Guilin Wada Hostel was my next hostel to stay in C
My route in China included only one night in Guilin. My arrival by train from XI’An was late in the evening after 28 hour ride so I wanted a hostel close to the train station and in a nice area of Guilin. As you know, before booking a hostel, I read at least 3 pages of reviews on hostelworld, by favorite booking system for hostels. And I look for reviews from nomads travellers, like me, not person which chose this type of accommodation for the first time only. So, Wada Hostel was the winning one in Guilin!
Second recommendation comes from etramping. They stayed at Ming Palace International Youth Hostel.
Guilin Wada Hostel
Location: No.212,Huanchengxi 1 Road, Guilin.
How to get to Wada Hostel Guilin:
From the airport.
Take the shuttle bus from the airport and get off at the first stop, Swan Hotel. Once you reach Huan Cheng Xi Yi Road turn right at the intersection, walk 5 minutes under the bridge, then at the next traffic light turn left. Walk for about 5 minute and on the left side of the room you will see 2 big lions and a big gate. The Hostel is inside a area of apartments on the left side.
From Guilin Railway Station: If you arrive before 10PM you can ask for a free pick up from the railway station. By foot is about 10 minutes. If you have a big bag I would recommend to take the bus for 2 stops. If you don’t want the pick up, the route is the following. After you exit the train station turn right. Walk about 200 m and then turn right and walk under a big bridge. After the bridge at the first big crossroad, turn left. Then walk for about 800 to 900 m on the left side. If you can have time, stop for some dumplings too! The hostel is on the right side; it’s easy to be recognize due to the two lions located on the gate. The hostel is situated on the left side in this residential apartment area. If you arrive by night, please don’t get scared from the big rates in the area :).
Facilities
In terms of facilities, the hostel has almost everything you need . Tours are available at the reception: Longji Rice Terraces, Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, Sanjie Liu Impression, 4 Lakes & 2 Rivers, Dreamlike Li River; can be book at the desk.
Other free facilities: Computer Access and WIFI, Facebook/Youtube Access, Local map, Nintendo Wii, Laundry facility use, Full-size billiards table, Movies.
Even if they say its no lockout, when I returned at the hostel after going out a bit, the main door was closed and I had to wait like 5 minutes for the guardian to come and open the door.
Bicycle Rental – this is the best way to discover the surrounding!
Internet connection was very good the lounge area but poor in the room. Anyway it was the only hostel I stayed in China which had a separate WI-FI access for facebook and Youtube that worked!
Breakfast is not included but you can either take it at the hostel ( around 25 RMB ) or at the places close to the hostel. There are good coffee shops around it. I had the english breakfast and it was very good. The food is very good at the hostel. The night before I had some pretty good homemade dumpling! But if you are on a low cost budget I recommend the street food; its way more cheaper!
The hostel has a bar and a very nice terrace area which are a good place to hangout, talk and make friends or just to watch the TV. Beer is only 10 RMB and like all the Chinese beers are light and come in 0,65 l bottle!
The lockers are inside the room and there a big and many things can fit there.
Rooms & Prices
I stayed only one night at Wada Hostel. I stayed in the Basic 4 Bed Mixed Dorm and the price was 5.5 $ per night or 35 RMB. What I liked about the rooms was the space; not so crowded like other hostels I stayed like the hostel in Rome.
The shower was a small room with the toilet and shower in one, and the drainage was a little slow so the floor was quite wet after showering. And the bathroom door was impossible to be closed. It was not a dirty bathroom but I was expected a more clean one and it looked a bit rusty. Maybe they will have in mind to renovate it!
Atmosphere & Staff
The people at the front desk were amazing! I was only stayed for one night because I wanted to spend more time in Yangshuo rather than in Guilin. Even if it was late, the girls waited for me at the train station. For any question you had, an answer was back immediately.
Maybe it was late but the atmosphere at the hostel was a bit boring. Even if there were another 10 persons in the lounge, only 3 were playing pool and the rest were just checking their facebook profile; all were girls. The other reason was due the the fact that is was a bit humid and cold in the lounge and people were not in the mood to interact while getting a cold too.
Probably next time I will spend more time in Guilin and hope the atmosphere will be awesome this time!
Recommendation: 8/10. You can book the hostel online on booking.com
