Looking for housing recommendations? Here’s our list of the best places we stayed around the world, in rough order from least fancy to fanciest. If there’s anything special of note about a place, we’ve thrown it in for good measure.
Hostels & Pensions
Apollo Bay Eco-Beach YHA – Apollo Bay, Australia (This eco-hostel on the Great Ocean Road is relatively new and has great facilities, including the nicest hostel kitchen we’ve ever seen…and an herb garden that they encourage you to use. The only downside is that none of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms, but the communal ones were pretty nice. Sunset drinks on the roof deck are a must ).
Franz Josef YHA – Franz Josef Village, New Zealand
Grand Aygun Hotel – Cirali, Turkey (This place is really a pension, not a hotel. But it’s run by a lovely family who serve a good, if a bit overpriced, home-cooked dinner. Our room was decent enough, and had a large balcony with great mountain views. Breakfast was also included).
Melbourne Metro YHA – Melbourne, Australia
Massada Youth Hostel – Masada, Israel (Right at the foot of Masada, and thus perfect for early-morning climbs, this place is nearly a hotel. Beautiful facilities, great rooms, and an awesome pool. All for a really cheap price).
Hotels
Hotel Babis – Santorini, Greece (This family-run hotel is 10-15 minutes outside the main town of Fira, but they provide free transportation into town and it’s a pretty easy walk back. Babis and his family were among the nicest hosts we had, and they would do just about anything for their guests. Plus his dad is a little crazy and a lot deaf and it’s cute. Breakfast was included and was pretty solid. Oh, and they have a beautiful outdoor pool).
Hotel SO – Christchurch, New Zealand (This eco-hotel has very compact rooms, but they’re modern and comfortable, you get free wi-fi, and you can choose whether or not to pay for certain amenities such as maid service. With no add-ons, we only paid $59 a night, which is quite a deal. Also, you operate the entire room through a digital bedside console. Wicked!).
Hotel Vina – Hue, Vietnam (One of the best breakfast buffets we experienced on the road and they upgraded our room without asking).
Hadrianus Hotel – Antalya, Turkey (A bit hard to find, and the owner barely speaks English and wears an awkward fanny pack everywhere, but once you’ve gotten past that, the rooms are beautiful and cheap and include a decent breakfast in a really pretty garden setting).
Angkor Pearl Hotel – Siem Reap, Cambodia (A 10-15 minute walk from downtown Siem Reap, this was still one of the best deals we got on our trip: $25 for a nice suite with TV, wi-fi, breakfast, and a pick-up at the bus station. They also provided us a driver for the Angkor temples for a mere $50 for the three full days).
La Strada Traditional Hotel – Rethymno, Crete, Greece (It was mostly staffed by a chubby 12-year-old, but as long as his Facebook usage didn’t interfere with your needs the hotel was really lovely).
Arenal Observatory Lodge – outside of La Fortuna, Costa Rica (If you’re going to see Arenal Volcano, we strongly suggest you avoid La Fortuna and stay here for amazing volcano watching).
Hanoi Elegance Hotel – Hanoi, Vietnam
Paradise Resort – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand (Stay in the ‘New Rooms’…they are gorgeous and well priced. A little paradise on earth).
Pyrgos Adrachti Hotel – Kastraki (Meteora), Greece
Ancient Hotel – Luang Prabang, Laos (Overlooks the main street and consequently the nightly market on the street. You can also see the alms procession from the balcony if you manage to wake up at the right time).
Hotel Triglav Bled – Lake Bled, Slovenia (One of our favorite hotels, we booked a room on Hostel Bookers, but this is fully a four-star hotel. Cozy, remote, with great views of the lake and a staff that goes above and beyond. We did wine tasting in their cellar and also sprung for an amazing four-course dinner at their restaurant one night. The perfect place for a mountain retreat).
Saigon Dalat Hotel – Dalat, Vietnam (Don’t go to Dalat. But if you do, stay here).
