteers. Any of these 4 hostels in Laos will be great.
Hostel Link
Hostels in Malaysia are pretty decent for the most part. You’re likely to get something modern to fulfill your stay, so these are the best 5 hostels I can recommend for your trip.
In the capital of Kuala Lumpur you have quite a few choices, but Poshpack Skyline Hostel actually just opened at the start of 2026, and it’s the cities most modern and impressive hostel in my opinion. From the balcony, you get an impressive view of the cities skyline (Petronas Towers included), and you can even experience it from the swimming pool on L5. The hostel itself is all the way up on the 38th floor and the views at night are really what makes it spectacular. It’s still social enough and in my opinion the perfect choice to feel some Malaysian comfort while still keeping the budget in mind. Over to the very popular place of Langkawi, the number 1 hostel here is definitely Bed Attitude. It’s really modern and has comfortable rooms plus a load of cool common spaces including darts machines and a pool table. All the facilities here are just really good and you can have a really comfortable stay in Langkawi here. The 2nd choice for Langkawi is somewhat the opposite, and it’s called The Kasbah. I say it’s different, because you have the choice of staying in a flying bed, literally hanging up by ropes, which is pretty cool. It’s a really nice artsy style hostel and I’d say it’s slightly more social than Bed Attitude but both are great choices depending on what you like. Over to Penang (specifically George Town), I suggest EZ Social Hostel as my pick here. They have everything you need in a hostel, from organized events to free breakfast. It’s social as the name suggests, and is in a really good location too. You can check out their events on hostelworld as it’s a really good opportunity to make friends. There is genuinely nothing bad to say about this hostel, it’s a great pick. Melaka, in my opinion is still lacking a standout hostel, but Yote 28 is a great choice for now. It’s really really comfortable which is good, and it’s definitely great if you want some downtime as they have a Netflix room and a computer space. It’s not really social, but it makes up for it with the good facilities and beds and it could totally pass for an Air BNB.
EZ Social Hostel
Penang
Hostelworld
Yote 28
Melaka
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Malaysia
1) Poshpack Skyline Hostel,
Kuala Lumpur
Bed Attitude
Langkawi
Hostelworld
Poshpack Skyline
Kuala Lumpur
Hostelworld
The Kasbah
Langkawi
Hostelworld
In the capital of Kuala Lumpur you have quite a few choices, but Poshpack Skyline Hostel actually just opened at the start of 2026, and it’s the cities most modern and impressive hostel in my opinion. From the balcony, you get an impressive view of the cities skyline (Petronas Towers included), and you can even experience it from the swimming pool on L5. The hostel itself is all the way up on the 38th floor and the views at night are really what makes it spectacular. It’s still social enough and in my opinion the perfect choice to feel some Malaysian comfort while still keeping the budget in mind.
Hostel Link
2) Bed Attitude, Langkawi
Over to the very popular place of Langkawi, the number 1 hostel here is definitely Bed Attitude. It’s really modern and has comfortable rooms plus a load of cool common spaces including darts machines and a pool table. All the facilities here are just really good and you can have a really comfortable stay in Langkawi here.
Hostel Link
3) The Kasbah, Langkawi
The 2nd choice for Langkawi is somewhat the opposite, and it’s called The Kasbah. I say it’s different, because you have the choice of staying in a flying bed, literally hanging up by ropes, which is pretty cool. It’s a really nice artsy style hostel and I’d say it’s slightly more social than Bed Attitude but both are great choices depending on what you like.
Hostel Link
4) EZ Social Hostel, Penang
Over to Penang (specifically George Town), I suggest EZ Social Hostel as my pick here. They have everything you need in a hostel, from organized events to free breakfast. It’s social as the name suggests, and is in a really good location too. You can check out their events on Hostelworld as it’s a really good opportunity to make friends. There is genuinely nothing bad to say about this hostel, it’s a great pick.
Hostel Link
5) Yote 28, Melaka
Melaka, in my opinion is still lacking a standout hostel, but Yote 28 is a great choice for now. It’s really really comfortable which is good, and it’s definitely great if you want some downtime as they have a Netflix room and a computer space. It’s not really social, but it makes up for it with the good facilities and beds and it could totally pass for an Air BNB.
Hostel Link
Hostels in the Philippines are the best way to explore the stunning waters of Filipino islands and shores. There is some amazing choices as you venture through the country.
