An LG’s Guide To The Best Hostels Around The World
THE JUNGLE RETREAT:
Uvita, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is all about contrast – wild rainforest on one side, endless beaches on the other. Uvita, on the Pacific coast, has a special kind of magic: dense jungle that hums with life, tropical downpours from 5pm-10pm and stretches of coastline where you can spot monkeys swinging through the trees.
I stayed at Ballena Oasis Homes, which technically counts as glamping but has all the best bits of hostel life – the communal energy and the budget price. There’s an outdoor kitchen where everyone cooks together (mostly beans, eggs, avocados and delicious and odd fruit), and the cabins are tucked into the jungle canopy. You fall asleep to a chorus of frogs and wake up to monkeys playing in the branches above. It’s peaceful, slightly wild and full of adventure: hike to Nauyaca Waterfalls, visit Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary or surf along Bahia Ballena Beach.
Dorms from: £25 per night
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THE BALI FAVOURITES:
Canggu & Nusa Penida
Bali is every backpacker’s dream – surf towns, jungle roads, cheap massages and hostels that feel like boutique resorts. I spent weeks hopping between islands and towns: Gili T for parties, Ubud for temples, Canggu for surf and Nusa Penida when you need to disappear.
In Canggu, Rhythm & Rumble is my go-to. Set among lush gardens in an airy, industrial-style building, it has a Muay Thai gym, and a pool surrounded by daybeds – plus, it offers surfing and yoga sessions. The vibe is “healthy hedonist” – green smoothies by day, cocktails by night. The capsule dorms are cool and private, with curtains, outlets and proper bedding, making them the perfect recovery zone after a long day in the sun.
Then there’s Camar Cottage on Nusa Penida – a dreamy cluster of palm-shaded bungalows where time slows down. It’s peaceful, simple and the perfect antidote to Canggu’s buzz. Spend your days hiking to Kelingking Beach (make sure you’ve hit the gym first), snorkelling with manta rays or relaxing in a hammock as the sun sets.
Dorms from: £10 per night | Privates from: £40 per night
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THE THAI GOLD STAR:
Pai, Thailand
If Thailand is every traveller’s initiation, Pai is the place that makes you cancel your return ticket. Hidden in the mountains north of Chiang Mai, it’s a bohemian bubble of rice paddies, waterfalls and late-night live music bars strung with fairy lights.
Atlas Valley is my pick – just five minutes from town (by moped) but a world away in energy, imagine open-air communal spaces, hammocks between trees and panoramic views that make sunrise yoga feel cinematic. The hostel runs wellness sessions, group hikes and cooking classes, so it’s almost impossible not to make friends. Most people come for a weekend but stay for a month. Dorms are breezy, bamboo-built and simple: fans, nets and the occasional gecko visitor – which is all part of the charm.
Dorms from: £6 per night | Privates from: £25 per night
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THE PARTY ONE:
Budapest, Hungary
When it comes to Europe’s best budget party cities, Budapest wins every time. Cheap drinks, great bars, thermal baths and an easy mix of travellers make it the perfect stop on any interrailing trip.
Onefam Budapest is the social hostel done right – fun but not feral. The staff (who all seem to double as tour guides) organise daytime adventures and nights out that make it easy to meet people. It’s ideal for solo travellers: everyone arrives alone and leaves part of a new group chat. The dorms are clean, modern and surprisingly calm, with lockers, reading lights and curtains for privacy. Plus, it’s right in the Jewish Quarter, walking distance from the city’s best bars and, crucially, surrounded by late-night food spots for your post-party survival needs.
Dorms from: £18 per night | Privates from: £55 per night
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THE BASE CAMP:
Naples, Italy
The Amalfi Coast might sound like a luxury-only dream but it’s surprisingly doable on a budget – if you base yourself in Naples. The city is chaotic, loud and endlessly charming, with ferries linking you to Capri, Positano and Sorrento by day and pizza by the slice on your return.
I stayed at Ostello Bello Napoli, and it quickly became one of my all-time favourites. The rooftop alone – with views of Mount Vesuvius and long, communal dinners – was worth it. The hostel organises nightly events from karaoke to pasta parties, so you’ll always have someone to explore with. Dorms and private rooms are bright and comfortable, with big social kitchens and plenty of outdoor space. Pompeii is a short train ride away for an unforgettable historical experience. Plus, you’re walking distance from Spaccanapoli, Santa Chiara and the city’s best espresso bars.
Dorms from: £30 per night | Privates from: £90 per night
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THE BEACH DREAM:
El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
The Philippines have been high on my list for a while, and the Outpost Beach Hostel in El Nido looks like the closest thing to DiCaprio’s The Beach you can actually book. Set right on Corong-Corong beach, it’s the kind of place where you wake up to the sea, grab a kayak and end the night dancing barefoot on the sand.
The dorms face the ocean, with bunks, fans and sea views from your pillow. There are private rooms too, plus a beach bar that serves as the heart of the hostel. The team run boat tours around Bacuit Bay – those limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons you’ve seen on postcards – so you can spend your days island-hopping and your nights at beach BBQs.
Dorms from: £15 per night | Privates from: £45 per night
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THE GIRLY GETAWAY:
Caveland, Santorini
Next summer I’m planning to convince my friends to come Greek island-hopping – and Caveland in Santorini is top of my list. It looks like something straight out of a David Hockney painting – pink walls, bougainvillaea pouring over archways and a turquoise pool framed by whitewashed caves.
The hostel used to be an 18th-century winery, and that old-world charm is everywhere: vaulted ceilings, pastel terraces and cave-style dorms carved into the rock. The shared rooms have proper bunk beds built into the walls, with crisp white sheets, reading lights and just enough privacy. It’s girly, sunny and blissfully Greek. Days are spent exploring Fira or catching the bus to Oia; evenings mean movie nights, yoga and dinners under the stars.
Dorms from: £35 per night | Privates from: £120 per night
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