Betel Box Backpackers Hostel & Tours in Singapore!
Looking for our "Real Singapore" Tours?
Our original Real Singapore tours are created to show a side of Singapore that is beyond what is written in the guidebooks. These guided experiences are activities-based so that you get a more complete picture of Singapore. (Click to read summary of Tours Rates/ Prices and Services)
What to expect during your stay at the Betel Box Hostel Singapore?
Many hostels claim to be a 'home away from home', but what does a hostel need to have to make it a true home away from home? (Click to read summary of Accommodations Rates/ Prices and Services)
Large living room
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We have large, but very comfortable and cosy communal areas with a kitchen, dining area, lounge area with comfortable day beds and pillows, games (popular ones as well as ethnic games), sound system, a library with over 1000 books (for reference as well as for exchange), decorated with art, ethnic crafts and original photographs from all over Asia and our Internet terminals with free broadband Internet access (30mins daily)!
More pictures of our communal areas in the About Betel Box Hostel webpage |
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Free (broadband) Internet access
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Its just wonderful to see the smiles appear on our guests' faces when we tell them that they can really access the Internet for free (30 mins daily) at our Singapore Hostel! However moving your mattress in front of the computers is not allowed... |
Comfortable accommodations & amenities
We have spared no costs and effort to make sure you have the best night's sleep since you left home. Our beds have thick and firm mattresses (meeting chiropractic standards set by Australian Spinal Research Foundation and regularly sanitised by Mitex now known as DH Asia), firm hypoallergenic pillows, fresh fitted bed linen, solid bunk beds and the rooms are fully air-conditioned! Our bathroom facilities have hot and cold showers, something you will not find often when travelling through Southeast Asia on a tight budget! You also get a locker where you can store your valuables. |
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| Mitex sanitises all mattresses and upholstery at Betel Box Hostel Singapore using High Powered Vacuum Cleaner, Ultra Violet Radiation and Organic Chemicals. |
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Healthy breakfast
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Included in the price at our Singapore Hostel is a healthy breakfast consisting of local tropical as well as common fruits, such as mango, pomelo, rambutan, mangosteen, langsat, guava, water apple and much more! In addition to the fruits there is toast with a selection of spreads (yup, we remembered the Marmite™) and toppings as well as freshly brewed coffee and tea. |
Free tours and activities
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We organise a series of free tours and activities every week (meaning you pay only for what you consume and we do not charge anything extra). Once a week, Tony organises his Famous Foodwalk in the Geylang Serai and Katong vicinity (its the food in Katong that's famous.. Tony's just a glutton), so you can try out various kinds of dishes and get to know their fellow bunkies at the same time. On separate nights we also organise a night out on the town (pub crawls and ladies nites), walks in an ethnic district or a BBQ on the beach near the hostel. For those more into outdoor activities, our Cycle Tours and Nature Walks are also available but depends on group size and weather. If you are not staying with us but would like to join us for the tours, please have a look on our Singapore Tours webpage |
Great Staff who are professional Tourist Guides!
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We have pretty high standards on who gets to work here... Yes, our guys are young, friendly and fun but beyond that, we are passionate about Singapore! Our interests areas cover, culture & heritage, food/ drink/ nightlife, arts & design, architecture/ social studies, sports & adventure, and, nature & conservation. Don't just take our word for it, we are licensed Singapore Tourism Board Tourist Guides! |
Getting Fit and Free use of Fitness Centre
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With so much good food in Singapore and around our district, we all have to do abit more to get fit to continue in our travels (and squeeze back into those well-seasoned travelling clothes). How about taking a jog or cycle along the longest public beach which is also the most popular park in Singapore? East Coast Beach is 20 minutes walk from us and you get a tan while you are sweating it out. OR, you can even use the state-of-the-art fitness centre facilities at Bodycraft Gym for free. |
Entertainment and facilities
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Chilling out and having an easy day/ night in? Relax at the Betel Box hostel Singapore and enjoy our entertainment centre with DVD player and digital surround sound. Thirsty and peckish? Grab a couple of drinks/ beers and snacks at our well stocked in-house store at supermarket prices. |
But don't take our word for it...
Some recent guest comments
From the moment we arrived at 4am four days ago to the time we're leaving
tonight, I've enjoyed every minute of this place! Great price, lovely fresh
& healthy breakfast, air-con!!! hurah! and all the wondeful advice & food
tours. You guys are probably the best in the business. Expand to New Zealand
and everywhere else so everyone can enjoy travelling as much as I have!
Keep on trucking Tony + Mark!
Hannah & Kirstine, United Kingdom
I really fell in love with this place, so nice!! Keep going, good luck!
Doro Poechmann, Germany
Great find! This place is fantastic, cool, clean and have made some
good friends. Tony and Mark, this is definitely a credit to you. 5 stars!
*****
Emma Culverhouse, England
Clean, safe, friendly, thanks for such a fantastic time!
Ardani, Indonesia
Not just a great hostel, but lovely people too! Thanks for such a fantastic
time xxx
Kelly Holden, England
Thanx very much 4 a wicked stay! Enjoyed trying all the different fruits
4 breakfast.
Martin Liddle, New Zealand
I love this place! It's a clean hostel with friendly staff. Every day
another party! I'll come back!!
Sharon Bronsdijk, The Netherlands
Read More in Our Betel Box Hostel Singapore Guestbook
See Pictures of what our Singapore Hostel Guests have been up to
Betel Box in the News
Guidebooks, Websites, Newspapers, TV Shows & Radio Shows
) Footprint Malaysia & Singapore - Dinah Gardner.
