Hostels – The Wknd Travel

Hostel of the Day: THE ROMEHELLO – Affordable, Hospitable & High-Rated Accommodation That Felt Like Home

After few months ago, my friends and I flew to Europe for a 3.5-week vacation. We visited 3 countries – France, Italy and Spain. Accommodation in Europe is expensive compared to here in Asia so we decided to stay in hostels throughout the trip. We explored Rome for 6 days and 5 nights and stayed with The RomeHello. Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature as I show you this affordable, hospitable and high-rated hostel in the heart of Rome, Italy.

The Romehello

The RomeHello is an affordable and high-rated hostel found in the center of Rome in Italy. The large hostel is located within a 6-storey building a few minutes away from Roma Termini. It has spacious communal areas in the ground floor and private and dormitory rooms found from the ground floor up to 5^th floor.

As of writing, the hostel has ratings ranging from 9.3 to 9.6 from over 17,000 reviews in Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld and Expedia. The hostel staff and management deserve all the praises and good reviews they received from these sites. Let us know more about the hostel, its facilities and amenities below in the write up below.

Location & Access

The RomeHello is located at Via Torino 45 in Rome, Italy. It is 150 meters by foot from Repubblica-Teatro dell’Opera Station in the Metro Line A. It is 750 meters away or 7-10 minutes by foot from Roma Termini Station.

The hostel has a central location and is near famous Roman landmarks. It is 10 minutes away by foot to the Trevi Fountain, 15 minutes by foot to The Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Piazza Venezia and 20 to 25 minute-walk to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. It is also near cafés, restaurants, shops and even supermarkets.

Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) is 30 kilometers away and can be reached either by bus, taxi or the 35-minute Leonardo Express from Roma Termini. Rome’s other airport, Rome–Ciampino International Airport (CIA), is 15 kilometers away and can be reached either by taxi or shuttle buses from Roma Termini.

Room Options

The RomeHello is a hostel for all; it has both private and dormitory rooms. Guests who want privacy throughout their visit can stay in the private rooms while those traveling on a tight budget can choose to stay in the dormitory rooms.

The hostel’s private room configurations are as follows: double room, quadruple room, twin room, twin bunk bed room and triple room. All these private rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, mini fridge with water bottles, televisions, towels and toiletries, small tables and chairs, USB sockets in the bedside tables and cabinets.

The dormitory rooms are arranged in the following configurations: 3-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 10-bed mixed dormitory room and 3-bed female-only dormitory room. All dormitory beds feature bed covers, duvet, pillows, individual lamps, electrical and USB sockets, lockers under the beds and personal shelves. All dormitory rooms have in-room showers and toilets. Towels and toiletries are not included in these shared rooms.

My friend and I booked our stay with Agoda and got a bed in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid €89.26 each for 5 nights – €17.85 per night. My bank charged me ₱5,468.12 (including 1.85% foreign currency conversion fee) for this 5-night stay – roughly ₱1,094 per night.

We were assigned 1 single bed each in one of the ground floor 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. The room had a bunk bed and 2 single beds. The room was spacious, clean and near the communal lounge and laundry room.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

The RomeHello has one of the longest lists of guest facilities and amenities in all my hostel of the day features. Check out the long list below:

Free Wi-Fi Access – All hostel guests have access to a free wi-fi connection available throughout the property.

Free Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel gives their guests a free drink coupon upon check-in. This coupon can be redeemed at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler anytime during the stay.

Buffet Breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler – Hostel guests can avail of a buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler from 8:00am to 10:30am for only €7 per person. Guests enjoy a selection of eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruits, cold cuts, cheese and cereals. They also enjoy a variety of drinks – coffee, tea, fruit juices and water – included in the buffet rate.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler is the hostel’s in-house bar and restaurant. It is open from lunch until late night to cater to both guests and non-guests. Hostel guests get 10% off when they dine at The Barrel by showing their hostel access card.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Dormitory and private rooms at The RomeHello feature in-room shower and toilet facilities. The showers are equipped with heating systems.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are have air conditioning and heating systems which can be used depending on season.

Communal Lounge Area – The hostel has a spacious communal lounge area where guests can spend their idle time watching the television or talking to co-travelers. It is also the perfect place to meet and make friends with the other guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The RomeHello has a shared kitchen for those who want to cook their own meals during their stay. They also have a dining area where people can have their meals.

Communal Shower & Toilet – The hostel has a communal shower and toilet that is open to all guests. Even guests who already checked out can still take a shower before they leave for their next destination.

Spacious Inner Courtyard – The property has a spacious inner courtyard where events are held. It is also a place where people can relax for some fresh air.

Games Area – The hostel has a ping pong table in the inner courtyard and a table football in the lounge area which guests can play with. They also have boardgames which can be borrowed and played with other people.

Snack & Drink Vending Machines – Fancy a snack or drink? You can get some in the vending machines located inside the shared kitchen or near the lockers.

Daily Hostel Activities – The hostel hosts daily activities which guests can join. It ranges from movie nights, community dinners to game nights, karaoke nights and drinking games. Do not forget to check-out the weekly activity calendar near the elevator during your stay.

Hostel Tours & Experiences – Aside from the daily activities, the hostel also hosts tours and experiences which guests can enjoy. Pasta and pizza cooking classes are held every Monday and Tuesday for €8 per person per class. They also conduct tip-based walking tours on specific days of the week. Make sure to check with reception if you are keen on joining these activities.

Luggage Storage – Guests who arrive before the check-in hours and guests who need to leave their bags after check-out can have their stuff stored at the luggage room at no extra cost. Please approach reception if you want to use the luggage room before check-in or after check-out.

Locker Rentals – Guests who cannot leave their valuables in the luggage room can rent the lockers in the communal lounge area for safe storage.

Luggage Weighing Scale – The hostel has a luggage weighing scale which guests can use for only €1.

Self-service Coin Laundry – The RomeHello has a self-service coin laundry at the ground floor. The laundry service is easy to use. These machines are mostly used during night time and are best used in the morning.

Hair Dryer & Ironing Facilities – All rooms are equipped with hair dryers. Guests who need to iron clothes can use the ironing facilities found inside the laundry room.

Computer Access – There are 2 computers in the communal lounge area which guests can use to plan their itineraries, book their next flights and accommodations.

