Tag: hostel of the day

Hostel Of The Day: UINN TRAVEL HOSTEL – Modern, Space-Themed & Excellent Taipei Hostel

UPDATE: Uinn Travel Hostel has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.

Hey ho! I’m so sorry I’ve been quiet the past few weeks. I just came back from Yogyakarta, Indonesia (more details soon!) & been very busy with work requirements. Fret not, I am back & I am excited to share more information & experiences with you. Today, I will take you to back to Taipei, Taiwan. I’ve been to the city in 2015 & 2017 but I was convinced by my mom to go back with the whole family.

My family & I took advantage of the visa-free privilege for Filipino passport holders & went on a 4-day weekend trip around Taipei & Taichung last June 2019. I already shared with you last month some photos of our Taichung day trip as well as details of our EVA Air flight back to Manila. Now, I want to share with you details about our modern & space-themed hostel in Taipei – Uinn Travel Hostel. This amazing will be today’s Hostel Of The Day feature. I can’t wait for you to see how excellent this property is! Check out the property’s details below.

Location & Access

Uinn Travel Hostel is located in Chongqing South Rd, in the quiet neighborhood of Zhongzheng District. The nearest famous landmark to the property is Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station (Green & Red Lines) is 700 m away & is about 8-10 minutes walk. The hostel is 1 km away from Guting Station & is about 10-12 minutes walk. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Station is 2 stops away from Taipei Main Station & 3 stops away from Ximen Station. Taipei 101 Station is 5 metro stops away on the red line. The hostel is also accessible to Ximending, Taipai Main Station & Daan Park by bus, with the bus stopping right in front of the hostel premises. The Taipei Taoyuan International Airport can be accessed from Taipei Main Station.

The hostel is located in a quiet area with local & affordable restaurants. The nearest convenience store is about 3-5 minutes walk from the hostel. For those who love bubble tea, there are a number of nearby bubble tea shops in the hostel. The hostel’s location may not be as strategic as the other hostels but its location is still nice – quiet, safe & accessible.

private & dormitory rooms

The property offers both private & dormitory rooms to its guests. Those who prefer to have the room to themselves can book their spacious standard double room. This room can accommodate 2 adults. It comes with a double bed, cable television, private toilet & shower, complete towels & toiletry set & a small fridge. The room also has a small table & chair if guests plan to do some work during their stay.

Guests who want to save some money can opt for the dormitory rooms. The dorm rooms are configured to either capsule beds or regular bunk beds. All these beds are equipped with personal television screens (with headset for the bunk beds), bedside sockets, personal reading light & lockers with electronic locks. Towels & toiletries are also included. Guests of the capsule dormitories can fully enclose their space while those on bunk beds can pull down roller blinds for privacy. Guests of both dormitory rooms have access to communal toilets & shower areas equipped with hair dryers.

All hostel guests have free, simple buffet breakfast every day; it is already included in the nightly rate. Room / dormitory bed rates differ from one booking website to the other. It also depends on the season. You can check out the hostel’s booking platform for the updated rates for your desired stay. Book early to get the best deals.

hostel amenities

Here comes my favorite part of every Hostel of the Day feature – the list of perks a guest gets in every hostel. Uinn Travel Hostel offers a long list of amenities & perks to enjoy. Check them below.

Free Fast Wi-Fi
The hostel offers free, fast Wi-Fi to all its guests. The connection is available throughout the property – from the reception area, to outdoor seating area & to the rooms. The Wi-Fi password can be obtained from the reception.

Simple Buffet Breakfast
Breakfast is included in the nightly rate. All guests have access to unlimited bread (with croissant!!) with butter & jam, coffee, tea, biscuits & boiled egg. From memory, breakfast starts at 7:00 am & ends at 9:30 am or 10:00 am.

Free Coffee, Tea & Juice
The hostel’s coffee & juice machines are open to all guests 24/7. Any guest can just go there & get their drink of choice at any time of the day. These drinks are free of charge.

Cozy Lounge & Dining Area
The hostel has a cozy & spacious lounge & dining area on the ground floor, beside the reception area. They even have stuff toys & colorful pillows which my baby cousin enjoyed.

Clean Communal Toilet & Shower Rooms
Aside from the toilet & shower areas in the private & dormitory rooms, the hostel also has communal facilities in the basement, open to all guests – even those who are just about to check in or those who already checked out.

Free Luggage Storage
Luggage storage is free to all upcoming & outgoing guests. The staff provides a small control paper which indicates a control number & the number of luggage the guests have. The luggage area is by the stairs, directly in front of reception. Bags & luggage are secured & are always at the eye of the staff.

24/7 Reception
Uinn Travel Hostel’s reception is open 24 hours 7 days a week. There’s always someone who is at the reception counter. People who are flying to Taiwan in late night or red-eye flights won’t have any problem when they arrive at the hostel.

Cheerful & Helpful Staff
The hostel staff are very cheerful & helpful. They welcomed us with bright smiles on their faces. They also answered all our questions & even gave recommendations on where to go & what to do. They also speak the English language; communication is & will never be a problem.

Outdoor Lounge Area
The hostel has an outdoor lounge area, right by the road. It is the perfect place to have some late night talks / drinks or early morning coffee.

