hostel Archives - Wander-Lust

13 feb 2020

Where to stay in Pai, Thailand

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On februari 13, 2020 With No Comments

Ok, so you’ve arrived into Pai. (If you want to know how, check this article about getting to Pai) After hours on a motorcycle or sitting in a van, it’s time to look for a bed to rest your head. Pai is not very big but there is lot’s of accommodation that you can choose from.

Sure it’s hostel galore here but there are also some pretty amazing luxury resorts around. Most resorts are a little further out of town but the the nice walk is worth it.

pai-city
The map of Pai city

Where I stayed

When I was traveling to Pai, I travelled alone so I was happy that I received a recommendation from a friend as I wouldn’t know where to start searching! I ended up staying at Jan’s Guesthouse. It’s a fairly simple budget hostel but the bungalows are equipped with a bathroom,tv and I had my own porch. It’s tucked away in a quiet side street so its perfect for relaxing but it’s also very close to the main district of Pai. (3 min walk)
You can sit in the nice garden where, if you are lucky, you can find the signal for free wifi. (whoopwhoop!) It will cost you about 250 bath per night which is about 7 euro’s. (I know right?!) Make sure that you are packing something warm, because Pai can get very cold at night. (I was freezing!)

Panoramic view over the Pai river, where you can find many budget hostels

Other options in Pai

Walking around Pai, you come across many hostels and resorts. All top recommended resorts include Montis Resort, Phu Pai Art Resort and Pai Hotspring Resort and Spa. My favourite resort has to be the Oia Resort & Spa. I discovered this place when I was on a stroll towards the white Buddha. I simply walked in and ordered a glass of water and I just sat there for an hour staring at the beauty of this place.. Overlooking the mountains, the resort is fairly new and cost about 100 euro’s per night if you go for the room with the best view. It’s expensive if you’re a backpacker, but ey, you can always walk in and ask for a glass of water like I did 😉

The amazing Oia resort in Pai

For best value for money accommodation, check these out:

» Baan Pai Riverside Sleep in cute bamboo huts on the Pai river bank where you are bound to relax. 600-800 bath.
» Rim Pai Cottage Great for couples! Clean, comfy rooms and breakfast is included from Oct. until Feb. Available from 400 bath.
» Darling view point resort Gorgeous views overlooking the river & mountains with a restaurant, swimming pool, and hot showers. 400-500 bath.
» Spicypai Backpackers This place is well known for the great atmosfeer rather than the comfy beds but nothing beats making new friends! 150 bath for a dorm.

The infamous Spicypai Backpackers Hostel in Pai

So wherever you might stay when getting to Pai, it’s bound to be fun, relaxing and special. Let me know if you’re heading up there!

Looking for an island that looks like paradise? Check out our free Koh Lipe Guide 2020!

Love,

Elke

19 sep 2019

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Events, Amsterdam Guide With 1 Comment Permalink

Where to stay during Amsterdam Dance Event

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On september 19, 2019 With 1 Comment

Amsterdam is famous for a lot of things but when it comes to dance music, its ADE, the Amsterdam Dance Event. More than 300.000 people visited Amsterdam last October to dance their butts of to the biggest names in the dance and techno scene.

Needless to say, that a large amount of people need a place to stay so the hotel and Airbnb business is booming during this time. So where are the best places to stay? Well, these are some contenders that might come in handy during the best dance nights of your life:

The Student Hotel (East & West)

Young professionals, globetrotters and students love staying at this hotel. Prices are very reasonable and they now have 2 locations in Amsterdam. Enjoy events, meet ups, and work dates. If you want to stay a bit longer, there is a community kitchen available and you can get a bicycle to explore the city. Double rooms are around €100 per night. www.thestudenthotel.com

City Hub Amsterdam (West)

This is a great self service accommodation if you’re out all night and busy exploring Amsterdam all day. Instead of dorms or hotel rooms, you sleep in a private cabin. These fit up to 2 people. Each Hub has a giant, double bed, wifi, app-controlled lighting and a personal audio streaming system. Pretty cool. There are a total of 50 cabins and you share the toilets and showers. expect to pay a little more around Amsterdam Dance Event but rooms normally go for about 60 euro per night. www.cityhub.com

The cubicles of City Hub

Conscious Hotels (Vondelpark)

