Guangdong Youth Hostel- Guangzhou, China

Address: 2 Shamian 4 Jie (street), Shamian Island, Huangsha


Website: none
COST 160 yuan total for private ensuite double

We'd had trouble finding this hostel after getting off at the nearest train station, crossing the highway and walking about 10 minutes into the Shamian area towards the White Swan Hotel, which is apparently diagonally across from the hostel. This was because the whole block was one of many in the area currently undergoing renovation so the sign was covered by canvas. We eventually found it and after viewing the dorm room (which was slightly crowded), decided to go for the private ensuite room for two people which cost 160 yuan (A$26) which was quite expensive, being the most we'd spent in China so far. However, we remembered that this hostel was apparently one of the cheapest options in Guangzhou and there were only proper hotels in the nearby area so we went ahead and checked in.
The room was actually quite nice, pretty much up to hotel standards (not just a hostel as it's name suggests) with clean interiors and bathroom. There was also tv which had the Pearl channel (the only channel with English shows and which we also didn't get during the rest of our China trip) which was great. There was also a wireless connection despite the reception advising us that it had been disrupted due to the reconstruction going on. The only major downside to the room was that it was very cold, with no heater in the room and the windows probably thin which let the freezing outside air transmit in.
Overall, a decent stay in Guangzhou although I would have preferred a slightly more downtrodden room for a cheaper price. The atmostphere of the hostel remained empty and unfriendly, but that could possibly be due to Guangzhou not having many tourist sites in the first place to be able to attract enough friendly travellers to this hostel at least.

Rating: 4/10

Couchsurfing- Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Address: somewhere in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

website: n/a

This entry is a little different as we didn't stay in a hostel during our time in Hong Kong, but at someone's house instead! Well, in a flat to be exact as we ARE in a city which has a higher population density than New York City. Scared by the high hostel rates in the cheapest accommodation building in HK (ie. the well known Chungking Mansions), we tried out the phenomenon 'couchsurfing' for the first time and as luck would have it, we were invited by a girl to stay with her father, brother and herself in Kowloon.

From the instant we met at the MTR station closest to her place, we knew that we'd hit upon a spot of luck as she was most friendly from the outset. 'Cristina' as I shall call her for anonymity reasons, slept on a fold out couch chair in the living room so we could sleep in her own room. The level of generosity that she gave us as complete strangers was one that I'd never encountered before and probably will never again. With four fluffy pillows and windows overlooking the bustling town below, her room was a place we looked forward to relax in after a day of strenuous sightseeing (ie. shopping) in this fantastic place. I was even able to make pancakes (with a wok- which posed its unique difficulties), make hot tea and see Hong Kong from a local inhabitant's point of view instead of solely as a tourist. Cristina took us out several times to taste the local cuisine which was a lot of fun. Who would have thought that congee could be so filling?!

Thanks to her kindness, we were able to explore a part of Hong Kong that we probably wouldn't have if we'd stayed in a hostel, and made a friend to keep as well. Cristina is definitely not a typical girl of her culture, and at age has an impressive outlook on life and dreams that one day no doubt will be reached.

Overall, this was the best place we've stayed at so far on the trip and was one of the most memorable experiences that we've been lucky enough to have.

Rating: 10/10

Thuan Thien Hung Hotel- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Address: 634c Cong Hoa Street, Ward 13, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Website: none

160 000 + 10 000 VND tax

a/c, fan, balcony, initial smell, dresser, tv, clean bed and bathroom, spacious

One of the most drama-filled nights spent so far. We were recommended this hotel by a lady at the airport for somewhere to stay nearby as we had a flight to catch early the next morning. The taxi driver missed this spot but we found a place that initially quoted us a price for the night then added as we were checking in before noon, they'd charge us an extra fee for it! No sense at all, especially as all their rooms were empty, and they were just being plain greedy. We left them to their sad life, and eventually realised the place that we were looking for was only just opposite the road.

