Bunk Inn at Shaka Langkawi

The atmosphere here is really laid back, and it’s close to the beach. There’s a kitchen guests can use and clean drinking water too. The woman who runs the hostel was wonderful: she pointed out places to visit, explained activity prices, and told us where the night market would be each evening. After the property was badly damaged in a storm, the staff had done a lot of work on it. I’d definitely recommend staying here.

The staff were wonderful, and it’s easy to walk to a quiet beach. The main strip is only a few minutes away, but the hostel itself suits a more relaxed stay. If you’re after an affordable place in Langkawi, this is a good choice.

The room barely has a window, so mosquitoes are unavoidable, and the bathroom is shared by five rooms. There were bed bugs in the bed, and the door lock is tiny. The shower curtain used as a room curtain does nothing to keep the light out. For what you pay, it doesn’t feel like good value. It’s a pretty standard hostel, and decent places in Langkawi seem hard to find unless you spend more. I’d skip this and stay nearer the beach by the airport, where there’s more going on.

It’s a small, family-like hostel with a great atmosphere and really nice staff. Some of the facilities could use improvement, so I’m taking off a star. The place has a different feel from a typical hostel, and I can see that not working for everyone.