Hey there peeps! Happy New Year to all of you!

Hostels, as you all know, are a boon for budget travellers around the world. But just because they’re affordable and easy on your pocket doesn’t mean hostels are bed-only with drab interiors. Quite a few of them are offbeat and pleasant to stay in like the ones on this list!

And if you thought that hostels in Europe were the only fun, quirky ones and that hostels in India only provide beds at a cheap rate with no amenities then think again!

I’ve made a list of the quirky hostels in Goa to help you out on your next budget trip to Goa. It will give you an insight into the different kinds of accommodations available in the hostels in Goa.

Lazy Llama Hostel at Greenspace, Vagator

1654, Ozran Beach Rd, near AJ Supermarket, Vagator

The Lazy Llama Hostel also doubles up as a co-working space. What’s unique about this hostel is that they offer accommodation in tents on-premises. There’s a common area where you can relax in the swing or take an afternoon siesta in the hammock or read a book while lying on the mattress.

If you’re a digital nomad or a workaholic, you can avail of the free Wi-Fi and carry on with your work at one of the wooden desks. What’s more, the hostel is pet-friendly.

The hostel has an in-house café where you can enjoy fresh food after a long day of exploring. If you’re the kind who likes specific food or cooking in general, then Lazy Llama has you covered. It features a shared kitchen space comprising a stovetop and a fridge that you can use to cook your own food should you want to.

A bed in the 8-bed or 10-bed dorm will cost you anywhere between Rs. 400-500 while the tent will cost you Rs 300-500. The deluxe rooms in the adjoining Portuguese house will cost you more and are priced between Rs. 1500-3000 depending on the dates/season.

The Chapora Fort, Saturday Night Market and Anjuna Flea Market are close by.

Activities

• Bike rental
• Car rental
• Darts
• Board games
• Hammocks and swings
• Mini library

The Hostel Crowd Hostels, Palolem | Panaji | Vagator

The Hostel Crowd has three properties in Goa, each in a different setting catering to people who like different surroundings – the beach property is at Palolem, the city hostel is located in Panaji and the jungle one is at Vagator.

Summer, Palolem

House Number 99/1, Ourem Road, Palolem

For beach lovers, Summer by thehostelcrowd in Palolem is an ideal setting. Located in south Goa, away from the maddening crowds in the north, this hostel is all about beach vibes – right from the name spelt out using thread work to its location near the beach.

You can grab some sunscreen and head to the beach to laze during the day and meet the other travellers while enjoying a BBQ night.

Dorm beds will cost you between Rs. 500-600 and come in a choice of female or mixed while the standard rooms cost between Rs. 1400–2000.

Old Quarter, Panaji

165, Rua 31 de Janeiro, Fontainhas, PanjimPeople who crave the hustle and bustle of the city can opt for the hostel located in the heart of the capital, Panaji. It is located in the quaint quarters of Fountainhas giving it the name Old Quarter by thehostelcrowd.

The Portuguese heritage area will transport you back in time. The hostel consists of two buildings – one which houses the reception, café and some rooms, the other is located 250m away in a 200 year old house and has the rest of the rooms.

Take a bicycle on hire and explore the colourful lanes of Fountainhas and the streets of Panjim.

The female and mixed dorm rooms cost somewhere around Rs. 600-700.

Jungle, Vagator

486(2) Vagator Beach Road, Next to Mango Tree Restaurant, Vagator

If a nature-friendly accommodation is what you prefer, then check out Jungle by thehostelcrowd at Vagator. Located in a traditional Portuguese house surrounded by a huge garden, coconut trees and lots of greenery (some call it a jungle ?).

Some of the rooms are located in a separate building 200 m away or a 5 minute walk from the main block.

The dorm beds will cost you between Rs. 500-650 while the private rooms cost between Rs. 1000-2000 and come in three types – single, standard, deluxe. They also have the option of choosing a single bed or a double bed.

All three hostels offer free Wi-Fi and have an in-house café. Their tie-up with Bombay Coffee Roasters will ensure that you are sipping the delightful and aromatic coffee at any of their properties.

