Amsterdam’s first boutique hostel, Cocomama is a brand new hostel right in the heart of Amsterdam. Cocomama guests can check out the big, sun-soaked garden, cook wonderful meals in the equipped kitchen and meet lots of other travellers during hostel organised activities, or just while handing out in the common areas. They even have a hostel cat, named Joop, to keep you company around the hostel.

What could be more interesting for visitors traveling to Amsterdam to stay in a place that was one Amsterdam’s most famous brothel? Cocomama is located within am amazing building, featuring high ceilings, chandeliers, and lots of daylight.

Each room is decorated with different Dutch themes, to really create a true Holland experience. Provided in the rooms guests will find comfortable beds, lockers, power outlets and a shower. But, there isn’t more than that, because the staff at Cocomama really want to see you spending time in the common areas with the other travellers. As well as these lovely rooms, Cocomama has a large garden area where guests can find a little peace from the business of the city.

Cocomama has all sorts of great features that guests would expect from a star-rated hotel, with the personality of a small hostel. Add cleanliness, professionalism and the boutique style of a hotel with the free internet, fully-equipped kitchen, movie corner, informal atmosphere and organised hangouts of a hostel. Cocomama is the perfect place to be in Amsterdam. As well as being centrally located, Cocomama staff have great insider knowledge of the city, and are happy to share this with you at all times. They will go out of their way to make your stay amazing.

Image from Cocomama website

Cocomama is one of the many Hostels in Amsterdam available our hostel comparison website Hostelzoo.

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

For backpackers all over the world, Asia is the Promised Land. It is the land of the $1 meal, where nobody ever goes hungry. It is the land of the 50c beer, where nobody ever has to forgo a night of fun. And most importantly, it is the land of cheap accommodation, where backpackers can afford to stay and explore all that these wonderful Asian countries have to offer. From the temples at Ankor Wat, to the beaches in Thailand and the oceans of Indonesia, Asia has something for everyone.

Here at Hostelzoo, we’re in agreement that of all our favourite places in the world, well over half are within Asia. We love Asia, for all of its perfections, as well as all its little flaws. Now, as you’ve probably realized by now, one other thing that Hostelzoo is seriously in love with is hostels. They’re our life. We live and breathe hostels, hostel living and the glorious ups and downs that come with them. But Asia isn’t really the land of hostels. Sure, they exist there, but backpackers stay in hostels in Western countries because they’re cheaper, but in Asia the opposite is sometimes the case. While in places like Australia budget accommodation options jump from hostels to motels and hotels, in Asia there are a whole lot of other options in the middle ground.

Consider the guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, homestays, losmen and all the other super cheap options that populate the landscape of Asia. In some countries, these places go for $5-7 a night, and while a dorm bed is usually around the same, it certainly isn’t a private room. So why would you stay in hostels in Asia when there are so many other options? Is it better to choose hostels over guesthouses, or the other way around? Or, are both preferable in their own way?

Well, it pays to think about what you want to get out of your travels in Asia, and what kind of a traveler you are. If you’re the type who can walk into a room and instantly become everyone’s best friend, confidant and go-to guy (or gal) then you’re probably set. You can’t deny that a big piece of the decision to stay in hostels or not is the social aspect. Hostels are social places, and they allow a relatively safe place (often in an unfamiliar area) where you can meet like-minded people. Hostels attract backpackers, and backpackers are attracted to hostels. This just makes the social part of backpacking super easy, because the hostel you stay in is definitely going to be filled with backpacker types, possible future travel buddies, or generally travel focused people.

Obviously, the same cannot be said about guesthouses. Unless you’re staying in a guesthouse in the middle of a popular backpacker area, there could be anyone staying there. Now, this shouldn’t necessarily considered to be a bad thing. With no offence meant to any of the amazing backpackers we’ve met over the courses of our lives, there are other types of people in the world. Sometimes it pays to get out of the backpacker sphere for a little while, just to remind yourself that there’s a whole other reality out there. Of course, you could show up at a guesthouse and find that there’s a great group of other backpackers staying there as well, so who can say for sure?

What we’ve noticed that more independent travelers will often choose guesthouses over hostels, while people just starting on their travels will be more comfortable in the familiarity of hostels. Both styles of travelling are equally valid, and we don’t think there’s any need to force people into boxes based on whether they prefer hostels to other budget accommodation. But, here’s something we’ve noticed in our travels through Asia:

Guesthouses can be hard to find online.