Printing Access – Guests who need to print documents can have them printed by reception. Please reach out to them for the updated printing rates.

24-Hour Reception – The RomeHello’s reception is open 24 hours every day of the week. Check-in starts at 2:00pm while check-out is until 11:00am.

Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff speak many languages – Italian, English, Filipino and a few more. Guests who do not speak Italian or English can still communicate with and ask questions to the staff at any time.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel housekeeping checks and cleans the rooms and toilets daily. They make sure that the hostel facilities and rooms are kept clean and tidy.

Secured Room Access – The rooms can be accessed using a randomly-generated lock code that is assigned individually per guest.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with 24/7 video surveillance system that makes sure that no outsiders go inside the guest-only premises. Also, all guests need to go past reception when they want to enter the hostel.

Lift Access – Guests who have large luggage do not need to worry about bringing them up to the higher floors. They can use the lift to go up to and down from their rooms.

Hostel Experience

I had an awesome stay at The RomeHello. I enjoyed every bit from check-in to check-out; I could have extended if my itinerary allowed me to do so.

The hostel ticked all the boxes for me but has specifically excelled in the following. First, their rates were affordable. The hostel provided more than what guests pay for per night. They had one of the best value rates within the city. Second, the hostel’s location was perfect for my itinerary. It was near Repubblica Station of Metro Line A; it was also near Roma Termini. The popular Rome spots were all 10-25 minutes away by foot. The hostel was also located in a small quiet laneway, excluded from all the city noise.

Third, the €7 breakfast buffet at The Barrel was exceptional. The buffet had a good spread of eggs, bread, cold cuts, sausages, bacon, cheese, fresh fruits and drinks. Fourth, the property had a long list of activities, tours and experiences that enhanced the guest’s hostel experience. I joined the pasta cooking class for €8; I knew how to cook the ‘real’ carbonara at the same time also met people from all over the world.

Fifth, the hostel managed to keep its cleanliness throughout the day despite all the activities and guests coming in and out every day. Lastly, The RomeHello’s staff were the friendliest and most hospitable ones I have dealt with during this trip. I met a few Filipino hostel staff and was instantly treated like their close friends. At some point, it felt home. The stay felt like I am in the Philippines because of them. Shoutout to the ate’s and kuya’s of The RomeHello – thank you for making my stay a memorable one!

On the other side of the line, I cannot think of anything which the hostel can or needs to improve on. If there is one thing I can comment on, it is the long list of activities they have. I did not have enough time to join all of them during my stay. I need to go back to The RomeHello to just join all the activities.

Will I recommend The RomeHello? YES! It is an easy 15 over 10 for me. In my opinion, The RomeHello is an epitome of a perfect hostel. The hostel has affordable rates, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, a central location, fun activities, tours and experiences to join and a traveler-friendly atmosphere. What more can you ask for? No need to think twice, book with The Romehello for your trip to Rome.

Do you have questions about The RomeHello? Feel free to reach out to them on the following platforms:

The RomeHello
Address: Via Torino 45 00184, Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 9686 0070
E-mail address: ciao@theromehello.com
Website: www.theromehello.com
Faceook: www.facebook.com/theromehello
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theromehello

Have you stayed with The RomeHello in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District

A few months ago, my friends & I flew to Europe for a 3.5-week holiday. Our first stop was the beautiful French capital – Paris. We explored Paris for 5 days & 4 nights & decided to stay in an authentic Parisian & affordable hostel. The hostel where we stayed at – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels – will be today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Read on below to know more about why you should stay in this hostel on your next visit to Paris.

Le Village Montmartre

Le Village Montmartre is an authentic Parisian hostel found in Montmartre – the city’s artist district. The hostel is situated in a 5-storey (including ground floor) old building along Rue d’Orsel just a few meters away from the famous Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

Le Village Montmartre is part of the Hiphophostels Group – a chain of affordable Parisian hostels & hotels. The 30-year-old hostel group has about 20 properties around Paris. Their hostels & hotels, including Le Village, are located in the city’s most famous & important areas like Montmartre, Latin Quarter & Belleville. The group also offers affordable rates for as low as €15 per night. Check out the hostel group’s website to know more.

In case you don’t know, I’ve featured the hostels I’ve been to since 2017. I already wrote about hostels from Asia, Australia & Europe. Check out all these hostel of the day features here.

Location & Access

Le Village Montmartre is located at 20 Rue d’Orsel in the 18th arrondissement (Montmartre area) of Paris, France. The hostel doors are about 400 meters away (or 7 to 10 minutes by foot) from the famous La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre or The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris.

The hostel has a good location. It is 2-3 minutes by foot to Anvers Station on the Blue Line / Metro Line 2. It is 1-2 stations away from Gare du Nord – one of Paris’ main train stations. It is less than 30 seconds away to 2 supermarkets – G20 (our favorite) & Franpix. It is also near to a lot of restaurants, cafes & souvenir shops.

Le Village is about an hour away by train from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. It is about 40 minutes away from the airport by private transportation, Uber or FreeNow. Its location is an easy 10 out of 10; it made going around Paris by train easy.

Room Options

Le Village Montmartre has rooms for all travelers. The hostel has private rooms for those who want their own space during trips. It also has dormitory rooms for those who are traveling on a budget. Their private rooms have the following arrangements – double room with a double bed, twin room with 2 single beds, triple room with a single bed & a bunk bed & quadruple room with 2 bunk beds. All these rooms have air conditioning & heating systems. These also have private bathrooms & toilets with hair dryers. Bath towels are provided in these private rooms.

On the other hand, the dormitory rooms have the following configurations – 4-bed mixed dormitory room with 2 bunk beds, 4-bed female dormitory room with 2 bunk beds & 12-bed dormitory room with 6 bunk beds. All these dormitory rooms have in-room toilets & showers; these are also equipped with air conditioning & heating systems. Dormitory room guests are assigned lockers where they can store their valuables. Please note that guests need to bring their own padlocks & bath towels. Those who don’t have bath towels can rent them from reception.

Room & dormitory bed rates vary depending on season. We stayed in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room & paid €132 each (including city tax) for 4 nights – that’s €33 per night. My bank charged me a little over ₱8,100 (including foreign transaction conversion fees) for these 4 nights – roughly ₱2,025 per night. Note that we booked our stay 5 months before our intended trip. This is already cheap considering how expensive Paris is in general. Believe it or not, this property was one of the cheapest at the time of booking.