5th Edition. |
) Fodor's Singapore. 12th Edition 2005. |
) Insight City Guide Singapore. Eleventh Edition 2004. |
) URA's Rediscover the EAST - Katong Joo Chiat. |
Singapore Straits Times Newspaper - 28 March 2004. |
Singapore ZaoBao Newspaper - 13 Jan 2005. |
Singapore Straits Times Newspaper - The East is Great - 2 March 2006. |
Singapore Straits Times Newspaper- 2 July 2006. |
Singapore The Sunday Times Newspaper- 4 May 2008. |
 Singapore South East CDC Contact Magazine - October 2005. "Out of the Betel Box" |
) Hong Kong Economic Times Newspaper - 30 Nov 2005. "Budget Travel in Lion City - Best Backpacker Hostels" |
Mediacorp TV Channel U- Wow Singapore - East Coast episode. First aired on 11 Dec 2007, 8.30pm.Wow Singapore is a Mediacorp Channel U production that is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board. The show explores various districts in Singapore for its secret finds. The stars of this episode were our guests; Jennifer and Christian who were introduced to Joo Chiat and learnt about Peranakan culture, architecture, foods, clothing and even spent some time in an adventure park. Special thanks goes to Kym Ng, Pornsak and the crew who hosted Jennifer and Christian for the day. |
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Mediacorp Radio Singapore International - Leisure Tour of the Lion City - Leisure Tour of Joo Chiat. First aired on 29 May 2007, 9.05pm.A 5
episode Mandarin radio feature programme with us across Joo Chiat.
Listen to Radio Podcasts : Episode
1- Introduction to Joo Chiat, Episode
2- Joo Chiat Architecture & Eurasian Community House, Episode
3- Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, Episode
4- Understanding Peranakan Culture in Joo Chiat district Part 1,
Episode
5- Understanding Peranakan Culture in Joo Chiat district Part 2 |
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Mediacorp TV Channel U- Project Y - Tourism episode. First aired on 17 Oct 2006, 9.30pm.Special thanks to George of Joo Chiat Fried Kway Teow, Just Green Vegetarian, Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Chilli Padi Nonya Restaurant, Kens Delights Ice Desserts of Dunman Food Centre, Katong 328 Laksa, Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, Eurasian Community House and Lenny, Alice & Staff of Chevy 57 Bar. |
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Attractions of Singapore
Many guests at our Singapore hostel ask us what they should do while they are in Singapore, so we have put together a list of 5 suggestions to get you started:
- Trying out the amazing variety of food Singapore has to offer, which is cheap and safe to eat. Check out Pictures of Singapore Foods
- Exploring Singapore's cultural heritage areas, including Katong, Little India, Chinatown, Kampung Glam, plus checking out the shops at Singapore's famous Orchard Road... Learn more about Singapore
- Spending a day hiking or cycling across or kayaking around Pulau Ubin, an almost undeveloped island off the coast of Singapore covered in jungle and mangroves. Learn more about Singapore Natural Heritage
- Singapore's renowned Ladies' Nights, which are usually held on the Wednesday night. Some of Singapore's top nightspots offer free drinks to the ladies, all night long (the guys still have to pay though...). Learn more about Partying in the Lion City
- Spending an evening with the animals at the Singapore Night Safari
If you would like to know more, just come and stay with us at the Betel Box Hostel Singapore and we will assist you on where to go, what to do, where and what to eat and drink, basically we will help you make the most of your time in this fun and friendly city!
Singapore Travel Hub
Singapore and Southeast Asia are currently experiencing a boom in budget airlines. Thanks to airlines such as AirAsia, Australian Airlines, and LionAir. it is now possible to fly all over Southeast Asia for less than the cost of a bus ticket! Still more budget airlines are coming online, such as Singapore Airlines' Tiger Airways (TigerAir) and even Qantas has set up a budget airline (Jetstar) right here in Singapore.
These budget airlines do not just fly to the main destinations. Besides flying to places such as Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Bangkok, AirAsia also flies to Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, which used to be difficult and expensive to get to. They offer two flights per day to Kuching as well as to Kota Kinabalu at very reasonable prices. One of our guests at Betel Box Hostel Singapore, TJ, flew from Johor Bahru to Kuching with AirAsia and after returning to Singapore, he wrote a report about Sabah and Sarawak
Read more on Buses, Trains & Budget Airlines- Onwards Travel from Singapore
What's a Betel Box?
The Betel Box Singapore Hostel is named after the Betel Nut, an addictive spice that is central to Asian hospitality. The Betel Vine is a member of the pepper family and is used in traditional ceremonies and as a social bonding aid by almost all Asian cultures represented in Singapore- Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan and Eurasian. Betel Box as the name suggest, is a container for Betel Nuts, assorted tools and ingredients; each ethnic community has its own decorative versions of the Betel Box.
In summary, the name "Betel Box" embodies all our aspirations of what we want this backpackers hostel to be; friendly, respectful, addictive, aesthetically pleasing, functional and representative of all cultures in Singapore (tall order, eh.). Our Singapore youth hostel is located on Joo Chiat Road; the heartlands of Malay, Peranakan, Indian and Eurasian cultures in Singapore.
The Betel Box Hostel Singapore is the product of our experiences (some good, some not so good) of hostelling, backpacking and budget travelling around the globe. Like you, we get lost sometimes when travelling and slept at airports, bus/ rail stations, bed & breakfast, hostels and cheap hotels. The travel bug still itches but we are calming the rash by creating a international traveler community where we can meet like-minded people. Cutting to the chase, our Singapore hostel provides a home away from home with its creature comforts, within easy reach to all parts of Singapore and in a culturally rich part of town! Budget accommodation in Singapore does not mean budget service; read more About the Singapore Hostel. And oh, you get to enjoy our Stimulating Company! .