Let’s say you’re arriving into Bangkok at 10pm and you need somewhere to stay for the night. Do you want to be pulling into Khao San Road and looking for a bed in the middle of the night? No, you want to rock up somewhere, sleep off your flight and assess the situation in the morning. In an instance like that, it’s wise to make an online booking, just to guarantee you’re not going to have a horrible first night in a new place. But hostels tend to be the big avertisers online, whereas smaller, budget accommodations are easier to find on the ground. It isn’t always the easiest thing to trawl through a google search looking for a half-decent guesthouse in the middle of an unfamiliar city.

Well, we’ve noticed this, so we wanted to make it easier on Hostelzoo.com. Not only do we list hostels all over Asia, we also list budget accommodation options like guesthouses. Pulling information from a number of budget accommodation booking sites, we make sure that you’re getting the best deal for your dollar. After all, just because you’re in a cheap place like Asia, doesn’t mean you want to waste your money. A few expensive nights of accommodation can really translate a long way when you’re travelling in the land of affordability.

So what do you think about the hostel v. guesthouse conundrum when travelling in Asia. Do you have a definite preference or is money your primary concern?

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

Travel Joy Hostels in London is a professional and experienced hostel aiming to provide a friendly, fun and pleasant experience. Their staff work to make the space clean and safe, so guests only have to worry about the socializing!

They are the only hostel in London that overlooks the river, and are centrally located between Chelsea and The Houses of Parliament. There’s an open mic night on Fridays and Karaoke on Saturdays. Travel Joy Hostels even have entry deals with the major London nightclubs and pub crawl operators.

On their doorstep is the No.24 bus (24 hour service, seven days a week) which starts and terminates at Travel Joy Hostels and departs every 10 minutes during the day and every twenty minutes at night. It travels along the same route to Victoria Station, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, West End, Oxford Street and Camden Town.

The West End is full of restaurants, bars and clubs and there’s a bicycle dock outside for guest use. They havea reasonably priced Thai and European restaurant on their property and their bar is a great place to relax and meet people. You can also BBQ on the terrace or hang out in the common room and games room and play some pool or foosball.

Travel Joy Hostels provide free tea/coffee/soft drinks to residents at all times, free linen/towels, free Wi-Fi in the entire building and free continental breakfast. There are no hidden costs. Hostel check-in time is from 14:00 – 23.30. There’s a secure luggage storage area if you arrive early though. Check-out is 11:00 with breakfast from 07.45 to 10:30.

Travel Joy Hostels are agents with Evans and Evans Tour Operators who do specialist tours around the UK. You can also book tickets for all London attractions at reception to save your precious time.

Travel Joy Hostels is one of many hostels in London that is available on our hostel comparison website Hostelzoo.

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

Have you ever wanted to live on a tropical island? Do you dream of untouched beaches and crystal clear waters. Do you want to spend your days swimming, snorkelling and stand up paddle boarding your way around paradise?

Well here’s your chance to do just that on Hostelzoo Island!!

Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website, is currently on the lookout for two talented people interested in giving up the daily grind. Ideally, we’re looking for laid-back folk with an interest in people, travel, and people who like to travel.

We’re based on Great Keppel Island, on the southern point of the Great Barrier Reef. It is an Australian island like no other you’ve ever seen. Squeaky-clean beaches, reefs teeming with marine wildlife and tropical adventures abound.

On Hostelzoo Island we’ve just opened our own island hostel: the Hostelzoo Island Eco Backpackers. It is a little labour of love, located inside existing business Great Keppel Island Holiday Village. Our slice of island heaven is in need of the following people to make it great:

Social Media Manager

Someone with a head for making connection and keeping them, your role would involve staying on top of all things social media in the Hostelzoo universe. This would include:

- Recording life on our little island paradise and sharing it with the world

- Keeping Facebook, Twitter and associated social media accounts active and full of exciting content

- Running the Hostelzoo Blog, and keeping to a regular posting schedule

- Manage the online presence for sections of Great Keppel Island Tourism, including the GKI Holiday Village

This position would ideally suit someone looking to break into the travel industry, or further their experience in a unique environment. Although not essential, we would highly regard people with established blogs and associated social media accounts.