Each dormitory bed has a pillow, bed cover & a thin blanket. It also has a personal reading light & power socket. The dormitory room we got has a good amount of space to move around & has a window overlooking the communal terrace. It also has a shower (with hot water) & toilet, a small table & chair & lockers for 4 people.

Guest Perks, Facilities & Amenities

Like any other hostel, Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels has a long list of facilities & amenities which guests can enjoy during their stay.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All guests can access the hostel’s complimentary & stable Wi-Fi.

Breakfast Service – The property offers daily breakfast service to those who availed of this option at the time of booking. The big breakfast is available for purchase on the day itself or upon check-in for €9. It is also offered at a discounted rate of €6 if you confirm you’ll get it days before check-in. Breakfast is available daily from 7:00am to 10:00am.

Private Showers & Toilets – All private & dormitory rooms have their own toilet & shower areas. Please take note that bath towels are not included in dormitory rooms. Guests can rent one from reception for €2,5.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are equipped with an air conditioner & a heater which guests can use depending on the season.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The hostel also has a shared kitchen & dining area for those who want to prepare meals & eat these meals during their stay.

Communal Lounge Area – Guests can relax & chill in the hostel’s communal lounge area. There are seats & tables near reception that are available for all.

Communal Outdoor Terrace – The hostel has a communal outdoor terrace on the 1^st floor. This area is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm.

Luggage Storage – Incoming & outgoing guests don’t need to worry where they’ll leave their bags before check-in or after check-out. Le Village Montmartre offers luggage storage for all guests.

Free Lockers – It also has free lockers for valuables which guests can’t leave inside the dormitory & private rooms. Please reach out to reception in case you want to use these lockers.

Hair Dryer & Ironing Facilities – The toilets have built-in hair dryers which guests can use when they need it. Ironing facilities are also available upon request from reception.

Computer Access – Need to book a flight ticket or research your itinerary? Le Village Montmartre has a computer which guests can use. Don’t hesitate to use the computer near the locker area.

Printing Services – The hostel also offers printing services for those who need it. Reach out to the person assigned in reception to know the latest rate.

Tour Desk & Ticket Service – Le Village Montmartre has an inhouse tour desk & ticket service. They offer airport transfers for a fee; they also offer Parisian Boat Cruise tickets for a discounted price. Make sure to check with reception which specific tours & tickets they offer.

24-Hour Reception – Guests arriving early in the morning or late at night don’t need to worry whether they can go inside the hostel or not. Reception is open 24 hours daily. Check-in starts at 3:00pm & check-out is until 11:00am.

Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff speak many languages – French, Spanish, English & a few more. Guests who don’t speak French or English can still communicate with & ask questions to the staff at any time.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel housekeeping checks & cleans the rooms & toilets daily. They make sure that the hostel facilities & rooms are kept clean & tidy.

Secured Hostel Access – The hostels doors are secured. Guests need to ring the doorbell so they can enter the hostel premises. Room access is limited to guests via their respective keycards.

The hostel doors. It is always locked & can only be unlocked by the person at reception. Secured!!

Lift Access – Le Village Montmartre has a small lift for guests who have big & heavy luggage & bags.

Hostel Experience

We had a nice stay at Le Village Montmartre. We won’t consider it eventful because we were out most of the time & we were only there to rest & sleep at night.

The hostel’s winning points are the price, the location & the excellent pre-booked breakfast. The hostel’s price for my 4-night stay was definitely the winner. It was the cheapest we got at the time, plus it even included the best possible cancellation terms. It was very cheap for an expensive city like Paris, France.

The hostel’s location was also a good selling point. It may be outside the main city & far from the other touristic place, but it is very accessible. It’s a few minutes away from Sacré-Coeur & Anvers Station of the Metro Line 2. It is also located in the lively & artistic district of Montmartre. Lastly, the pre-booked €6 breakfast was superb. It included croissant, pain au chocolat, baguette, butter, cheese, jam, yogurt, a cup of coffee (or tea) & a glass of juice. It was worth the price.

On the flipside, we wish the hostel had periodic activities which guests could join during their stay. We were there for 4 nights & we didn’t see anything happening. It doesn’t have to be a loud & chaotic party, but it can be something like a community dinner or games night where guests can join & meet other travelers. We’re sure many guests will be up for these activities.

Will I recommend Le Village Montmartre? Definitely! Will I go back & stay with them in the future? It’s a yes. You can never go wrong with this authentic & affordable hostel while in Paris. What are you waiting for? Go ahead & book directly with the hostel to enjoy the best rates!

Do you have any questions about Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels? Feel free to reach out to them on the following platforms:

Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels
Address: 20 Rue d’Orsel, Paris, France
Phone Number: +33 1 42 64 22 02
E-mail Address: contact@villagehostel.fr
Website: www.villagehostel.fr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeVillageMontmartre

Have you stayed at Le Village Montmartre in the past? How was your experience? Share your experiences in the comments section below. By any chance, are you planning to book your stay with Le Village? Do you have any questions about the property? Feel free to post them in the comment section. You may also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: THE BED KLCC – Modern & Premium Capsule Hostel in Kuala Lumpur City Center

A few months ago, I flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a week. I was joined by my friends for 3 full days & I took them around the beautiful city. I already posted about this 3-day budget Kuala Lumpur – check out this blog post to know more. After they left, I moved to another hostel named The Bed KLCC. This capsule hotel is the topic for today’s Hostel of the Day review. Join me as I share with you my experience & some facts about this modern & premium capsule hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

In case you missed it & aside from the KL on a budget post I mentioned above, I’ve also shared details about all my flights to & from Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila. I also shared details about the 1^st hostel I stayed with in KL – PODs The Backpackers Home & Café. Don’t forget to also check them out!

The Bed KLCC

The Bed KLCC is a modern & posh capsule hostel that opened in 2017. The property’s goal is to provide comfortable & affordable accommodation in the Kuala Lumpur City Center. The hostel occupies part of the ground floor, 1^st & 2^nd floors of the famous Vortex Building. Reception is found in the ground floor with The Bean KLCC Café. The communal lounge & dining area is found on the 1^st floor. The private & dormitory rooms are found on both the 1^st & 2^nd floors.

