A real little gem, a totally funky hostel! Following on from the success of The Inncrowd Ver 1.0 (just round the corner), this version (2.0) opened in early 2004 and is a fantastic little place to stay. A small hostel run by the owner and a couple of devoted employees, it is a really friendly place, where the mutual respect between the staff and guests has built a great atmosphere.
It is immaculate throughout and furnished to extremely high standards. There is one large dorm upstairs, and a much smaller one on the middle floor so most people will sleep in the same room. However it is cleverly designed with partition-walls everywhere so it feels more private. To eliminate clutter, there is a separate side-room for storing bags with its own light to avoid waking everyone up when hunting for that elusive toothbrush etc. Ah-ha, no more plastic bags rustling in the night! Decent bedding is provided and they are very strict in not letting you use your sleeping bag or sleep-sheet (stops the spread of bed-bugs).
To keep the hostel spik-and-span, everyone is expected to take their shoes off indoors! But it really is worth the effort to stay in such a fantastic place. The kitchen facilities are amazing - the stainless steel cooker and fridge are top-of-the-range and there are two large pine tables for dining on (used by the staff too!), a great opportunity to get to know the other guests. Breakfast is provided (two eggs, toast, and tea or coffee, cook it yourself). And there is free internet access (15 minutes per day of your stay) with super-fast connection and flat-screen monitors. Several times a week they coordinate excursions to local attractions so you don't have to go alone and can share taxi costs etc. Examples include the Swissotel (best place for views of the city at night), Raffles (famous home to the Singapore Sling) and Night Safari. Other nights there are movie evenings in the hostel (funky DVD player!).
The location is super-duper too. Situated in the heart of 'Little India', it's just a few minutes' walk from a popular shopping area (Sim Lim Square, the best place for cheap electrical goods-ask the hostel staff for more info). The local markets and restaurants are great and there is a really unique atmosphere out on the streets. As for security, it feels really safe around here and to make sure, the hostel has an entry-code system in use 24 hours a day. The nearest MRT station, Bugis, is under 10-minutes walk away and is on the same line as the airport for hassle-free, cheap (less than $2) transfers. Check out their website for step-by-step directions and printable maps.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2004
Location/Contact
3.7 Average from 15 Ratings
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