I’ve picked two options for the capital of Manila, and the first one is the Manila-Z-Hostel, which is one of the top social hostels in the Philippines. The atmosphere here is really good and fun and they have events every night to connect everyone staying there. The rooms are also really good, but the main reason for staying here is for the energetic nights, which get real fun on the rooftop deck. The second choice for Manila is the infamous Mad Monkey hostel which is much the same as the Z Hostel. They also have a rooftop deck, a 24 hour bar, and endless events including their great pub crawl. Mad Monkey is definitely a reliable choice anywhere if you like to get out and have fun all night. For those of you visiting beautiful Moalboal, I have to recommend Moana Beach House to you. It’s right on the beach, and the selling point is that you can literally go snorkeling right from where the hostel is. You can get out and just swim whenever you want, so it’s like your own little resort paradise in a hostel. Now let’s move over to Palawan, starting with Coron where you should stay at Hop Hostel. It’s probably the most popular hostel here, and the atmosphere is great but it isn’t ‘party’ at all. It shines up on the rooftop with its Greek looking bar too. Overall it’s just a really solid all rounder choice for your Coron stay. Moving up to the north of Palawan, Frendz Hostel in El Nido is one of the best hostels in the whole country. It’s really social, and like the name suggests you could easily make new friends. It’s not hard when there’s a beautiful rooftop pool and communal area which you can’t pass up chilling at. It’s a really big hostel and as a bonus they connect you with the best tours and events in the area - 100% recommend. The last pick in Palawan is Port Barton, and here I suggest the Seaside Beach Hostel. Social hostels in Port Barton are somewhat hard to come by, but this hostel is really nice and it is directly on the beach which is why I picked it. It’s clean, spacious, you have all the privacy you need and the staff are lovely. I love the vibe of feeling like you’re in a little beach cabin.
Seaside Beach Hostel
Port Barton
Hostelworld
Hop Hostel
Coron
Hostelworld
Frendz Hostel
El Nido
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Philippines
1) Manila-Z-Hostel, Manila
Mad Monkey
Manila
Hostelworld
Manila-Z-Hostel
Manila
Hostelworld
Moana Beach House
Moalboal
Hostelworld
I’ve picked two options for the capital of Manila, and the first one is the Manila-Z-Hostel, which is one of the top social hostels in the Philippines. The atmosphere here is really good and fun and they have events every night to connect everyone staying there. The rooms are also really good, but the main reason for staying here is for the energetic nights, which get real fun on the rooftop deck.
Hostel Link
2) Mad Monkey, Manila
The second choice for Manila is the infamous Mad Monkey hostel which is much the same as the Z Hostel. They also have a rooftop deck, a 24 hour bar, and endless events including their great pub crawl. Mad Monkey is definitely a reliable choice anywhere if you like to get out and have fun all night.
Hostel Link
3) Moana Beach House, Moalboal
. For those of you visiting beautiful Moalboal, I have to recommend Moana Beach House to you. It’s right on the beach, and the selling point is that you can literally go snorkeling right from where the hostel is. You can get out and just swim whenever you want, so it’s like your own little resort paradise in a hostel.
Hostel Link
4) Hop Hostel, Coron
Now let’s move over to Palawan, starting with Coron where you should stay at Hop Hostel. It’s probably the most popular hostel here, and the atmosphere is great but it isn’t ‘party’ at all. It shines up on the rooftop with its Greek looking bar too. Overall it’s just a really solid all rounder choice for your Coron stay.
Hostel Link
5) Frendz Hostel, El Nido
Moving up to the north of Palawan, Frendz Hostel in El Nido is one of the best hostels in the whole country. It’s really social, and like the name suggests you could easily make new friends. It’s not hard when there’s a beautiful rooftop pool and communal area which you can’t pass up chilling at. It’s a really big hostel and as a bonus they connect you with the best tours and events in the area - 100% recommend.
Hostel Link
6) Seaside Beach Hostel,
Port Barton
The last pick in Palawan is Port Barton, and here I suggest the Seaside Beach Hostel. Social hostels in Port Barton are somewhat hard to come by, but this hostel is really nice and it is directly on the beach which is why I picked it. It’s clean, spacious, you have all the privacy you need and the staff are lovely. I love the vibe of feeling like you’re in a little beach cabin.
Hostel Link
Obviously we all know how popular Thailand is, so it was really hard to pick the absolute best hostel, but here are my 6 choices for Thailand’s top spots.
