LONDON, March 1 — A hostel in Cape Town that offers hotel-quality rooms and amenities in a collection of centuries-old Victorian houses has been named Lonely Planet’s best value hotel in the world.
In spite of its name, The Backpack is less like a hostel and more like a friendly, ‘hip vibrant’ guesthouse with accommodations that range from luxury king en suites to safari tents, girls-only dorms and a separate city studio apartment a few blocks away, all dressed in Afro-funk decor.
Amenities include a fully equipped self-catering kitchen, pool table, free unlimited Wifi, an outdoor pool set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and a travel centre where guests can book safari trips and rent a car.
Starting rates range from 220 ZAR (RM66) a night for a stay in the eight-bed dorm, 700 ZAR (RM213) for a single private en suite to 1000 ZAR (RM308) a night in the Loft Studio.
Many of the hostels, hotels and guesthouses which make up the top 10 list offer accommodations for under US$100 (RM328) a night.
The list was curated by Lonely Planet editors and the entries are defined as comfortable, charming lodgings in “superlative settings” for budget-conscious travellers.
South Africa and Brazil boast two addresses each on the list.
Here are the top 10 value hotels for 2014:
The Backpack, Cape Town, South Africa
Sydney Harbour YHA, Australia
Inkosana Lodge, Champagne Valley, Drakensberg, South Africa
Old Plovdiv Guesthouse, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Hotel Gruner Baum, Glorenza, Sudtirol, Italy
Oztel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fauzi Azar Inn, Nazareth, Israel
We Hostel Design, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hotel Hotel Hostel, Seattle, USA
On the corner, Kolomyya, Ukraine
For more details visit www.lonelyplanet.com/best-value-hotels. — Afp-Relaxnews