Activities

• Lockers
• Board games
• BBQ (Summer, Palolem)
• Bicycle Hire (Old Quarter, Panjim)
• Terrace (Jungle, Vagator)
• Tours

P.S. A shuttle service runs every Tuesday and Saturday between the three hostels should you wish to check them all out. This can be booked at the reception for a small fee.

Woke Hostels, Arpora | Morjim

Woke Hostels has two properties in Goa – the Arpora hostel is housed in an old Portuguese residence while the Morjim one is within a standalone building.

Woke Arpora

H. No. 154, Diwan bhati, Behind HDFC bank, Arpora

Woke Arpora will transport you to Greece with its Grecian-inspired blue and white palette. It is surrounded by a garden, a sitting area, a swimming pool and of course palm trees swaying within and beyond the property.

Your ideal day could look something like this – catch up on some work in the morning at the patio or the sitting area, post-lunch laze in the hammock, go for a swim or do yoga in the evening and finally, end your day by heading to the Saturday night market (during the season).

The dorms cost Rs. 650 and come in the options of mixed or female only. The deluxe private rooms with or without a garden view are pricier than the dorms costing between Rs. 2500-3500 depending on the season. For Rs. 150 you can add breakfast to the mix.

Woke Morjim

191/2 Morjim Ashvem Road, New Wada, Morjim, Pernem

Woke Morjim gives you different vibes and will make you feel like you stepped into a pastel wonderland. The building itself is white with grey accents and pops of pistachio on the windows and doors. It houses a day time café that turns into a nighttime lounge with a bar at ground level aptly called Base. The rooms are upstairs.

Each bunk bed/room follows a different colour pattern from pistachio to bubble-gum pink to cerulean blue to white as well. The rooms have attached balconies.

Apart from this, the hostel offers free Wi-Fi, swimming pool access, a plug point per bed and hot shower (bliss!).

The bunk beds cost between Rs. 600-700 with the option of female-only or mixed dorms. The private rooms have two options as well – deluxe and superior. They cost between Rs. 2500-3000. Prices are exclusive of taxes.

Activities

• Lockers
• Bicycle rental
• Scooter rental
• Car rental
• Pool lounging
• Slackline
• Hammocks and swings
• Workshops

P.S. Indian travellers, as well as foreign tourists, need to show valid passports to stay here.

Rasta Mansion, Arambol

Behind surf club and Daily grind cafe, Dando-Girkarwada Wado, Arambol

Rasta Mansion, as the name suggests, is the first Rasta-themed hostel in India and where better to find it than at the famous hippie locality of Arambol. The Rasta coloured (red, yellow and green) building houses bunk beds, rooms, lockers, common area and an in-house Rasta café. There’s also free Wi-Fi.

You can shop at the flea market for hippie clothing, hemp products, jewellery or get yourself a tattoo. The Arambol and Mandrem beaches are walking distances from here.

Barbeque, chilled beers, reggae music, good vibes and great company will have you spending more days than you intended here.

The female and mixed dorm are priced at Rs. 300 and 350, respectively, while the deluxe room will cost you Rs. 1500 (incl. tax) making it the cheapest of the hostels listed here.

Activities

• BBQ
• Terrace chilling
• Yoga
• Lockers

Bunkker Hostel, Vagator

593, Small Vagator Beach Road, Vagator

How quirky is too quirky?

If you ever fascinated staying in a hatke (non-conventional) place then voila! Bunkker is the hostel for you! India’s first hostel within a shipping container, it is fully air-conditioned with an open courtyard and a mini café.

You have a choice between mixed and female dorms each containing 6 beds and priced between Rs. 300-500 making them very economical and pocket-friendly.

It has a 24-hour reception so you can check-in or check-out anytime, and they provide free Wi-Fi. You can laze in the lounge with a book, grab beers with your friends and chill on the picnic benches in the courtyard or hit the beach to watch the sunset, either way, you’ll love the vibes of this place.

It is also close to party places, and events like Sunburn and Rider Mania take place close by.

Activities

• Yoga
• Scooter rental
• Terrace lounging
• BBQ
• Board Games

P.S. Credit Cards are not accepted here for now.

You can make your bookings through HostelWorld or Hostel Bookers.

If you’ll do stay at any of these properties or have already stayed there before do let me know in the comments.

Hope you have a lovely week ahead and I’ll see you next week.

Byee take care (tc).