Hostelzoo Social Representative

Someone with a head for people and what makes them tick, your role would involve keeping all the wayfaring guests of the Hostelzoo Island Eco Backpackers as happy as possible. This would include:

- Working in unison with GKI Holiday Village managers in hostel relations

- Managing hostel bookings by phone and email and updating online availability on various booking engines

- Staying in touch with other hostels in our network

- Making sure that guests are getting the very best out of our hostel

- Becoming a beacon of information about Great Keppel Island and surrounding areas

- Organising hostel events and activities, and facilitating them

These are not paid positions. Instead they offer you the opportunity to live life at a different speed, while experiencing one of the Great Barrier Reef’s southern gems. You’ll be working just a few hours a day in exchange for your accommodation, and will need to also purchase your own food. The position is a minimum of three months and is for immediate start!

So, whether you’re a dynamic duo or just two buddies who think they’ve got what it takes to take on Great Keppel Island, we want to hear from you! And, if you’re just one awesome individual who fits the bill, apply anyway, and we’ll find your other half!!

To apply, or for more information, just LIKE Hostelzoo on Facebook and send us a message.

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This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

It seems strange that in many cases the first country that people really explore when they travel is not their own. Australians often go to Europe or to Asia, and Europeans in turn come to Australia or head off to New Zealand. There’s undoubtedly many reasons for this, one of which is definitely the feeling of being able to explore somewhere totally new and different. But, in many countries, including Australia, citizens who want to travel may find some unexpected obstacles in the research stage, especially when it comes to hostel stays. The specific obstacle we’re referring to comes in the crushing weight of a single line of text, often seen on websites and brochures, just taunting the travelling local.

International passport required for stay in dorms.

Well now, what’s a backpacker to do? They certainly can’t afford the private rooms, unless they planned on passing up food and drink for the rest of their travels. Following despair, it’s perfectly normal to find anger welling at the hostel owners and their stupid rules. How dare they forbid you from staying at the hostel just because you happen to be a national of the country? What absolute stupidity!

Now hold up a second. On the side of the hostel owners and perhaps being the devil’s advocate, let us explain why this occurs.

1. Hostels are cheap accommodation, and every body wants to save money.

This is great for backpackers and travelers, the people who want to get the most from their cash in their travels. BUT, cheap accommodation also attracts another breed of people. These are the local folk who are looking for a cheap place to crash while they hit up the scene and generally paint the town a blushing shade of scarlet. After all, who would spend $150+ on a hotel room when there are dorms available at $25 a night? Then there’s also those people from unfortunate socio-economic situations who find that backpacker hostels have less rules imposed than government run hostels. Of course, there is a great difference between a backpacker hostel and a hostel for people at risk. In both of these situations hostel owners face problems because:

2. The vibe of hostels is best when it’s all about travelers meeting other travelers.

This tends to go down the drain if your hostel is packed full of local talent scoping out the large number of attractive backpackers. Although hostels are sometimes all about the party, there’s another atmosphere there too. This atmosphere, of the group of intrepid adventurers grouped together for so brief a moment, is what makes staying in hostels often so interesting. So, when given the possibility of this scenario, most hostel owners can only make one decision. This isn’t to say that all local folk are going to be the same but:

3. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

If you say on your website, straight up where anyone looking to book will see it, that you don’t allow guests to stay if they don’t have an international passport, you’ll tend to turn off the kinds of people we were talking about. To them, the concept of getting a cheap room becomes too difficult, and they move on to other ideas. It isn’t a foolproof method, but considering the number of hostels that follow it we could conclude that it works at least most of the time.

Now, back to you, the intrepid travelers exploring your own country. You know you’re not one of those local folk we’ve spoken about. You’re a traveler as well, just like the other international passport carrying backpackers! Well stop worrying about it, because hostel owners will see that, and are usually just as awesome as you think they should be.

To get around this little bureaucratic issue, the best thing to do is make a call. Phone up the hostel and explain your situation. You’re not the only backpacker travelling your own country to face the problem, and you’re guaranteed not to be the last. If you’re the travelling type, hostel owners are usually more than happy to have you stay. After all, that’s what they want to fill their hostel with!

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

A small, family run riad in the centre of the souks, Riad Layla Rouge breathes in the Mad Hatters tea party of colour that Marrakech conjures, and breathes out the nearby chaos with a gentler (but still eccentric) heartbeat.

Just one minute from Place D’Jeema el Fna, Riad Layla Rouge is the perfect hostel for both adventure hungry travelers, and just hungry ones! There is free tea, and a cake shop so good you won’t believe it.

The Riad Layla Rouge has a variety of accommodation options. There are three suites that provide absolute privacy, and a beautiful mixed dorm that brings out the community in the adventurous guests. Everyone can enjoy the warm, communal mood in all areas of the Riad Layla Rouge, from the courtyard, to the Moroccan dining-room, and even on both of the terraces blooming with fruit and flower trees. All this is improved by a soundtrack decided by the guests, with iPod speakers available in each room, as well as free wifi access throughout the hostel.

