Never thought that opting for hostel stay whilst traveling would be this much fun. It wasn’t planned at all, it was one of those random moments where you book a ticket somewhere without prior reservations on where to stay. Soon as I set foot in Zanzibar, I had a luxurious hotel in mind, but all that changed when the taxi driver suggested I stay at this newly established hostel that was totally cheap but worth so much more than their rates. I’ve had so many of my friends from abroad use hostels but i have always been reluctant to use one. But then the driver gave me valid reasons that would not only help me save money but meet fellow like minded travelers from all around the world. He was a blessing in disguise.
Ten to Ten Hostel:
Located in the heart of stone town Zanzibar, this property is literally a minute away from the beach and around almost all the touristic attractions in stone town. A 8 minutes walk to the ferry, 6.9 Km to the nearest airport (Kisauni), 27km to Kiwengwa/ Paje areas as well as 46km from the North of Zanzibar (Nungwi/Kendwa). This being a top rated location in Zanzibar city, guests are happier about it compared to other listings in the city as well as being rated for the best value in the city with guests getting more for their money compared to other properties.
The first thing that attracts you to this hostel is the main entrance which is a huge Zanzibar door that makes a perfect drop for those awesome social media pictures! *wink*. At the front desk, which operates 24 hours, you’re met by the ever smiling staff that shows you around the rooms and amenities so you can choose one of your liking.
Amenities:
Air Conditioning, Free WiFi, Bed bunks with clean white linen,pillows, a mosquito net, towels and toiletries, Shared Bathrooms and Toilets, Fully equipped Kitchen, Laundry room, Dining/Lounge area. Most of all, it is the cleanest hostel you will come across in Zanzibar.
The hostel also provides bike rentals. Cycling around stone stone is probably the best way to discover this beautiful old historic town. The rentals are at a throw away price.
You also can ask the management to arrange tours for you at a a very cheaper rate than dealing directly with tour guides whose prices tend to be an extortion sometimes.
Directions to the Hostel:
Reasons to Stay at A Hostel?
Now, I do know for my part that I love traveling luxuriously but after this trip I realized that maybe this is the best way to travel if you’re trying to explore a new area. Not unless it is a business trip, you probably should consider giving hostels a try too. It is totally worth it.
It may not just save you a substantial amount of money but will also enable you to interact and mix with other like-minded travelers, who will have local recommendations, making your stay all the more authentic.
Generally hostels are much cheaper than hotels with prices as low as £8, depending on the destination you are planning to visit. For an even cheaper budget option, one also has the option to stay in a dorm room and save even more.
However, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your room with random people and your budget is a little less stretched, there is always the option of booking a private room where you can experience a little more luxury, your own en-suite and a bit of privacy.
The sort of tangible benefit of staying in the hostel is quite obvious, more interesting are the communal areas, bars and spacious shared rooms in the hostels which allow travelers to meet new interesting people who may become your friends and fellow travelers on your journey. These days having the right connections can be quite key in setting your future, so what would be the better way of networking than while you are in a relaxed travel mode.
Besides, staying in a hostel with a bar may be a great way of having a night out with reasonably priced drinks. On the other hand in a hotel bar, you would end up paying much more.
One of the expenses you can’t simply exclude from your budget is food. Hostels enable you to save a rather large sum of money by allowing you to use a communal kitchen. This way you are not entitled to eat out every night and you can cook yourself a healthy, well-balanced option rather than opting for fast food. Or even arrange with the management for a local lady to teach you how to cook the local meals.
Moreover, the vast majority of the hostels are well equipped with all modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, whereas in hotels, it is likely that a specific charge is allocated to a certain period of time spent using the Internet.
Another critical element of hosteling is the fact that they are normally located near the transport links which may help you to conveniently get to various tourist places you are interested in.
In addition, you may benefit from knowledge of the local staff that is likely to give you suggestions to what to see and where to go. Their advice may allow you to see places which are not in any touristic guides and which may give you more insight into the local culture and its identity.
Another hint which may enable you to save some money are cool and emerging tours arranged by the hostels. These tend to have much lower rates than the ones you can find in the hotel. Besides, some of the hostels are likely to hold various activities/theme nights which are free and may help you to enjoy yourself while being educated.
Many travelers worry about the security and safety of staying in hostels, however, this shouldn’t be an issue as most hostels tend to have a variety of security options ranging from safes behind reception, lockers in the rooms, electronic swipe cards for you to use when getting in or out, 24-hour security on site and CCTV recording common areas.
Totally over the moon for having an amazing first time hostel experience with ten to ten!
PS: Use the code TAW (The African Wanderlusts) to get massive discounts!
