Dazhong Backpackers Hostel

Mr. Yow made the stay for me. He was welcoming and helpful right from when I arrived, and I booked his Bukit Lawang orangutan trek through his tour company. It was brilliant, the guides were good, and we saw lots of orangutans. He also took the time to walk me to an ATM and find dinner, kept my big backpack safe while I was away in Bukit Lawang, and helped me with directions around Medan. If you're heading to Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba, or somewhere nearby, he can quickly help arrange things. I'd recommend the hostel.

The 3D2N trek with Arip and Putra was such a good time. When we reached Bukit Lawang, the locals made us feel welcome, and our guides were a lot of fun. We saw plenty of orangutans and other monkeys, then spent the evenings playing cards and eating tasty home-cooked meals. I really recommend the tour. Arip and Putra are two people we won't forget.

I'd avoid this place. The owner wasn't friendly, and the main door is left open all day and night, so it didn't feel safe. There were lots of mosquitoes, and the owner wouldn't let me turn on the air conditioning before 10 pm because it was too hot inside. Other rooms upstairs are rented out long term by the month. I moved to another hotel and got my money refunded.

The host was pleasant and quick to reply on WhatsApp, and the room on the second floor was generally clean. I didn't see any bugs or rats. But it felt more like a boarding house than a hostel, and the rooms and bathroom are extremely basic. There's no toilet flush, so you have to scoop water into the toilet, and some bathroom hooks are partly broken. I could see two other backpackers, but most of the people staying there seemed to be locals, including children. I didn't join the tour, though I can see why staying here might make sense if you can't afford other options or are taking one of their tours, which seem to include a few services. I wanted a private room, and this cost about the same as the capsule hotel around the corner, which was much cleaner and more comfortable. If you can stretch your budget by a few dollars, I would.