Step-In Lodge

It's a nice spot near the main markets, and the pier for the islands is within walking distance. The two women working there were both very sweet. There are several private air-conditioned rooms, with shared toilets and showers. Around 7:30 in the morning they make coffee for guests, and there's bread and jam for breakfast.

Private rooms are spacious and have air conditioning, and the bathrooms are kept clean. Breakfast is a nice offering too. The place is close to the waterfront and night markets. You can hear some street noise from below and planes overhead, but I still thought it was a great place to stay.

The dorm beds are big, the room isn't too cramped, and everything was extremely clean and well maintained. Hot showers and air conditioning too. It's a little noisy, but the location is extremely central, so you can't really have one without the other. RM48 for a dorm bed felt a little pricey.

At least the air conditioning worked, the internet was OK, and the markets were close enough that I could get out and wander the streets instead of feeling depressed in my room. The rest was rough. My room light flickered for five minutes before finally coming on, and the place smelled like it was only cleaned with dirty water once a week. On my first night I had to step on two big cockroaches in the bathroom, and I kept seeing them there every day afterward. Breakfast was toast with butter and cornflakes with old milk. I guess this may once have been Lonely Planet's pick for budget accommodation, but those days are looooong gone.