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Tag: hostel

  • Pai Revolution Hostel

    Pai Revolution Hostel

    Planning a trip to Pai on your Thailand trip? This hostel is a top pick for visiting, from top-tier trips and discounts, social evenings, free dinners, a pool, the list goes on! Carry on reading to find out exactly why we loved Revolution hostel so much, and how you can visit when you go Pai, Thailand!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Revolution Hostel in Pai, Thailand.

    Location

    Pai is located deep into the northern hills of Thailand and quite a journey away from it’s nearest city (if you have endured the 4-hour journey from hell you will know). It’s a super popular spots for travelers and nomads to visit/stay in as it’s a small place with lots of character and activities.

    Revolution actually have 2 hostels located in Pai with the one we stayed at being by the river (Pai Riverside). But they also have the one in centre of Pai (Pai Town). The one in the centre, as expected, is closer to the busy streets and has a more city hostel to it whereas the riverside hostel is slightly outside giving it a countryside feel. Either way, you will be located no more than 10 minutes away from the centre of Pai which is ideal for those who wants to wander through the beautiful, quirky streets.

    On the same street as Pai Riverside, you have a few takeaway spots for a late snack but also a gym which is very handy if you are looking to keep in shape while you are travelling. Also, there are a handful of bars and local (and not so local) restaurants dotted close by with a 7/11 of course within a 5 minute walk.

    Hostel Room Experience

    The room overlooks the river which was a lovely view and easy to get to. But the room itself was perfect! It had all the basic amenities expected in a hostel room with curtains that offers a good sense of privacy. There are also sizable cages that are meant for you luggage with an option to lock away your bags while you explore for the day.

    The beds were super comfy and blankets were supplied also. The en-suite was roomy and was very clean considering it was a hostel. Shelves were placed near the heads where you sleep so you can store your phones and any other important items close overnight.

    Other Rooms Available

    For dorms, the options are a 10, 8, or 4 bed which start at 549 Baht a night (roughly £12.50). Other rooms include some very cool alternatives which we have not seen from hostels before! So they have a twin room which is a simple 2 person room but they also offer bungalows which are located separately to where the hostels are. These bungalows are surrounded by small gardens to make it feel like you aren’t staying at a hostel at all. The bungalows come as 3 options… a 2 person bungalow, a deluxe bungalow (for 2) or a family deluxe bungalow (for 4). So you can truly live in style at Revolution and enjoy all perks that comes with staying with revolution!

    bungalows available at Pai Revolution Hostel
    Bungalows at Pai Revolution Hostel

    Social Areas

    As we visited during the rainy season, it was hard to make the most out of the social areas that are provided a the hostel. However, there is no better place to start than the pool!! Yes, they have a pool and it’s located outside next to the river. It’s a great place to meet people and take a chill day to just swim and relax.

    The other main social area is around the reception which consists of long tables which is a great place to eat in the evening and where some activities take place in the evening. There is also a pool table and some other machines to keep you occupied and a roof to stop any bad weather from ruining your time. The bar is located in the centre of this social area so make sure to grab a drink and enjoy your time socializing here!

    Social Areas at Pai Hostel

    You certainly cannot forget the local pets! The hostel has roughly 7 dogs which are all owned by the hostel. These are looked after well and can wander free as they wish. They usually chill in the social areas and greet each guest with the expectation of strokes. So make sure to give them a fuss! Also, a local friendly dog called mushroom is adorable and loves to turn up, we were lucky enough to see him enjoying the high life at Rev!

    Dog at Pai Revolution
    Dog at Pai Revolution
    Dogs at Pai Revolution

    Events

    This can be split into two parts… firstly, the evening events that the hostel have on is to allow people to socialise and make amazing memories together. Each night they offer a local meal cooked which you can enjoy completely free and then a designated activity afterwards. The activity we took part in was their weekly quiz night!! Each event is a great laugh and has some highly desired prizes on the line (if you like a drink!!) An event is planned each night and they are normally free to join so make sure to be social and get involved!

    The other types of events the hostel provide are the tours!

    The tours at Revolution are out of this world and they really don’t stop in Pai! These include tipsy tubing, pub crawls, hot springs, cave exploration and SOO MUCH MORE! We opted for the canyon at sunset and witnessed an amazing sunset over the large canyons in Pai. The views were immaculate and really was a great way to wind down in the evening after a busy day.

    Also, we decided to visit the bamboo bridge which was a great way to explore local rice fields and wander the bridges. The experiences we had are ones we truly enjoyed and we definitely look to coming back to Pai and seeing more one day! And of course, come back to the Riverside Pai for more unforgettable experiences.

    Overall Experience

    Riverside Pai was an amazing place to stop over at whilst in Pai. It was a great place to stay and allowed us to meet some great people. The tours we attended were affordable but also allowed us to see some of the beautiful parts of Pai even though it was rainy most of the time. The social areas were great and really gave the hostel some life in the evening and we would recommend anyone who is heading to Pai to stay at the Riverside in Pai.

    We hope you enjoyed our breakdown of our experience and overview of the Riverside Pai in Thailand and you can check out Revolution ‘here’ for more locations, bookings and more!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos! Please check out our newest Vlog from Bangkok!

    Looking for more Thailand inspiration? Find out how to see elephants in Thailand, or maybe our Khao Sok National Park guide!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Bangkok is a bustling city that truly never sleeps so make sure your Instagram posts don’t either! There’s an endless supply of activity so make sure to keep your posts booming for all your followers and get them dreaming of their own Bangkok adventure’s!

    Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day!

    Leave a comment

  • Revolution Hostel – Chiang Mai Hostel Review

    Revolution Hostel – Chiang Mai Hostel Review

    Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? This hostel is a top pick for visiting, from top-tier trips and discounts, social evenings, free dinners, a pool, the list goes on! Carry on reading to find out exactly why we loved Revolution hostel so much, and how you can visit when you go Chiang Mai, Thailand!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Revolution Hostel sign in Chiang Mai.
    1. Location
    2. Hostel Room Experience
    3. Other Rooms Available
    4. Social Areas
    5. Would We Recommend
    6. Want help planning your Thailand adventure?
    7. Find our Travel Essentials!

    Location

    Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities outside of Bangkok in the north of Thailand. However, the centre of Chiang Mai is a small quarter which is surrounded completely by an old moat with a few bridges crossing. The Revolution Hostel is located on the east side of the centre inside the moat allowing for easy walks to the centre and even perfectly placed between the two largest markets in the area.

    Also, around the corner are quite a few breakfast and food spots which are highly rated, and bars across the road if you like some nightlife. Don’t forget there is always a 7/11 around the corner which is always handy for snacks, drinks and more.

    Artwork in Chiang Mai's Revolution Hostel.

    Hostel Room Experience

    The hostel room we stayed in was a 4 person dorm right next to the pool which was perfect! The room itself had good space and much needed luggage room under the bed for storage. The bed were suuuper comfy and had shelves for storage as well as a curtain if you aren’t feeling too social.

    The en-suite is one of the better touches with a large bathroom. It’s rare to find an en-suite in Thailand with a hostel that is large enough to separate the toilet and shower to avoid any issues. The room overall was a great offering for the price and had all you needed in a dorm room in Chiang Mai.

    Other Rooms Available

    The Hostel has many other rooms available for your preference. These include a 4/6/9/10 bed dorms as well as private rooms. Some of these dorms have a unique style. The 9 bed dorm is a 3 tier bunk bed which we have never seen before. The other dorms are as usual and offer the same facilities as the 4 bed dorm we described above.

    The private rooms are a great spot for a small group of friends or couples. Sometimes you need a break away from the busy dorms so do check out the private rooms available. Some of the private rooms offer 3 beds so if you have 2 friends then why not. The rooms are super spacious and are actually tucked away from the social areas of the hostel which offer a quieter experience.

    3 Bed Private Room at Revolution Hostel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

    Social Areas

    The hostel has 2 main social areas with one being the pool area. Here is it busy during the day with many enjoying the pool and the games in the area – whereas others might just be enjoying the weather and relaxing ready for the evening. Considering you are in a large city, it’s pretty surprising to see a hostel with a pool. But it definitely changes your experience so much! There are also tables alongside the pool for games such as beer pong and a newly opened drinks bar where you can enjoy alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks during the day.

    The main social area around the reception at the entrance to the hostel. Here you have benches which are ideal to social on with a bar to get drinks throughout the day and into the evening. This space also has an upstairs area which unfortunately was being renovated during our stay but is perfect for travellers who are working while they travel. Its can also be used as a quieter space. In the social area they have a large board which outlines the evening activities alongside tomorrows evening activities and a whole host of tours that the hostels provide – but we shall get onto this later.

    Activity Schedule in Revolution Hostel

    An important but small addition to this area is a water outlet for drinking. It costs 1 Baht to fill up a normal sized water which is crazy cheap but also stops people from reusing plastic bottles to help the environment. Lovely touch.

    This area is usually where the hostels evening events will start. The people attending will be given a time to meet in this area and mingle before heading out for the evening. It’s a great spot to meet people and have a few drinks before the event.

    Events

    The hostel offers a wide range of events for their guests and they really don’t disappoint. The one we enjoyed the most was the elephants we visited! This experience truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one we won’t forget. The best part of the experience really was that the elephants were protected and are allowed to roam. During our trip, we spent the time looking for the elephants and finding them. The elephants were of course eating and relaxing where we spent some time stroking and taking photos of them. Once we finished, we went on a short walk to a local waterfall and enjoyed the water which was super relaxing. For Aimee, it was her 1st waterfall so she absolutely loved it!!

    Ethical Elephant Sanctuary trip organised in Chiang Mai.

    We wandered back to the main area where the elephants were enjoying time in the local river and we joined in! We ended up washing the elephants and spending time with them before have a lovely lunch overlooking the elephants enjoying their lunch also. The experience was honestly amazing and we would totally recommend anyone who visits Chiang Mai Revolution to go on this experience! The other events include a pub crawl, watching Muay Thai fighting, Cooking classes, sticky waterfall and Drag Queen Cabaret!

    The events are very broad which caters to many people and are very reasonably priced for the experiences. We would recommend doing atleast 2 experiences while at the hostel as all the people we spoke with during our stay said they were totally worth it.

    Would We Recommend

    The hostel offers a whole host of room options to stay with the needed amenities in each. The beds were comfy and there was ample space for your luggage to store. The social areas are really the highlight of the hostel with a swimming pool and loungers! This is pretty rare for a hostel in the city and is a great addition. They also have a bar so if you want a chill day, you can enjoy the pool and drinks at the bar in peace. However, they also have an evening social spot to enjoy and meet people. It’s the perfect place to meet fellow travelers and like-minded people.