In case you don’t know, I’ve featured the hostels I’ve been to since 2017. I already wrote about hostels from Asia, Australia & Europe. Check out all these hostel of the day features here.

Location & Access

The Bed KLCC is located at No 12, Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur City Center. It is accessible to major train lines – a short walk from KJ12 Dang Wangi Station of the LRT Kelana Jaya Line, MR8 Bukit Nanas Station of the KL Monorail & SBK18A Bukit Bintang Station (nearest Exit 7) of the MRT Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line. The GoKL City Buss Blue & Green Lines also stop near the property.

The property is about 25-30 minutes walk & train trip to KL Sentral – the city’s central transportation hub. From there, passengers can take the bus or the express train to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The airport is an hour away by car or private transportation.

The Bed KLCC is pretty much near everything in KLCC. The nearest convenience store is literally opposite reception & The Bean KLCC. There are a handful of restaurants nearby such as Hard Rock Café KL, McDonalds, Gravy Baby & Healy Mac’s Irish Bar & Restaurant. Suria KLCC & the iconic Petronas Towers are 10 minutes away by foot.

The Bed KLCC’s location is easy a 10 out of 10. It is located within the city center & is near almost everything a visitor needs.

Private & Dormitory Rooms

The Bed KLCC has numerous types of rooms that can cater to all types of travelers. Those travelling on budget can stay in their dormitory rooms while those who are travelling with their friends or partners & want privacy can opt for the private rooms.

A bed in a dormitory room costs RM55-RM65 per night. The front entry bod costs RM55 while the side entry & female-only pods cost RM65 per night. A night stay in the dormitory room includes access to free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, roll-down partitions per bed, unlimited drinking water refill & shared bathrooms. The bed also includes a pillow & blanket, towel, reading light, power socket & a clothes hanger.

The Bed KLCC has 5 types of private rooms. The single pod suite costs RM100 per night & includes a single bed, a working table with mirror plus all the amenities found in the dormitory bed / room. The private twin pod & queen pod suite cost RM130, while the family & travel buddy rooms (all for 4 people) cost RM170 per night. All these private rooms have access to shared washrooms & toilets per area / group of rooms. The room rates mentioned above are the rates published by the property on their website. Please take note that other booking platforms such as Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld & Traveloka have their own promotional rates.

I booked my stay with Booking.com & paid RM270 for 3 nights in a private single pod suite. I got the room for RM90 per night. Thanks to my Booking.com Genius Level 2 loyalty status, I got a 10% off per night. This booking also had a flexible cancellation term which was perfect for travelling these days. My bank charged me ₱3,455.56 including the foreign currency conversion fee for all 3 nights. That translates to around ₱1,151.85 per night. It’s expensive for a city like Kuala Lumpur but I believe the cost is worth the price given the property’s facilities & amenities. You can get cheaper hotels or hostels than this, but you can’t match the premium experience The Bed KLCC gives to their guests.

In case you haven’t read it, I also post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines , Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

The Bed KLCC has a long list of facilities & amenities available to all guests. Check out these facilities & amenities below:

Fast & Free Wi-Fi – All guests have access to fast & free Wi-Fi. Their internet connection is perfect for those who want to work remotely from Kuala Lumpur.

Daily Breakfast Service – The property offers daily breakfast service to those who availed of this option at the time of booking. Unfortunately, I did not avail of the hostel’s free breakfast.

Aesthetic Communal Lounge – The Bed KLCC has one of the most aesthetic hostel communal lounges I’ve seen in my years of travelling. It is at par with the coziness of Steel House Copenhagen’s communal lounge.

Spacious Dining & Food Preparation Area – The hostel has a spacious dining & food preparation area for guests who want to eat or prepare their food in the hostel.

Complimentary Tea & Coffee – Guests can make their own coffee or tea in the dining area as long as the common area is open.

In-House Café – The Bed KLCC has an in-house café called The Bean KLCC. The café offers coffee, tea & some snacks & sandwiches.

Well-Maintained Communal Shower & Toilet Areas – The property has clean & spotless shower & toilet areas. These common areas are found on the 1^st floor & are well-maintained.

Private Room Amenities – Private rooms have amenities that are not found in dormitory rooms. The rooms have working tables & chairs, toiletries (including toothbrush & toothpaste), storage spaces & reading lamps.

Private Wash Rooms – Guests in the private rooms have access to clean private wash rooms. These wash rooms are complete with toilet papers, hand soap, shampoo with conditioner & liquid body soap.

Travel Desk – The Bed KLCC also has a travel desk for those who want to avail of local tours & airport transfers. Feel free to approach the hostel staff to find out more about this service.

Luggage Storage – Guests who arrive earlier than the check-in time or those who will leave hours after the property’s check-out time can store their luggage with the property. Don’t hesitate to ask reception where you can leave your bags.

Laundry Services – The property also offers laundry services for those who need their clothes / belongings washed during the stay. Please ask reception on how you can avail of this service.

Communal Powder Room – The Bed KLCC also has a communal powder room for those who need to use it. It is located near the communal shower & toilets.

Hair Dryer & Ironing Facilities – The hostel also provides hair dryer & ironing facilities. These are found inside the powder room.

Unlimited Drinking Water Refill – The Bed KLCC offers unlimited drinking water refill to all its guests. The water dispenser is found near the sink in the communal food preparation area. Don’t forget to bring you own water container.

Shoe Storage Areas & In-Room Slippers – Guests need to leave their shoes in their respective shoe lockers. All rooms should be accessed using the in-room slippers provided by the hostel.

Centralized Air Conditioning System – The property has a centralized air conditioning system. This means that air conditioning is only open at night (I think at 8pm) until 8am. The communal areas remain well ventilated throughout the day.

24-Hour Reception – The property’s reception is open for 24 hours. No need to worry if your flight or bus arrives after midnight or if you need to leave for the airport in the wee hours of the morning.

Boardgames / Puzzles – There are boardgames & puzzles which guests can play with during their stay.

Printing & Scanning Services – The hostel also offers printing & scanning services for a fee. Feel free to approach reception to avail of these services.

