the globeTROTTERS

The following are a list of accommodations that we would recommend to fellow travelers. This is not a comprehensive list of where we stayed, nor is it intended to be. We would also ask that other travelers add their list of recommendations so that we can create a more comprehensive listing. Thanks!

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

• Egypt
  • Cairo
    • Meramees Hotel, 32 Sabry Abo Alam St., Talaat Harb Sq
      Tel. 202-396-2318
      meramees_hotel@hotmail.com
      Ash, Abraham, Amr and Deena will make you feel right at home. They organize affordable itineraries and trips down the Nile or anywhere you wish to visit in Egypt. Bob the cat keeps your lap warm while you read in the common area. The hospitality and endless cups of tea can´t be beat! The rooms are comfortable and affordable and the location is just minutes away from the Egyptian Museum.
  • Kenya
    • Nairobi
      • Meridian Court Hotel
        Tel (+254 20) 313991 / 317481 / 313135
        Fax (+254 20) 317045 / 230700
        info@meridianhotelkenya.com
        This is a mid-range budget option. The rooms were newly redone and were very nice. They had a TV, spacious bathroom and excellent lighting. The bathroom was not entirely clean, but overall, we found this to be a nice place. The restaurant was very unassuming, but had delicous food and great service.
    • Lamu
      • Amu Hotel
        Lawrence at the front desk had a smile and shyness about him that makes you immediately feel like you are at home. The building is a beautiful, restored example of a traditional Swahili house. Rooms are gigantic with ample space and bedding for a family. Power is spotty at best as is hot water. Despite this, it was one of the nicest hotels we´ve enjoyed on our trip.
• Tanzania
  • Zanzibar
    • Stone Town
      • Jambo Guest House, Mkunazini
        Tel 255-24-2233779
        Mob 255-777-496571
        jamboguest@hotmail.com
        This was a very clean, very nice hostel with mosquito nets and friendly staff. Every tout in town knows about the place though and gets a commission, so try and book before you arrive otherwise someone will find you first and take your discount!
    • Jambiani (East Coast)
      • Kipepeo Lodge
        Tel 44-020-8123-9180
        Fax 39-06-233-202-707
        maha@kipepeo.it, contact: Vincenzo
        Bill and I absolutely LOVED this place. The staff was phenomenal. The food was superb. The price was right. With only five rooms, you have complete solitude and beauty of the Indian Ocean right outside of your window. This is a place that we hope to return to again soon. If you are in Zanzibar, do not miss this place!

SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Cambodia
  • Siem Reap
    • The 13th Villa
      Tel 855-63-965-356
      info@angkor.cc
      Not at all as-advertised in LP, but a good find nonetheless. The quiet owner and his Japanese girlfriend make you feel welcome immediately. The rooms are quiet and nice and it has a good bathroom. The food in the restaurant is excellent - try the luc lak. This is not a place to party, but excellent if you want a nice, quiet stay.
• Thailand
• Bangkok
  • Taewez Guesthouse, 23/12 Si Ayukhaya Rd.
    Tel 0-2280-8856
    info@taewez.com, duangta@taewez.com
    Pinit manages this place on a day to day basis. He is a great guy and lots of fun. He took us to the flower market one night just because he thought we may enjoy it. He went above and beyond on a couple of different occasions for us (including making phone calls on our behalf and giving us a personal discount card that he had for shopping). Highly recommended not just because of Pinit, but also because it is clean and cheery accommodations. One warning - some taxi drivers cannot find it - just tell them to get you to the National Library, it's just a couple of doors down the street
• Chiang Mai
  • Kavil Guest House, 10/1 Ratchadamnoen Rd, Soi 5
    Tel 053-224-740
    Gerad and his wife are a pleasure and will make you feel right at home, sometimes even passing you a cup of whiskey on your way out the door!
    
• Ko Pha Ngan
  • Mai Pen Rai, Than Sadet
    Tel 077-445-090
    You don't need an address because this island is so tiny that as soon as you mention the name, they understand where you are going. Mai Pen Rai has been one of our favorite places to stay in Thailand, but one word of caution - only come here if it is peace and quiet that you are after. This is not a party scene but is appropriately billed as a place for "nature lovers and artists". The price is minimal and the bungalows are rustic, but charming. The bathroom is attached to your bungalow and private...but outside. Good food and good times are all in the future. You don't lose anything either, by saving a bit of cash and staying at one of the bungalows with a river view (versus an ocean view). There's a waterfall within walking distance, though admittedly, we were too lazy but sit on the empty beach
    
• Mae Hong Son
  • Johnnie's House
    Noi and his wife have a nice place with wood-paneled rooms and shared bathrooms or a concrete building that has rooms with bathrooms en suite. We stayed in the wooden building and had an end room. The walls are thin so you can hear everything, but there are only a dozen or so rooms so it is of little concern. The guy next door snored a little loudly, but we got over it.  Noi and his wife are very generous with food and booze, but it was the trekking that we recommend. Noi can take you to a Red Karen village (he is Red Karen and knows the people and the language). Amazing scenery and unbeatable experience.
    