    Pool outside door rooms in Revolution Hostel

    The events and activities during the day and in the evening really are the star of the show for the hostel. You can enjoy some crazy nights and unforgettable experiences with the hostel and we couldn’t recommend it more!

    The hostel is more than just a nights stay, they provided a family feel and allow you to get the most of your experience in Chiang Mai whether it’s a 2-day stop or you are here for weeks!

    We also wanted to highlight a big thank you to Lyndsey, the manager at Revolution Chiang Mai; Jack fell extremely ill during his stay in Chiang Mai, and needed a hospital visit. Lyndsey and the Revs team did everything they could to help in this situation, and we were SO grateful of their help and assistance throughout our stay.

    We post weekly Youtube Videos! Please check out our newest Vlog from Bangkok!

    Looking for more Thailand inspiration? Find out how to see elephants in Thailand, or maybe our Khao Sok National Park guide!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Bangkok is a bustling city that truly never sleeps so make sure your Instagram posts don’t either! There’s an endless supply of activity so make sure to keep your posts booming for all your followers and get them dreaming of their own Bangkok adventure’s!

    Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day!

    Leave a comment

  • Back Home Backpackers – Bangkok Hostel Recommendation

    Back Home Backpackers – Bangkok Hostel Recommendation

    Bangkok is a city full of adventure, and a hotspot for travellers from around the world. From crazy food, beautiful temples, stunning city vibes and so many different things to do, Bangkok is a place to visit for sure!

    While in Bangkok, there is an abundance of places to stay. Our stay was split between Back Home Backpackers (perfect calm hostel) and Revolution Khaosan By the Bliss (perfect social hostel), which we will share about in a future post. However, let us share about our stay in Back Home Backpackers!

    *This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂

    *This hostel stay was gifted, but all views are genuine and our own.

    Back Home Backpackers hostel review Bangkok
    1. Location
    2. Hostel Room Experience
    3. Other Rooms Available
    4. Private Room
    5. Social Areas
    6. Would we recommend
    7. Want help planning your Thailand adventure?
    8. Find our Travel Essentials!

    Location

    Based near the tourism centre of Khaosan Road in Bangkok, this Hostel is within close walking distance to the popular road, however is far enough away it doesn’t feel *too* touristic considering the proximity. It is right across from a 7/11 , so you can imagine the amount of toasties we have eaten (we know it’s a lot!!!). It was tucked up a side road, but we found it easily accessible by grab (which we used a lot in Thailand).

    Khaosan road is a hotspot for many travellers and tourists alike. It has a bustling nightlife that will easily take you into early hours (or even later…). However, for those who dislike the loudness and nightlife, finding a hostel within a close distance that is calm can be a struggle.

    It’s also known to have some of the best local foods spots in the area so be sure to check them out, you won’t regret it.

    Hostel Room Experience

    Whilst we stayed at Back Home Backpackers, we stayed in their 10 bed dorm.

    Each dorm had plug access and a light, multiple fans across the room, a pretty street view, privacy curtains on each bed, ladders for top bunks, and two bathrooms with showers in both.

    Bathrooms came with shampoo and shower gel to use, with towels available. Breakfast can be arranged at an additional cost.

    Street view from Back Home Backpackers in Bangkok, Thailand
    Street View from Back Home Backpackers Bangkok

    We really enjoyed our stay! The beds were comfy, and after our long flight to Bangkok it was highly appreciated!!! There were different wifi hubs available throughout the hostel meaning it was easy enough to be connected around the hostel. The facilities were somewhat simple, but all that was needed for our stay!

    Dorm Bed in Back Home Backpackers
    Back Home Backpackers 10 bed dorm hostel in Bangkok
    Bathroom facilities in Back Home Backpackers

    This 10 bed dorm starts from around £8.50 per night (always varies per season), and can be booked here.

    Other Rooms Available

    For dorm rooms, Back Home Backpackers offer rooms of 8 to 10 beds for mixed dorms, however they do offer a dorm room of 4 for just female visitors if this is something you prefer.

    Private Room

    There are options of single, twin, double and triple bed rooms within this hostel. They range from around £25 upwards a night, but there are some great options to check out! We didn’t personally stay in a private room, but from reviews and photos these seem a great option.

    Social Areas

    We loved the social areas! Great for digital nomads and freelancers, there were plenty of seating arrangements and areas, with internet and electric access for easy working!

    Common room area in Back Home Backpackers
    Digital Nomad space at back home backpackers in Bangkok

    There was food and drink facilities available which were highly recommended by the people around us!

    During high season it seems like they offered a range of activities, however since we visited in low season it seems like they didn’t offer many night time activities. This isn’t really an issue, since Bangkok is full of many fun things to do day or night.

    Would we recommend

    We would recommend staying at Back Home Backpackers! They have a really friendly atmosphere, perfect for digital nomads looking for a chill vibe. This isn’t a busy hostel, so those looking for a vibrant nightlife, we wouldn’t recommend here- unless you want close proximity to Khaosan road with a chill ‘base’.

    With great wifi available, and lots of space to work from your laptop, this is a nomad haven to relax in the busy city. You can find and book Back Home Backpackers here.

    Want help planning your Thailand adventure?

    We now offer custom travel planning support! Experience the pinnacle of travel planning, ensuring your journey is luxurious, well-organized, and unforgettable! Find our Basic package, Standard package, and Luxury package, ready for your Thailand trip! We have made a blog post explaining these packages further here!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    Check out our Social Media’s below!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day.