Bali Hyatt – Sanur, Bali, Indonesia
Kyoto Hyatt – Kyoto, Japan
Hostels & Pensions
Apollo Bay Eco-Beach YHA – Apollo Bay, Australia (This eco-hostel on the Great Ocean Road is relatively new and has great facilities, including the nicest hostel kitchen we’ve ever seen…and an herb garden that they encourage you to use. The only downside is that none of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms, but the communal ones were pretty nice. Sunset drinks on the roof deck are a must ).
Franz Josef YHA – Franz Josef Village, New Zealand
Grand Aygun Hotel – Cirali, Turkey (This place is really a pension, not a hotel. But it’s run by a lovely family who serve a good, if a bit overpriced, home-cooked dinner. Our room was decent enough, and had a large balcony with great mountain views. Breakfast was also included).
Melbourne Metro YHA – Melbourne, Australia
Massada Youth Hostel – Masada, Israel (Right at the foot of Masada, and thus perfect for early-morning climbs, this place is nearly a hotel. Beautiful facilities, great rooms, and an awesome pool. All for a really cheap price).
Hotels
Hotel Babis – Santorini, Greece (This family-run hotel is 10-15 minutes outside the main town of Fira, but they provide free transportation into town and it’s a pretty easy walk back. Babis and his family were among the nicest hosts we had, and they would do just about anything for their guests. Plus his dad is a little crazy and a lot deaf and it’s cute. Breakfast was included and was pretty solid. Oh, and they have a beautiful outdoor pool).
Hotel SO – Christchurch, New Zealand (This eco-hotel has very compact rooms, but they’re modern and comfortable, you get free wi-fi, and you can choose whether or not to pay for certain amenities such as maid service. With no add-ons, we only paid $59 a night, which is quite a deal. Also, you operate the entire room through a digital bedside console. Wicked!).
Hotel Vina – Hue, Vietnam (One of the best breakfast buffets we experienced on the road and they upgraded our room without asking).
Hadrianus Hotel – Antalya, Turkey (A bit hard to find, and the owner barely speaks English and wears an awkward fanny pack everywhere, but once you’ve gotten past that, the rooms are beautiful and cheap and include a decent breakfast in a really pretty garden setting).
Angkor Pearl Hotel – Siem Reap, Cambodia (A 10-15 minute walk from downtown Siem Reap, this was still one of the best deals we got on our trip: $25 for a nice suite with TV, wi-fi, breakfast, and a pick-up at the bus station. They also provided us a driver for the Angkor temples for a mere $50 for the three full days).
La Strada Traditional Hotel – Rethymno, Crete, Greece (It was mostly staffed by a chubby 12-year-old, but as long as his Facebook usage didn’t interfere with your needs the hotel was really lovely).
Arenal Observatory Lodge – outside of La Fortuna, Costa Rica (If you’re going to see Arenal Volcano, we strongly suggest you avoid La Fortuna and stay here for amazing volcano watching).
Hanoi Elegance Hotel – Hanoi, Vietnam
Paradise Resort – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand (Stay in the ‘New Rooms’…they are gorgeous and well priced. A little paradise on earth).
Pyrgos Adrachti Hotel – Kastraki (Meteora), Greece
Ancient Hotel – Luang Prabang, Laos (Overlooks the main street and consequently the nightly market on the street. You can also see the alms procession from the balcony if you manage to wake up at the right time).
Hotel Triglav Bled – Lake Bled, Slovenia (One of our favorite hotels, we booked a room on Hostel Bookers, but this is fully a four-star hotel. Cozy, remote, with great views of the lake and a staff that goes above and beyond. We did wine tasting in their cellar and also sprung for an amazing four-course dinner at their restaurant one night. The perfect place for a mountain retreat).
Saigon Dalat Hotel – Dalat, Vietnam (Don’t go to Dalat. But if you do, stay here).
Bali Hyatt – Sanur, Bali, Indonesia
Kyoto Hyatt – Kyoto, Japan
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