TRAVEL - Cozy BoBo Hostel Review, Seminyak, Bali

Address:  JL. Kunti 1 No. 9 blok A, Seminyak - Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361 2nd floor above Royal Jerami, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361


Located a short walk from the busy Seminyak Square, Cozy Bobo is a fantastic place to stay during your time in Seminyak. We stopped in Seminyak over night after leaving Kuta to check out the surf. It takes around 10 minutes to walk on down to the beach where you can relax and surf all day long.

TRAVEL - House Of Journey Hostel Review, Penang, Malaysia.

House of Journey is a fun and friendly hostel/guest house located in the center of the charming cultural Georgetown, Penang. Everything you need to see is within a 30 minute walk from the hostel making it the most convenient accommodation to stay in. If you caught my post about The best things to do in Georgetown and you’re thinking of visiting - then let House of Journey be the place you rest your head.

TRAVEL - Reggae Mansion Review, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

If you're still looking for the best place to stay in the bewildering Kuala Lumpur, you can stop after reading this post!
Malaysia's capitol Kuala Lumpur is one of Southeast Asia's favourite spot for backpackers all over the globe (and that's probably how you're reading this post right now.) With a bucket full of attractions and experiences there's something for everyone - the fact that is very affordable helps to drive tourism within the city and has plenty to offer regardless of your budget.



TRAVEL - MAP TRAVELODGE (TRAVEL BUNKER) REVIEW, CAMERON HIGHLANDS, MALAYSIA.

Address: Map Travelodge(TRAVEL BUNKER), Tanah Rata, 39000 Tanah Rata, Pahang, Malaysia.





We're slowly making our way down to Malaysia's capitol Kuala Lumpur, but decided to stop along our route from Penang at the famous Cameron Highlands. Named after the explorer Sir William Cameron, and known for being the largest hill-stationed area in Malaysia and famous for it's tea plantations we just couldn't miss this place out. Specially after our visit to Jim Thompson's house in Bangkok (for those that don't know, he's the man who saved the Thai silk business, and went missing in the Cameron Highlands)

We found a perfect, unique hostel in the center of town called Map Travelodge. By far one of the best hostels you could wish for in the Cameron Highlands. We were welcomed in with open arms and big smiley faces which mafe us feel right at home straight away.  The location is great, we are right by a few bars, 7 eleven, food court and only a 10 minute walk away from the famous Route 10 hike through the jungle. 


TOP THINGS TO DO IN PENANG, MALAYSIA.




If you’re heading to Malaysia on your trip around Asia, do not miss the stunning Penang Island. Known as the Pearl of the Orient, Penang has buckets of charm and has become a hit with backpackers to relax and take in this little gem of culture. Penang is the first stop of our trip through Malaysia. We didn’t research Penang before hand, just picked the name off our map and made our way - but I’m so glad we stumbled upon this quirky place! We originally were going to spend 2 nights here in Georgetown, but loved it so much we stayed another day and still didn’t get to do everything we wanted. But here’s a list of the BEST things to see and do in Georgetown, Penang.

TRAVEL - Whitewall Poshtel, Phuket, Thailand - Review

White Wall Poshtel 
Thaland Road, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket, 83000, Thailand.


During our trip in Phuket we were very fortunate to work with White Wall Poshtel. This is the first Poshtel we've experience during our trip around Asia and it did not disappoint.White Wall Poshtel is exactly that, Bright, Clean and pretty posh! 

White Wall Poshtel is located within a 2 minute walk of Phuket Town, making it the ideal place for you to stay if you want a real experience of Phuket. It's easy to reach bars, restaurants, the shopping center anything else you could possibly need during your stay - but also located in a small side street making sure you have an undisturbed sleep. Once arriving at the Poshtel you can see why it has a very high 9.8 rating on Booking.com. 



The architecture really makes the building stand out compared to other hostels in the area. The giant, deep blue doors draw your attention. Once inside the main lobby, It's very bright and clean - with the reception desk and large fish tank to the right, chill out area and best pool table in Thailand to the left. The lobby also doubles up as the breakfast area - it's the best place to meet the other guests and lounge around the poshtel.