    Leave a comment

  • Riad Verus Review: Top Budget-Friendly Hostel in Fez, Morocco

    Riad Verus Review: Top Budget-Friendly Hostel in Fez, Morocco

    The best hostel in Fez? Riad Verus is a budget-friendly hostel that is a must-book location for a Moroccan trip!

    We spent one week in Morocco, exploring Fes, Meknes and Rabat, as budget travellers! We had the most beautiful time; experiencing Moroccan culture, trying local cuisine, exploring local areas… it was such an amazing last minute trip!

    Having 2 nights in Fez, we stayed at one hostel, called Riad Verus, and we had such an amazing time! So, here is our review on staying at this central hostel in Fez, Morocco!

    We were gifted two nights at this hostel, however these views are genuine and our fully our own. Please let us share all the positives and negatives of our stay!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Decorations at Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco
    Upstairs Common Area in Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco
    Downstairs common area in Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco
    Stairs in Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco
    Downstairs common area in Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco
    Common Area downstairs at Riad Verus, Fez, Morocco

    Riad Verus

    The Basics

    Riad Verus is a Riad-style hostel in the heart of the famous Fez Medina in Morocco. With easy access to the winding Medina streets, this hostel is in a prime location for travelling around Fez, at a budget friendly cost. Starting from only around £7.50 per night in dorms, breakfast is included within the cost, and private rooms only costing around £24, which is great for couples and friends!

    With friendly and welcoming staff, Riad Verus hosts many different social events; while we were there, we got to experience breaking fast for ramadan with our entire hostel guests, with a full selection of traditional moroccan foods provided by the hostel. We then went upstairs for popcorn, shishas, and time to relax!

    This hostel wouldn’t be our top social hostel we stayed at, but this might just be due to guests at the time! However, there is definitely option to socialise- since we visited during ramadan, this might’ve slightly affected our experience of socialising! This is a great budget friendly option for the location especially! It was extremely clean, and the atmosphere was great!

    The Room

    We stayed for two nights in Riad Verus, in dormitory rooms! This is very common when booking hostels, as many budget backpackers always tend to reach for the cheapest option! Our dorm was a mixed dorm of 10 beds, with an en-suite provided for all guests in the room. Each bed is provided with a blanket which can be quite rare when staying in hostels, and provided a cosy aspect! The beds were built into a brick structure, so there wasn’t the risk of rickety beds, or having to worry about the person above/below. Each bed had a reading light, and charging socket access. There is locker access below the bottom bunks, but these aren’t massive.

    The bathroom in our dorm room was clean, with one toilet, one shower, and one sink. The door to the bathroom wasn’t extremely secure in our dorm, however this is easily helped by being communicative with your roommates, or if you are travelling with someone just ask them to watch the door! Some were quite ‘sticky’ doors, but this is understandable for an old building like this one! Everything worked well, the shower was great and had a lot of room, we wish there was an additional sink (or larger sink area), but it was enough!

    The Hostel

    The hostel comprised of 5/6 floors, with very steep stairs. This hostel wouldn’t be an accessible friendly one due to no lift access. We do understand this due to the type of building it is, however, it was a bit of a struggle for Aimee when she was unwell, so this is important to keep in mind. The hostel itself was an extremely beautiful building, boasting traditional Riad features and colourful atmospheres.

    Downstairs Communal Area in Riad Verus

    There were toilets littered across the hostel on each floor allowing for easy access. As you enter the hostel, there is a small communal area which has books available to borrow, and is a common place for travellers to meet and get to know each other. In this area there is a luggage room which is great to leave your belongings when you arrive before check-in or have just checked out, however this is not locked, so leaving your bag is at your own discretion.

    Upstairs communal area in Riad Verus

    There is also an upstairs area on the top floor, which has a variety of seating areas, games, and an even higher upstairs terrace area overlooking Fez. We particularly liked the upstairs over the downstairs common area, due to many choosing to socialise in this area. They included popular games such as cards against humanity, jenga, cards etc, all free to use! There was also shisha access, which we were given free the first night of our stay, after we broke fast with the hostel! The area had many sofa and seat styles, and different areas on this one floor at slightly different heights, so there was the option to ‘seclude’ yourself slightly if you did want a bit of peace! The upstairs had a retractable sun roof, so in the morning it was also really bright and airy! They even had some hostel tortoises in a little area!

    Riad Verus View from the Terrace

    Breakfast was served upstairs, giving a variety of foods for a hearty breakfast! There was vegetarian options which we thought was great! We were served a muffin, bowl of fruit, a sandwich with egg, avocado, meat and cheese, a granola/yogurt bowl and a type of samosa each! Considering this was included in the stay we were more than impressed. We were also given fresh orange juice, and then unlimited traditional Moroccan tea throughout the stay.

    Breakfast selection for two at Riad Verus

    Would we stay again?

    We would happily stay at Riad Verus again! We would prefer a lower ground room, only due to after long days of walking the stairs aren’t fun! For the price especially we really think this hostel is a great find, and we understand why they are a top voted hostel with Fez!

    We wouldn’t have many faults to majorly point out, more so just preference of not liking the steepness of the stairs, and some building features that are showing ‘ageing’, such as some issues with the doors. But honestly we wouldn’t deter staying for that reason!

    You can find a direct link to the hostel here, where you can book on HostelWorld.

    Riad Verus – The Best Hostel in Fez!

    We hope you enjoyed our review of Riad Verus in Fez, Morocco! Want to learn more about Morocco? Check out our Fez Itinerary, Things to do in Meknes , and things to avoid in Morocco.

