The Hostelz.com Review
Wow, what a great place Betel Box Hostel is. It is everything a hostel should be. The staff are super friendly; free tours are organized, such as city bike tours, beach tours, beer tours; and they sell discount tickets to major tourist hotspots such as the zoo/night safari and riverboat rides.
The Location
The location itself isn't all that great as it is a 15 minute walk from the sky train and a thirty-minute walk from the beach. There is also internet and a number of decent restaurants nearby. Just make sure that when you are coming here you know what to look for, as if you blink you will miss it. Assuming you are coming from the sky train, you walk down Joo Chiat road. After passing the second 7-11 on the left, you come to the Blue Lagoon lounge a few doors past it. (This causes some noise pollution at night fro the hostel as locals love this place.) The Betel Box is right beside it with a festively painted green door.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are massive and very spacious considering there are twenty beds inside. They are also quite clean considering there are so many people here all the time -- backpackers no less. An en-suite bathroom and several very cramped but clean shower stalls are available here with hot water. If there is a line, there are more available upstairs.
Common Spaces
The common area is exceptional and a main draw of this hostel. There are a number of big wooden tables (mainly to eat the free breakfast on), a couple couches and a television with DVDs for use, four computers (each person gets a free half-hour per session), and to top it off a pool table overlooking the street. Reception also sells beer and drinks.
Summary
This place is our favorite out of the three hostels we stayed in Singapore, hands down. You are well understood here. The general atmosphere of the place puts everyone in an even better mood. Just be sure to book ahead, as they are quickly becoming popular and do not accept phone reservations.
The Location
The location itself isn't all that great as it is a 15 minute walk from the sky train and a thirty-minute walk from the beach. There is also internet and a number of decent restaurants nearby. Just make sure that when you are coming here you know what to look for, as if you blink you will miss it. Assuming you are coming from the sky train, you walk down Joo Chiat road. After passing the second 7-11 on the left, you come to the Blue Lagoon lounge a few doors past it. (This causes some noise pollution at night fro the hostel as locals love this place.) The Betel Box is right beside it with a festively painted green door.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are massive and very spacious considering there are twenty beds inside. They are also quite clean considering there are so many people here all the time -- backpackers no less. An en-suite bathroom and several very cramped but clean shower stalls are available here with hot water. If there is a line, there are more available upstairs.
Common Spaces
The common area is exceptional and a main draw of this hostel. There are a number of big wooden tables (mainly to eat the free breakfast on), a couple couches and a television with DVDs for use, four computers (each person gets a free half-hour per session), and to top it off a pool table overlooking the street. Reception also sells beer and drinks.
Summary
This place is our favorite out of the three hostels we stayed in Singapore, hands down. You are well understood here. The general atmosphere of the place puts everyone in an even better mood. Just be sure to book ahead, as they are quickly becoming popular and do not accept phone reservations.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2008
Their Description
Betel Box Hostel Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Somewhat disappointed. booked a double room for $50SD and frankly it was dirty with Gecko poo and the carpet was filthy with dirt. I don't think it had ever seen a vacuum cleaner. Shared bathroom only had a cold shower and hair from previous users was on the shower floor. Breakfast was free and good. Internet free for a twenty-minute session per day. The kitchen wasn't clean, the dish-brush looked worse then an old used toothbrush, and the dishcloth was growing its own laboratory germs. honestly it was so gross I washed my dishes with my hands. and yes once again no hot water in the kitchen. People are expected to wash their own dishes (that's ok) but I saw many a person just rinsing their stuff and not washing them, a breeding ground for germs. The common room is one room, kitchen, TV, Internet, office, and eating area and by now crowded with furniture and not as good as the photos which were obviously taken when the place was new. Lack of communication between Tony and his staff led to an embarrassing incident which was unpleasant. Ok if you're not too fussed. not ok if you expect to get what you see/read and ask for. Hostel is also located in a brothel area, but you will not be hassled and you are very safe. — Mitchell (2007-03-24) I stayed from 9 to 14 Aug. 2006. Nice place, good staff, always cooperative. Everything is free, like internet, breakfast, gym, tours, food, walk, cycling. Who gives free in this world? Only Betel Box in Singapore. I will request worldwide that you do stay at Betel Box. Even five-star guests should try Betel Box. It's marvelous. What more one can expect at SGD18? Again, I will repeat my stay in Betel Box in November 2006. — Bhupat pandya (2006-10-26) This was THE best hostel I have ever stayed anywhere in the world! Staff are really friendly and helpful, and the tour (I highly recommend the food walk) was wonderful. This is one place where you get to be really great friends with the staff and other backpackers, not to mention you really get to see non-touristy part of Singapore. The dorm might not look like a luxury five star hotel, but the service definitely is! The breakfast is great, too. — sako (2006-02-27) Communal area is excellent, a good place to meet the others living there. The dorm room is basic, but serves the purpose. It's really clean. When I was there, they had professional cleaners there to do all the mattresses and pillows. Apparently it happens every couple of months. What I really liked are the people who are running the place and the tours they run for free — Tony, T.K., and Wendy. I've not been to many places where the staff makes time to get to know you and show you around. — Geller (2005-04-19) The dorm is definitely a letdown. Once you step inside, it's like wow! But when you see your room, your heart will sink. — Anonymous (2004-10-25) I stayed at this hostel for five days and I instantly felt at home. We were only going to stay for three nights but decided to extend our stay. The people who run the place know EVERYTHING about Singapore and always help you with information about what's good to go and see. The beds are very comfortable and everything is clean. Hot showers and a nice breakfast are included in the price. Really recommended. — Laura McCoy (2004-10-08) I loved it here! Everyone was very friendly! — Christy (2004-10-06) This is a nice place, worth staying at. It's very friendly. The dorms have been improved lately, though unfortunately the air conditioner is off during the day. But then, who hangs around a hostel during the day anyway? — Anonymous (2004-10-06) Everything else here makes up for the rather big dorms. It's well worth the stay. Despite the dorms, it doesn't have a scummy hostel feel at all. — Anonymous (2004-10-02)