Communal Computers
Personal computers are available for communal use in the ground floor communal area. Guests can use these computers to plan their itineraries, book onward tickets & future accommodation. It’s free of charge. Reception offers printing, fax & photocopying services for an additional fee.

Uinn Joy – Lounge & Games Area
One unique amenity of Uinn Travel Hostel is Uinn Joy. It is a special lounge & games area located in basement level 2 that has a dart machine, a table football, an audio-visual equipment & comfy seats which guests can enjoy. They even have free popcorn for all guests. Drinks can be bought in the on-site vending machine while beers can be purchased from the hostel. The hostel has viewing parties at selected times of the month. Uinn Joy is the best place to meet other guests & travelers. This facility is open everyday from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm or 1:00 am.

Daily Housekeeping
The hostel staff cleans all rooms everyday. They even provide bottled water to private rooms every day. Guests have the option to have their room cleaned every day or not.

Laundry Facilities
Uinn Travel Hostel has complete on-site laundry facilities. Feel free to check with a staff on how you can use the laundry facilities.

Secured Room Access
The hostel main door is open to everyone at all times. Lift access is only limited to guests & hostel staff through an electronic key card. Room access on the other hand is only available to the guest checked in on a specific room. Electronic key cards do not work on other room doors, only on your specified room door.

Bicycle Rental & Tour Services
They also offer bicycle rental & tour services to interested guests. More information about these services can be obtained from reception.

The perks & amenities provided by Uinn Travel Hostel to all its guests are at par with those offered by established Japan hostel chains. The hostel excels in providing every amenity & makes sure that the guests enjoy what they pay for.

my experience

We were a family of 8 adults & 1 kid & we opted on staying in private rooms for all 3 nights in Taipei. We got 4 standard double rooms (2 persons per room) at NT$ 1,700 per room per night – around ₱2,800 per room per night. A normal dormitory bed in Taipei costs close to ₱1,000 per night so getting the room for around ₱1,400 per person per night with privacy & a private toilet & shower is already a good deal.

The standard room was very spacious. The bed & pillows were soft & comfortable. The room air conditioning worked well – we had the coldest room among the four. Cleanliness was spot on – the staff even cleaned our room everyday. They also give our daily supply of bottled water. The toilet & shower were modern & clean; toiletries & towels were included. One weird thing I noticed is that the sinks were located outside the toilet & shower area. It was only a minor observation & probably the first time I saw it in a room. Wi-Fi was fast everywhere in the hostel.

The simple breakfast bread buffet was superb! I enjoyed the chocolate, peanut butter & garlic spreads they have. I ate a lot of small croissants every morning. The orange & grape juice were my favorites. I wish all other hostels offer the type of breakfast Uinn Travel Hostel offers.

Hostel location was alright. We didn’t mind walking to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Station & back. Hostel staff were super nice & accommodating. I didn’t have the chance to play & enjoy the facilities at Uinn Joy due to our tight schedule; but just having them on site is already great. The hostel is relatively quiet, not much of a social & definitely not a party hostel. It is a quiet but an amazing one.

Overall, we had a great stay. My parents, siblings, uncle & aunt & my baby cousin enjoyed their stay at Uinn Travel Hostel. We definitely got more than what we paid for. Everything was spot on; it is an excellent hostel. I definitely recommend this hostel to everyone. You don’t want to miss staying here whilst in Taipei.

If ever you have a question about the hostel or you want to contact them directly for an upcoming stay, feel free to reach them in the contact details below:

Uinn Travel Hostel
Address: 38 Section 3, Chongqing South Road Taipei City Taiwan 100
Phone Number: +886 2 2333 1277
Fax Number: +886 2 2339 6800
Email Address: uinntravel@outlook.com
Website: travel.uinnhotel.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/UinnTravel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/uinntravel/

Have you stayed with Uinn Travel Hostel in Taipei, Taiwan? If yes, how was your stay? Have you been to another modern & excellent hostel in Taipei or in Taiwan? Feel free to name the hostel in the comment section below. I might just stay there in my next Taiwan trip. You can also send your suggestions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me today. Until the next Hostel Of The Day feature!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: FLINDERS BACKPACKERS MELBOURNE – Budget-Friendly & Extremely Popular Hostel In The Heart Of The City

Hey ho! Welcome to my newest Hostel Of The Day feature. Last week, I shared with you some details of the walkathon we made around Melbourne. We went to & passed by some interesting parks, gardens & historical sites. Don’t worry, that’s not all. I have a lot to share with you about Melbourne. Watch out for those posts in the coming weeks & months.

I mentioned in my previous post that my friends & I stayed in a hostel in the center of Melbourne. This hostel is Flinders Backpackers Melbourne, today’s hostel of the day feature. We stayed in this property for 8 days & 7 nights; basically the whole duration of our Melbourne trip. Flinders Backpackers has been awarded by Hostelworld as the most popular hostel in Melbourne for 3 years in a row. No wonder a lot of tourists & those on working holiday stay in this hostel.

Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel, it’s fantastic location, room pricing & the amenities included in the hostel. At the end of the this post, I will also tell you how my stay went in the hostel & if I will recommend this to my readers or not.

Location & Access

One of the reasons why this hostel is very popular is because of its location. The hostel is located at 35 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, right at the center of the central business district. The nearest tram stop (tram rides within the CBD zone are free!!) is a 1 minute walk from the hostel doors. Flinders Railway Station is about 2 minutes walk from the hostel.