    If you would like to support our own travel Journey, please check out all our other blogs, and subscribe to the newsletter where we are currently uploading daily blogs!

    Check out our Social Media’s below! We share our daily activities, all of our budget friendly travel tips, travel inspiration and more!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    Leave a comment

  • Ultimate 2-Day Fez Itinerary: Unveiling the Best of Morocco’s Cultural Gem

    Ultimate 2-Day Fez Itinerary: Unveiling the Best of Morocco’s Cultural Gem

    Morocco is a vibrant, scenic country which is full of rich histories! There is so much to love about and it is surprising with the amount of places you must visit in the country!

    Ideally, to get the most out of the country you probably would need 1 month worth of travelling to visit all of the must see places. These include seaside towns/cities like Tangier or Agadir with beaches that you need to see. But also they have many beautiful locations inland like Chefchaouen which is a completely blue town or Mergouza which is on the cusp of the Sahara desert which is perfect for a range of activities!!

    It’s definitely a location we will be revisiting but for now, 7 days is all we have so lets make the most of it!

    We have filmed a Vlog for Fes which is up on our YouTube which you can find here or below.

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    How to spend 2/3 days in Fes!

    If we are honest, we looked at the cheapest flight across Europe and countries just outside and this jumped out as one of the cheapest! We initially were looking to fly to Ouarzazate for £30 return but we didn’t book them tickets in time- but rather saw a cheap flight to Fes for £50 which we couldn’t pass up!

    So it’s not as if we chose to visit Fes.. more-so it was meant to be. The city really didn’t disappoint!!

    As we booked the flights 36 or so hours before departure, we didn’t know a whole lot about the city. What activities to do, where to stay, what and where to eat etc! We pretty much spent the day before brushing up on the best things to do.

    For Fes, we kept an open mind on whether to travel around Morocco, or to just take it easy and explore the city more! We didn’t have many plans, but rather we would make decisions on a day-to-day basis depending how we were feeling, and if we wanted to venture to different places.

    As we landed in Fes first thing on a Monday morning, we navigated the city into the marina and wandered through the favela-like streets to our stay. We were very lucky, we outreached to hostels and AirBnB’s in Fes to see if we could get any gifted stays to keep costs down on our trip, and we spoke with a lovely hostel who were very happy to support our trip with content in return!

    If you have the tools, this is a great way to keep costs down but don’t be discouraged if you can’t get gifted stays, not everywhere does them!! Let us know if you would like us to talk more about how we have gotten gifted stays!

    So we had this hostel for 2 nights and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

    A traditional Riad building located in the heart of the Medina, and only a stones throw from local Souks that you can wander for hours on end! Find the link to this amazing Riad here.

    Our stay was magical! On arrival we were taken to the rooftop which had stunning views over the medina and the whole city, with old ruins standing tall like they once did centuries ago. At the rooftop, they offered sweet tea which is a family recipe.. one they were reluctant to spill the beans on!

    After settling in and dropping off our luggage at the Riad, we ventured out in the rough direction of the Souks, and took in the scenery around our new home for the next 7 days or so.

    We winded through the tight streets, passing children playing football in makeshift goals, and family members wheeling foods to and from their shop. The atmosphere was happy and subtly busy. The narrow streets creates a somewhat chaotic atmosphere as the buildings overhang to make the medina streets smaller.

    Once we hit the Souks, we started from (somewhat) the top and wandered down admiring the vast shops, activities and products on offer. Each shop was totally different and had it’s own stamp of traditional creativity. From local spices, to handmade leather bags and soft silky dresses, the Souk was full of product diversity- a place you can revisit later, and see completely different products on the same stalls as before.

    After wandering down the hill and the shops either side, we were looking to find a place to settle down to have our first proper meal in Morocco. Of course, we visited the country during the awkward period of Ramadan so all Muslims were fasting from dusk till dawn.

    If you are to visit during this time, we would recommend to be respectful to the locals and avoid eating or drinking in public/busy places if it can be helped.

    We found a highly recommended restaurant in the heart of the Medina called The Ruined Garden, which was only a 5 minute or so stroll from our hostel. As we arrived, we had a short 20 minute wait for the restaurant to open and we were actually the first people to enter for lunch. The aesthetic was amazing!

    The front doors were huge, almost castle-like, with a small staircase leading up to the seating area. It was pretty enclosed up until this point but once you turned the corner onto the top step, the room opened up and in the centre was a fountain with beautiful gardens surrounding. Vines were strung from above to create a beautiful ambience and we were gratefully seated amongst it.

    As we sat down, we were greeted by 2 adorable cats who clearly are pets to the owners of the restaurants. We ordered traditional dishes – the B’stilla – being an oddly sounding sweet and savoury, pastry-like filled pie. Yeah this was typed right.. Once we received this, we were pleasantly surprised with the taste as it was dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. This was a very enjoyable meal, and one we decided to recreate once we arrived back home. Wasn’t quite the same but one we did enjoy for sure!

    At the restaurant, we both shared the meal and the portion was super filling that we couldn’t finish it between us! It’s one that we would definitely recommend for any visitor to try. It’s really got everything, from traditional flavours to strange flavour mixes. If anyone has tried this dish we would love to know your views and know your thoughts as we both loved it!!

