The best hostels in New Zealand.

New Zealand is really well set up for backpackers. There's so many hostels to choose from at each stop it's hard to know which are the best bunk beds in town. Fear not, I've done the research and would recommend checking in to the below...

First, some advice:

Wifi isn't free in a lot of new Zealand's hostels, particularly up north. Many of them use pay-to-use networks which require regular top ups which, although can handily by done via your card, really start to add up. We were paying $4 for 24hr access to the Global Gossip network. You can buy a 7 day pass for $12 which I would recommend because you can keep signing in at your next stop.

Key deposits are popular, ranging from $10-20 per key. You can pay on card for these but it's handy to have cash, and I'd advise only taking as many keys as are necessary - we'd get one between the three of us.

Label your food. People stay for weeks in these hostels and really start to make themselves at home. Make sure your stuff doesn't get lost in the fridge by clearly labelling. This'll also ensure your stuff isn't chucked out during the weekly fridge clean.

Where to stay.

Roturua: Rock Solid.

Rock solid is a huge hostel, ideally located in the centre of town just minutes from the bus stop and round the corner from the main restaurant/bar strip. Set across two floors, it boasts a large kitchen, two lounges, communal bathrooms, a DVD room and free wifi. The lounge overlooks an indoor climbing wall below where you'll receive a 20% discount as guests. This place has loads of potential and is set up to be a great hostel, however the atmosphere fell a little flat when we were there. The main reason for my recommendation? Rock solid had the comfiest beds we slept on in our month in NZ. $26 per night, 4-bed dorm communal bathroom.

Taupo: Taupo urban retreat.

The large 16 bed dorm at the Urban Retreat is located in the roof of the wooden chalet-style building. It's social,  in an excellent location, offers $5 chilli every evening, cheap bike hire, a DVD room and free computers in reception. The bar is the cheapest happy hour in town with pitchers of beer for $12 and g&t's for four. Wifi is extra, $4 for 24hours or $12 for a week's pass on global gossip (see above). The staff were really friendly, there's a large garden area for al fresco dinner and a free phone to check the status of our skydive while you're there. $23 per night, 16 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Wellington: Base.

I didn't want to recommend staying at Base, because it's a chain that is everywhere and it's set up reflects that: packages for weekly stays, meals for $3 every night, tours operated from the hostels, fines for drinking in the room etc.etc. But Base was the cheapest place we could find in Wellington and we actually enjoyed our three night stay. Location wise you can't really beat it, as it sits at the end of Courtney Place. Set across five floors, Base attracts long stayers and our three roommates were all staying in the city and looking for work (Craig had been staying in the same bunk for 7 weeks.) Socially though this was one of the better places we stayed; it was buzzy at most hours of the day/night, the kitchen was packed at meal times, there's a bar downstairs with happy hour from 8-10pm and, despite the squeaky beds, it was comfortable and the showers were hot. $23 per night, 4 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Marahau (Abel Tasman): The Barn.

In the summer The Barn is a huge camping and caravaning site, spreading across a number of fields and overlooking the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. We were there off-season but would still recommend it, despite the slightly inflated pricing. We shared a 4-bed dorm which had recently been renovated. It was clean, warm and comfortable (no bunk beds either!) The large communal area boasts a huge DVD room, a big kitchen and a free phone. Toliets and showers are in outside blocks but were remarkably mosquito-free and the showers were hot. The shop stocks over-priced must-haves for your trip into the park including wine and beers, they also rent camping gear and will help out with booking your trip into the park. There's luggage storage too, for a dollar a day, but the water taxi guys will store this for free so I'd do that... $30 per night, 4 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Nelson: Paradiso.

We were pretty gutted to have only been here for one night. The hostel was probably one of the best we stayed in, and we could have stayed put. The pool and hot tub were definitely part of the attraction, along with free breakfast, free soup at 6pm, free wifi and clean, comfortable rooms. The place had an awesome vibe about it, with spontaneous games of volleyball taking place every now and again and a busy, communal kitchen area. $26 per night, 4 bed dorm en-suite bathroom.

Franz Josef: Chataeu Franz.

We had four nights in Franz Josef and chose Chateau Franz as our temporary home. Sit Cedric's is an independant chain of hostels which are spreading across the South Island. They've got a refreshing approach to hosteling, are fun, affordable and don't have the stingy attitude that the successful, large chains do. Wifi was free, breakfast was also free, soup was served (for free) at 1pm every day accompanied by hot rolls and breads from the bakery. The DVD room is big and busy, the hot tub is open until 9 every day, and over the weekends and during the summer the fire pit is lit and BBQs take place. Benjamin, the manager, has big plans for the place, telling us about climbing walls and extensions. I couldn't really recommend here more. $25 a night, 4 bed en-suite.