During our stay we had two separate beds in one of the 12 bed dorms. Although, once inside your bed you wouldn't think you were in a dorm. The beds were unbelievably comfortable and the duvet made us feel right at home. Each bed came with it's own under bed storage, reading light, plug socket and thick privacy curtain that completely blacked out the area making it easy to fall asleep. 
For those that don't want to stay in a large dorm - not a problem at all. They also offer 8 bed dooms, double room and even a triple room (one double bed, one single top bunk). 

The rooms are minimal and simplistic with natural light coming in from the large windows at the front of the building to save you having to use the lights included in the room. The rooms all come with A/C and each floor has a bathroom, bottom floor is shared, middle floor is ladies and top floor is mens. 




The bathrooms again are very clean and modern, with western toilets for those who were wondering - every time I went to the bathroom and shower area someone would come in straight after to clean which I found preferable. The bathrooms were decorated with the same royal blue accent walls and cubicle doors, concrete units and bright white basins. The showers included a perfect waterfall shower head (my favourite) aswell as shampoo and shower gel so you don't need to sorry about forgetting yours. (and the shampoo made my hair smell amazing for days.) Towels are available for 30 baht each and the showers were always hot and pretty powerful.

Breakfast is served between 7am - 10am which was perfect for us late risers and even better was that it was included with the room, meaning you don't have to spend any more money. Breakfast included toast, eggs, bananas, snacks along with tea and coffee. There's plenty of room around the table for everyone and if you've finished your food but you're still hungry just simply asked for some more and they'll happily make some more.  


(these chill out mats get a special mention because it's made using Jim Thompson silk!!)



The staff were very friendly, we loved the owner Ping and his partner - nothing was every too much for them and they gave us the best recommendations for our short stay. Ping is also very modest, but very good at pool - so make sure you get a few games in. 

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay with the team at White Wall Hostel - everything was exceptional. The building, common areas, room and staff were the best we'd experience in Thailand and would highly recommend staying here. with prices starting at £6 a night (including the breakfast!) you'd be mad to miss you.

You can book your stay over at their Booking page to guarantee the best price. If you book your stay using THIS LINK you will receive 10% off your trip (and I'll get a little spending money to carry on writing these reviews for you!)

Stephanie xoxo

TRAVEL - La Mom Hostelo, Pai, Review.



Looking for the best hostel to stay in Pai for backpackers? Then once again you've come to the right place. I review the places I stay in each city/town/village I visit to make sure that you guys know where to go and what to expect!

Pai is normally the next stop on a backpackers trip around the Northern landscapes of Thailand and I will tell you it does not disappoint. There's so much to do around Pai you'll be wishing you stayed longer (believe me, we wish we stayed longer than three days!)

Thankfully we were able to collaborate with the wonderful team over at La Mom Hostelo which is located a stone's throw away from the thriving Walking Street. La Mom Hostelo is at the top of our backpacking list of places you MUST stay in South East Asia.



TRAVEL - ONCE MORE Hostel, Chiang Mai Review

Chiang Mai, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand
So, you've finished Bangkok and looking for some peace and quiet in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand? Of course you have, why not! it's a non brainier - Chiang Mai has so much culture and is literally miles away from anything you'd see in Bangkok. I've been lucky enough to team up with ONCE MORE Hostel in Chiang Mai to show you what it's like to stay in Chiang Mai.

I have a post coming soon in regards to what there is to do and see in Chiang Mai, but I want to tell you all about our wonderful stay at ONCE MORE Hostel!



For travelers who are always on the go, ONCE MORE Hostel is located just outside Chiang Mai's South Gate entrance. It's a simple ten minute walk through traditional streets that are bursting with colourful shops/cafes/restaurants to Chiang Mai Old City. You'll also walk past a few breathtaking temples and a number of historical sights!

TRAVEL - Kinnon Deluxe Hostel Coworking Cafe

Want to stay in one of the best hostels in Bangkok? Then look no further than the Kinnon Deluxe Hostel and Co working Cafe!



Kinnon Hostel is located in the Silom district in the heart of Bangkok, being just a 5 minute walk from Patpong Night Market and BTS station making it easy to get anywhere within the city. The hostel is located down a quiet lane which makes it an ideal place to stay for those who want a good night sleep away from the noise of the city. The accommodation also doubles as a co-working space so if like me you need to get some work done they have super fast internet to help you through it - and you'll also be able to meet a few other digital nomads along the way!