    Towards the end of the meal we were delight to have the visitors of tortoises who suddenly woke up from the back of the gardens and wandered around the courtyard. There were 2 large tortoises who decided to wander around and visit some of the lunch-goers. It was a surprising but welcomed introduction as it’s not one you expect in the centre of the old medina!

    Just as we were to pick up the bill and leave the restaurant, we looked back to see a tiny, baby tortoise who was slowly munching on a rather large piece of watermelon (for his size!). It was so small that the garden area it was in prohibited him from escaping due to a small 2-inch wall which he couldn’t master no matter how hard he tried!

    Upon leaving, we decided to wander back to our hostel and relax for a few hours, after travelling since 1 in the morning. We spent time on the rooftop and enjoyed the chilled atmosphere, while being served endless cups of traditional sweet Moroccan tea.

    As the sky darkened and the mood changed, we were informed that the hostel were hosting dinner as part of the stay! We ended up breaking the fast with the local Moroccans as they served a buffet fit for a king! A sea of plates filled the table, full of colourful traditional Moroccan foods with a soup perfectly placed in front of each guest and a freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it all down with. Here, we conversated with other travellers and ate till our hearts content!

    After finishing our meals and thoroughly thanking our hosts for the lovely spread, we headed back to the rooftop to carry on socialising and enjoy our first night!

    If you thought the hostel hadn’t done enough, we were also given free popcorn (salted of course) and provided a Shisha for all guests. We spent time eating the popcorn, playing card games and practicing our newly learnt skill… smoke rings!!

    We soon headed off to bed and called it a night so we could get ready for a fun and adventurous day tomorrow.

    Day 2

    The next day started with a little lay-in. We would always recommend that if you are travelling, or even on a holiday, to make sure to take time to rest when needed as no one can be on the go 100% of the time! So Aimee slept in to 9:30 am so she felt energised for the day!

    During this time, Jack went upstairs and ended up socialising with some travellers whilst enjoying a complementary breakfast. Once Jack finished, Aimee joined and had her fruit breakfast before we got showered, changed and ready for our busy day!

    By this point we didn’t have a plan beyond Fes; but just planned each day the night before and kinda just winged it! If you have travelled before, it’s probably the best way to do it (if you don’t mind the odd panic and stress that comes with it!).

    So today we headed outside the medina to a local shopping mall called Borj Fes which is recommended to visit while in Fes! It’s 4 stories tall and filled with a variety of shops! We initially wandered around some of the clothing shops just having a wander, and comparing it to home shopping malls. After a while, we stumbled upon a supermarket on the lower floor which we looked for snacks!

    We found a bakery full of cakes, pastries and many quirky looking sweet treats! We took about 10 minutes, but finally decided on grabbing a few of each, a drink and headed out! If you are looking for snacks or looking to make your own food in Fes, we would recommend visiting this supermarket! It’s a lot cheaper than most other shops as mostly locals shop here! It’s so cheap- we got a 2l bottle of water for 3.50 Dirhams which is roughly 30p which is a bargain! We spent £2 on 6 pastry/cakes, which we found a table outside and enjoyed! The snacks were lovely and it perked our appetite ready for heading to Burger King!

    Burger king was a lot cheaper in Morocco and we bought some cool items which we have never seen before! All in all, this mall was a great place to spend a few hours eating lunch, venturing shops and taking a break from the hot sun!

    In the afternoon we left the mall to head back to the medina. We decided to wander the local souk and embrace the beauty of the old medina. Here we found ourselves wandering for an hour or so before finding a quaint, local restaurant which we chose to be where we ate our dinner.

    Luckily, we ordered and received our meal before the sun went down. As we received our meal, the Ramadan fasting ended as spoken through loud speakers informing everyone and the restaurant closed to any further customers. The owners and staff all sat down with their freshly prepared meal and broke their fast!

    If you are ever to go to a Muslim dominant country during Ramadan, it is important to find out when the sun sets and the fasting stops as all restaurants will close. The last thing you want to do is go out for your dinner but be stuck wandering looking for a place that is open (like we did…). Once we finished our meal we headed back to the hostel to relax in the evening, look at the beautiful nightly view and social with some travellers.

    We soon played cards into the evening before deciding to go sleep!

    Once the morning came and we woke up, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to explore more of Morocco, and decided on moving to Meknes which is a small city, 40 minutes west of Fes on the train. We got our breakfast, picked up our snacks and headed to the train station!!

    We really enjoyed Fes and it is a beautiful place which we couldn’t recommend it enough. We would say that 2/3 days is enough time there and there are so many places to visit in Morocco so we wouldn’t stay much longer!

    Did you like Fes?

    This blog is the 1st of a 3-part blog. Next up is our experiences and activities in the small city of Meknes!

    We post regular blog content related to all things travel so if you want to keep up with us, please consider subscribing to the blog as it does go a long way for us!

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  • 5 Last Minute Holidays in Europe YOU can book tomorrow!

    5 Last Minute Holidays in Europe YOU can book tomorrow!

    Being at home can be stressful – even when there is nothing stressing you out. Whether it’s the thought of going back to work, seeing family and friends- or just wanting a change. A lot of people really live for the weekends and take that time to destress. You might just have 2 duvet days watching films and eating takeout.. and we don’t blame you! Some may do local city breaks, or a trip towards a simple weekend away from the cities. We all have different preferences when it comes to getting away. For instance, Jack likes to be active, whether it’s swimming, hiking, exploring etc, but Aimee would be more than happy with a 2 day spa break with a massage ,and maybe a museum break or two. We all are different in what we enjoy but one common thing is we like to travel!

