Populair Hostel by RedDoorz

The shared bathrooms were the part I felt least comfortable with. They’re on every floor, and booking a private room still means sharing one, so you can’t know or control who’ll come in. Nothing bad happened, Alhamdulillah, but it felt awkward when I was at the sink and two men entered too, since the bathroom has several cubicles. I picked this hostel for its location, and it really is hard to beat: step outside and you’re on Braga St, with Ice Cream Cantina to the left and Jurnal Risa to the right. The area is extremely walkable. We stayed one night on the national holiday, 17th Aug, and paid the usual weekday rate, with no holiday increase. Our private room cost Rp. 170,000 (around $11) for the night. For that price, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of facilities or cleanliness. The room had a double bed, AC, and 2 lockers. It wasn’t spacious, but there was enough room to pray facing the Qibla. Cleaning was okay for the price, though not detailed: the blanket had stains, the walls were damp, and the slightly open window let in a lizard 😭. It was still tolerable for a short stay. Staff were friendly and quick to respond, both on WhatsApp and in person.

Right in a very strategic part of Braga street, this is a solid budget hostel. My room was clean and comfortable, and the wifi was fast and steady. The toilets, though, need work because they weren’t clean and smelled.

The bed felt a bit hard, and the toilet was dirty. Street noise was an issue too.

Trying to arrange a direct booking was a waste of time. Reception couldn’t give me the details I needed.