TRAVEL - Eden Eco Village, Kampot



Eden Eco Village is a stunning setting located within the Cham fishing village near Kampot City in Cambodia. It's around a 15 minute tuk tuk away from the busy streets of Kampot making it a great location to sit back and relax in nature, but still be accessible to what the city of Kampot has to offer.

TRAVEL - Bohemiaz Resort and Spa Kampot review


After leaving Phnom Penh and heading down the one very long and bumpy ride to Kampot, we found ourselves lucky enough to stay at Bohemiaz Spa and Resort - and it was the ultimate relaxing hideaway we needed

.


TRAVEL - Panorama Mekong Hostel and Restaurant review - Cambodia

Hey guys + girls!

After a grueling 8 hours stuck on our bus from Ho Chi Minh, we finally made it to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Once we reached the Cambodian capitol we were relieved to know the place we'd be resting our heads for the night was just a 10 minute walk along the Mekong Delta.


TRAVEL - Hangout Hostel Review, Ho Chi Minh's Best Party Hostel

[Image from Hangout Hostel @ Hostel World.]

After six weeks of travelling we've finally made it to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), our last stop in the wonderful Vietnam before heading to Cambodia. Ho Chi Minh is the largest, and the capitol city of Vietnam - and if you're looking for some fun Ho Chi Minh has got you covered. It's one of the travelers capitols of the world and has over 100 hostels ready for the picking.

TRAVEL - VIETNAM BACKPACKER HOSTELS - MUI NE BACKPACKER VILLAGE REVIEW



I have just finished my stay in my first Vietnam Backpackers Hostel and I am gutted I haven't stayed! As they say they are more than just a bed. We arrived in Mui Ne for a 4 day break before heading to Ho Chi Minh and the stay was so much better than expected. I loved every second of our stay, there was always something to do and here's a review to show exactly why you should stay at Vietnam Backpackers Village in Mui Ne.

TRAVEL - The Best Hostel In Da Lat - Mr Happy


My Happy Hostel, perfectly located in a quiet area of Da Lat, Vietnam, is one of the most fun, sociable and cleanest hostels you will find in all of South East Asia. The hostel is run by Mr Happy himself, who knows exactly what travelers are looking for in our hostel stays: Clean rooms, amazing food, fast internet and he even has karaoke in the dinning area!

TRAVEL - What To Do In Da Nang, with Memory Hostel.


Da Nang is the third biggest city in Vietnam, although it's not as popular as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, it is still worth visiting for it's beautiful beaches and amazing forestry. It's an up and coming destination with tourists - and with it still developing to foreigners, it's still very cheap!

As I said in my previous post, we stayed at the fantastic Memory Hostel and their staff were able to help us have a traditional Vietnamese experience and just an all around good time! Here is a list of things we got up to thanks to Memory Hostel, and a list of things you should do during your time in Da Nang.

Day 1.
Try Traditional Food


Image may contain: 3 people, including Tran Xuan Quy, people smiling, people standing and outdoor

I just want to say again how amazing Memory Hostel was to us. From the moment we stepped through the door we were welcomed with open arms and smiles - the staff became like family from the get go and you'll see why in this post.

Firstly, we were taken to a traditional Vietnamese food at the famous Mi Quang Ech, where we enjoyed a feast with two members of staff. Ngoc (Nom) and Quy were great hosts - they taught us how to roll traditional rolls and tried four different types of noodle dishes... including Special Noodles (Frog!) We got to know each other over food and they gave us a real insight into life in Vietnam.



After heading back to Memory Hostel, our hosts went back to work while Michael and I headed to the roof for a few quiet drinks on our own before heading to bed. We'd had a long day, and food makes me super sleepy. I needed some beauty sleep to ensure I was ready for a busy day tomorrow.

Day 2.

The next day we woke around 9am and headed downstairs for our breakfast. As if I didn't eat enough food the night before, food was on my mind and I was pretty excited to see what they had to offer. We could choose from a list of food and drinks that were made freshly for us. Quy was coming to the head of his shift so prepared my fried eggs with salad and bread - Michael had the traditional noodles and egg in soup. 



Once our breakfast was finish, we made our first tourist trip to go visit the Lady Buddha at the Chua Linh Ung Pagoda. We quickly ordered a Grab, which cost 100k VND. The temple grounds are astonishingly peaceful. Although busy with tourists, it was still easy to stroll around aimlessly and take in the stunning beauty of the gardens, tiered pagoda, Buddha and panorama views of Da Nang from above.