She quoted us 160 000 dong per night but as we came in with our luggage, she added that she'd have to add an extra 10 000 dong as 'tax'. Ok, sure. Well, it was still the cheapest place around so we checked into a room on the first floor. She asked us for our passport to make photocopies of which was all well and normal, and also got us to fill our two copies each of personal information which was a first for us, as well as annoying (why two copies?!) but we completed them. Her helper though, who rode off on her motorbike with our passports to get them copied elsewhere was a total nimrod, and photocopied our Cambodian visas instead of the Vietnamese ones! Don't know how one could stuff that one up, but she did and we had to again leave our passports with her while she went off and made the correct ones.

After getting some food, we came back and collected them off her.

At around 7:30pm, we received a call from the lady owner who with her very bad English, told us that she needed our passports AGAIN to give to the police!!! We totally freaked out at this and I went downstairs to speak with her. She was only able to repeat that she needed them to give to the police, while I was trying to ask her exactly why she needed them a third time when she already had copies of it and we were leaving the next morning for a flight and obviously wouldn't want to take any chances with them. Eventually, she realised that she couldn't communicate properly to me and that I wasn't going to give the passports to her and left it at that. But through all the night, the reception phone was ringing (the tone was really loud so everyone in the block could hear) and it was very disconcerting to feel that she was either calling the police to tell on us or talking to other people about it and possibly asking whether she should come up and insist on it.

By some miracle, we made it through the night without our door being broken down (we had also left our room phone off the hook in case she tried to harass us again) and left as soon as we could the next morning (after someone checked our room to make sure we hadn't stolen or damaged anything which was another first).

If the lady owner was so paranoid about her rooms, she should never have entered the hotelling business in the first place in which trust invariably plays a major part in. District 13 was definitely one where no overseas visitors came as there was nothing to see, so all the guests were local Vietnamese however the appearance of foreigners should not have made the proprietor of the business flip out and insist on wartime-like identity checks and evidence. It was a very stressful and unexpected situation especially one before a flight out the next morning, and never were we as glad when we left the place.

Rating: 1/10

Minh Toan Hotel- Hanoi, Vietnam

Address: 23 Hang Non, Hanoi, Vietnam

Website: none

Located on the street behind the Blue Star Hotel, this place was also in the heart of the Old Town. For a stay of a week, we were able to get a rate of USD$9 per night for a room with a tv, a block of shelves and a bathroom which was very large and almost the same size as the bedroom because of the design of the rooms within the building shape. The reception initially showed us to a room on the third floor which was a pain for several reasons- that it was on the third floor which meant three flights of stairs, the water pressure of the shower was little more than a light drizzle and totally unusuable, and the tv was hung from the wall at an angle that made viewing very uncomfortable. There was also no reason not to put us on a lower level as all the rooms en route were empty!

We asked the reception to move us to a room on the first floor whose tv was placed on a shelf instead of hung, and being the actual owner of the place and actually having some sense, she immediately agreed and we moved. The shower was working quite well here, and the roomy bathroom was a nice thing to get used to instead of the usual cramped proportions.

Wi fi was also available at this hotel which was a great convenience, and the cleanliness standard was good. The only thing to note was the service of the reception- once when exchanging currencies, the owner gave us a 10 000 dong note which we soon enough learnt was no longer in use, so that no one would accept it. We went back and informed them and rightfully got a proper plastic note instead, but the owner would obviously have been aware that she was giving us a note that was outdated but still did it, for whatever reason. There's also no extra niceties here from the staff- no hello's or goodbye's were ever heard as we were just numbers to fill up their rooms.

Overall, a stay worthy of the relatively cheap rate in this capital city, in a good location and a nice enough room. Just check your money if you use their exchange.