Friendly & Multi-Lingual Staff – The Bed KLCC has friendly & multi-lingual staff. They have staff who speak Malay, English & even Filipino.

Secured Hotel Access – Only guests have access to the dormitory & private rooms. Guests are given key cards during check-in that work on their assigned floor / level.

Lift Access – Guests who have luggage & big bags need not worry about bringing their bags to their rooms. The hostel has 2 lifts which can be accessed using the hostel key cards.

Hostel Experience

I had a lovely & quiet stay with The Bed KLCC. I arrived around 8:00pm & was greeted by one of the Filipino staff at reception. I was even assisted by one of the staff & helped me bring my bags up to my private room. Great welcome from the staff!

The single pod suite was decent, neat, but didn’t have much space. The room layout was alright. The room gets super cold at night; guests do not have the power to control the in-room temperature. The thick comforters somewhat help ease the super cold temperature. I hope the property management can find a way to have the best possible temperature at night or at least improve the room ventilation systems.

The property’s highlight for me is its communal lounge & dining area. This communal space is very aesthetic. It looks & feels very cozy, modern & premium. I initially planned to work in my room for 2 days but ended up doing it in one of the high chairs & tables in the common area. The area was quiet & perfect for work.

The Bed KLCC pretty much remained quiet throughout my stay. I didn’t get the chance to meet some co-travelers / guests. I hope or wish the hostel can organize activities for those who want to join & meet other people. It doesn’t have to be a loud and noisy party; it can even be just a community dinner or game night or other social activities. I’m sure there are guests who will join.

Will I recommend The Bed KLCC? Definitely! It’s a premium, modern & cozy property found in the middle of Kuala Lumpur City Center. It is at the higher end of the affordability range in Kuala Lumpur but it surely lives up to its price. If only I knew that I’d be working most of the time from the common area, I should have stayed in one of those dormitory beds instead. Anyway, I still had a great stay with The Bed KLCC!

Do you have questions about The Bed KLCC? I’ve listed their contact details below. Feel free to reach out to them on the following platforms:

The Bed KLCC
Address: G1 @ Vortex KLCC, No 12, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Phone Number: +60 3 2715 2413
E-mail Address: booking@thebedklcc.com / thebedklcc@gmail.com
Website: www.thebedklcc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebedkl
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebedklcc

Have you stayed with The Bed KLCC? How was your experience? Share your experiences in the comments section below. By any chance, are you planning to book your stay with The Bed KLCC? Do you have any questions about the property? Feel free to post them in the comment section. You may also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. I cannot wait to share more hostels to all of you. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: Z HOSTEL PHILIPPINES – Makati’s Prime & Best Value Hostel in the Heart of Poblacion

The hostel businesses, together with the whole hospitality industry, are one of the worst hit sectors by the pandemic. The hostels were not allowed to operate the way they used to be. Fun get-to-know conversations inside dormitory rooms, communal room games & activities plus the use of shared hostel facilities were all banned since the pandemic started.

With the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, these activities & fun experiences are starting to happen again. Hostels are re-opening & starting to recover from the hardships they experienced during the early & uncertain days of the Covid-19 era. One of Makati’s prime hostels – Z Hostel Philippines – has re-opened to Filipinos, foreigners & to the public.

Recently, I got invited by our friends at Z Hostel Philippines to stay with them for a few nights. I’ve been to Z Hostel’s rooftop bar a few times before but not really stayed with them, so I gladly accepted the invite. Today’s hostel of the day feature will be about my Z Hostel Philippines experience. Join me as I share with you details about the hostel’s features, room types, amenities & the perks of being a hostel guest.

Z Hostel Philippines

Z Hostel Philippines is a high-rated & well-featured hostel property in the heart of Poblacion, Makati. It opened in January 2015 & has welcomed guests from all over the world. The hostel is managed by a group of friends who have a common interest in traveling & backpacking. Since it opened in 2015, the hostel managed to keep its place as one of Makati’s best – placing number 1 on Trip Advisor during its first 4 years, getting top ratings in Hostelworld & Booking.com & even getting endless features in magazines, television shows, newspapers & blogs.

The hostel building has 6 floors & 2 upper decks. The property has 121 beds in 30 private & dormitory rooms. It also has a café on the ground floor & a café / bar on the roof deck.

Location & Access

Z Hostel Philippines is located at 5660 Don Pedro St in the center of Barangay Poblacion, Makati City. It is not located along the main road, but it’s still easy to get a ride. The nearest main road is Kalayaan Avenue; it is about a minute walk away from the hostel doors. Makati Avenue comes next & is about 5 minutes by foot from the hostel. The nearest shopping malls (Century City & Powerplant Malls) are within 1 kilometer from the hostel. The international & domestic airports are about 20-30 minutes (10-14 kilometers away) away without traffic.

The hostel is basically near everything. It is near a convenience store & near to almost all restaurants, cafes & bars in Poblacion & along Makati Avenue. You can literally walk to every establishment from the hostel’s doors. Its location is an easy 10 out of 10. It may not be along a main road, but it surely has access to practically everything a guest needs & wants during his/her stay.

Private & Dormitory Rooms

Z Hostel Philippines caters to every type of guest. The hostel has private rooms for guests who want their own space during their stay. It also has dormitory rooms for travelers who are on a budget & who are keen on meeting new people during their stay.

The hostel has 4 types of dormitory rooms – 4-bed mixed, 6-bed mixed, 6-bed female & 8-bed mixed dormitory rooms. All these dormitory rooms have in-room toilets & showers, air conditioning, in-room desks & counters. Every dormitory bed has a pillow, a blanket & a console with a private reading light & power socket. Dormitory room guests also have access to lockers where they can put their bags & valuables. Please note that guests need to bring their own padlocks. Nightly dormitory room rates are as follows as of August 2022: ₱1,065 per guest in an 8-bed mixed dormitory, ₱1,1100 per person in the 6-bed mixed & 6-bed female dormitories & ₱1,150 per night in the 4-bed mixed dormitory room. All these room rates include breakfast. Z Hostel also offers room rates that don’t include breakfast – ₱760 per guest in an 8-bed mixed dormitory, ₱840 per person in the 6-bed mixed & 6-bed female dormitories & ₱880 per night in the 4-bed mixed dormitory room

The hostel has 2 types of private rooms – the bunk bed room & the double room. The private bunk room features a bunk bed for 2 people, with each person having his or her own bed. The private room has a queen bed in the middle of the room. All these beds include pillows & blankets. These private rooms also include a private toilet & bath (with toiletries), a desk, a storage area, a large mirror & a safety deposit box. Hair dryer, flat iron & board are also available by request. These private rooms cost ₱2,550 per night for 2 people. The rate already includes breakfast. Room only (no breakfast included) rates are also available for ₱2,000 per night for 2 people.