Guests of the Riad Layla Rouge cannot help but find their favourite colour in the hostel. By day the staff describe it as a “vase of flowers or a box of hand decorated chocolates, or an techni-flavour ice-cream stand” then when night falls it becomes “a treasure chest of glittering jewels, or a sparkling solar system.”

All guests have to do is use their imagination.

Riad Layla Rouge wants you to be totally comfortable in Marrakech. You should feel safe and happy as well as imaginative and inspired. They have combined the hostel spirit and atmosphere with a little indulgence found in the luxury riad. Feel free to share your stories of travel and life. Laugh over tea and cake with other guests in the amazing palette of colour that is the Riad Layla Rouge.

Whether you are travelling for the first time, or have done so for years, enjoy the rhythm of a city that transforms with the cycle of the sun. When you stay at Riad Layla Rouge you could be anywhere else but the Wonderland of Marrakech.

Riad Layla Rouge is one of many hostels in Marrakech that is available on our hostel comparison website Hostelzoo.

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

1. Sydney, Australia

The New Years Eve party in Sydney is an easy favourite for us. After all, Sydney was the old stomping ground of Hostelzoo founder Scotty, plus it’s where Hostelzoo has its roots. Sydney’s fireworks, recognized as some of the best in the world, paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge and surrounding sky in an explosion of colours. Well over a million people gather to watch the show, from the shores or from boats out on the water. Apart from being one of the first places to welcome in the New Year globally, New Year in Sydney is also in the middle of summer. So you can party the night away in your shorts and flip-flops, an outfit guaranteed to put you in the mood for festivities.

2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Another summer celebration, New Years in Rio de Janeiro is one of those times when the Brazilian locals really let their hair down. The big event happens on Copacabana beach. This is not to say that this is the best event, as there are many smaller gatherings on other beaches, but Copacabana definitely is the largest. With a massive fireworks display that has achieved fame all over the world, it’s a New Years event not to be missed.

One of the cool things about New Years is that many of the thousands of revelers will take to the streets to celebrate wearing all white. The reasons for this is that in the Brazilian tradition the New Year is a time for renewal, for starting over and afresh. So, wearing white clothing symbolically represents this, and creates a magnificent sea of white.

3. New York, NY

You might have witnessed the scene in hundreds of films and television shows, but that doesn’t make New Years in New York any less amazing. The famous Times Square celebration, which includes the ball drop from One Times Square, is a party that attracts over a million people revelers eager for the New Year.

But, if you’re not up to being corralled into Times Square fear not. There are literally hundreds of other New Years celebrations happening all over the city, from A-List clubs to multi-level raves and everything in between.

4. London, England

London is another spot with some serious New Years firework goodness. Crowds gather around the River Thames to watch the show unfold at the London Eye. You can sit on the riverside in a multitude of pubs and bars (but many are ticketed so you might need to book in advance!) and check out all the London has to offer. Enjoy the warmth of new friends and old in the middle of a wicked winter bash. After the fireworks, rug up and hit the streets, where there’s lots of great places all over the capital that keeps the party going all night!

5. Goa, India

There’s been much debate over the last few years about how much Goa’s parties have changed, and not necessarily for the better. But even then, it’s pretty hard to argue with dancing on the beach with the sand between your toes under a tropical sky. Goa’s biggest New Years parties happen on the beaches of Anjuna, while Palolem in the south hosts more intimate celebrations. Where ever you are expect palm trees decorated with fairy lights, fireworks and a whole lot of dancing along the coast of India’s good-time state!

How was your New Year and where did you celebrate it?

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

City Circus is a cozy new hostel in the cool Psirri neighbourhood of Athens. With 11 rooms, City Circus can accommodate a wide variety of needs at practical prices, no matter what your budget is. The neoclassical building features restored wooden floors and painted ceilings dressed up with antiques, retro furniture and wall art by local artists. City Circus is one seriously unique setting to explore and play in Athens, an ideal spot to rest your wandering feet and dreamy head.

Room types offered at City Circus include standard double or twins with ensuite bathrooms, as well as spacious dorms comfortably sleeping 4 to 6 people. All beds and mattresses have been custom made for maximum comfort, and the sweetest dreams. And don’t even worry if you’re taller than the average traveler, because the guys at City Circus have you covered!