The hostel’s location is unbeatable. The nearest Coles, Liqourland & Woolworths supermarkets are on the other side of the street. There are also food shops (pizza parlors, kebab & sandwich takeaway shops) & fast food restaurants (McDonald’s & Hungry Jacks) nearby. The nearest convenience store (7-Eleven) is at the corner of Elizabeth St & Flinders St. Everything one needs can be found within the area.

Melbourne Tullamarine & Avalon Airports are about an hour way from the hostel by public transportation. From these airports, one needs to take the SkyBus shuttle ($19-$22) to Southern Cross Station. From this station, take the local subway to Flinders Street Station. Get off the station & walk northbound up Elizabeth St until you reach the hostel entrance. Alternatively, from Southern Cross Station, transfer to the free city trams. Take trams number 86 & 96 up Bourke Street, change to any southbound tram to Elizabeth St. Get off at the Elizabeth St / Flinders St stop & walk towards the hostel entrance. The hostel reception is located on the 3rd floor.

I give the hostel’s location a 12 out of 10. It’s location is perfect for everyone travelling around Melbourne.

Private Rooms & Dormitory Rooms

Flinders Backpackers Melbourne is a large hostel that caters all types of travelers. They have different room & bed configurations that can satisfy the guests wants. They have private rooms with ensuites. You can get these rooms cheaper if you go with the one with shared bathrooms. They also have dormitory style private rooms with shared bathrooms. Instead of the usual double or twin beds, the rooms have bunk beds in it. The rooms with private en-suites have their own bar fridge. The other private rooms have the usual basic amenities – individual plugs, reading lights & a comfortable bed with pillow & sheets. Towels are available for rent at reception. All these rooms only have fans, no air conditioning – something to take note.

The hostel has 2 types of dormitory rooms – the basic & the premium dormitory rooms. The basic dormitory rooms are the usual dormitory rooms with individual lockers, reading lights, individual plugs & single beds. These rooms either have 3 beds, 4 beds, 6 beds, 14 beds, 16 beds or 18 beds in a room. Note that these rooms also do not have air conditioning. The 2nd & newest type of dormitory rooms are the premium ones. These dormitory rooms have the same amenities except that they have brand new shower areas plus the rooms have air conditioning. Towels are also included in these dormitory rooms. The rooms come in 6, 8, 10 & 12-bed configurations.

The rates of these private rooms & dormitory beds vary from one to the other. The basic ones will surely cost lesser than the premium dormitory beds. Rates also differ based on the season & how busy the hostel is. For those who plan to stay longer (like a week or 2), the hostel has weekly rates for the different rooms. Check out this page for the updated rates. For the general rates, feel free to head over to the hostel website & click Book Now.

Hostel Amenities

Like any other hostel, Flinders Backpackers Melbourne also has a long list of amenities to enjoy. Check out these amenities & perks below.

Free WiFi
All guests have access to free WiFi connection. The password can be obtained from reception. It’s not the best connection you can have (also due to traffic), but it can get you through whatever you need to do. I got myself a data SIM card so I didn’t really use the hostel’s WiFi.

Free Superb Breakfast
The hostel provides a superb breakfast to all guests. Pancake mixes are available every morning. You can cook your pancake depending on how big or how much you can finish. They also have bread with jam & all sorts of filling. There are also different types of cereals (with milk – non-fat, low fat & full-cream) to choose from. As far as I can remember, breakfast starts at 6:30 or 7 until 9:30 am.

Free Coffee, Tea, Rice Grains & Pasta Noodles
Aside from the superb breakfast, Flinders Backpackers have coffee, tea, rice & pasta noodles for free every day at all times.

Spacious Kitchen & Dining Area
Flindes Backpackers is a large hostel catering to hundreds of guests every single day. Their kitchen & dining area is spacious enough to accommodate guests. The kitchen has complete cooking facilities. There is a big cold storage for unfinished food or raw ingredients. Guests just need to put their name, room number & check out date in their containers. The kitchen is open as early as 6:00 am until 12 midnight. The dining area on the other hand is open 24/7. PS. The hostel follows the CLAYGO (Clean As You Go) policy.

Large Communal Toilet & Shower Areas
The hostel has large communal toilet & shower areas per floor. Of course, the male & female shower & toilet areas are separate. They even have hand dryers near the faucets. These facilities / areas are cleaned daily.

Lounge & Games Areas
The hostel also has a spacious lounge & games area. This place is perfect to meet new friends & also to mingle with other people. There are board games available to play with (including a giant Jenga) & a pool table for those who fancy.

Cinema Room
The cinema room is located beside the reception area. The hostel hosts movie nights (with free popcorn) weekly. They also hold viewing parties of popular series & movies. They had a Game Of Thrones viewing event during our stay.

Communal Personal Computers
The hostel has communal personal computers which guests can use to book onward flights or accommodations, research about Melbourne or Australia or use it for whatever purpose. These computers can be used for free.

24-Hour Reception
Hostel’s reception is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can always check with reception if there’s something you need to ask. Check in time is at 2:00 pm while check out is at 11:00 am. Remember that they take $20 deposit at check in. They give the money back when you check out from the hostel.