Right behind the Vondelpark and access to the lunch/dinner district of Amsterdam’s De Overtoom, you have a perfect location with trams stopping near the hotel. This hotel is extra special because they are one of the most sustainable hotels in Amsterdam. Enjoy a organic breakfast to get you back on your feet after a wild night. Rooms go for €130 per night at the moment. www.conscioushotels.com

Generator Hostel (East)

I’ve actually stayed in this brand new poshtel when it first opened. I really loved it because although it’s a hostel, you feel really at easy and it doesn’t get any cleaner and hip than at Generator. Each room features air conditioning, bed linen and a private bathroom with shower. You can share rooms or choose a premium room for 2. The hostel is situated right next to the Oosterpark and you will be in vibrant area “De Pijp” in no time. Prices do go up during Amsterdam Dance Event so get your friends together and start sharing! Gernerator/Amsterdam

Generator Hostel

Teleport Hotel (New West)
This hotel used to be an office and has been open since this summer. It’s used by party seekers all over the world as the Sloterdijk train Station is just around the corner and even though you’re not in the city center, it’s pretty easy to get to. They organize free tours through Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport is only 2 train stops away. They are planning an event in November where they invite several graffiti artist to pimp the rooms as they still look a bit boring due to the office look. www.teleporthotel.nl

Volkshotel (East)

Love, love, love this hotel. It’s a place where people come together and clever visual references to the building’s history as a newspaper office occur throughout (newsprint wallpaper, archive photographs of Amsterdam’s rebellious counterculture). Double rooms could go for as little at €69,- and you’re in the city center before you know it. Book it here

Hotel Not Hotel (Old West)

If you’re looking for something special, you will find it here. The name already gives a slight hint because it’s a hotel, but not really.. The concept is pretty cool. No room is the same and they are designed by different artist. Some rooms are hidden behind bookshelves, others look like a Mexican house or you can sleep in an old tram. Some rooms literally only have a bed in them but the beds and mattresses are luxurious and will have you sleep like a baby. The hotel is in west Amsterdam and parallel to the up and coming Kinkerstraat. Local Club “Het Sieraad” will host a few good parties during the Amsterdam Dance Event. There are only a few rooms so be quick if you want to be lucky. Hotel Not Hotel

Not just a book shelve..

YAYS Apartments

If you wanna feel right at home, you should try YAYS. These are apartments with style and class in local area’s throughout Amsterdam. The people who work behind the front desk are always locals so they know exactly where you should go. You have many options of which you can choose from and all apartments have a kitchen and private bathrooms. There are 3 locations of which one is near the Central Station. Check it out!

Yays is great for getting the local experience

Take your pick and whichever hotel you choose, dance your butts off at Amsterdam Dance Event! ADE is held from the 19th – 23rd of October.

Love,

Elke

Curious about the most sustainable hotels in Amsterdam? Click to read!

23 mrt 2016

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide, Off the Beaten Track With No Comments Permalink

A Glampacker? Then you’re going to love these Poshtels!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On maart 23, 2016 With No Comments

At the age of 24 I decided to backpack my way through Australia and slept in hostels with more than 8 people in a tiny room with showers you do not want to enter without flipflops. I didn’t care less. I was a true backpacker and I loved it. But during my trip to Greece last summer and my trip to the Philippines this winter that I came to the following conclusion; I had passed the backpacker’s lifestyle. I have officially become a glampacker. But I still want to enjoy all the perks of a hostel such as a community kitchen, different nationalities and making new friends. If you can relate to this, you’re going to love Poshtels!

Poshtels are the perfect combination between hotels & hostels. The fun and games of a hostel with all the luxury and comfort of a hotel for a reasonable price!

I now need a solid bed without bedbugs, a clean shower where I can wash my hair and a private room.

Generator Hostels, Europe
Sarah and I recently enjoyed the opening of the brand new Generator Hostel in Amsterdam. They threw a crazy party and invited everybody from bloggers, magazines, creatives and glampackers! We were lucky enough to experience a nights stay and we took 2 of our friends to enjoy the fun. It was pretty cool to be the first ever guest of room no. 5 and let me tell you, the beds were super nice! (almost better than my own matras!) The pillow’s could have been a bit flatter but ey, who is complaining? This poshtel features several chill area’s including an old library,a basement club and a coffee area which is open to the public. Generator hostels are all over Europe such as Rome, London, Paris and Stockholm. www.generatorhostels.com

Generator in Rome (source: Generator Hostels)

Generator Amsterdam

Freehand Hostel, USA
The USA was the world’s first country to open the gateway for “poshtels” and opened their first one in Miami in 2012. They call it Freehand and they created these for a new generation of travelers. They now have locations in Chicago with Los Angeles to open soon. Check out their blog for the latest events.