Rating: 6.5/10

Hong Thien Hotel II- Hue, Vietnam

Address: 46 Chu Van An Street, Hue, Vietnam


Website: http://www.hongthienhotel.com/


USD$8 w/o b'fast, a/c

The sleeper coach bus stopped us right outside this hotel which we'd booked with the previous hotel back in Hoi An which was quite a neat trick! They hurriedly took us up to a room on the first floor (as they had a busload of other tourists to pitch to) and although one of the smallest rooms we've seen so far, with a tiny bathroom to match, it had a sort of cosy air to it and was very clean so we took it up at USD$8 per night without breakfast.
The low ceiling helped make it feel like we were sort of in a hut or hobbit hole, with us having to remember to watch our head everytime we stepped into the bathroom! Cable tv, air conditioning, a fan and wardrobe were provided and altogether it was a nice enough stay. Too bad for the town of Hue though- quite devoid of tourist attractions so we only stayed two nights much to the hotel's disappointment (who never missed a chance to ask us to book a city tour with them everytime we went out/into the hotel).

Overall, a nice/cute time in Hong Thien. Right in the middle of a small cluster of backpacker hostels and a stroll to your usual tourist-aimed restaurants; about 10-15 minutes away from more local eateries.

Rating: 7/10

Vinh Huy Hotel- Hoi An, Vietnam

Address: 203 Thuong Kiet Street, Hoi An, Vietnam

Website: none

USD$10 per night, wi fi, pool?

We were recommended this place by the staff at TM Brothers Cafe back in Nha Trang after booking our onward bus journey to Hoi An. They probably take a commission for doing this but if it's a decent hotel and meets one's budget, then there are two happy parties.
We were met by staff of the hotel after the bus dropped us off at the centre of town and taken by taxi to their hotel which suited us perfectly being exhausted by the long overnight journey. It's located on a street just past the busy Hai Ba Trung street which has many hotels of its own, on a quieter road occupied mostly of small local convenience stores. It's about a 10 minute walk down south to the Old Quarter, where the old buildings of the past provide the town's relaxed vibe.
Our room (USD$10 per night) was pretty clean, with a wardrobe, dresser, cable tv and a small window looking out onto the roof. The fan (no a/c) was a small one pinned to the ceiling and was set on high power which meant that you were either a bit cold or a bit stifled. The bathroom was quite clean, with the shower prone to be extremely hot; almost boiling if the tap was turned too much to the left hand side!
There was also a mini fridge offering chilled water and beer, as well as a basket of 'goodies' (eg. chips, chocolate) all for purchase, of course. Their choc chip biscuits saved us one night when we were feeling particularly peckish after having a light dinner earlier on of a baguette and baked beans which we'd previously bought last week or the week before.
The staff were overall friendly, with one thing of note: having been woken up at around 11am to a woman having a screaming fit with someone. From what we could figure out, the lady must have been a member of staff who must have had good cause to be so angry for a good 10 minutes, but didn't exactly demonstrate professionalism by her behaviour!

Overall, a decent stay in a tourist town. The room was actually frequented by ants, and is located bit further away from the Old Quarter, but not too far as to be totally lost in the common lives of the residents.

Rating: 7/10

Ngoc Trang Hotel- Nha Trang, Vietnam

Address: 56 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Website: none

If you like a clean, hotel-like budget place to stay, then this is it! Located just behind the TM Brothers Cafe which is one of the most popular bus companies serving Vietnam, Ngoc Trang is the place to go. There's countless hotels in this beachside town which probably encouraged the owner to give us a great price of 150 000 VND per night (around USD10) when we were wandering around.
It's quite new looking, with clean sheets, a wardrobe, dresser and cable tv hung up over the smallish room. The bathroom is spanking clean, with one of the best hot showers we've had on the trip! No wi fi here but there is a computer in the lobby with internet access. After three days, the room was cleaned which was a nice gesture.
The Nha Trang beach, what everyone comes here for is only a 5 minute walk away, with the touristy area filled with restaurants, clothing stores and art shops nearby too. The Tan Son Pagoda and the local eateries are also within walking distance, but a bit of a further hike away.

Overall, a good place to take a relaxing rest in Nha Trang close to all the major attractions. Tucked in a quiet street, away from the roaring of the motorbikes is always a good place to be at in Vietnam.

Rating: 8/10