Daily Housekeeping
The hostel people go around all the rooms every day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for cleaning & daily housekeeping. They provide the every guest a container where things can be placed. These containers are not touched by the staff during these cleaning times. Valuables should be placed in the provided lockers.

Free Luggage Storage
Luggage storage is free for all guests both for the check in & check out days. Guests can leave their stuff in the area beside the reception.

Laundry Facilities
The hostel also has laundry & ironing facilities in one of the floors – I forgot sorry. Feel free to ask reception how you can use these facilities.

Helpful Staff
The hostel staff are very helpful & accommodating. They approach all guests with their warm smiles & lively greetings. You can ask them anything about the hostel facilities, activities & basically anything about Melbourne at any time of the day.

Secured Hostel Access
The hostel can be accessed by individual key cards provided during check in. These key cards have limited access – guys can’t access female toilet areas, key card only works on your room & not in any other room. Also, the key cards are needed to use the lifts up to the rooms. The hostel also has security cameras everywhere – including the cold storage. It’s definitely a secured place to stay.

Daily Hostel Activities
The hostel hosts daily activities for all its guests. They have movie nights, game nights & even free meals every Thursday night. I was able to take a photo of the daily activities last April 2019. Check out the activities below. These are the perfect opportunities to get to know your co-guests & meet people from all sides of the world.

Bar Discounts
The hostel has partnered with the bar on the 1st floor for guest-only discounts like free entry on poker nights, discounted alcohol drinks & free karaoke activities. Check with reception on what are the updated perks on the bar.

Free Walking Tours
Last but not the least, Flinders Backpackers have free walking tours daily. These walking tours basically talk about the history of & some interesting facts about Melbourne. The guide picks up the guests every 10:25 in the morning at the reception.

Quite a long list, eh? Now you know why Flinders Backpackers Melbourne is a popular hostel. This hostel indeed provides this long list of perks. This list makes one’s stay worth it.

My Stay

As mentioned earlier, my friends & I stayed in the hostel for 8 days & 7 nights. We stayed in a 3-bed basic dormitory room – perfect for us 3. My good friend Lord, stayed in another dormitory room because he only stayed for 4 nights. The daily rates during our stay were not the lowest because we were there during the Easter holidays. Weekend rates cost $38 per person per night while weekday stays cost $35 per night. We got 1 night free because we stayed there for a week. We paid $216 each (tax included). It’s one of the cheapest rates in the city at that time. We had the room to ourselves. Hey, we’re staying in an awesome hostel!

The 3-bed basic dormitory was clean but just alright. The room was a bit small but it contained all our basic needs. It has a single bed by the window & a bunk bed. All beds have a personal reading light, a power plug & a USB plug. The room also had lockers & personal storage spaces under the beds. The room didn’t have air conditioning, only a fan for us 3. The communal toilet & shower areas were a few steps from our room. Our room had a nice view of the city. WiFi was not the best, but still OK. The hostel has 2 lifts, but it takes a while to go up or down due to guest traffic.

We enjoyed the free breakfast during our stay. We made our pancakes every morning, even had cereals & bread with it. We were always full every morning. One thing I wasn’t able to enjoy during our stay was the hostel activities. We were out most of the time, so I didn’t have the chance to really mingle with the other guests. They had awesome hostel & bar deals (& even free Mexican dinner) during our stay. Perhaps I’ll check these activities out next time.

The staff mentioned they recently upgraded their WiFi,but looks like it’s still bad. I hope they fix this soon. Also, some areas like the 8th floor male toilet & shower area are already quite old. A lift system change can also be good for the guests. I hope they slowly refurbish their facilities for better guest experience.

Overall, my friends & I had a pleasant stay at Flinders Backpackers Melbourne. Are we going to stay here again? I don’t know with my friends, but me? A BIG YES. As mentioned above, I want to join their activities next time. Oh, they’re usually booked out so better plan your stay & book early. Also, book directly with them – it’s usually cheaper than other booking websites.

Just in case you have any more questions about the hostel or you want to contact them for your upcoming stay, feel free to reach them in the details below:

Flinders Backpackers Melbourne
Address: 35 Elizabeth St Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Phone Number: +613 9620 5100
E-mail Address: info@flindersbp.com.au
Website: www.flindersbackpackers.com.au
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/flindersbackpackers

Have you stayed with Flinders Backpackers in Melbourne? How was your stay? I hope you had a great experience as much as we did. I am still in constant search for hostels to feature in this website. Do you know any cool hostel to feature? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send your suggestions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for your time.. Until the next Hostel Of The Day feature!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: 4 TRUSTED HOSTEL GROUPS To Check When Looking For AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION in JAPAN

We can’t deny the fact that Japan accommodation prices are very high compared to those of our neighboring countries. From someone who’s been to a number of countries, I can vouch that it actually has one of the most expensive per night rates (both in hotels & hostels) in Asia.

I’ve been flying to Japan every year since 2015 & believe it or not, I’ve never stayed in a hotel. I always go for the cheaper & comfortable option of staying in hostels. I have the tendency to be very picky on which hostel to choose & what time of room or dormitory configuration to book but so far, I’ve never made a bad decision. All rooms & bed types I got in the past are decent, secured, comfortable, some are a little bit over the usual price but totally worth every yen.