Lady Buddha, Bodhisattva of Mercy as she is nicknamed is said to have protected the wonderful bay from natural disasters from the moment she was built back in 2010. You can spend a good hour and a half walking around these temples, it was a highlight of our trip in Da Nang! 



Thankfully, our Grab driver waited for us to finish walking around the temple and took us to our next destination.
 My Khe Beach



Did you know that Da Nang is referred to as the Hawaii of Asia? and we can see why. My Khe Beach is voted in the top 6 of Forbes Magazines best beaches in the world! With over 30km of beaches that stretch all the way to Hoi An - and some of the nicest white sands I've ever witnessed. The Da Nang locals don't enjoy sunbathing so don't head to the beach until late after. So if you're like me and love to bath in the hottest sun possible to get my tan on, you'll have the beach to yourself most of the day! It'll cost around 40,000 dong per person for the entire day, so a no brainier would be to dedicate a full day to this beach!

After a few hours at the beach we headed back to our hostel to get ready for the day. Memory had a pretty import day on at the hostel filming their latest promotional video, so we were asked to join them at around 9pm. So we headed out for some drinks to fill the gap. I can highly recommend trying to Westernised bars to get a little taste of home.

Check our the bars

Da Nang has some great nightlife! The road parallel to the river is full of pubs, clubs and restaurants serving every type of food imaginable. We opted to try out the local tourist favorite bar Bamboo 2 . Sitting on the table adjacent the river with a stunning view of  the Dragon Bridge we ordered a few drinks and some burgers. A little bit pricey compared to the traditional Vietnamese restaurants, but 120.000 Dong for burger and chips isn't going to break the bank for most travelers. 



See the Dragon Bridge at Night

After finishing food we headed back home to join in with the promotional video for Memory Hostel. which was probably my favorite part of the trip. We joined the staff on the roof top and laughed all night while appreciating the best view of the Dragon Bridge from above.



We were also treated to a BBQ using local ingredients, such as meat and fish - I even had a go at cooking the shrimps myself! We joined in with the video, sang 'Hotel California' A LOT and drank Mojitos with our new family. 



Day 3.

Day 3 was my favourite day of our trip to Da Nang. We headed to the local Han Market with the adorable Grace and Mrs Spring (Memory Hostel Chef) to pick up some local, fresh ingredients for today's activity.

Have a cooking class

Choosing the best ingredients available at Han Market was a new experience to me. Ms Spring lead the way and would give us options to what we could prepare in the hostels roof top kitchen. They made the experience really special to us as we were able to choose vegetables we have never seen before and experiment with different tastes. I loved how the Bitter Melon looked like a lumpy cucumber and Grace helped us alter their traditional meal to help us try it!


The market was amazing! So many options, you could find anything here! It's absolutely huge, you will more than likely get lost - but it's great to see all the local produce coming in. The fish is caught locally by the fisherman of Da Nang and delivered late in the evening so we know the fish is fresh. As we're not locals, stalls would often try and over charge us. Luckily we had Grace and Ms Spring with us who are professional bargainers and pretty soon we had everything we needed to make a variety of traditional dishes.



Once back at the Hostel, Grace, Michael and I started to prep the ingredients, we had ALOT of spinach - so it did take all three of us a while to prep it. Ms Spring shown us how to traditional cook the rice using coal and a metal cooking pot on the roof. Very similar to lighting a BBQ at home, use wood, paper and a little bit of lighter fluid. After prepping, Grace told us we were going to make quite a few different meals, and all at the same time. 


Starting with stuffed bitter melon. We cut the pork, mushrooms, garlic and onions into small pieces and Michael mixed them together by hand in a separate bowl. Once mixed, we cut the bitter melon in 4 inch pieces and began to stuff them with our mixture. While also cooking spinach and garlic in a frying pan, the rice in the cooker and preparing our fish to! There was a lot going on but it was really fun working with the ladies in the kitchen. Never a dull moment and felt like we knew them for years.





Once the rice was finished in the cooker, we added the stuffed bitter melon into the pot to boil until cooked. We also had plenty of meat left over so made some meat balls to and added them to the pot! After everything was complete we headed down to the lobby to enjoy our food with all the staff and there was plenty to go around!


