The Hostelz.com Review
Daniel and his wife Fun run Daniel's Lodge in town. They've moved properties a few times in the town, but now lie about a three minute walk from the bus station. I think it would be a good idea to contact them in advance to see if they've moved again, but they do pickups from the bus station anyway. I read some reviews about this place later that described it as a bit grungy. I have to say I agree and did not feel overly comfortable. It is definitely a more alternative place to stay with a huge peace sign painted on the front, welcoming to some probably and off putting to others.
The dorm might put others off as well. It's a huge loft area segregated into three sections, but only by openings, not doors. And it seemed that workers of friends would come up and catch 40 winks on spare beds so you never knew who was going to be up there. I just didn't feel safe, but I have an expensive camera so didn't stay in the dorm after all. The lounges are grotty and flaking and dogs sometimes find a bed on these too. It just was all slightly unkempt and shabby. But some people obviously really liked, it but they tended to look a bit alternative themselves. One odd looking girl of European descent in a ripped shirt was happily sitting on a tatty sofa most of the day reading a book with an equally tatty dog asleep beside her.
But there were some nice touches like over 800 VCDs to choose from, pickups to and from the bus station, jungle tours (small cost each day) and some ok double and private rooms. Although some of these rooms had odd smells. They also have a huge selection of bikes to rent for the day in good condition. And the "jungle bar" or café was great. Overturned bottles like a doormat at the front, and kind of rustic with a good selection of food and drinks. A good place to hang out at night.
Daniel is always waiting to meet the buses in town, usually the ones from Kuala Lumpur and Penang. His rather old battered van will transport you free of charge to the guesthouse.
Alternatively if you want to get there on your own. At the bus station head to the left. The Lodge is down a side street on your left hand side about 100m back.
The dorm might put others off as well. It's a huge loft area segregated into three sections, but only by openings, not doors. And it seemed that workers of friends would come up and catch 40 winks on spare beds so you never knew who was going to be up there. I just didn't feel safe, but I have an expensive camera so didn't stay in the dorm after all. The lounges are grotty and flaking and dogs sometimes find a bed on these too. It just was all slightly unkempt and shabby. But some people obviously really liked, it but they tended to look a bit alternative themselves. One odd looking girl of European descent in a ripped shirt was happily sitting on a tatty sofa most of the day reading a book with an equally tatty dog asleep beside her.
But there were some nice touches like over 800 VCDs to choose from, pickups to and from the bus station, jungle tours (small cost each day) and some ok double and private rooms. Although some of these rooms had odd smells. They also have a huge selection of bikes to rent for the day in good condition. And the "jungle bar" or café was great. Overturned bottles like a doormat at the front, and kind of rustic with a good selection of food and drinks. A good place to hang out at night.
Daniel is always waiting to meet the buses in town, usually the ones from Kuala Lumpur and Penang. His rather old battered van will transport you free of charge to the guesthouse.
Alternatively if you want to get there on your own. At the bus station head to the left. The Lodge is down a side street on your left hand side about 100m back.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2003
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Kang Travellers Lodge (Daniel's lodge) Details
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Kang Travellers Lodge (Daniel's lodge) Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Real value for your money Friendly and helpful response to phone enquiries; fast and easy booking confirmation (just fax in Pay-in slip to their bank A/C); centrally located with easy access to a very wide variety of food (Asian, European, American); very clean and comfortable room (mine even had an exhaust fan to keep it well ventilated); courteous and helpful counter staff, right up to the man who founded and runs the lodge, Daniel himself, including his charming wife, Karen. Even his two very lovable pet dogs extend warm welcome to all. (Our fifteen-year-old Cocker-Spaniel was indeed very much at home there. Dog owners/lovers are "welcomed" -- a rare privilege in this country.) I've been visiting Cameron Highlands regularly since the 1950s and have stayed in several hotels (including four-star establishments) each time, but have not found "real value for money" until I discovered "Daniel's Lodge" when I was there recently for two nights (10 and 11 Nov. 2007) with my wife and our teenage foster daughter plus Witty, our pet. The only "wish list" I want Daniel to consider is to offer Credit Card online booking since he already offers free Wi-Fi facility. We plan to stay a full week in the future. — RK Wright , Residing now in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA (2007-11-13) We enjoyed a superb five star evening at the nightly bonfire place with excellent discussions amongst mostly foreign students and academics until 5 a.m. Very reasonable prices. busy place -- better book. Rooms are clean and bedbugs are not possible above sixteen hundred meters. There is no breakfast, but friendly coffee service. We ate few yards down in the town, near where we had the evening before a nice steamboat. Our second choice for accommodation would have been five times the price, much further away from town, and half the fun as we found out later. We will definitely come again despite the small bathrooms and the simple flooring. It's a hostel and not a five-star resort but an excellent backpackers place and value for money for holiday makers with a small budget. Daniel and Karen dont mind if you bring along dogs as they have two very friendly nice dogs of their own. — Max (2006-10-09) Two of us checked in without any reservations as was given a four-bedded room without any increase in fees. The next day we moved into a two-bedded room when made available. There have been significant attempts to raise the level of cleanliness. No bed bugs, no smell, and a few staff (including Daniel) running back and forth keeping things tidy. Friendly atmosphere still there, bar is great, two nice dogs (one Shih Tzu with hair cut short) following you around. If you don't like dogs, stay somewhere else. Uncle Box is the resident tour guide (he stays there) and he's also an experience forest ranger who gives you lots of tips on jungle survival, plants, hints along the way to see an actual blooming Rafflesia (not those dead ones from other tours). But be prepared to walk far as required. If you're not fit (can't jog five kilometers non-stop), don't go because the pace is fast. Overall, a good package unless you need something more formal. — Dogbert (2006-08-21) At february 2006 I found indeed bedbugs in my bed (or it may be fleas), but my biggest problem is the incorrect information given by the staff: When we arrived in the hostel the rooms were different and more expensive than us was told at the bus station. When we booked the rafflesia tour -- it should be completely different then the tour we booked the day before. It turned out to be exactly the same program except for the flower itself. It doesn't matter what the staff tells you, but at least it should be the truth. And one very positive thing, the bar is really nice! — Merel (2006-07-16) I am being forced against my will to write a very complementary and positive opinion of this guest house. The staff are extremely friendly(when they aren't making you promote their excellent guest house!!) and they have the facilities to offer very active and extensive tours or just to be lazy and watch films all day. I also received a lot of good advice on the local trails to go and explore alone(and get lost). The place has a very homely atmosphere and I've had no problem staying on at this guest house where the weather on the East coast has prevented me moving on as soon as I planned. Would definitely recommend staying here as a perfect base for exploring the highlands and winding down at the end of a long day trekking in the rain!! — Brian (2006-02-12) I go to Cameron Highland every year and this is the only guest house I'll stay at. It has the best location, best hospitality, and best price. Luckily I checked it out myself even though other backpackers told me it's not a nice place to stay. — David (2005-11-29) When we stayed there a couple of months ago it was fine! The guys were really lovely. They booked us on a jungle tour to see the rafflsia (we were there at the right time of year) and it was FAB!! Yes it was a bit drab but it was clean and they had just refurbished the toilets (normal and squat) and showers, so they were clean, too. And the animals never went into our room. — 3 girls (2005-11-28) I traveled to Cameron Highlands last week. I stayed in Daniel's Lodge for one week. The staff here is very helpful, and the place is very clean and comfortable. When I stayed here it was really like home. They always keep smiling whatever you ask of them, and they have super information in here. The atmosphere is excellent. I will come here again and will recommend it to all my friends and backpackers. — Catrine (2005-11-20) Super-nice, friendly and helpful staff with an answer to all your questions and requests. And not to forget a good laugh! A wicked place to stay and feel at home. — Antje (2005-10-27) The last place on earth I would like to stay in! The place is so filthy that you can see rats and cockroaches about. Daniel's bar with its cheap booze is probably his best weapon to numb our senses. I can't really believe anybody can write anything good about this place. There was poo floating in all the toilets. You share your bed with bedbugs, a smelly dog and sometimes with Daniel's local friends who think its ok to come up and have a short nap at the dorm. Bonfires are raised in total disregard for open burning. I have been told that drugs are discreetly sold here. When visiting Malaysia with its strict laws, which can easily get you hung till death, I wonder why anybody risks staying in a place like this. About the videos I hear quite a few of them are porn, some including child pornography. Does Daniel buy this stuff? This is Daniel's guesthouse. Best of luck to those who stay there!!! — Veronica J. Smith (2005-10-21) Hey guys, I stayed here at the young and impressionable age of 15 during a month in Malaysia. Out of all the places I went I found I was most welcome at Daniel's! Is Sony (the dog) still kicking about? Yes, it's a bit on the unkempt side, but have you seen the price!? And the atmosphere is priceless! Promise!
PS: the Scottish flag has been flying high since we left it there, I see. :) Excellent!
Live a little.... — Jules (2005-10-18) This place was awesome. He's a super nice guy and any tour he tells you about is really worth it. It's a hostel and not a 5-star resort so don't expect much. But I'd sure stay here again! — Footer (2005-10-05) The place is also nice but it's not comfortable. It's dirty and has lots of mosquitoes. I suggested it close for the safety of our lives. Peace. — Razif John Gonzalez Saporoo (2005-04-30) This place was not bad. I will come here again. — Yeo (2005-03-29) I have been recently staying in Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in a town by the name of Tanah Rata at a guesthouse called Daniel's Lodge. Recently I understand there has been some publicity about the guesthouse regarding the state of the staff. The management has changed and the place is undergoing a fairly significant upgrade. While staying there I didn't have any problems and found the staff to be both knowledgeable and helpful, and also very friendly. The atmosphere was great and it seems to be quite telling that many of the people from other guesthouses come to Daniel's in the evenings to enjoy the nightly bonfires and bar, which seems to be busy every night. I would say that it would be worth reviewing the recently changed listing the guidebook. — John Passalis (2005-01-05)