    Life is so busy that we struggle to find the time to dedicate to travelling. We are limited to weekends and that really isn’t enough time to get on a plane or train to a new country. We even tried it and it is so crazy busy that it isn’t a time to relax. Put it this way, you are more tired than when you were before you left! Our Trip to Aarhus is here – it’s something we would totally recommend but it isn’t for the faint of hearts. You allocate such little time to a major city so you have to choose a location that has only 1/2 days worth of activities otherwise you will miss out on some of the best things to do there.

    So you need to make the most of your time off and maximise your trip time. Give yourself long weekends (3/4 days) at new locations. As we are in England, we have done short trips to Paris, Aarhus, Stockholm and Budapest! Jack books off time from work to give us enough days to do short city breaks to explore somewhere new.

    It’s a common feeling for young adults to feel stuck and lost in the busy life they become accustom to. To make things worse, we never really allow ourselves to stop as we book up our evenings and weekends with the things we want to do leaving us with no time to relax our bodies. That’s why you NEED to give yourself something to look forward to – even if it is a local break for a few days every few months to regenerate.

    Here, we have highlighted some budget last minute holidays in Europe that are the perfect getaway to destress and recoup your energy. We recommend these places as they are some of the best for activities but you can also just enjoy the city and spend time not doing a whole lot!

    *This post contains affiliate links, where we can earn a commission. This comes at no extra expense for you, and all views are genuine.

    Poznan

    A central location, this Polish City is a great place to visit! The streets are clean and colourful, with some beautiful spots to try out their local foods! Some popular polish foods include bigos and pierogi, and being a budget location means you can try even more! The city isn’t too popular for tourists, so it is a great place to explore and local cultures and learn more about the city, without the usual crowds.

    A flight from England to Poznan starts from £40 which is affordable, and it is a cheap place to drink alcohol- roughly £2 for a pint! There is a lot to do and is a place we would recommend for that short trip you are really needing!

    There is a local market square which includes a multicoloured stretch of houses. This is a perfect place to find a local café and soak up surrounding views. Also, there is a croissant museum… YES you read it right! At certain times, bakers will make fresh croissants in front of you, and you learn the history of the croissant. At the end of the session, you are given a taster of the freshly made croissant which is the perfect way to end the activity.

    The city is also littered with castles, cathedrals and churches. The architecture and sculpture work is incredible and intricate, which can be seen across the Poznan skyline. We would recommend seeing the Imperial Castle, the Town Hall and The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help! For any history lovers out there, there is also an Archaeological museum and History Land.

    History land is a cool unique experience where you the exhibits are depicted through Lego creations, whether it’s battles, buildings or more!! This is an experience that doesn’t exist in many other places so would definitely be worth checking out!

    Accommodation Options

    Luxury option : A hotel and wine bar, with the opportunity to have an in-room jacuzzi or hot tub, with being extremely spacious and clean. Find it here

    Budget Hotel : Being in a close location, this hotel starts from around £34 a night which is SO good! It’s known to be a quieter hotel, boasting friendly staff and 24 hour facilities. Find it here

    Hostel option : This cinema themed hostel is great for the budget traveler! This hostel offers private rooms starting from £22, in the centre of Poznan. Friendly hostel, with great facilities and location! Find it here

    Bratislava

    Another central European city that is full of life, this city boasts many impressive castles and historic buildings, and is an amazing place to just wander. A popular activity in the city is to rent a bike and cycle around to explore the whole city. The city is perfectly sized to travel around on a bike, and can be a cheaper alternative than other modes of transport!

    Across the city are quirky statues, including a depiction of a man climbing out of the sewers. It is a city where you can wander; find local shops, activities and indulge in the culture of the city. The local foods include a selection of meats and layered cake (Prekmurska Gibanica).

    One of the attractions to the area is wine tasting! This is a country known for it’s wine and there are many tours – one including wine tasting at a castle – which would be awesome to check out! This is located at Devin Castle, which is perfectly located on the bank of the well known river, The Danube. This is a great break to enjoy the suburban views, have a drink with your fellow holiday-goers and soak up the castles history!

    This location would be great for a long weekend break to see new sights and escape reality for a short period before coming back to reality.

    Accommodation Options

    Luxury option : Stay in a 5 star luxury hotel along the river, with rooms offering panoramic views of the Danube River or Castle Hill. It has free gym access, the opportunity to book into their spa (some options do include this), breakfast, lunch and dinner facilities and more! Prices start from around £160+, and you can find it here

    Budget Hotel : This hotel is such a great find, with one night (inclusive of breakfast), only costing roughly £60 a night! You can use their salt cave and fitness facilities free of charge, and the hotel boasts a good location, being in the old town. The interior is really pretty and is a very highly rated place right now! Find it here

    Hostel option : This hostel is such a unique one! Being the first NFT hostel, full of NFT styles and artwork! With an unforgettable industrial style, it has capsule style dorms of 6-10 bunks, starting from around £22 a night! There is an option for private accommodation within the hostel for those who don’t like dorm style rooms. Find it here

    Cologne

    Cologne is a beautiful city in Germany that isn’t a massive hotspot for tourism. The city offers all types of reasons to visit: there are many castles to visit, popular brewhouse tours, and even an old town to visit! It is also a great spot to use as a ‘middle ground’ for travelling to other spots in Germany, such as Dusseldorf.