In the last 5 years of flying to & travelling around Japan, I discovered 4 trusted hostel groups that offer affordable & over-the-top services to its guests. Note that I’ve stayed in at least one property of these hostel groups in the past. If you’ve been following my Hostel Of The Day posts in the past, you’ll see some of featured hostels coming from these hostel groups. These hostels are located in places or cities where most foreigners go or visit.

The aim of these hostel groups is to provide the best quality of hospitality in the most affordable price or rate. I can assure you that all hostels under these hostel groups provide the best comfort they can at such low prices. Allow me to share with you which hostel groups you should check for your next Japan trip.

Have you read the article I posted about the pattern in getting the best travel accommodation deals online? If not, better check out this post.

Oak Hotel Group

Oak Hotel Group is a hostel group owned & managed by Oakhouse Co Ltd. The group started in 1992 as living spaces for foreigners in Japan. It has transformed into share houses for both foreigners & locals. A few years after, the hostel is operating in 6 locations in Tokyo & 1 in Nara. The hostel group’s concept is ‘enjoyable living.’ True enough, all their properties are equipped with facilities that provide comfortable & enjoyable experience.

Here are the current Oak Hotel properties: Oak Hostel Sakura in Oshiage, Oak Hotel Edo in Morishita, Oak Hostel Fuji in Asakusa, Oak Hostel Zen in Ueno, Oak Hostel Cabin in Tokyo, Oak Hotel Ikebukuro in Ikebukuro & Oak Hostel Nara in Nara.

Check out these photos of Oak Hostel Zen’s common lounge, wash, kitchen & dining areas. Neat!

My favorite Tokyo hostel is under this hostel group – Oak Hostel Zen. In fact, I already stayed in this property for 3 times (2015, 2017 & 2018) & I am planning to go back in the future. Check out the hostel of the day feature of Oak Hostel Zen.

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group is a combination of 2 smaller hostel groups – J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels. J-Hoppers started in 2002 in Kyoto, Japan in a small building near Kyoto Station. Different branches have been added since then. The owner’s vision in creating this hostel group is to give foreigners a ‘home’ during their ‘Japan-hopping’ trips.

This hostel group also operates J-Stay, a shared-house business for those who want to stay in Kyoto for a longer time, J-Hop Tour, a bus-tour that runs from Osaka or Kyoto to Shirkawa-go & Hida Takayama & hana SAKE bar, a sake bar located on the ground floor of the Osaka property.

The hostel group currently has 12 properties across different locations: J-Hoppers Kyoto, J-Hoppers Hida Takayama, J-Hoppers Lake Biwa, J-Hoppers Kumano Yunomine, J-Hoppers Osaka, J-Hoppers Osaka Universal, J-Hoppers Hiroshima, Kyoto Hana Hostel, Osaka Hana Hostel, Hiroshima Hana Hostel, Fukuoka Hana Hostel & Gion Ryokan Q-Beh.

This is how a bed in a Hana Hostel dormitory bed looks like. It’s spacious, clean & comfortable. 🙂

One of my recent hostel of the day features is that of Fukuoka Hana Hostel where I came back for the second time. I stayed in the same property (& same room) last November 2016 when I went hopping around different cities. I also stayed in Osaka Hana Hostel & Hiroshima Hana Hostel in November 2016.

K’s House Quality Hostels

K’s House Quality Hostels is a multi-awarded hostel chain that started business in 2003 in Kyoto. As per the company’s website, their group’s concept is to provide ‘inexpensive, convenient & comfortable accommodation for travelers.’ They aim to be true to this concept by providing all guests with quality service, spacious communal areas & comfortable bedding be it in private or dormitory rooms. The group currently operates 12 properties & plans to expand to more locations in the coming years.

The hostel group also operates an affordable Mount Fuji One Day Tour & another accommodation branch, K’s Villa which offers affordable vacation rentals in various locations.

The operating hostels of K’s House are the following: K’s House Kyoto, K’s House Tokyo, K’s House Tokyo Oasis, K’s House Hiroshima, K’s House Mt Fuji, K’s House Fuji View, K’s House Hakone, K’s House Ito Onsen, K’s House Takayama, K’s House Takayama Oasis, K’s House Kanazawa & K’s House Hakuba Alps.

K’s House Kyoto’s spacious common area. This area is the best place to meet people traveling Japan.
K’s House Mt Fuji’s 8-bed dormitory room. Stayed in this dormitory room last November 2017.

I’ve always been a fan of K’s House. I stayed in K’s House Kyoto in 2015 when I flew to Japan with my high school friends. I went back to K’s House Kyoto following year with another friend from work. In 2017, I stayed in K’s House Mt Fuji & K’s House Takayama Oasis when I visited Kawaguchiko & Hida Takayama for a few days.

Khaosan Hostel Group

The last of my 4 trusted hostel groups is Japan is Khaosan Hostel Group. The group is owned by Manryo Co Ltd which started business in January 2004. The owners of the group have transformed old buildings, love hotels & restaurants into shared accommodation & now have 9 operating properties in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. The company’s goal is to create a community of travelers having a great time together regardless of nationality, background & companions.

