Royal Hostel

The sheets and beds were clean, and the location right by Chinatown MRT is hard to beat. But for the price, I expected better. Our room walls had black mould and looked dirty, and there was no door or curtain separating the dorms, so light and noise carried through. Bring earplugs. There was just one toilet with a shower inside for the entire floor, and check-in was delayed because staff weren’t there when they said they’d be.

The female dorm layout and location were good, and the bathroom was adequate. It’s a homey, bare-essentials hostel with dorm-style rooms. Our check-in was very delayed.

We picked it because it was the cheapest backpacker option, but our bus arrived about four hours early and we couldn’t reach anyone. We ended up waiting on the street for hours, which made the choice feel not really worth it. The place is on a lovely street in the middle of Chinatown, right next to the MRT. Staff were nice, but the shared area is very basic, with little room to sit, and there’s a shared fridge. We stayed in a cramped four-bed room with lockers but no privacy curtains, which seems like a basic necessity. Reception is in the building opposite, part of a separate but linked hostel that seemed nicer.

I really enjoyed my stay at Royal Hostel. It’s very central and perfectly located, with a nice vibe and clean rooms. The staff were super welcoming, friendly, and respectful.