Budget is one of the biggest concerns for travelers of all ages and, after your flight, accommodation is one of the biggest expenses of any trip. Some of us are fine sleeping rough. Some of us need a little more, but don’t want to break the bank every night. That’s where hostels come in.
Over the years, hostels have evolved from glorified dorms for post-teen globetrotters. These days, you can find properties on Hostelworld.com with pools, private rooms, and rooftop bars. You don’t even have to find them yourself, because every year the company sifts through their post-stay comments and compiles a list of the best properties .
This year, Hostelworld’s favorites came from over 1 million reviews. They broke down their categories by city, country, continent, size, and all around awesomeness. Below are some of our favorites. Hopefully they’ll soon be your favorites too:
SOUL KITCHEN — SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Soul Kitchen in Russia is often ranked as the number one hostel in the world. This year was no different as travelers ranked it the number one small hostel worldwide.
Soul Kitchen offers an array of services from visa assistance to gain entry into Russia, to private rooms with en suite bathrooms and inexpensive and privacy-forward dorms. It’s all centered around a well-supplied and fitted kitchen area where you can find friends and plot how you’ll explore the amazingly beautiful city of Saint Petersburg.
TRAVELLERS OASIS — CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA
Heading down to ‘Straya? Travellers Oasis in Cairns was just named the best hostel in the entire Oceania region, according to people who actually stayed there.
The hostel has a great social scene centered around their pool and BBQ area and plenty of beer. Hammocks hang around the pool to help you relax in between barbies and dips in the pool. Travellers Oasis decided to forgo the usual bunk beds in their dorms too, which adds an extra layer of comfort for the weary traveler.
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MAMA’S HOME — TULUM, MEXICO
The hostel was named North America’s best for 2017 and we can see why. The tiny village of Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan is the perfect escape from the endless daily churn of news cycles and fluorescent lit office life.
Mama’s Home is just that — a comfort zone with private rooms, full home-cooked meals every morning, and access to an idyllic beach to wile away your days.
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GOODMORNING LISBON HOSTEL — LISBON, PORTUGAL
Portugal is one of the hottest destinations in the world this year. Goodmorning Lisbon is a great home base for exploring everything that country has to offer. The rooms are well designed, the staff is super friendly, and they even offer cooking courses to introduce you to the wonders of Portuguese cuisine.
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FREEHAND, CHICAGO, USA
The Freehand in Chicago was rated the best extra large hostel in the entire world. Located downtown Chicago in a classic art deco building this place is truly one-of-a-kind. The staff is hailed as superb, the design is classic and leans into the art deco era, and the cocktails are one point. All of this makes Freehand a destination all by itself with the added benefit of being in one of America’s great food and culture cities.
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THE B.I.G. — CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
The B.I.G. is considered the best hostel in Africa. It offers everything from large dorms to family rooms and plenty of options in between for any comfort level. The kitchen is a the focal point and even has a proper pizza oven! The hostel is centrally located in Green Point allowing you access to some of the best beaches, restaurants, and night life options in South Africa.
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CRACOW HOSTEL — KRAKOW, POLAND
Location is everything and Cracow Hostel is all about the location. It’s situated in a 14th century building, right on Krakow’s Market Square. You couldn’t be any more centrally located in that city, meaning everything you want to see is within walking distance and all the bars, food, and vodka are within a stone’s throw.
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OSTELLO BELLO GRANDE — MILAN, ITALY
This is the best large hostel in the whole world. Ostello Bello Grande (or the Big Beautiful Hostel) has it all — dorms, privates rooms, enticing atmosphere, amazing food, parties, and live music nights. It’s located right next to Milan’s Central Station making it the perfect base to explore the wonders of Milan on foot.
CHILI KIWI LAKEFRONT — PUCON, CHILE
For the third year in a row Chili Kiwi Lakefront has been anointed the best hostel in all of Latin America. The rooms are innovative — with bold tree houses and Hobbit bungalows.
The hostel was built with adventure seeking backpackers in mind and offers the perfect jumping off point for exploring the region’s amazing sites.
USA HOSTELS OCEAN BEACH — SAN DIEGO, USA
Beach life might just be the best escape. You can surf, swim, or just chill out on the beach. You do you.
USA Hostel Ocean Beach in San Diego is located within minutes of a beach where all of that is possible. The hostel is designed with backpackers in mind and covered in motley art. They provide free shuttles to take you all over historic San Diego, if the beach isn’t your jam. All of this adds up to this hostel being named the best in the USA.
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