Not all hostels are created equal. A fact of which anyone with even the smallest experience of backpacking can definitely assure you. From cockroaches to 72-bed dorms, everyone's got a hostel horror story to share.
There are some hostels out there that do go above and beyond, though. From fancy interiors to free breakfasts and dinners, fitness classes, free transportable wi-fi for manoeuvring about the area, free drinks and co-working spaces, these days the best hostels are much more than shared kitchens and bathrooms – they're pretty much hotels, and then some.
HostelWorld has collated over one million customer reviews of hostels from around the world and found the best of the best. They were judged on overall customer experience, value for money, security, location, staff, atmosphere, cleanliness and facilities.
Here's their findings...
Best Hostel in London
For starters, Park Villa is set in the kind of house that most Londoners won't ever be able to afford to live in so by staying here, you're already doing better than most of the actual locals. It's in east London (dead trendy) and decorated as such, with minimalist chipboard and the like. It won for its 'welcoming atmosphere' and, more importantly, being clean. Added bonus: Each bunk has its own plug, so no more battling Boris-from-Lithuania for space to charge your phone.
Park Villa, London. Prices start from £25
Best Small Hostel Worldwide
Soul Kitchen in St. Petersburg wins this prize, although may we suggest waiting until warmer times to plan your visit to Russia's second biggest city? The average temperature for January is -6°C. Soul Kitchen is decorated with the kind of arty kitsch-ness that gives it a laid-back atmosphere without looking messy. All the bunk beds have curtains for privacy – very useful if your bed neighbours decide that your communal room is an excellent place for a spot of carnal activity.
Soul Kitchen, St. Petersburg. Prices from £14.59
Best Medium Sized Hostel Worldwide
Home Lisbon is a fancy place (mahogany bunk beds!) that also benefits from home-cooked meals from the owner's mother (she does it every night, apparently). There's even a co-working space should you need to update your travel blog or, um, finally reply to Mum's emails. Home has won this award for five years in a row.
Home, Lisbon. Prices from £12.11
Best Large Hostel Worldwide
Booking a night in Ostello Bello Grande in Milan gets you a pretty astounding amount of included-in-the-price add-ons. Stuff like free breakfast all day, free dinner, free arrival drinks, free wi-fi modem to take out around the city... There are even hostel musical instruments for that guy who loves to make new friends by playing unsolicited renditions of Wonderwall.
Ostello Bello Grande, Milan. Prices from £41.97
Best Extra Large Hostel Worldwide
Freehand in Chicago definitely looks more like a hotel than a hostel with its design-heavy interiors. And, rather than a sketchy dive bar attached to it like most hostels, Freehand boasts a bona fide cocktail bar, the Broken Shaker.
Freehand, Chicago. Prices from £48.53
Best New Hostel
Lub D Patong in Phuket, Thailand hasn't been around all that long and is a world away from some of the ropey beach houses Phuket used to boast. With clean, cool designs and fun illustrations on the wall, it's hardly the kind of place you'd expect to find five minutes from the beach. I mean, there's a pool, too, if you CBA to walk that far. There's also Muay Thai boxing workout classes and co-working space.
Lub D Patong, Phuket. Prices start at £19.27
Best Hostel in Africa
The B.I.G. in Cape Town has its own pool, a garden and a "braai" (some kind of barbecue thing). There's a pizza oven AND free breakfast (sadly not pizza). Everything is super-clean and fresh-looking.
The B.I.G., Cape Town. Prices start from £22.67
Best Hostel in Asia
Head to Nha Trang in Vietnam for the Mojzo Inn where there's all sorts of free extras chucked in with your room. Free drinking water, free breakfast, free beer and, er, a free banana. Hooray! There's a lovely rooftop balcony with a spectacular view.
Mojzo Inn, Nha Trang. Prices start from £5.66
Best Hostel In North America
Located in traveller favourite Tulum in Mexico, Mama's Home is one of the most classically hostel-ly hostels on the list, with hammocks, murals and the promise that you'll feel "like part of the family".
Mama's Home, Tulum. Prices start from £8.44
Best Hostel in Oceania
Traveller's Oasis in Cairns, Australia is another hostel that fits the 'backpacker' vibe down to a tee – except for one thing: there are no bunk beds. Nice. There's a pool, a huge terrace with a barbecue and, if for some reason you'd rather stay in than go out, a 1,500-strong film library.
Traveller's Oasis, Cairns. Prices start from £17.73
Best Hostel in Latin America
Down in Pucon, Chile lies the Chili Kiwi Lakefront hostel, which scoops this award for the second year running. It's right on the lake, is owned by backpackers and has a clean, homey vibe to the shared areas. There's even two rooms in a treehouse to choose from.
Chili Kiwi Lakefront, Pucon. Prices start from £14.76
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