Hostel is the new hotel

For some of us, vacations are a time to lose track of your expenses and let loose of your senses. Liberating, yes, but why not spend less on your accommodations so you can afford to stay longer in the country? Here’s a list of quality Asian hostels and budget backpacker inns that ought to meet your sleeping standards.

Matchbox and The Sleepy Kiwi (Singapore)

Let’s start with one of the more attractive ones, Matchbox The Concept Hostel along Ann Siang Road. Book a queen bed for P2,878 (minus a 10% discount if online) or a single bed for P1,469 and enjoy pod-style cabin comforts with designer touches throughout the premise. It’s an upmarket feel here, complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, breakfast, laundry facilities, personal lockers, bathrooms with spa-grade shower gel and shampoo, and even a foot massager. And since you saved up on your accommodations, treat yourself to a big brunch the morning after at the P.S. Café branch a few steps from this un-hostel-like hostel.

If Matchbox happens to be fully booked, you can always go to the even cheaper The Sleepy Kiwi Backpackers Hostel on 55 Bussorah Street in Bugis. Share quarters in a regular mixed-gender dorm for about P817 or get a private two-person room for P2,903. You get to brush your teeth with an open view of the mosques in the horizon, while friendly European people walk around in their underwear. It’s comfortable, and the breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and extra company aren’t bad either. Plus, you’d be near Haji Lane and many affordable noodle houses.

Yesinn @ Causeway Bay (Hong Kong)

The interiors of Yesinn are so well-designed and relaxing you’ll probably overlook its most important feature: its premier location. It pretty much takes the cake. It’s about two minutes away from the Causeway Bay MTR station and close to Time Square, Victoria Park and most shopping centers. It’s also got photo-friendly, reasonably priced bedrooms: P877 to join a basic 21-bed mixed dorm suite, or P1,098 for an all-female dorm bed.

BackHome (Kuala Lumpur)

Since opening four years ago, BackHome has been ranked by Hostelworld as the top hostel in Malaysia, as well as one of the top three hostels in Asia and top 10 hostels in the world — and you can literally see why with its cool architecture and interior design. Colonial-era shop houses have been turned into contemporary spaces with a focus on natural light. And the room rates are pretty affordable, too. The eight-bed mixed dorm is about P582, while private double beds can go for only about P762.

Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki (Tokyo)

You’ll feel the friendliness here, online testimonials seem to imply. The staff will help you get to where you need to go. For the rooms, they go for about P1,377 if you’re okay with the deluxe four-bed mixed dorm setup. Two subway stations are five minutes away from this place, too, so you can definitely soak up the nightlife that comes alive in the Roppongi and Shibuya districts. Many restaurants and convenience stores are nearby this hostel as well, which makes this place a winner.

Flip Flop Hostel (Taipei)

The mixed dorm goes for about P795 and P868 for the twin private room, but as you can see, it’s not all about the sleeping. A social lounge is spacious enough to unwind and curl up with a magazine on a cloudy day before you head outdoors and check out nearby attractions such as the National Taiwan Museum and Chang Kai-Shek Memorial. This hostel is also about five minutes away from Taipei Main Station, the heart of Taipei, where all the stores and restaurants are. There’s no curfew, too, so feel free to maximize the city’s nightlife. In the morning, make sure to greet the friendly bulldog that roams around once in a while.