Stop 1 is Bangkok, and for here I have selected Bed Station at Khaosan as the best hostel for all kinds of travelers. The rooms are nice, and the beds are like double beds which is a huge bonus. The pool and social area is really really nice, and for the price you pay it is so worth it. There is a gym too, and a bar within the hostel which is always a bonus. If you want to party in Bangkok, you can just walk down to Mad Monkey and hangout instead of actually staying there. Over to Chiang Mai, I really tried avoiding picking a Mad Monkey Hostel for this whole list, but the one in Chang Mai is genuinely really good. Of course, it has a pool and gym and everything you need, but the vibes here are SO good and it isn’t as much of a party hostel as other Mad Monkey hostels so it is worth giving it a go, especially if you wanna meet new friends. Now to Pai, I have picked a really nice hostel in Common Grounds Hostel. The aesthetic is so cool it’s like a forest cabin kinda vibe kind of like you’re on a school camp trip. The social area is nice and they always have hostel events on which is ideal, plus activities too. It isn’t a party hostel, but it is still very social and as a little bonus they have free tea and coffee for everyone all the time. The dorms are awesome, but the private rooms are something special. Now over to the islands, starting with Krabi. Since you wanna be staying in Ao Nang, I recommend Nomads Hostel. It is one of the big names here, so it feels slightly commercialised but it is social, and the pool area is high quality with the resort vibe you may be looking for. They’ve got their classic hostel pub crawls too, plus a bar inside the hostel by the chill area. Good hostel, good facilities all round. For Koh Samui, it was hard to make one pick, but I ended up on Lub D Hostel at Chaweng Beach. I can tell you right now, the view here is genuinely outstanding. You have a view of the ocean from the hostel pool, it’s gorgeous. They of course, have the events going on all the time and it is really social too. In the main seasons, it’s pretty expensive but it is the best rated hostel in the region. Lastly, for the absolutely tourist-overblown place of Phuket, my hostel pick is one not focused on partying (you can party elsewhere). Selina Serenity literally looks like a luxury resort how can you not pick it. It isn’t even that expensive (sometimes), but it is one of the most comfortable hostels out of the big names in Thailand. They still have activities for you to do and meet people, but a lot of them are like wellness based or retreat style because that’s the vibe of the hostel. Just look at the photos, the amenities are insane.
Selina Serenity
Phuket
Hostelworld
Nomads
Ao Nang, Krabi
Hostelworld
Lub D
Koh Samui
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
Quick Search:
Thailand
1) Bed Station Khaosan, Bangkok
Mad Monkey
Chiang Mai
Hostelworld
BED STATION Khaosan
Bangkok
Hostelworld
Common Grounds
Pai
Hostelworld
Stop 1 is Bangkok, and for here I have selected Bed Station at Khaosan as the best hostel for all kinds of travelers. The rooms are nice, and the beds are like double beds which is a huge bonus. The pool and social area is really really nice, and for the price you pay it is so worth it. There is a gym too, and a bar within the hostel which is always a bonus. If you want to party in Bangkok, you can just walk down to Mad Monkey and hangout instead of actually staying there.
Hostel Link
2) Mad Monkey, Chiang Mai
Over to Chiang Mai, I really tried avoiding picking a Mad Monkey Hostel for this whole list, but the one in Chang Mai is genuinely really good. Of course, it has a pool and gym and everything you need, but the vibes here are SO good and it isn’t as much of a party hostel as other Mad Monkey hostels so it is worth giving it a go, especially if you wanna meet new friends.
Hostel Link
3) Common Grounds, Pai
Now for Pai, I have picked a really nice hostel in Common Grounds Hostel. The aesthetic is so cool it’s like a forest cabin kinda vibe kind of like you’re on a school camp trip. The social area is nice and they always have hostel events on which is ideal, plus activities too. It isn’t a party hostel, but it is still very social and as a little bonus they have free tea and coffee for everyone all the time. The dorms are awesome, but the private rooms are something special.
Hostel Link
4) Nomads, Ao Nang, Krabi
Now over to the islands, starting with Krabi. Since you wanna be staying in Ao Nang, I recommend Nomads Hostel. It is one of the big names here, so it feels slightly commercialized but it is social, and the pool area is high quality with the resort vibe you may be looking for. They’ve got their classic hostel pub crawls too, plus a bar inside the hostel by the chill area. Good hostel, good facilities all round.