The mother of all poshtels; Freehand Miami Source: Freehand

Cloud 7, Istanbul
They differentiate themselves by focusing on technology and the new modern way of traveling. They discribe themselves as a “unique destination for young, spontaneous travelers”. This funky poshstel carefully curated a collection of decorative items and vintage pieces to attracts travelers around the world. Their rooms are spacious, clean and cost about 50 euro’s per night for 2 people. They are planning to open some Cloud 7 poshtels in Dubai, Prague and muscat. www.cloud7hotels.com

Love,

Elke

For more info about the Generator Hostel Amsterdam.

Source: Generator Amsterdam

20 jan 2016

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide, Off the Beaten Track With No Comments Permalink

Will this be the best hostel in Amsterdam?

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On januari 20, 2016 With No Comments

Amsterdam will be a new hostel richer this coming spring. I should say ‘Poshtel’ as this will be a far more luxurious hostel than you may be used to.
The Generator Hostel group is renown for their cool and high standard hostels like the ones in Berlin Mitte, Barcelona and London.
They have three openings in the pipeline for 2016. The first one will be Amsterdam.
The location will be in the east-side of of the city and it will be in the former health sciences and zoological University. The building dates back to 1917. I love it when old buildings are put up to good use!

The redevelopment of this monumental building was done by Dutch re-developer COD (www.cod.nl)

There will be room for 566 guests across 168 twin and dormitories for max 4 people plus a luxury apartment that fits up to six people overlooking Amsterdam’s Oosterpark. There will be a cafe and outside area where guest can enjoy the summer nights.
The kitchen will serve a daily breakfast and various foods are available to buy. The hostel will also host weekly events with DJ’s and art collaborations.
There will be a travel shop, 24 hour reception and of course..no good hostel will be complete without some good free WIFI.

The reception area at the Hostel in Amsterdam will look colorful and spacious

The Generator Hostel in Barcelona is hip and happening

Generator Hostels will open 2 more locations this year. Following Amsterdam, the Rome location will open during summer. They’ve have also chosen an old 1900 residential building with seven floors. Stockholm will host their last hostel of 2016 which will be finished by the end of summer.
Rooms are generally around 39 euro’s per night but prices may vary at times.
The hostel in Amsterdam is now available for pre bookings here.

Generator Hostels
www.generatorhostels.com
www.facebook.com/GENERATORhostels

Love,

Elke

Ever heard of the City Hub in Amsterdam? If not, you should!

* All pictures used in the article are ccourtesy of Generator Hostels

02 nov 2015

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide, Off the Beaten Track With 1 Comment Permalink

Now open » City Hub Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On november 2, 2015 With 1 Comment

I recently posted about getting the local experience whilst visiting another country. Well, we can add one more to this list.
City Hub. I was at the opening and asked manager Pieter Van Tilburg a few questions.

So what’s City Hub?
City Hub is a hotel/hostel with private privileges in a local part of Amsterdam.
Instead of dorms or hotel rooms, you sleep in a private cabin. These fit up to 2 people.
Each Hub has a giant, double bed, wifi, app-controlled lighting and a personal audio streaming system. Pretty cool.
There are a total of 50 cabins and you share the toilets and showers.

Small but comfy!

Looking good! Showers and toilets (Source: City Hub)

So why is it extra special?
City Hub is a digital hostel/hotel. You make your reservation online (or you can always walk in) and you enter your details into the computers at the entrance. This is the way you check in. After this, you will receive a wristband. With this you can open your cabin door, enter City Hub and buy yourself or your friends drinks at the self service bar. Yes, you can tap your own beer. Brilliant!

The key to everything..

Location, Location, Location
City Hub is situated in a cool area of Amsterdam. Not near the Dam square or other touristy places but right in the heart of where you will find cool shops, restaurants, galleries, coffee bars and markets.
This way you can really enjoy the perks of Amsterdam and feel like a local. At City Hub, there is always a city host available to give you inside tips or help you with anything you need. Day and night.

Tap your own beer at City Hub!

The app
There will be an app available soon where you can get in touch with fellow City Hubbers, exchange discoveries and suggestions. With the app you can also control your own Hub like managing the lights, play music or set the alarm.

City Hub is now open for business. Cabins are available from 59 euro’s.
Book yours now at www.cityhub.com

Love,

Elke