Betel Box Backpackers Hostel 
From Singapore Hotels & Singapore Lifestyle
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- Location: 200 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427471
Betel Box Hostel Singapore is a cosy air-conditioned hostel with traditional Asian furnishings in restored Shophouse of Katong Heritage District. It offers budget accommodation in a culturally rich district of Singapore. It is located at 200 Joo Chiat, which is at the heart of Singapore’s famous Katong and Geylang Serai district and within easy reach of Changi International Airport and the many sights and attractions of Singapore. The hostel offers free internet, breakfast, gym, and guided tours!
A short stroll away from the hostel is Geylang Serai; where the Malay Cultural Village and the Geylang Serai Wet Market are located. This district is considered as one of the earliest communities for the indigenous people of Singapore- the Malays. Aside from an archival installation of a traditional Malay Kampung, you will also find good quality Malay foods here.
The Joo Chiat Road area has a strong Peranakan heritage. The Peranakan people are the descendents of early Chinese settlers in Southeast Asia since the 1400s, many of whom married local women (e.g. women from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia). Read More in "Who are the Babas" (The Peranakan Association)
Another strong cultural element to Joo Chiat is the Eurasian Community. The Eurasians are descendents of mixed heritage parents; part European and part Asian. The Eurasian Community is not a recent phenomena but have existed ever since Europeans arrived in Asia. The pride and joy of the Eurasian Community in Singapore is on Ceylon Road where the Eurasian Community House is located.
One of the strongest Hindu communities convenes at the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple; the second oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore. Here you will find architectural features and artwork that has taken over 20 years to complete.
One of the main attractions of the lively Katong and Geylang Serai areas are the many famous eateries wide variety of food on offer, including Peranakan restaurants, kopi tiams (local coffee shops) and the Malay food stalls at the Geylang Serai Wet Market, which is just down the road from us.
The Geylang Serai Wet Market is not only famous for its food centre, but also for its lively and busy atmosphere and many interesting stalls selling products such as traditional clothing (Sarong, Nonya Kebaya, Baju Kurong), kitchen and household wares, CDs, textiles, as well as prepared foods, spices, and fresh vegetables, meats and fish.
A short walk away from the Betel Box Singapore Hostel is the East Coast Park; the longest public beach in Singapore. Here you can enjoy the free water slides at the Big Splash Water Fun Park, rent bicycles/ roller blades, camp, and cruise along 7km of coastline, learn & hire windsurfing boards/ kayaks and even do a spot of fishing at Bedok Jetty. Restaurants, food courts, hawker centres and bars are dotted all along the beach, so that you will never be parched or go hungry!
Every week the hostel organises activites, including Tony's Famous Foodwalk on Thursday in the area around the hostel. On this walk you will get a chance to sample some of the best food Singapore has to offer and it is a great way to meet fellow travellers!
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The Building
The Betel Box hostel Singapore is housed in a large traditional Singaporean shophouse, which is actually two shophouses combined into one large shophouse. Originally built in the 1920s, this building has been fully restored and rebuilt to exacting conservations standards in 2000.
Accommodation is in comfortable air-conditioned dormitory rooms with hot and cold showers.
The focal point of the hostel is the communal area which takes up 50% of our overall floor space! This communal area is actually divided into "zones" which means that you can choose to be social or get some privacy. The spaces are large, but they have still managed to create a homely and cosy atmosphere. The communal area includes a guest kitchen, dining area, lounge area, Internet terminals (Internet access is free!) and hundreds of books and magazines.
Our package includes bed and breakfast, fast and free internet connections and lockers. The price per night includes a comfortable bed, bed linen, security locker, unlimited broadband Internet access (it is all free!) and breakfast. Breakfast consists of fresh local and common fruits, toast with spreads and toppings and fresh coffee and tea. You can have your breakfast at any time and coffee and tea is free-flow all day long. The hosts are passionate about Singapore, travel, nature, adventure and heritage.
The hostel also conduct tours and guided walks that provides visitors with an alternative insight into Singapore life.
There is no curfew at the hostel; we have an electronic keypad lock at the front door, which means you can come and go as you wish, any time of the day.
Facilities
Communal Area
The largest room in the hostel is for communal use. This area has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, lounge area where you can relax and watch the street life down below, and Internet terminals.
The furnishings in this area are in Modern Asian style; reflective of their tastes and the heritage of the shophouse building.
In case you feel like relaxing at the hostel, rather than going out to explore Singapore, we have a large collection of games, and a well-stocked library with both travel and non-travel related books and magazines for you to enjoy.
Rooms
You have a selection of rooms when you bunk at Betel Box Hostel. Options are standard mixed dorm, girls dorm and a double room with queen sized bed. All of their rooms have with comfortable beds and shared hot and cold showers. All rooms are fully air-conditioned.
Safety & Security
Even though Singapore has to be one of the safest cities in the world, they have installed security measures to keep you and your property safe. You will also be assigned a safety locker for the duration of your stay with them. They have a CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) security installed that monitors access to all parts of the hostel and lockers. They also have locked storage rooms to store your backpacking gear and equipment when you are out exploring Singapore.
All rooms (communal and dorm rooms) have fire hoses, fire extinguishers and fire alarms, which are connected to the Central Fire Station.
Other Facilities
- Breakfast Included
- Car Parking Available
- Internet Access
- Laundry
- Bicycle Hire
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- Guest Kitchen
- Telephone/Fax Facilities
- 24 Hour Reception
- Travel Desk/Travel Info
- Key Card Access
- Common Room
- No Curfew
- No Lockout
- Bike Parking
- No Smoking
- Taxes included in price
- Free Internet Access
- Gym
- Nightclub
- 24 hours check in
Hostel Reviews
Just have a look at what our previous guests thought of our place:
- 'My first time travelling and this hostel makes me just so happy that I am sure I will go on for quite a long time. All people, especially Tony with his very helpful mind, are very lovely. I will recommend you and wish you all the best. Maybe I come back in May'
- 'Everything about this place is great. Also special mention to the 'FOOD WALK', the 46th. Thanks guys, Tony, Mark and Robert.'
- '...thanks a lot for a great time in Singapore! tony - you were really great and so willing to give of your time and knowledge. the accommodation is the cleanest i have ever experienced in a backpackers hostel and the free breakfast is just one of the many things that show the thought and care that you guys have put in. all the best for your future endeavours - i wish you much success! '
- 'If there was no Merlion, the Betel Box would be the single most visited sightseeing spot in Singapore. Awesome service, super friendly and knowledgeable staff, chill out environment and cool people. What else to ask in this kick*place? 10 stars out of 5!'
- 'Nice and friendly staff, good service, great food :)... it's better than my HOME !! hahah...Best backpackers' place I've ever been. Good Job !!!'
- 'Thanks Tony and Mark for the superb wonderful place. Comfortable common room, clean dinning area, free Internet, healthy breakfast, cool bed, everything is so nice. Without Betel Box, I don't think I would stay in Singapore for 5 days. I particularly like Tony's famous foodwalks (although the 4+ hour walk gave me a lot of 'water pot' on my feet). If you guys drop by Hong Kong sometime, feel free to leave me a message :)...'
- 'From the moment we arrived at 4am four days ago to the time we're leaving tonight, I've enjoyed every minute of this place! Great price, lovely fresh & healthy breakfast, air-con!!! hurah! and all the wondeful advice & food tours. You guys are probably the best in the business. Expand to New Zealand and everywhere else so everyone can enjoy travelling as much as I have! Keep on trucking Tony + Mark!'
- 'I love this place! It's a clean hostel with friendly staff. Every day another party! I'll come back!!'
