Here at Price of Travel we’ve been researching the costs of travel-related things for every major destination around the world, including prices of accommodation, attractions, transportation, food, drinks, and more, now featuring over 100 cities. Needless to say, there are some fascinating facts mixed in with all of this, and one we’d like to bring your attention to here is what must be the world’s cheapest hostel.
It’s well known that the cheapest travel destinations in the world are all in southern Asia, most notably Southeast Asia and India, so it’s of little surprise that this hostel is located in Cambodia. What is a bit surprising is that it’s not a forgotten relic in some obscure rural town, but rather a well-located guesthouse in the wonderful Siem Reap, which of course is the staging ground for all tours of the amazing Angkor Wat complex.
Meet the Garden Village Guesthouse in Siem Reap, Cambodia
While it’s true that the Garden Village Guesthouse is not your typical hostel, it’s more than a campground, and the US$1 dorm beds are far better than sleeping rough in a public park.
But, there’s a catch…
The $1 dorm beds are in a thatched-roof hut that is partially open to the elements. It appears that you do get a mattress, pillow, towel, and even a mosquito net, but that’s it. There’s also no proper locker system out there so you have to leave your valuables at reception when you are away.
Nighttime average low temperatures are steady, ranging from 79F/26C in March to 68F/20C in January, and it’s always humid, so it might not be too comfortable on the warmest nights, but at least you’ll never be cold.
Also, the dorm beds are right next to the kitchen, so you need to be prepared for some noise and smells while you are saving all that money.
On the other hand, the Garden Village offers:
- Free pickup from the airport or bus terminal
- Free (slow) Wi-Fi in the public areas
- A volleyball court
- Laundry service
- Cheap bicycle rental
- Affordable Khmer restaurant
- Rooftop bar with cheap beer
So you really do get most of the normal benefits of staying at a hostel, even for this ridiculously low price.
Want something better, Mr. Moneybags?
If you can afford US$6 per night you can get a “standard single” room of your own, ranging up to a “deluxe triple” room for US$13.
You can’t book the $1 dorms online, but you can book all the other private rooms from their website. I’m told you can reserve the $1 dorms by emailing them, so you won’t have to just roll the dice and hope one is open.
Lest you think the Garden Village is just trying to get people stuck in some remote place to sell them food and drinks, it is actually very well located, only a few blocks from Pub Street and the main tourist district of Siem Reap. Also, they have a good and cheap restaurant, plus 50-cent Angkor draft beers available all day at their sunset rooftop terrace.
The odd extremes in Siem Reap
From an economics standpoint, it’s interesting that the world’s cheapest dorm beds are in the town built around what is actually Southeast Asia’s single most expensive (and probably most impressive) attraction. Admission to the Angkor Wat temples costs US$20, and once you enter you see that it’s easily worth it and that the money is going to a good cause and a well-run operation. Still, many museums in Southeast Asia cost under US$1 to enter, and even many of the most impressive ruins cost only $3 or so per person.
Also, prices in Siem Reap for almost everything else are incredibly cheap, with those same 50-cent Angkor draft beers available almost everywhere, and full delicious Khmer meals for around $2.
On the other hand, there are amazing resorts just outside the main city that charge up to $800 per night. This truly is one destination that can honestly claim that it can be visited on any kind of budget.
So where's the second cheapest hostel?
As far as we’ve found, the Hotel Silver Home in Kathmandu, Nepal earns that honor with their US$2 dorm beds, which are also completely indoors. Prices in Kathmandu can also be shockingly low, and there are even reports of US$1 hotel rooms, though they may be like similarly priced rooms in rural India where you get a bed in a private home, with no hostel/hotel services at all.
Do you know of any hostels that are as cheap or cheaper than these?
Dorm photos courtesy of Daniel Massie
A Thermarest would improve the bed tremendously. If you use duct tape to hold together two then you will be 4 in. off the floor.
What was written about 1 dollar a night for a room in Cleopatra hotel in Cairo probably isn’t true either. I saw offers where you could book a room for around 7 dolaar a night for 2 people w ith breakfast but even hostels ofer prices not really lower than that.
Seriously, if you are that worried about getting your stuff stolen at cheap places like this, just transfer your expensive stuff to your small bag and sleep with that bag, hugging it like a teddy bear through the night. I do it all the time. Makes it impossible for anyone to rob you.
pretty good, in Ukraine and Poland there are 2€ per night hostels 😛
I almost never paid more than $1 a night the whole six months I spent in Ethiopia, and if your lucky the price might even include some “companionship.”
I am working to build a hostel facility to give a bed at the rate of 2 dollars per night in india,anyone who want to contact me or want to help or share their knowledge can mail me on [email protected].
I live in England and find accommodation expensive in most of Europe. I found Albania very cheap to stay in. We got a 2 bedroom sea view apartment for 25 Euros. I would love to go to South East Asia for lower prices.
$1 for a private room? I stayed in a tiny room with a balcony looking over the Mekong in the Ten Thousand Islands in southern Laos. Even had a hammock. They were just putting in electricity so the price was sure to go up. As the sign said when you walked out of their complex of 6 bungalows, “please eat your meals here because we don’t make any money on the rooms.” Recommended!
Ryan,
As mentioned, you can get private rooms in India as well, but this is about hostels with backpacker services. -Roger
They rent the room for 1 buck but they try to sell you tours to angkor or rent a bicycle, is there where they make the money.
By the way, at the same street I ate the best loc-lac of cambodia for 2 or 3 bucks, I still remember that meal
David, I’m sure they try to rent bikes and sell tours to Angkor, just like every other guesthouse, hostel, and hotel in Siem Reap. I imagine they also make a bit of money on food and drinks, so renting out tent space for cheap works out for them. Mmmm…loc-lac. I like the food in that town as well. Thanks. -Roger
is it an hotel? are you sure for only 1$ per a night?
Roza, it’s a hotel with very cheap hostel beds. -Roger