Hostel Link
5) Lub D, Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, it was hard to make one pick, but I ended up on Lub D Hostel at Chaweng Beach. I can tell you right now, the view here is genuinely outstanding. You have a view of the ocean from the hostel pool, it’s gorgeous. They of course, have the events going on all the time and it is really social too. In the main seasons, it’s pretty expensive but it is the best rated hostel in the region.
Hostel Link
6) Selina Serenity, Phuket
Lastly, for the absolutely tourist-overblown place of Phuket, my hostel pick is one not focused on partying (you can party elsewhere). Selina Serenity literally looks like a luxury resort how can you not pick it. It isn’t even that expensive (sometimes), but it is one of the most comfortable hostels out of the big names in Thailand. They still have activities for you to do and meet people, but a lot of them are like wellness based or retreat style because that’s the vibe of the hostel. Just look at the photos, the amenities are insane.
Hostel Link
Queensland also has some decent hostel choices depending on where you go, obviously the Gold Coast is the most popular but I think Cairns is underrated too.
Starting with the Gold Coast though, there is another Tequila Sunrise hostel here, however I think the podstel version is better (make sure you check if you have the right one). Tequila Sunrise Podstel has free breakfast and dinner, is super social with karaoke and more fun stuff all the time, and has good beds. Now the twist is that the rooms have over 100 people in them, which is either crazy or fun depending on how you look at it. The layout is still nice and organized though. If you want a second option, Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers has much smaller room sizes of around 10-14, and is very organized with their events and layout. It is a lovely hostel with lovely friendly staff. Brisbane also has a Tequila Sunrise Podstel, and it’s much the same vibe as the one in the Gold Coast with massive rooms and fun events. It is in the heart of the CBD so the locations great. Now for the most energetic and social hostel on this list; Gilligan’s in Cairns. It’s more of a resort than a hostel, and you can tell when you walk in. The downstairs is massive, and if you want a good nights sleep I would probably pick somewhere else because it truly becomes a social party hostel in the bar area. If that isn’t your vibe, then Little Drifter is much much more peaceful and cozy with comfortable rooms and a social vibe but not over the top. Lastly, if you make it to the sunshine coast then check out Noosa Flashpackers, it is 100% the pick for this whole area. You’ll be at the beach all the time and they have free surfboard and bodyboard hire plus breakfast, transport and yoga. They bring their guests together so well with the social events so you can definitely make new friends here too. I think it is an awesome place especially in summer.
Noosa Flashpackers
Cat Ba
Hostelworld
The Banana Tree
Ninh Binh
Hostelworld
Central Backpackers
Phong Na
Hostelworld
2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster
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Vietnam
The Hideout
Ho Chi Minh
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1) Tequila Sunrise Podstel,
Gold Coast
Starting with the Gold Coast though, Tequila Sunrise Podstel has free breakfast and dinner, is super social with karaoke and more fun stuff all the time, and has good beds. Now the twist is that the rooms have over 100 people in them, which is either crazy or fun depending on how you look at it. The layout is still nice and organized though.
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The One Hostel
Hanoi
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Fuse Beach Side
Hoi An
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2) Surf Inn, Gold Coast
If you want a second option, Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers has much smaller room sizes of around 10-14, and is very organized with their events and layout. It is a lovely hostel with lovely friendly staff.
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3) Tequila Sunrise Podstel,
Brisbane
Brisbane also has a Tequila Sunrise Podstel, and it’s much the same vibe as the one in the Gold Coast with massive rooms and fun events. It is in the heart of the CBD so the locations great.
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4) Gilligan’s, Cairns
Now for the most energetic and social hostel on this list; Gilligan’s in Cairns. It’s more of a resort than a hostel, and you can tell when you walk in. The downstairs is massive, and if you want a good nights sleep I would probably pick somewhere else because it truly becomes a social party hostel in the bar area.
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5) Little Drifter, Cairns
If Gilligan’s isn’t your vibe, then Little Drifter is much much more peaceful and cozy with comfortable rooms and a social vibe but not over the top.
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6) Noosa Flashpackers, Noosa
Lastly, if you make it to the sunshine coast then check out Noosa Flashpackers, it is 100% the pick for this whole area. You’ll be at the beach all the time and they have free surfboard and bodyboard hire plus breakfast, transport and yoga. They bring their guests together so well with the social events so you can definitely make new friends here too. I think it is an awesome place especially in summer.
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