    Many people may not know this, but Cologne have a chocolate museum! And you know we love food museums!! This is a great place to learn the history of Lindt… well let’s be honest. Everyone is there to eat as much chocolate as possible. But it is interesting to learn how the chocolate is made.

    Also in Cologne, there is an Ice Bar. Now, if you haven’t experienced this before, then it is a rather strange but cool experience! Basically, you are in a typical bar but instead of being in normal decor.. The decor is all Ice. You are in an Ice room! You are provided with a snow coat to keep you from getting frostbite and can enjoy cocktails. Even the seats and tables are made from Ice. Legit everything is! This is a great place to enjoy with friends and family that is different!

    This city offers some picturesque places for photos and is a perfect location to explore as a short break! Germany is always a great winter option, especially with the infamous Christmas markets yearly- this is a great travel option for anyone’s bucket list! As it’s known for it’s beer, there are opportunities to do a beer tour and during certain times of the year, you could enjoy some beer festivals!

    Accommodation Options

    Luxury option : This hotel is a beautiful option for visiting Cologne! Local to many attractions, this hotels offer breakfast, and focuses heavily on sustainable options! Find it here

    Budget Hotel : This modern option is a great hotel for a lesser price! It’s part of the ibis chain, and offers buffet breakfast as part of their packages. The hotel can be found here.

    Hostel option : We had to include this one! This hostel has rooms each decorated with their own unique theme! Choose themes such as Bollywood cinema, cabin in the woods, and a 60’s theme pod. It’s so cool and is a great budget option at roughly £24 a night! Find it here

    Cordoba

    A beautiful Spanish city that is full of culture. The sun is always shining here and has a beautiful old quarter to explore- it was an important Roman city, and a major Islamic centre during the Middle Ages, meaning it is full of culture and history to learn! The city is full of tight streets with quaint restaurants, cobble streets and traditional Spanish houses.

    You are only going for a short break so you need to make the most of relaxing.. with an Arabian bath. This is with a traditional setting of pillars and an enclosed large bath perfect for sinking your toes in or relaxing by the baths. The rooms are lit up by candles and create an aroma that can cure the mind of any stress you are feeling.

    As a Spanish City Cordoba is rich in architecture with many castles, Catherdral’s and Churches to explore. It is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Europe so it’s one of the best places to get lost in the history, learn about the people and culture, and immerse yourself in it’s beauty.

    May is a month full of traditional fiestas, with the beautiful smell of jasmine and orange blossoms filling the spring air! You can go out for yummy tapas, enjoy a flamenco show and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

    Accommodation Options

    Luxury option : Stay in a converted 18th century mansion in the city centre, showcasing traditional and original structure! You can get breakfast included, with options to explore the two courtyards… it really is a beautiful option. Prices seem to start from roughly £170, but it is such an amazing luxury find! Find it here

    Budget Hotel : Right in front of the Cordoba Mosque, this hotel is a great budget option! You can include breakfast at an additional cost, with great reviews praising the staff and customer service. Check it out here

    Hostel option : This hostel is a vibrant option to stay within Cordoba! There is a pool, common areas, no curfew and online check in! They have dorms with 4, 8 or 10 bunks, starting from roughly £22 a night! There is also an option for private rooms within this hostel from £90. Check it out here

    Riga

    The capital of Latvia is a beautiful, historic and architectural city that is traditional in its setting. The city has many museums and sculptures to see- which are great to capture some memorable pictures! This city also boasts nice parks and scenic places to relax yourself and watch the world go by!

    The city of Riga has a good spread of food markets throughout the city. A local dish to try is the Karbonade- this dish is pork that is pounded thin and fried for a crispy finish. This is usually served with flavours on top to maximise flavours. For the locals, this is washed down with a traditional Rye Bread pudding. Who would of thought that the Latvians are so big on Rye Bread? It is very popular in Riga and is a must try when in the city.

    A perfect place to unwind is visiting the Art Nouveau district. This area is spread with museums showing off famous pieces for this time. We would recommend to take a stroll to the area as it is dotted with vibrant and structurally brilliant buildings which are elegantly designed. This is a great place to take a detour – wander – and see where the road ahead takes you.

    Latvia isn’t necessarily a mainstream European location to visit, however we know many who LOVE this location. There is a pedestrian only old town, where you can find plenty of shops and restaurants, alongside the well known Livu Square, with a range of bars and nightclubs

    Accommodation Options

    Luxury option : Find a four star spa hotel from only £65! This is an amazing deal for a luxury hotel, which is also riverside with amazing views, and great spa facilities. It is so close to some major attractions that you can see them from the hotel. You can include spa access within your booking which seems very worth it! Find it here

    Budget Hotel : This hotel is only from £25… with full private facilities. Rooms are somewhat basic, but some offer inner courtyard views. But for £25 who can complain! Find it here

    Hostel option : An authentic hostel offering self catering cooking facilities, in a great location in the middle of the old town. They offer dorms of up to 14 beds, with the option of female only rooms too. Dorms start from £15 a night… what an amazing price! Find it here

    These short breaks are the perfect way to regenerate the body and experience a little dose of some smaller/lesser known areas of Europe. A lot of these picks are cheap places to travel and stay in, making it realistic for people who are looking to travel on a budget.

    These places are definitely on the top of our list for places to visit in Europe and would love to know more about people who have visited!

    We hope you liked our picks and if you have any other suggestions, do let us know in the comments.

    Also, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future blog posts… we post budget travel content to showcase some of the best places to visit and hidden gems you might otherwise miss out on!

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