Khaosan Group currently operates & maintains the following 9 properties: Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Samurai, Khaosan World Ryogoku Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory, Khaosan Tokyo Origami, Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki in Tokyo, Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse in Kyoto & Khaosan World Tennoji Hostel & Khaosan World Namba Hostel in Osaka.

The family deluxe room with tatami-style beds we got at Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel.

I stayed in one of their love hotel turned accommodation in Asakusa – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel – last February with my family. We enjoyed our stay in a Japanese (tatami) style spacious room. My high school friends also had nice reviews about their stay at the Namba property last November 2018.

The hostels may be operating under different hostel groups but bear in mind that their goals are one & the same – to provide comfortable, affordable & quality accommodation when travelling around Japan. I’ve stayed in at least one property of each hostel group & I recommend all of them to you my readers. It will now depend on your room choice, price difference & preferences on which hostel group or property you’ll book your next stay. Good luck in making those decisions.

Look how super spacious & clean this dormitory room. Took this when I stayed with Oak Hostel Zen

Have you stayed in one of the properties mentioned above? How was your stay? Are you planning to go back in one of those accommodations? Are there other Japanese hostel groups that I need to know & try in the future? Feel free to mention those properties or groups in the comments below. You can also send the details to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: FUKUOKA HANA HOSTEL – Fukuoka’s In-Demand & Best Valued Tourist Accommodation

After spending 4 days & 3 nights around the Kansai Region (Kyoto, USJ & Nara), I had to fly to Fukuoka for an overnight stop before heading back to Manila. My sisters flew out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka on the same night I flew to Kyushu’s main city. I had to spend a night in Fukuoka & decided to book a stay in today’s Hostel Of The Day feature – Fukuoka Hana Hostel. It was the last of 4 hostels I’ve stayed with in this February 2019 Japan trip. The other 3 hostels I’ve stayed with are Khaosan World Asakusa Hostel & Ryokan, Dot Hostel Nagano & New World Inn Osaka.

I already stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel in 2016. In fact, I did a quick feature of the hostel in my Fukuoka 2016 blog post. I remember I mentioned in that post that I’ll stay in this hostel again if I go back to Fukuoka. I just did! I didn’t have the Hostel Of The Day section at that time. Now that I’ve started writing about the hostels I’ve been to, I think it’s the best time to share with you a thorough feature of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. This hostel is a member of the Hana Hostel & J-Hoppers Hostel Group.

Location & Access

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is located along the Nakasu Kawabata Shopping Arcade. It is the only hostel among the row of shops, cafes & restaurants in the arcade. The nearest subway station is Nakasu-Kawabata Station & is about 5 minutes by walk from the property. The famous Canal City Shopping Mall is about 2 to 3 minutes away by walk while the Tenjin area is 15 minutes away by foot. There is also a nearby 24-hour Don Quijote shop located 10 minutes away by foot.

Fukuoka’s main train station, Hakata Station, is a station away from the nearest subway station or around 15 minutes by foot. Fukuoka Airport is 4 stations away (10 minute ride) from Nakasu-Kawabata Station. My flight from Osaka arrived the airport at 9:15 in the evening. I got off the plane, picked up my baggage, walked to the airport station & arrived the hostel at 9:50 in the evening. It was that close! The nearest local supermarket & convenience store is a crossing away from the hostel.

Fukuoka Hana Hostel‘s location is very central & accessible. Everything a visitor or tourist needs can be found a few minutes by foot. The tourist spots can also be reached through the nearest subway station.

Room Types & Pricing

Fukuoka Hana Hostel is a medium-sized hostel that caters to both leisure & business travelers. The property has both dormitory & private rooms. The dormitory rooms (3-bed male, 6-bed female & 8-bed mixed) cost from ¥2,500 a night (seasonal). The rate includes free WiFi, a single bed with curtains, duvet & pillow, air conditioning & exhaust fans in a spacious room, a personal reading light & access to in-room or communal shower & toilet facilities. Towels are not included.

The private rooms (loft bed twin room, double tatami room & loft bed triple room) cost from ¥6,200 per night (seasonal) & has an in-room toilet & bath. Guests also have access to free WiFi & air conditioning just like the ones in the dormitory room.

Guest Perks & Amenities

If you’ve read my previous Japan-based hostel of the day features, you’ll know that these hostels provide a long list of perks & amenities to all of its guests. These hostels cost higher than the usual Asian hostel; it makes sense they give the guests more facilities to enjoy. Check out the following perks, facilities & amenities a Fukuoka Hana Hostel can enjoy.

Free WiFi

The hostel offers free WiFi to all its guests. The password can be obtained from the reception. The WiFi signal is available throughout the building.

Private/Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

The hostel has both private or communal toilet & shower facilities depending on the room configuration you avail. The 3-bed male dormitory room on the 2nd floor has its own toilet & shower area. Other dormitory rooms have access to common facilities in the hallway. These facilities include free shampoo & liquid soap.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

Fukuoka Hana Hostel has a spacious kitchen area where guests can cook & prepare their meals – may it be breakfast, lunch or dinner. The property also has storage spaces & a refrigerator to store the guests’ food. Coffee & tea are offered for free at any time of the day or night.

Communal Living & Dining Area

The hostel has a spacious living & dining area where guests can mingle with the other guests or with the staff. There are a number of tables & chairs available for use. Guests can also use the desktop computers near the reception for booking flights, planning itineraries or for whatever use it can be. There is also a television in the living area which guests can use to watch news, series & shows.

