I stayed in one of the best-rated hostels for backpackers in the Philippines, and it turned out to be a complete letdown

Marielle DescalsotaAug 3, 2023, 09:52 IST

The author stayed at Nacho Hostel Cebu, one of the best-rated hostels in the Philippines.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I spent a night at Nacho Hostel, one of the top-rated hostels in the Philippines.
A night's stay is cheap — just $6 for a bed in the mixed dorm, and $25 for a private room.

As Insider's travel reporter in Singapore, I've backpacked in four countries across Asia and have stayed in a dozen hostels.

Most recently, I visited the Philippines in late June. It's a destination that's famed among American backpackers in Asia. In 2019, more than a million Americans visited the country renowned for its gorgeous beaches, lush jungles, and vibrant cities.

I stayed the night at Nacho Hostel, a lodge that's just outside Cebu City in central Philippines. While it's highly rated online, it turned out to be a letdown, thanks to the many pests crawling around the hostel.

Nacho Hostel is one of the best-rated hostels in the Philippines.

The entrance to Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

The hostel is located in Talisay, a city outside Cebu's city center. The street leading up to the hostel was less than stellar.

The street leading up to Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Staying in a shared dormitory is the most popular choice for backpackers at Nacho Hostel. A night's stay costs just 350 Philippine pesos, or around $6, so it's definitely budget friendly.

The dormitory at Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Staying in a shared dormitory is the most popular choice for backpackers at Nacho Hostel. A night's stay costs just 350 Philippine pesos, or around $6, so it's definitely budget friendly.

I opted for the private room, which costs much more than the dormitory, at 1,425 pesos or around $25 per night.

A private room in Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

The private room came with an en-suite bathroom, which was surprisingly functional.

The bathroom inside the private room in Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

At night, I began to have a fever and was shivering, but the bed only had a paper-thin sheet for a blanket.

The sheets were extremely thin at Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

The worst part of my stay was the many, many bugs crawling about almost everywhere in the hostel.

Pests at Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

While the pool and bar area was pretty, I don't think it's worth staying at this hostel, even if the prices are cheap.

The swimming pool at Nacho Hostel Cebu.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

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I stayed in one of the best-rated hostels for backpackers in the Philippines, and it turned out to be a complete letdown

Nacho Hostel is one of the best-rated hostels in the Philippines.

The hostel is located in Talisay, a city outside Cebu's city center. The street leading up to the hostel was less than stellar.

Staying in a shared dormitory is the most popular choice for backpackers at Nacho Hostel. A night's stay costs just 350 Philippine pesos, or around $6, so it's definitely budget friendly.

I opted for the private room, which costs much more than the dormitory, at 1,425 pesos or around $25 per night.

The private room came with an en-suite bathroom, which was surprisingly functional.

At night, I began to have a fever and was shivering, but the bed only had a paper-thin sheet for a blanket.

The worst part of my stay was the many, many bugs crawling about almost everywhere in the hostel.

While the pool and bar area was pretty, I don't think it's worth staying at this hostel, even if the prices are cheap.