Arusha Backpackers Hotel is a budget-friendly accommodation recognized for its prime location in the heart of Arusha. Just a short walk from the central bus station, the hotel sits conveniently amid lively shops, restaurants, and essential services, making it a strategic base for travelers eager to explore the vibrant city. Despite its bustling surroundings, the hotel is well-regarded for its friendly and helpful staff, who contribute significantly to an enjoyable stay by being attentive and accommodating, often going above and beyond in service. Key staff members, including the manager Mercy, are frequently praised for their exceptional hospitality.
Guests commend the hotel's cleanliness, noting consistently tidy washrooms and public areas equipped with necessary amenities like hot water, toilet paper, and soap. While there are occasional lapses, such as hair found on bedsheets, the overall standard of hygiene and cleanliness remains high. The rooms, while extremely small and sometimes lacking windows, are generally maintained well, proving satisfactory for travelers on a budget. The communal washrooms are clean, though feedback varies regarding their openness. While noise can be a concern due to thin walls and proximity to Arusha's main road, many guests find the central location and affordability worth this minor trade-off.
Breakfast receives a mix of reviews; however, it is often highlighted positively for its value for money and variety. The well-stocked self-service buffet includes items like coffee, tea, toast, cereal, juice, and fruit, providing a good start to the day. Still, there are calls for more diverse options to enhance the overall breakfast experience.
The hotel offers free WiFi, but experiences vary with reliability and speed. Connectivity is typically better in communal areas like the rooftop lounge than in individual rooms, suggesting room for improvement in providing consistent internet access throughout the premises.
Guests share mixed reviews about the beds, some finding them comfortable and clean, while others report issues like saggy mattresses and encounters with bedbugs, affecting sleep quality. Nevertheless, mosquito nets are appreciated, enhancing the comfort level in the rooms. Despite some challenges, Arusha Backpackers Hotel remains a viable choice for budget-conscious travelers, providing a clean, welcoming, and conveniently located option for exploring Arusha.
Parking
Despite being a backpackers hotel, it is listed among hotels in Arusha that offer free parking.
Cheap
As a budget hotel in Arusha, it provides affordable lodging for travelers visiting the area. This hotel offers basic amenities and a convenient location for exploring local attractions.
Room Types
Standard Single Room with Shared BathroomProviding free toiletries, this single room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The single room provides a wardrobe. The unit offers 1 bed.
Budget Single RoomProviding free toiletries, this single room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The single room provides a wardrobe. The unit offers 1 bed.
Standard Twin Room with Shared BathroomProviding free toiletries, this twin room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The twin room provides a wardrobe. The unit offers 2 beds.
Budget Twin RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this twin room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The twin room features a wardrobe. The unit has 2 beds.
Double Room with Shared BathroomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The double room features a wardrobe. The unit has 1 bed.
Standard Double Room with Shared BathroomProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The double room provides a wardrobe. The unit offers 1 bed.
Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory RoomRooms are 8 square metres.
Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory RoomRooms are 8 square metres.
Standard Triple RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this triple room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The triple room features a wardrobe. The unit has 3 beds.
Budget Triple RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this triple room includes a shared bathroom with slippers. The triple room features a wardrobe. The unit has 3 beds.
Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Review Summaries
Location
Nestled at the heart of Arusha, the Arusha Backpackers Hotel boasts a prime location that offers convenience and accessibility to its guests. Situated just a short stroll away from the central bus station, the hotel is an ideal launching pad for exploring the bustling city. Visitors appreciate its strategic position in the city center, providing easy access to nearby shops, restaurants, and necessities like ATMs. Despite being in a lively area, this budget-friendly accommodation is praised for its helpful and friendly staff, as well as its cleanliness and comfortable rooms. The hotel's central location makes it a perfect option for budget-conscious travelers looking to explore Arusha's vibrant atmosphere, while also offering a pleasant rooftop terrace to unwind after a busy day. While it is located in a noisy area, guests acknowledge that this is a small trade-off for staying right in the middle of town, ensuring they have everything they need close at hand.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Arusha Backpackers Hotel presents a mix of opinions, yet predominantly leans towards positive remarks. Many guests appreciate the breakfast as being good and even highlight it as a standout aspect of their stay. The breakfast is included in the room price and generally described as having a good value for money. A recurring compliment is the variety in breakfast options, with some guests noting the presence of a well-stocked self-service buffet featuring items such as coffee, tea, toast, cereal, juice, and fruit. This kind of variety contributes to a generally perceived abundance and completeness.
