The 10 best hostels in the world can be described as some of the best go-to places for budget travelers who want a good night’s sleep.
The global travel industry is booming. Driven by a millennial generation that is prioritizing experiences over possessions, travel-related industries have exhibited growth over the past few years. As more people travel the world in pursuit of different goals, businesses such as hotels, hostels, and other lodging services benefit from the increase in tourist traffic in most parts of the globe. There are even new industries that are being created by this wanderlust-driven trend: Airbnb and other apps of its ilk have created a cottage industry of homeowners who are willing to let other people crash on their sofas and spare bedrooms for a night or two.
In fact, with this increase in lodging options for the weary traveler, there has been an increase in competition between hotels, hostels, Airbnb hosts, and other lodging providers. While hotels remain a top choice for the tourist who wants to get a good night’s sleep in the most comfortable way possible, hostels are actually gaining ground and closing the gap when it comes to services. In fact, every tourist-worthy city has a bunch of Instagram-friendly, hip, and comfortable hostels that guarantee a pleasant stay at a fraction of the cost of its hotel counterparts. The hostel is a great choice especially for millennial travelers who are budget-conscious and can let go of some bedtime comforts for the sake of spending more money on the actual destinations they want to go to.
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However, for those of you who would rather enjoy the comforts of a good hotel run by the largest and most established hotel groups such as Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR), Insider Monkey has a list of the 10 largest hotel chains in the world in 2017.
The increasing popularity of hostels has forced hotel chains to adapt to changing customer tastes. For instance, last year, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (NYSE:HLT) revealed plans to launch a new chain of budget hostel-like hotels to cater to millennials and other budget-conscious travelers. Whether the plan comes to fruition or not, the fact that hotel chains are considering getting into the hostel business is proof that these chains are feeling some pressure from their lower-priced peers.
Speaking of hostels, there are a lot of blogs and websites dedicated to budget travel tips, including recommendations on the best hostels to stay in. One of the most notable websites on this front is Hostel World, which has released a set of rankings on the best hostels in the world since 2014. (Those rankings are wittily called the “Hoscars,” as in the Oscars for hostels.) For the latest rankings for 2017, the website has categorized hostels according to size, certain comforts, country, and continent. On the Hostel World website, you can see the best hostel for each country, or even find the hostel with the best staff.
For this list of the best hostels in the world, we provide the top entry for various categories upon which the hostels are classified; four of the categories pertain to size, while six pertain to which continent a hostel is located. The hostels that made this list include Chili Kiwi Lakefront, Freehand Chicago, Home Lisbon Hostel, Lub d Patong, Mama’s Home, Mojzo Inn, Ostello Bello Grande, Soul Kitchen, The B.I.G., and Travellers Oasis. Check out how they ranked on the following pages.
(Note: The pictures on this list of the 10 best hostels in the world are not pictures of the hostels themselves but of the cities where they are located.)
Best Small Hostel in the World and Best Hostel in Europe: Soul Kitchen
We’ll start this list with the only hostel good enough to snag the top spot in two different categories. The Soul Kitchen in St. Petersburg, Russia, is a luxury hostel with custom bunk beds, curtains for privacy, and hip design. The Soul Kitchen is considered the best among all hostels with less than 75 beds, as well as the one with the highest rating among all European hostels.
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Best Medium Hostel in the World: Home Lisbon Hostel
Among hostels around the world with between 76 and 150 beds, Home Lisbon Hostel in Lisbon, Portugal, is considered the best worldwide. Known for its great meals and good cleanliness, Home Lisbon is also considered the third-best hostel in Europe.
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Best Large Hostel in the World: Ostello Bello Grande
Want to stay in Milan on a budget? Then the Ostello Bello Grande is for you. Considered the best among hostels in the world with 151 to 350 beds, the Milan-based hostel is near the city’s central train station that connects you to more Italian cities, as well as the nightlife district.
Best Extra Large Hostel in the World: Freehand Chicago
Among hostels around the world with more than 350 beds, the Freehand Chicago is the top hostel. Situated in a classic building that dates back to 1927, the Freehand Chicago takes pride in its innovative design, and boasts a cocktail bar to boot.
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The next five entries on this list of the 10 best hostels in the world are the best in their respective continents (note that we’ve already covered the best hostel in Europe).
Best Hostel in Africa: The B.I.G.
Catering to boutique backpackers, The B.I.G. in Cape Town, South Africa, boasts a sparkling pool, a garden, and space for a traditional South African barbecue called the braai. And if that’s not enough for you, the hostel just added its own pizza oven. Who says no to barbecue and pizza?
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Best Hostel in Asia: Mojzo Inn
Vietnam has emerged as one of the trending tourist countries due to its cuisine and sights, and it also has the best hostel in Asia. Situated in the coastal town of Nha Trang, the Mojzo Inn offers a lot of free stuff: Wi-Fi, water refills, breakfast, bananas, and even beer. It also helps that the hostel is near a picturesque beach and some of the best sights Vietnam has to offer.
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Best Hostel in Latin America: Chili Kiwi Lakefront
For the backpacker who loves the great outdoors, this lakeside hostel named the Chili Kiwi Lakefront in Pucon, Chile is worth a visit. Aside from the usual comforts of a hostel, the Chili Kiwi’s location allows for some quick water-related activities such as kayaking, or winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding.
Pixabay/Public Domain
Best Hostel in North America: Mama’s Home
Tourists of the resort town Tulum in Mexico have Mama’s Home as a great option for lodging. The hostel is near the bus station, as well as restaurants and bars. Aside from quick access to important areas in the town, the hostel is also near the ruins of a Mayan walled city, as well as beautiful beaches.
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Best Hostel in Oceania: Travellers Oasis
Located in Cairns, the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Travellers Oasis provides a good sleeping place for people who are set to socialize at night (in the hostel’s pool and barbecue area) and then set off to dive in the reef the next day.
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Best New Hostel: Lub d Patong
Among the new hostels featured on Hostel World, the Lub d Patong in Phuket, Thailand leads the pack, being near the town’s world-famous beaches. Whether you want to stay in beach-style dorms or private rooms, Lub d Patong is flexible to your preferences. For a new hostel, it has been remarkable enough to be considered on this list of the 10 best hostels in the world.
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If you have a favorite (or most hated) hostel or hostel-related story, feel free to share it with our readers in the comments below.
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