• Pai
• Family House
  Joy runs this quiet hippy hangout. We didn't agree with everyone's politics, but we had a great time each night conversing with folks around the fire. The huts were small but adequate and this place has a charm that's hard to come by. At $7 a night, you can't go wrong.
• Vietnam
• Hoi An
• Khach san HOP YEN, 16 A Nhi Trung St
  Tel 0510-863153
  hopyenhotel@yahoo.com
  This lives up to the standards that you would expect from a HI hostel. It was clean accommodations. If you are an HI member, book in advance to get the discount. Ask for a sunny room facing the road.
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
• Lin Phuong Guesthouse, 283/29 Pham Ngu Lao St., Dist 1
  Tel 84-8-8377-709
  linphuonghotelvn@yahoo.com
  A gem in the middle of the backpacker area, this guesthouse is situated just above a doctor's office. The rooms are absolutely spotless, the water is hot, there's a TV and stocked fridge. Breakfast is free and the owner makes wonderful yogurt from scratch.
  

SOUTH AMERICA

• Argentina
  • Buenos Aires
    • Buenos Aires - HI Tango Backpackers, Thames 2212 
      Tel. 54-011-47766871
      Fax. 54-011-47766871
      hostels@hostels.org.ar
      This hostel has a good location in Palermo Vieja. Don´t miss the Mexican restaurant in the area - fantastic food! They have many specials and organize many different activities, though we ventured out more on our own. About 3 blocks away from the subway.
  • El Calafate
    • Hosteria Austral, San Juan Bosco 917
      Tel. 54-02902.491.527
      info@hosteriaaustral.com.ar
      This hotel appears to be very new. The owner is extremely friendly and it gets top marks for cleanliness and its cheery atmosphere. The location can´t be beat - 200 yards or less from the bus station and one street up from the main drag.
  • Mendoza
    • Hostal Confluencia, Av. Espagña 1512
      Tel. 54-261-4290430
      info@hostalconfluencia.com.ar
      Small hostel with cozy rooms, great location and feels like more of a hotel than a hostel. No party scene, but a great, quiet place with an inexpensive price.
  • Puerto Iguazu
    • The Hostel Inn Iguazu Falls, Ruta 12 Km 5 
      Tel. 54-3757-421823
      Fax.54-3757-420160
      rocioigr@hostel-inn.com
      This is a great place to meet a lot of people and have a great time. Don´t stay here if you want to sleep well through the night. Bonnie (Bill´s sister) and I were greeted by drunk Irishmen in the middle of the night in our rooms turning on the light and trying to find their beds. It was an all-female room.
• Brazil
  • Rio de Janeiro
    • Stone of a Beach, Rua Barata Ribeiro, 111 - Copacabana
      Tel. 55-21-32090348
      Definitely a party place. They have a gigantic bar downstairs that is open to the public and the bartender has no qualms about adding more cachaca to a caipirinha if asked. If that sentence sounds like Greek to you, you will soon understand. The only complaint we had is the location. While the guidebooks assured us that Copacabana is THE place to be, it isn´t. Pier 9 in Ipanema is the spot right now.
• Chile
  • Bahia Inglesa
    • Chango Chile Domo Hostal, Av El Morro 610
      (52) 31 61 68
      info@changochile.cl
      Lest you have any doubts, check out the web site. It´s different and it´s really cool. How often do you get to stay in a dome? It´s literally steps from the beach, the accommodations are great and the food is superb. Don´t miss the scallops with a side of white rice. Alex and his staff are friendly and will make you feel like you are at home.
  • San Pedro de Atacama
    • HI - San Pedro de Atacama, Caracoles 360
      Tel. 56-55-851426
      hiatacama@hostelling.cl
      Poncho and his staff immediately make you feel like friends. Don´t miss sandboarding - try to catch it during the full moon if you can. The walls are VERY thin though. This is a good place to arrange activities and to have fun, but you will hear everything about your neighbors. Trust me on this one. Despite that, we loved it here and highly recommend it.
  • Santiago
    • Hotel Los Arcos, Agustinas 2173
      Tel. 2-6990998
      Fax 2-6990998
      This hotel is located in Barrios Brasil which is the oldest part of Santiago. It is not the best location, but we were just 4 blocks from a metro station, an important factor to consider. The rooms were large and had a wonderful heater in them. The prices were the same as 2 of the hostels we checked, but you have a private room and bathroom en suite. Negotiate prices for extended visits and get an even better deal.
• Peru
  • Cuzco
    • Casa de la Gringa, Pasnapacana 148, San Blas
      Tel. 51 84 241168
      Fax 0951 84 241168
      casadelagringa@speedy.com.pe
      A very eclectic-in-a-good-way interior greets you as does the endless supply of coca tea to help prevent altitude sickness. It´s hard to explain, but although accommodations are inside, it´s kind of outside, too. You just have to experience. The blankets are warm and the atmosphere is as well.