Beary Best! Hostel Kampong Glam
This hostel is a functional choice for budget-conscious travellers prioritising location over social atmosphere or pristine facilities, particularly for short stays or layovers.
Beary Best! Hostel Kampong Glam offers a basic, budget-friendly stay in Singapore's vibrant Kampong Glam district. Guests sleep in open bunks equipped with privacy curtains, providing a degree of personal space. While the beds are generally comfortable, the shared bathrooms frequently receive complaints regarding cleanliness and can be hot and odorous. The hostel operates on a self-check-in system, with staff not always available on-site, which can lead to minor inconveniences. Its prime location is a significant advantage, offering easy access to local eateries, shops, and public transport. The atmosphere is more akin to a long-term residence than a social hostel, catering primarily to workers rather than typical backpackers.
Stations & airport.
Distances measured from the hotel. Walking times assume a gentle pace with a backpack.
- Station288 m4 min walk
- Bugis Station Exit B (EWL)341 m4 min walk
- Station345 m4 min walk
Eleven dimensions of capsule life, read from 564 reviews.
Noise & sleep
Noise from other guests, including phone conversations during quiet hours and loud doors, is a recurring issue.
“People stay there long-term (I think) and they've been talking on the phone even during quiet hours.”
“Some noisy neighbours”
“Doors are loud.”
Pod comfort
Guests generally find the beds comfortable and appreciate the large cubicle size.
“The cubicle size was large”
“beds were comfortable”
“comfortable bed with privacy curtain”
Privacy
The beds are equipped with privacy curtains, which guests appreciate for personal space.
“comfortable bed with privacy curtain”
“privacy curtain”
“Curtains in the beds”
Cleanliness
While rooms and beds are generally clean, toilets and bathrooms are frequently reported as dirty, with one guest finding pubic hair in their bed.
“The rooms were very clean and the beds were comfortable. The showers were good too and the staff were friendly. The only thing is that the toilets were dirty a lot of the time, however that’s kind of the guests fault more than the properties as the staff are always working hard cleaning.”
“Pubes in my bed and around my area”
“They could clean a bit more”
Shared bathrooms
Shared bathrooms are often described as dirty, hot, and sometimes odorous, with some located inconveniently or requiring stair climbing.
“toilets are outside at the end of the corridor”
“Toilet....need to climb stairs”
“The bathrooms were extremely hot with some bad odours”
Luggage storage
Lockable lockers are provided and are generally large enough for carry-on luggage or suitcases, though the lack of an elevator can make moving large luggage difficult for those on higher floors.
“coded locker big enough for suitcase”
“Each bed has a lockable locker that easily fits carry-on luggage.”
“No elevator, so it will be tough if you have big luggage & stay in 3rd floor”
Staff & check-in
Staff are described as friendly and helpful when present, but the self-check-in system and lack of staff after 5 pm can lead to issues like not receiving towels upon arrival.
“No common area, but good value for the price. We didn’t realize this was a self-check-in property, with no staff on site after 5pm. We weren’t provided towels on check-in, and there was no staff, so we could not shower until the next day when we asked the staff for towels.”
“The staff were very helpful and polite.”
“Friendly and helpful staff”
Location & access
The hostel boasts an excellent location in Kampong Glam, close to commercial businesses, Middle Eastern food, and within a 10-15 minute walk to multiple MRT stations.
“Good location”
“The location is good. It's surrounded with commercial businesses.”
“Great location, especially if you like middle eastern foods! great facilities, staff helpful and prepared”
Wifi & working
Wi-fi is available and functional, even outside the hotel for check-in purposes. However, there is no dedicated common area for working.
“We logged on to their Wi-fi outside the hotel ( instructions in your message and on the door), retrieved our code to enter, then looked at our message for Bunk room and bed allocation.”
“Caught a Grab taxi using hotel wi-fi (like Uber) - 50% of cost of regular taxi.”
“No common area”
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is not typical of a social hostel, with many long-term local workers, which can make some solo female travelers feel uncomfortable. There is also no common room.
“It feels like it's mainly being used by people who work in the area.”
“Most stayers were local male workers so wasn't the typical hostel vibe and I did feel slightly uncomfortable as a young solo female traveler.”
“No common room.”
Value for money
Guests generally consider it a budget-friendly option, especially for Singapore, acknowledging that the price reflects the basic experience.
“Good stay if you’re on budget”
“Descent value for price.”
“With the Singapore price level it was cheap and you get what you pay for.”
The honest drawbacks, from guests.
- frequent bathroom cleanliness issues
- non-social atmosphere
- no staff after 5pm
- no elevator for heavy luggage
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