The Marble Mountains




After food we took a 20 minute grab to one of the main tourist attractions in Da Nang, Marble Mountain. There are 5 different mountains located at the destination, but only one mountain is actually open to the general public and that's Mt. Thuy. All five mountains are made of marble and limestone and all are nicknamed after the five Asian elements - Earth, Fire, Water, Wind and Void.


The breathtaking landscape was formed from volcanoes that had erupted from below sea level. Apparently if you look closely you can still see fossils in the cliff face. Mt. Thuy is the tallest of the five mountains, and offers a panoramic view of Da Nang which is not to be missed. ou can see the concrete jungle and endless horizon of the beach.



What I enjoyed most about Marble Mountain is that there are so many different things to see - if I headed back again I'm sure there would be things I had missed previously. These includes incredible caves you can get lost in, Pagodas, Giant wheel of Karma and my personal favourite a giant Buddha that was carved from a single slab of limestone back in 1875.


Another big thank you to Memory Hostel for their giving us this experience during our trip - It wouldn't have been the same without them. Remember, if you're interested in staying at Memory Hostel, email Sale@memoryhostel.com and quote STEPHANIE for 10% off your stay and the best room available! You will not regret it :)

Have you been to Da Nang? What was your favourite thing to see and do?

Stephanie xoxo

TRAVEL - Memory Hostel, The Best Hostel In Da Nang, Vietnam

Are you thinking of travelling to Da Nang, Vietnam soon? If you're reading this blog post then chances you are; and I don't blame you! Da Nang is a rapidly growing destination for backpackers and we can see why. Bordered by stunning jungle mountains on one side and an endless horizon of the East Sea on the other, Da Nang is a travellers paradise. It's an amazing part of Vietnam, which offers something for everyone! From Marble Mountain to the amazing My Khe Beach you'll have plenty to do during your stay in Da Nang.




If you're looking for a place to rest your head then look no further than the Memory Hostel! Situated in the heart of Da Nang, you'll find yourself in the perfect location to enjoy the best attractions and activities the city has to offer. The hostel is surrounded by shops, restaurants, traditional markets and so much more. With prices starting at just £5 PPPN, and that's including a super tasty, traditional breakfast you get so much more for your money! (Also, as a treat for you all.. If you email to book your stay and quote STEPHANIE you'll receive an extra 10% off your booking, and if available, have the best room!) 





I am very grateful to be able to work alongside Memory Hostel to show you why this beautifully thought out accommodation could be your home away from home. Memory Hostel does exactly what it's name suggests, it offers a memorable Vietnamese family experience - while still managing to work around it's Western visitors demands. The staff are second to none, they welcomed us with open arms and truly gave us an unforgettable, rewarding experience that I will tell you all it later in another post. You'll never want to leave! (I'm getting emotional thinking about it)




The building itself is stunning, the unique architecture is breathtaking! The bricks are constructed beautifully uneven - differently to your average building which makes Memory Hostel stand out from the moment you see it.  Decorated throughout with these funky patterned tiles, it gives a real feeling of nostalgia, and of course look amazing in all of your travelling pictures.


I stayed in a shared dorm on the 5th floor. Everything about our room was perfect. Amazing view of the Dragon bridge, Comfortable beds, everything was spotlessly clean and the bathrooms are just WOW! Traditional concrete basins and still keeping the tiles throughout. 
The room offered everything we needed, storage boxes big enough to fit people in, bed lights, plugs, wifi, AC and fans for those extra warm nights and the most amazing view of the Dragon Bridge and river in the area.


There are 5 floors for accommodation within the hostel. They include dorms, single rooms, and double rooms too. Making the hostel great for everyone. Doesn't matter if your a solo traveller wanting to make friends in dorms, or wanting some alone time Memory Hostel has you covered.

You can even enjoy the roof top bar area, it's pretty quiet in the day if you just want to head up and chill out in the sun - at night it brings a fun, social atmosphere - have a few drinks, play some card games or join in with the hostel activities for the night. Just take in the views and enjoy the music all around you.




Keep an eye out for another post about my wonderful time at Memory and everything we got up to! It's a must read if you're heading to Da Nang and want an authentic experience!


Remember, if you looking to book Memory Hostel, you can recieved 10% off by sending an email directly to sale@memoryhostel.com and quoting STEPHANIE.
Or, to make it easier.. just follow this link to their Booking.com page  :)



What do you think of Memory Hostel? Where have you stayed? 

Stephanie xoxo.