Guests who want a mix of socialization, fun & comfort may request to stay on the Fun Floor. The fun floor is located 1 level below the hostel’s roof deck. Guests staying on this floor have the easiest access to the hostel’s nightly parties. The room configurations available on the fun floor are the 4-bed mixed, 6-bed mixed & private rooms. The room rates are the same as mentioned above.

I stayed for 3 nights in the 4-bed mixed dormitory room located on the fun floor. The room has enough space for 4 people; it has a window & has air conditioning. It also features a clean in-room toilet & shower, a useful desk, storage space & individual lockers. The noise & sound from the hostel’s roof deck did not bother my sleep in all 3 nights.

This is the 4-bed mixed dormitory room located on the the Fun Floor – where I stayed for 3 nights.

The hostel also runs promotions once in a while. They offer dormitory beds & private rooms on discount. Feel free to check out the hostel’s socials (see below) or reach out to them to know more about these promotional offers.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Free & Fast Wi-Fi – All guests have access to a free, fast & work-from-home friendly Wi-Fi connection. Please don’t forget to ask for the password during check-in.

Excellent Breakfast – Guests who book rooms & dormitory beds that include the free breakfast add-on can experience an excellent breakfast meal. It may not be a typical Filipino rice meal, but it includes toast with butter & jam, fruits of the day, cereals, eggs (sunny-side up, scrambled or omelet) & coffee or tea.

Z Hostel Café – Guests who did not book or avail the breakfast option can order food from the café. The café is open from morning until night time & has a long list of food options to choose from. Check out the menu below.

Z Hostel Roofdeck Bar – Guests staying at Z Hostel have access to the hostel’s famous roof deck bar. The bar is open daily from 5:00pm to 3:00am. Non-guests can access the roof deck bar by buying an RFID bracelet (worth ₱100) per group & loading ₱500 consumable credit per person. The roof deck bar also offers food & drink options – see menu in the images below.

This RFID also allows holders & guests to enter & access Z Hostel’s partner establishments – The Green Door & The Apartment.

Nightly Hostel Roofdeck Event – Z Hostel Philippines hosts nightly events in their roof deck bar. Crowds don’t start until around 10:00pm-11:00pm. Check out the hostel’s socials for the daily events.

Z Hostel Sundeck – The newly-constructed sundeck is the hostel’s pandemic project. They built a sundeck on top of the roof deck bar. The sundeck has amazing views of the Makati & Rockwell skylines & is the perfect place to sip your drink while watching the beautiful sunset with your friends. People can access the sundeck by paying ₱5,000 consumable credits per table.

In-room Shower & Toilets – All dormitory & private rooms at Z Hostel feature in-room toilet & shower areas. These toilet & shower areas come with bath gel, shampoo & hand soap.

In-room Amenities – All dormitory & private rooms have air conditioning & desks or counters. Each dormitory bed features a private reading light, a small bed console & power plug. Private rooms include drinking water with glasses, lamps & bed-side consoles. Guests in private rooms & 6-bed female dormitory rooms are also given bath robes to use during their stay.

Safety Deposit Boxes & Personal Lockers – The hostel has safety deposit boxes in private rooms & personal lockers (with in-locker power plugs) in dormitory rooms. Those staying in dormitory rooms need to bring their own padlocks.

Hostel Essentials Shop – For those who forgot to bring padlocks & other hostel essentials, you may head over to reception & buy these from the hostel shop. They also sell Z Hostel-branded goodies such as bags, shirts & bags.

Communal Lounge Space – The hostel has a large communal space near the entrance & reception area. There are comfortable couches where guests can hangout & talk.

Communal Shower & Toilet – The hostel has a communal shower & toilet on the 2^nd floor. Guests who have already checked out can still use these amenities before leaving the hostel premises for their next trip.

Tour Desk – Z Hostel offers guided tours & bookings to whatever the guest needs. Feel free to ask reception about the tours available during your stay.

Games Area – The hostel has a games area where guests can play with other guests. They have a pool table near the café. They also have board games that can be borrowed from the hostel.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free luggage storage for incoming & outgoing guests. Those who are waiting for room check-in or an evening flight or bus trip can leave their bags near the reception at no extra cost.

Drinking Water Refill – Z Hostel Philippines has a water dispenser in the cafe which guests can use to refill their water containers.

Seasonal Hostel Activities – The hostel also offers seasonal activities to its guests. Pre-pandemic, Z Hostel had Poblacion walking tours, sunset sessions at the roof deck & traditional dinners for those who want to feast on Filipino food. These activities are currently on pause because of the pandemic.

24-Hour Reception – Z Hostel Reception is open all day & all night. There is always a staff in the reception area 24 hours a day & 7 days a week.

Printing Services – The hostel also offers printing services for those who need it. Make sure to check the updated printing rates with reception.

Friendly & Approachable Staff – Z Hostel’s staff have been one of the friendliest & approachable hostel staff I’ve dealt with. Everyone greets you with their best smiles – from the security guard, to the waiters, bouncers, café staff, receptionists & even those from housekeeping. They make sure that they provide their best service to the hostel guests.

Secured Hotel Access – Hostel guests are the only ones allowed inside the hostel rooms. Each guest is given a key card that only works on your assigned room. Visitors are only allowed in the lobby, café & the roof deck bar.

Lift Access – Guests who have large bags need not to worry about going up & down several floors. Z Hostel has a lift which every guest can use.

24-Hour Security – Z Hostel is a secured hostel. The hostel always has a guard by the hostel doors. The hostel is also equipped with security cameras all over the property.