Rooftop Terrace

The hostel also has a rooftop terrace where guests can relax while having a nice view of the river.

Washing & Drying Facilities

They also have washing machines & drying facilities on the rooftop terrace. Washing clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥100. Check with the reception for the updated rates & times when the machines are available.

Free Luggage Storage

The property offers free luggage storage to all its guests. There is a dedicated luggage storage room right beside the reception area. Guests can leave their bags & luggage in that room on the days of check in & check out only.

Standard Reception Hours

Reception is open daily from 8:00 am up to 10:00 pm with about a 1-hour break from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Check in time starts at 3:00 pm until 10:00 pm while check out is until 11:00 am.

Helpful Staff

Fukuoka Hana Hostel’s people are nice & helpful. They speak good English & make sure that all guests have a good stay. They even give out recommendations on where to go & what to do while in Fukuoka. Ask for tips on where to eat the best Hakata Ramen – they know where to go.

Guest Events

The hostel hosts guest events (or parties as they call it) at least once a week. These events range from takoyaki making activities to meet-up nights. It’s the perfect time to meet people from all the world & enjoy exchanging stories with these people.

Free Use of Board Games & Books

There are shelves full of books & guides which guests can make use of. All guests can pick up a book/guide & read at any time during the stay. Guests can play using the board games stacked near the shelves.

Bicycle Rental

The hostel offers bicycle rental to guests who want to explore the city by bicycle. Feel free to check with reception how much is the rental rate.

Secured Door Entry & Facility

The hostel doors are open every time the reception is open. After 10:00 pm, the hostel door is locked & only guests can access it via a secure code found in the hostel keys. The hostel is also equipped with surveillance cameras.

My Experience

Allow me to share my thoughts on how my stay with Fukuoka Hana Hostel went. I booked a night stay in a 3-bed male dormitory room via Agoda for ¥2,600+. I believe the weekend rate at that time was at ¥2,800 but I got a discount from my BPI Credit Card. The room I booked in 2016 is the same room I got for this year’s trip. I requested to stay in the lower bunk bed upon booking. Voila, the hostel staff reserved the lower bunk bed for me – massive thanks!

I had a pleasant one night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel last February. The staff welcomed me with big smiles on their faces. The facilities were clean & well-maintained. Everything looked the same since my 2016 stay. The kitchen, dining & lounge areas were kept clean & tidy. Check in & check out were smooth. Everything fell into place again.

Bought food for dinner in the nearby supermarket & ate it in the communal lounge area. Yum! 🙂

In a growing popular city like Fukuoka where hostels or budget accommodations are limited, Fukuoka Hana Hostel stands out to be the best. The nightly rates, location, service & facilities make the hostel the best-valued property in the city. I will say this for the second time. I will definitely stay again in Fukuoka Hana Hostel if I plan to go back to Fukuoka in the coming months or years.

If you have questions or clarifications with the hostel, feel free to contact them on the details below. Make sure to book your stay as soon as possible – they’re always booked out!

Fukuoka Hana Hostel
Address: 4-213 Kamikawabata-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Japan
Phone Number: +81 9 2282 5353
Email address: fukuoka@hanahostel.com
Website: www.fukuoka.hanahostel.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FukuokaHanaHostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/fukuoka_hana_hostel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hakatahostel

Let’s have a last look at the clean communal lounge & dining spaces of Fukuoka Hana Hostel. 🙂

Have you ever stayed with Fukuoka Hana Hostel? How was your stay? Feel free to share some details of your experience in the comments section below. I am in constant search for hostels to stay with & feature in this site. Do you have a cool or hip hostel in mind or maybe a property you’ve stayed with in the past? Share your suggestions below! You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading.. Until the next Hostel Of The Day feature! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: NEW WORLD INN OSAKA – Simple, Affordable & Modern Property Near Tennoji

UPDATE: New World Inn Osaka has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.

Hello & welcome to the newest Hostel Of The Day feature on this website. In my last Japan trip, all my accommodations were hostels. I already shared with you some information about Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel & Dot Hostel Nagano, my hostels in Tokyo & Nagano respectively. I mentioned in my recent Kyoto post that my sisters & I decided to base in Osaka.

We decided to stay in an inn or hostel for 4 days & 3 nights while we explored the Kansai Region – Osaka City (for them), Universal Studios Japan, Kyoto & Nara. This accommodation is called New World Inn Osaka. It is a relatively new property located in the area of Nishinari, near Tennoji. We booked less than 2 months before our stay, but we still found this great accommodation for an affordable price.

Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel plus how my 3-night stay went in this lovely property.

Location & Access

New World Inn is a 3-storey hostel located 1-5-6 Taishi in downtown Nishinari-ku in Osaka. It is located in a quiet neighborhood about 10 minutes away by foot from Tennoji, Osaka’s one of the busiest stations. Popular Osaka attractions such as Tsutenkaku Tower, Kuromon Market & Osaka Tennoji Zoo are near the property. There are nearby restaurants, cafes & bars a few meters away from the hostel. The nearest convenience store is about a minute walk from the hostel’s doorstep. Believe it or not, there is a Don Quijote near the hostel, about 7 minutes walk, just across the Shin-Imamiya Station.