There is air-conditioning available in all rooms and common areas for those warm Athenian days and nights. Safety is a priority for City Circus, and as such they have security locks with key access cards in all rooms, and safety cameras in all common areas, 24-hours a day. If you happen to feel overwhelmed at any time, or need to mingle with the other City Circus guests, make sure you head on up to the terrace to enjoy the wonderful views on offer. Sit back and relax, watching the Acropolis buzz about beneath you.

Athens is more than just a stopover to the unquestionably magnificent islands. It is a constantly and dynamically evolving home to 5 million people, each one unique and fascinating in their own way. City Circus challenges its guests to life, love, play, and if you are up for it, perform with them. Their staff will be more than happy to show you all that Athens has to offer. Plus with free wifi and breakfast, City Circus is an easy choice!

City Circus is one of many hostels in Athens that is available on our hostel comparison website Hostelzoo.

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.

Despite the unavoidably fluorescent consumerist streak currently embodied in the modern celebration of Christmas, it is still very much a family affair. Whether you get together with your large extended tribe, or just a few members of your wolf pack, you’re around the people you know, celebrating the year that was.

But, when you’re travelling you don’t always have the luxury of being around people you know when Christmas comes around. In fact, you might be all by yourself in an unfamiliar city thousands of miles from home. The seasons might be different, the customs very unfamiliar. A plane ticket home is tempting, but ultimately too expensive for a budget savvy backpacker such as yourself. What are you to do? Surely staying in a hostel at Christmas is going to be a very sad and lonesome affair?

Well, let’s not jump to any conclusions. Christmas in a hostel might not be as bad as you think. Sure there’s some unfortunate realities (such as increased cost in peak periods) that might ruin your Christmas cheer. But all in all, we have to say that hostel Christmases are actually pretty awesome because:

They’re A Communal Affair!

Hostels are all about community. Whether you like it or not their embedded mission statement is about bringing people from different places together. The people you spend Christmas with at a hostel might not be your real family, but they’re a family of sorts. Rag-tag and jumbled together, a kind of melting pot of ideas about Christmas and celebratory traditions. You might be singing Christmas carols in German while munching on Yorkshire puddings and knocking back icy Australian beers. But isn’t that a Christmas to remember? Plus, compare that experience with staying in a hotel or an apartment where you’re all by yourself and feeling sad and sorry.

We know which we’d prefer!

Hostels Make An Effort!

Most hostels know that it’s sometimes really hard to be away from your family and familiar traditions at Christmas. So, they will almost always make an effort to organize something to get people in a Christmas mood. This might include a dinner, games, music and other festivities to get people into the festive state. There might even be presents! Seeing as no matter where you go in the world Christmas involves some kind of party, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll find something familiar in what the hostel puts together.

There might be a cost involved in this, so it’s wise to ask ahead at the hostel you’re staying at, and sort out signing up for whatever is happening on Christmas day. Believe us, if it’s your first Christmas on the road, or you’ve had crappy Christmases in the past, we recommend the hostel party!

Another pro about getting involved in the party at the hostel is that the hostel makes all the preparation. Forget about the stress of putting together a Christmas gathering. They’ve got you covered, and they’ll even invite a wide selection of different people for you to celebrate with!!

They Change Your Perception

If you’re one of the many people around the world currently on an adventure, and finding the call of the road too strong to ignore, you’re likely to spend some Christmases away from home. Having Christmas in a hostel is a great way to transition out of the family Christmas and into the travelling circus of Christmas fun. Although celebrating away from home will probably make you more appreciative of the years you do get the chance to celebrate at home, it will also change your perception of the holiday.

When all you have is a group of people without money to burn, in a globetrotting setting with just your Christmas cheer to keep things going, festivities probably take on a different shape. You won’t be drowning in gifts or money, but you will be celebrating more simply, and (dare we say it) that’s what it is all about.

Pro Tips

- Remember that in most countries, many shops will be closed on Christmas day, and may have different hours on the days before and after. So, make sure you stock up for anything you need (or think you might need) in advance. This includes all the things to keep the fun going, like alcohol.

- Once you know where you’re staying for Christmas, email the hostel in advance and find out what’s happening for Christmas. If necessary, get your name down on the list early. Don’t be too cool to put your name down, only to regret it on Christmas when all the spots fill up!

This post was originally posted on the Hostelzoo blog. If you love saving money on hostels when you travel, make sure you check out Hostelzoo, the world’s largest hostel comparison website.