Queenstown: Southern Laughter 

We stayed here, and I can't not recommend it because it was perfect for us: great location, affordable, free soup, free wifi, hot showers etc. Having stayed at the other Sir Cedric's hostel in Franz Josef, we were able to secure a good rate for our five night stint. Beds were comfy, kitchen was big and tea was free. There's a great roof terrace which gets sun most of the day too. The only downside is that it's not Nomads and I fear it won't ever be.

$23 per night, 3 bed communal bathroom. 

Queenstown: Nomads

We didn't stay here because it was expensive, and it really is compared to other hostels in town. Thing is, these guys get away with the inflated pricing because it is the best place to stay if you want to see the best of Queenstown. It's based in the centre of town in a modem multi-storey building, and it's where people go and end up extending because they're not ready to leave. 

$30+ per night 

The best backpacker hostels in Rajahstan.

Tripadvisor and hostelworld are great tools in India, offering honest and fair reviews of the thousands of hostels offering up cheap digs for travellers living out of backpacks. It's hard to find a comprehensive list of the hot spots though, so avoid missing out on the rooftop parties and communal breakfast chat and book into the below:

Delhi: Moustache Hostel, M Block Market, South Delhi. (650rps per dorm bed, including breakfast and wifi. Towels 50rps rent.)

As hostels go, Moustache is pretty pricey.  At almost £7 a night, we'd spent the same amount in Jaisalmer on a deluxe room inside the fort. That said, Moustache have got 'hosteling' down to a tee, and can afford to charge a bit more for the service. 8-bed dorms, both mixed and split, that are cleaned regularly, had individual fans and plugs and hot communal showers. Lockers are provided and you can buy a good lock for 50rps on reception. Tea and coffee is available all day, and drinking water's on tap. Breakfast is included, offering cereal, toast, eggs and hot chai. There's wifi all over as well as two desktop computers (something I got pretty excited about.) The common room's decked out with games, a tv and loads of info, whilst the large roof terrace hosts nightly yoga classes and is a non-overlooked sun trap in the day. 

Greater Kailash is an expensive part of Delhi, and M-block market reflects that. That said, the frozen yogurt shop 2mins away is every hangovers godsend and we got some amazing street food at MK's which is directly opposite (follow the queues.)

4/5 from me. 

Varanasi: Stops Hostel, near Assi Ghat. (Between 350-550rps per night, breakfast, wifi and activities included.)

We didn't actually stay here, (needed a list like this to follow didn't we), but everyone that did raves about it. The hostel pur on daily activities which are all included (just tip the guides), so you can do as much or as little as you like; from boat rides to massages and cooking classes. The dorms are clean, thought it's recommended to opt for the slightly more expensive, smaller dorm as the 16-bedder has showers located on the roof.

Jaipur: Zostel Jaipur (299-499rps per dorm bed. Free wifi, breakfast 70rps.) 

I couldn't recommend Zostel Jaipur enough. Rahul is the guy in charge and he was the perfect host, organising everything over email in advance (including free train station pick up) and making sure everyone's happy throughout the stay. The rooms are clean, the showers hot, wifi's great and the 8-bed dorms are really comfy. Washing facilities are available for 70rps, which we found really helpful and you can pay 70rps for the breakfast which is served communally everyday.

The only drawback is that tuc-tuc drivers don't know where Zostel is as it is relatively new and in a more residential area (something we didn't consider a drawback because of how safe the location felt.) Just make sure you have a Hindu version of the address - Rahul gave us one- and you'll be fine. 

Stay here, it will make your time in Jaipur. 

5/5 from me. 

Jaisalmer: Mystic Jaisalmer Hotel, near Air Force Circle, Jaisalmer Old City. (300-900rps per night, wifi included.)

Located outside the fort walls, this was the hostel recommended by the team at Zostel (if you tell Mystic you've stayed their they'll give you a discount.) The decor is bright and traditional, with a lazy restaurant on the rooftop where breakfast is served and beers are available. The staff are super helpful and will organise camel safaris on request. 

Agra: Zostel Agra, Taj East Gate Road. (349rps per person.)

Zostel had opened just a couple of weeks before when we checked in (guests 24 & 25), so everything is completely new. When we asked for cutlery the staff unwrapped them from their packaging! That said, already this place has got a great feel to it. Arty paintings cover the walls and the rooms are small (only 4 to a room), but really clean and the showers hot. Wifi's good and the location is bang on for the taj - just 2 minutes from Shilmgram where you can buy your east gate entry tickets.

3/5 - but only because it's in it's infancy. This place is full of potential.