However, there are areas where improvement has been suggested. Some guests find the breakfast to be basic or meager, with calls for more diverse options beyond the standard offerings of toast and cereals. While some describe it as delicious and abundant, others note the simplicity typical of many hotels and hostels in the area. There are instances where the breakfast has been noted as insufficient, with recommendations to enhance the selection to better cater to varied tastes.
Overall, while there is room for enhancing the breakfast experience, many travelers seem satisfied with what is offered, especially considering its inclusion in the stay's pricing. The friendly and understanding staff further contribute to a positive start to the day.
Rooms
Arusha Backpackers Hotel offers reasonably priced accommodation with a focus on simplicity and cleanliness. Guests consistently note that while the rooms are extremely small, they are tidy and sufficient for a budget stay. The private bedrooms, though compact, are neat, and the new rooms provide a comfortable experience. Clean, hot water is a highlight in the bathrooms, although some guests feel the communal washrooms are very open.
While the rooms often lack space, particularly those without windows that can feel cramped, they maintain cleanliness throughout. The noise level can be a concern due to thin walls, Arusha's bustling main road proximity, and squeaky doors. The double rooms, as well as those facing the street, may experience more noise. Despite these downsides, the central location and affordable price make it a viable choice for budget-conscious travelers. Friendly staff enhances the stay, though feedback about cleanliness varies.
Beds
Guests at Arusha Backpackers Hotel have shared varied opinions about their sleeping experiences, emphasizing both positive aspects and areas needing improvement. Many visitors found the beds to be comfortable, with some even declaring them the most comfortable they had found during their travels in Tanzania. Cleanliness is generally appreciated, with clean bedsheets, rooms, and bathrooms noted by multiple reviewers.
However, comfort seems inconsistent, as some guests reported saggy beds and lacking proper bedding such as duvet covers and pillow cases. It's concerning that several guests mentioned encountering bedbugs and dirty blankets, which detracts from an overall sense of cleanliness. Travelers also noted thin walls that make for a noisy environment, affecting the quality of sleep. Despite these challenges, the presence of mosquito nets has been a welcomed feature in bedrooms, contributing to a more restful stay. Overall, while some guests appreciated the comfort and cleanliness, there are notable issues that could detract from the experience, indicating areas where the hotel could improve.
Cleanliness
Arusha Backpackers Hotel receives commendable remarks for its cleanliness, with guests frequently highlighting the consistently clean state of the washrooms and public facilities. The bathrooms are often described as very clean, well-equipped with essential items like toilet paper and soap, and feature hot water for showers. Despite some isolated mentions of mold and occasional lapses in cleaning, such as hairs found in bedsheets, the hotel generally maintains a high standard of hygiene. The bedding and rooms are usually clean, contributing to an overall tidy environment. The establishment not only offers clean accommodations but also provides a range of amenities and a comfortable stay, complemented by a good location and budget-friendly offerings.
Staff
At the Arusha Backpackers Hotel, the staff's warmth and approachability leave a lasting impression on guests. They are consistently praised for being kind, attentive, and incredibly hospitable. The team, described as friendly and welcoming, goes out of their way to ensure guests feel comfortable and supported during their stay. Their helpfulness extends beyond ordinary service, with some reviews noting instances where staff members organized meals for late-night arrivals. Alongside their genuine friendliness, key individuals such as the manager, Mercy, and Fortonigh receive special mention for their exceptional attentiveness and polite demeanor. Overall, the staff's camaraderie and commitment to excellent service contribute significantly to the positive atmosphere of the hotel.
Wi-Fi
Arusha Backpackers Hotel offers a mixed experience when it comes to WiFi access for its guests. While some visitors find the WiFi service adequate, capable of keeping them connected during their stay, others struggle with its reliability and speed. Guests who utilized WiFi in common areas have had a more positive experience, suggesting that connectivity is generally stronger in designated spots such as the rooftop lounge. However, WiFi access in individual rooms seems to be inconsistent, with some guests reporting weak or completely absent signals. The internet connection is also noted to be slow at times, making tasks that require a stable connection somewhat challenging. While the hotel provides good WiFi in certain areas, improvements could enhance the overall guest experience by ensuring reliable and speedy internet access throughout the hotel premises.
FAQ
No, Arusha Backpackers Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Arusha Backpackers Hotel.
No, Arusha Backpackers Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Arusha Backpackers Hotel.