Hostel Experience

I stayed with Z Hostel Philippines for 4 days & 3 nights & I can say that I really enjoyed my stay. These factors made my stay enjoyable & memorable. First, the hostel’s location is superb. It is located in the busy street of Don Pedro & has many food & drink options nearby. It is not along a main road, but everything you need is nearby. Second, the hard product is excellent. The room I was assigned to was spacious & clean. The air conditioning worked well & the bed was comfortable to sleep on. The room had everything a hostel guest needs. The dormitory room windows & in-room toilets & showers were a big plus. I’ve stayed in many hostel rooms which don’t have windows & in-room toilets & shower.

Third, the café & roof deck bar has good food & drink options. My personal favorites were the Butabara (grilled pork belly sticks with kimchi), Pork Adobo Flakes Rice Meal & their best-selling signature cocktail drink – May Forever. I seriously lost count of how many May Forever’s my friends & I ordered in those 2 party nights. Fourth, the nightly roof deck events & parties add so much fun to the guests’ experiences. The hostel became well-known because of these events & parties. I am very happy that these are back & happening again. Lastly, the hostel has some of the friendliest & most guest-oriented staff I’ve encountered in a while. The staff always greets you every time they see you in the hallway & even join you in the elevator.

I honestly can’t think of anything Z Hostel could further improve on. However, I have 2 wishes for the hostel. First, I hope the hostel crowds – both local & foreign – start to go back & stay with the hostel. The guests contribute a lot to the hostel vibe & experience. Second, I hope that timing & regulations allow the daily hostel guest events to operate again. Personally, I am a traveler who also considers hostels as destinations aside from the place I am traveling to. It would be nice to experience the sunset sessions, walking tour & traditional dinner with co-hostel guests – just like how it was before.

Will I stay again with Z Hostel? It’s definitely a yes! I will even bring my friends next time if time & situation permits. One day, I will bring my friends to the sundeck & watch the beautiful Makati sunset from the awesome deck.

I said it above & I will say it again. Don’t look anywhere else. Z Hostel Philippines is the place to be! It is Makati’s prime & best value hostel in the heart of Poblacion.

Do you have any questions about the hostel & its facilities? Are you planning to book your next hostel stay with them? You may reach out to them in the following platforms:

Z Hostel Philippines
Address: 5660 Don Pedro St. Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City, Philippines 1210
Phone Number: +632 8856 0851 / +63 917 316 9362
E-mail Address: zhostelreservations@gmail.com / reservations@zhostelph.com
Website: www.zhostel.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/zhostelph
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zhostelph

This pretty much sums up everything about my 3-night stay with Z Hostel Philippines. I’d like to specifically thank Cao, Rommel & the whole Z Hostel Philippines management & team for accommodating me during my stay. I had so much fun working with you; I will surely be back!

Do you have any questions about my experience with Z Hostel? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature! Watch out for the next hostel feature. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: PODS THE BACKPACKERS HOME & CAFÉ – A True Backpacker’s Home Near Kuala Lumpur’s Central Transportation Hub

Guess what? Hostel of the Day features are back! Yes, you read that right. Leisure travel & backpacking is now picking up after being temporarily halted during the early days of the pandemic. With vaccines now available & borders re-opening, travelers have started to push through with the plans they had back in 2020 & 2021. The recent easing of restrictions also saw the re-opening of our beloved hostels & shared accommodations. I am very happy that these hostels now have the chance to make up for the losses they had in the recent years.

I’ve recently restarted traveling after being on the ground for over 2 years. I’ve mostly flown to & from Manila from my hometown & had short trips with friends in Davao & Cebu. Just last month, after 31 months of being in the Philippines, I flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a short out-of-the-country trip. I spent my first few days in a hostel called PODs The Backpackers Home & Café. Join me in today’s hostel feature to know more about this budget accommodation that’s a stone throw away from KL Sentral – Kuala Lumpur’s central transportation hub.

PODs The Backpackers Home & Café

PODs The Backpackers Home & Café is an affordable & eco-friendly hostel located in the Brickfields neighborhood near KL Sentral. The hostel opened in April 2011 & since then has catered to backpackers & budget travelers. The hostel occupies 4 floors. The ground floor has the café & communal area. The first, third & fourth floors house the private pods & the dormitory rooms. PODs The Backpackers tries its best to help the environment by adopting eco-friendly measures such as using recyclable materials & avoiding single-use plastics.

In case you don’t know, I’ve featured the hostels I’ve been to since 2017. I already wrote about hostels from Asia, Australia & Europe. Check out all these hostel of the day features here.

Location & Access

The hostel is located along Jalan Thambipillay in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. It is accessible to almost all transportation lines in the city. It is a 5-minute walk away from the KL Monorail KL Sentral Station. It is about a 10-minute walk from the main KL Sentral Station. This train station has access to almost all major train lines in Kuala Lumpur – MRT SBK Line, LRT Kelana Jaya Line, LRT Ampang & Sri Petaling Line, KLIA Express (high-speed train to the airport), KLIA Transit (affordable train ride to the airport), KTM Komuter (KL local railway service), KTM Inercity & KTM ETS & Skypark Link.

The hostel is also near several city bus stops & more importantly, the KL Sentral Bus Terminal. This bus terminal gives people bus links to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 & 2, Genting Highlands & other localities. The KL Sentral Bus Terminal is about a 5 to 10-minute walk from the hostel doors.

The nearest convenience store is a minute away – right in front of the hostel, while the nearest local grocery is literally next door. There are other convenience stores & groceries nearby, closer to the NU Sentral Shopping Mall & KL Sentral Station. The hostel is also surrounded by different local restaurants & bars. PODs The Backpacker’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is located close to everything a traveler needs during his or her stay.

ROOM Options

PODs The Backpackers Home & Café caters to all types of budget travelers. They have 3 room options (mini PODs, single PODs & double PODs) for those who want some privacy; they also have 3 dormitory room options (4-bed female, 8-bed mixed & 16-bed mixed) for those who don’t mind sharing the room with other travelers.

A mini POD is a small private room with a single mattress on a built-in platform. A single POD is a larger private room with a single mattress also found on a built-in platform. The room also has a bigger cabinet / storage space. A double POD is a private room that has twin mattresses on top of a built-in platform. Guests in these private rooms have access to shared shower & toilet areas, centralized air conditioning & in-room ceiling fans. Standard room rates range from RM70 – RM90 per night.