The property is very accessible via subway & JR lines. The hostel is about 3 minutes walk from the east exit of JR Shin-Imamiya Station. It is about 3 minutes walk from exit 4 of the Doubutsuen-Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line & also a few minutes walk from exit 8 of the Sakaisuji Subway Line. Namba & Shinsaibashi area are about 4 minutes away by subway. The hostel may not be in the super center of Osaka, but it’s strategic location connects all the guests to pretty much everywhere in the city & even in Kansai Region – Nara, Kyoto & Kawaramachi.

Room Types

New World Inn caters mainly to budget & business travelers. They have both private & dormitory rooms in the property. First, the property has a number of single private rooms. These rooms come with a bed, mattress & pillow, air conditioning & heater, power plugs, a small desk with a chair, mirror & lamp. The 2nd room type the property offers is the twin room. This room has 2 single beds, same features as the single room, but with a bigger space. This room also has a private balcony. Toilets & shower facilities are shared & are available for use on every floor.

The dormitory rooms come in a 4 & 6-bed configuration, all equipped with wooden-framed bunk beds. Each bed features a mattress, pillow, duvet, a reading light & a power outlet. Guests also have access to lockers located in each room. Just like the private rooms, toilets & shower areas are shared unless specified. There is a 6-bed dormitory room that includes a restroom, shower area & a powder area.

I booked my stay in this property via Agoda & Booking.com using credit card & promotional codes. I may not have the fixed rate at this point but rest assured that the room & dormitory bed rates are affordable & competitive enough.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Staying in a Japanese hostel comes with a long list of amenities & perks guests can enjoy. Check out the following offered by New World Inn in Osaka.

Free Wi-Fi

Guests have access to a fast & free Wi-Fi connection. Username & password can be obtained from reception.

Ground Floor Cafe / Bar

There is a cafe / bar in the ground floor. The hostel has partnered with this commercial establishment to check out the place for offers (if there are any).

Communal Lounge & Dining Area

Guests have access to a small communal lounge & dining area in the 2nd floor, right in front of the reception. It is the place where guests can relax & eat after a long day of exploring.

Communal Kitchen With Free Coffee & Tea

The hostel comes with a small kitchen complete with cooking & heating facilities. It also has a refrigerator where you can store food & drinks. Just make sure to put a label on your items. Coffee & tea are free & available any time of the day.

Common Toilets & Shower Facilities

As mentioned earlier, guests have access to clean & well-maintained toilet & shower rooms. These facilities are located in each floor. They even have female-only shower toilets.

Rooftop Space

The property has a communal rooftop terrace where guests can sit, relax & mingle with other guests. The terrace is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00.

Luggage Storage

Luggage storage is free of charge to all arriving & departing guests. Bags can be stored from 10:00 to 22:00.

Reasonable Reception Hours

The hostel has reasonable reception hours. Reception opens at 11:00 & closes at 22:00. Check in time is from 15:00 to 22:00 while check out is up until 11:00 only.

Nice & Helpful Hostel Owner

The owner of the hostel lives in one of the rooms in the 2nd floor. He is a super nice & helpful man. He makes sure that guests have a nice stay in his property. He even gives us suggestions on where to go & what to do.

Coin Laundry

New World Inn has coin laundry facilities. Washing of clothes cost ¥200 while drying costs ¥400 & lasts for 40 minutes. The laundry facility is open from 8:00 to 22:00.

Secured Door Entry

The property has a secured entry area. Everyone needs to key in a entry code to get through the door. The way going up the rooms is well-lighted. The hostel has no curfew.

My Experience

Let me share with you some thoughts about my 3-night stay in New World Inn. I got myself a single private room for around ¥2,700 per night. That pretty much is an equivalent to a dormitory bed in other Japanese hostels. My sisters stayed in a twin room on the 4th floor. My room was located just in the 2nd floor, near the reception & the communal areas. The room was just right for a single person, not much space for big luggages & other stuff. The bed was comfortable. The only problem I had with the room is its location in the building. It is by the main road so guests can hear all the cars & people passing by at any time of the day or night.

The facilities & common areas are modern, clean & well-maintained. The property interiors are simple but very neat to look at. The owner was really nice. The only thing I think of as a challenge to some guests is the absence of lift to the property. The hostel reception is located in the 2nd floor & it is a few steps up. It may be hard to go up with your big luggage but the owner is very much willing to help in bringing your stuff up & down the property. The property’s location is a winner. It’s 10 out of 10 for me & I will definitely stay here again when I fly back to Osaka.

If you want to know more about the property or if you want to check the rooms available for your intended stay, feel free to contact them in the details below.

New World Inn Osaka
Address: 1 Chome-5-6 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0002, Japan
Phone Number: +81 6 6537 9140
Email address: Contact form available via website or Facebook page
Website: www.newworld-inn.jp/en/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/newworldinnjp

Have you stayed with New World Inn during your Osaka visit? How was your stay? Do you know other interesting or feature-worthy hostels in Osaka or anywhere in Japan? Feel free to share the names of these hostels in the comment section below. Who knows, I might consider that in my next trip to Japan. Do you have any questions about New World Inn or anything about Osaka? Feel free to send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Many thanks!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.