Haikou Banana International Youth Hostel — Hotel in Haikou City

For the peace of mind of knowing that you won't have any language issues alone, this place is worth staying at. Apart from late evenings, there was always someone around who spoke good/great English to help with all the logistics/transport/sightseeing questions we had, which was essential for us in a place like China where bus routes, opening hours etc etc aren't in English and (depending on your VPN) even GoogleMaps won't be available. Their website has a foolproof English guide to finding the hostel (even with youtube videos!) and a great map with useful bus routes, sights etc - well worth printing.||||The other big plus is its price given its excellent location - a short 10 minute walk from the old town, just off a main road with supermarkets, restaurants, lots of bus routes, and 5 minutes from Haidan Snack Street - a great evening night market with 50+ local food stalls. ||||Otherwise the hostel is what you'd expect for the price. We had a private room with a near-solid bed, aircon and bathroom with a very weak shower over a squat toilet (we ended up using one of the shared bathrooms with a better shower and western toilet which was no drama). Wifi was good and there was a friendly vibe at the bar in the evening - there aren't many western tourists in Haikou, and the only ones we did see were at this hostel! ||||Some other tips: For getting around by car, the Didi app was fantastic - it's China's equivalent of Uber, all in English, cheap, cars everywhere, and avoids the risk of the driver getting your destination wrong (and they're all eager to please in order to get a 5 star rating). The Pleco app is great for translating pinyin to chinese characters - good to help you read signs, or to show to locals when trying to book train tickets etc. Via the camera it can also translate text to English, sometimes with great accuracy. ||||All in all, the Banana Hostel is a great choice for a short sightseeing trip to Haikou. As other reviews say - it is a hostel, not a hotel, but value for the small amount of money you'll pay...

I had a double room with my own bathroom here for four whole weeks and I must say that I enjoyed every day here. I am a 66 year old retired banker used to really comfortable hotels and you may ask why would I stay in the Banana Hostel. Well the reasons were abundantly clear to me just after a few days.||I have never stayed in a hotel where the owner, the staff and the other guests are so friendly and helpful. The rooms are basic but if you live in any hotel for 1 month you will begin to hate the 4 walls no matter how posh the place...||This hostel has so much going for it. The staff and other guests share their time with you and make sure that you are comfortable and enjoying the surroundings. The hotel is quiet and the efficient air conditioning is not noisy and for which I paid a small 30€ for one month's electricity - it was on every day. It is near shops and restaurants. Taxis and buses stop just outside. It is on Renming street just a short 3km jog from Baisheman Park and the beach. It is near the University and hospital. ||Peter, the owner, has employed active and friendly students to run the reception - they all speak excellent English and are professional and fun.||Can you imagine being asked to join other guests and the staff for dinner on 2nd Street food stalls when you are tired and hungry and need cheering up?||The rooms are kept clean by an auntie who works hard and always with a kind smile. It is the same with breakfast and dinner that they also serve in the hostel.||They have a comfortable sitting room and where you can talk and work with the other guests - WiFi is adequate in all parts of the building so WeChat and Skype can work well.||I give this place top marks and a strong recommendation for being outstanding and a really nice place to stay in Hainan at a very...

The location of this hostel is tricky to find at first, because it is down an alley-way, next to a "Fresh Supermarket" which is kind of opposite the KFC, at the intersection of the road.Once you find it, you immediately receive a "warm" welcome...in spite of the humid temperatures! A cold water bottle was waiting for me, and I felt instant relief, as the girl in the reception calmly greeted me and explained to me, in good English, the facilities of the hostel.( She also helps to book taxis to the airport, if you do not have a working cell-phone )I stayed in a private room, and it was an excellent stay.There was a TV, a rotating ceiling-fan, an air-con, a TV, necessary amenities for a pleasant stay (eg. hangars, clothes-rack, towels, a bin, etc.)From the hostel, it is about 8+ minute walk to the evening food-markets and it is about 15+ minute walk to the Qilou old street.The hostel has a communal kitchen and fridge, a TV room and a pool/billiards table as well.► Special Mention ◄Special token of appreciation to the lady who was working in the evening of Monday 14/7. She is really helpful, welcoming and cares about your stay on Hainan island. She gives good recommendations of where to go, how to spend time there and is quite pragmatic in ensuring you enjoy your short (or long) stay there.She has a good energy and would lift your spirits up, if...