All dormitory rooms have bunk beds with the numbers depending on the room configuration. Like the private rooms, guests in these dormitory rooms also have access to shared shower & toilets, centralized air conditioning & ceiling fans. Standard dormitory room rates start at RM40 per night. Please take note that private & dormitory room rates vary per booking platform. The hostel’s own platform offers 20% discount to all direct bookings, while third-party booking websites like Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld & Traveloka have their own promotional rates.

I booked my stay with Agoda & paid RM123.20 for a 2-night stay in a single POD. I got the room at RM61.60 per night – RM1.60 more than the hostel’s 20% off promotional rate (RM60 per night) but with flexible booking terms. This room rate includes free cancelation up to 1 day before the first night & a pay later option. My bank charged me ₱1,619.82 including the foreign conversion fee for this 2-night stay. I paid ₱809.91 pesos per night for this private single room. I believe it was still a good deal considering the type of room I had & the hostel’s location & amenities. Know more about the room amenities in the next section below.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Like any other hostel, PODs The Backpackers Home & Café has a long list of facilities & amenities that guests can enjoy during their stay.

Free & Fast Wi-Fi – All guests have access to free & fast Wi-Fi connection. Don’t forget to ask reception what’s the password. The hostel’s connection is reliable; it allowed me to host seamless Zoom meetings.

Café & Restaurant – The hostel has an on-site café & restaurant named TeaPODs Café. The café & restaurant is owned by a Filipino. From what I was told, they serve a wide range of cuisines all day & they even have a long list of Filipino dishes.

Well-Maintained Communal Shower & Toilet Areas – The hostel has minimum 2 communal shower cubicles & 2 toilet areas per floor. The staff cleans these shared facilities on a daily basis.

Rooftop Communal Space – The hostel has a rooftop communal space which guests can access. The rooftop area has chairs, tables & a couch where people can stay & chill. It has a nice view of the KL Sentral skyline, especially at night.

Communal Social / Lounge Area – In case guests don’t want to use the rooftop space, they can also chill & hangout in the ground floor communal area.

Private Room Amenities – Guests booked in private rooms are given bath towels to use during their stay. They can use the large cabinets inside the rooms; they also have full control of the rooms’ ceiling fans. They also have access to universal power sockets; they don’t need to bring their own adaptors.

Travel Desk – The hostel has a dedicated travel desk that offers guided tours around Kuala Lumpur & Malaysia. Feel free to ask reception for details.

Luggage Storage – PODs The Backpackers Hostel offers luggage storage for their guests both before check-in & after check-out.

Laundry Services – The hostel also offers laundry services. Feel free to check with reception if you want to avail of this service.

Ironing Facilities – Guests can iron their clothes using the iron & ironing board on the 1^st floor.

Drinking Water Refill – Guests can refill their water bottles / containers near the reception area.

Seasonal Hostel Activities – Once in a while, the hostel organizes activities which guests can join & enjoy. Don’t forget to ask reception if there’s anything scheduled during your stay.

Games Area – The hostel also has some board & card games which guests can play with during their stay. Guests can use these board & card games for free.

Safe Deposit Boxes at Concierge – They have safe deposit boxes which guests can use to store their valuables.

Shoe Storage Areas & In-Room Slippers – The hostel asks guests to leave their shoes near the floor entrance & use in-room slippers while inside their respective rooms.

Centralized Air Conditioning System – The hostel’s air conditioning system is centralized. It is usually turned on at 8:00pm & runs for 12 hours until 8:00am. Outside these hours, guests can use the ceiling fans installed in every room.

Long Reception Hours – PODs The Backpackers Hostel’s reception is open everyday from 8:00am to 2:00am.

Printing & Scanning Services – The hostel offers printing & scanning services to its guests. These services area available in the reception desk.

Friendly & Responsive Staff – The hostel staff are friendly, hospitable & responsive. The people assigned in the reception desk during my check-in & check-out where very accommodating. They answered all my questions & explained every single detail about my stay. The person behind their Facebook page is also responsive & pleasant to talk to.

Secured Hostel Access – Only hostel guests can access & go inside the private & dormitory rooms. Guests are given key cards during check-in that work on their assigned floor / level.

Lift Access – Guests who have luggage & big bags don’t need to worry about bringing their bags to their rooms. The hostel has a lift which guests can use to get up & down from their assigned rooms / beds.

Hostel Experience

I had a great 2-night stay with PODs The Backpackers Home & Café. Their single pods are perfect for those who want to stay in affordable accommodation at the same time having some privacy away from the usual dormitory rooms. I liked how the mattresses inside the rooms were placed above the built-in platforms. I enjoyed the hostel’s facilities & amenities such as the fast & reliable Wi-Fi connection, the well-maintained rain showers & toilets & the spacious rooftop terrace. I also laud the hostel’s eco-friendly measures of recycling materials & avoiding single-use plastics. I believe the hostel’s ace is their location; it is accessible to almost all places in Kuala Lumpur.

I was a bit sad I didn’t get the chance to try out the food & drinks at TeaPODs Café. I was supposed to have lunch there after check-out but I was told they were closed for general cleaning. If there’s one thing that I didn’t like about the facilities, it’s the poor ventilation of the single pod assigned to me during my stay. The room had no windows (which I don’t mind really) but it would have been nicer if it had an exhaust. I had to open the door once in a while just to keep the room temperature bearable, especially during the day. Other than that, I think this hostel is really good.

The hostel location paired with their budget-friendly rates & awesome facilities make this property a true backpacker’s home. The hostel was quiet during my visit but it is still nice to see that people are starting to travel & visit Kuala Lumpur again. I hope to stay with this hostel again on my next visit to the city!

Do you have questions about the hostel & their facilities? Feel free to contact them in the following platforms.

PODs The Backpackers Home & Café
Address: G-6, No 30, Jalan Thambipillay, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone Number: +60 3 2276 0858
E-mail Address: admin@podsbackpacker.com
Website: www.podsbackpacker.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/podsbackpackers
Instagram: www.instagram.com/podsbackpackers

Have you recently stayed in a hostel? How was your experience compared to the pre-pandemic days? Feel free to share your hostel experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about my stay with PODs The Backpackers Home & Café? Post them in the comments below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature! I am happy that this section is back & I cannot wait to share more hostels & experiences in the future. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.