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HOSCAR
Awards 2025

The world’s best hostels – voted for by YOU! Plus, your chance to win a $250 voucher...

Hey there travellers 👋 Welcome to this year’s HOSCARs! 🏆For the 23rd year running, we’re rolling out the red carpet to honour the very best hostels across the globe.

Scroll to see this year’s award categories 👀 vote for your favourite finalists 🥇 and get inspired for your next trip ✈️ Winners will be announced at the end of January!

Vote for your chance to win a $250 Hostelworld voucher

We need YOU to help us choose winners for our Responsible Travel Awards: The Eco-Warrior, The Community Superhero and The Culture Champion. Our external judging panel has selected five finalists for each, and now it’s up to you to vote for your faves. When you do, you’ll be entered into our prize draw and could win a $250 Hostelworld voucher! 💰

Winners for all other categories will be based on the reviews you wander-ful lot have been leaving after your stays, so a huge thank you for making this possible 🙏

Voting closes at 23:59 (GMT) on 19 January!

Responsible Travel Awards 2025

Hostels aren’t just somewhere to stay – by bringing travellers together from all over the world, they play a main character role in new friendships, shared experiences and unforgettable adventures 🌎

And it doesn’t stop there! Lots of our incredible hostel partners run initiatives that help make our world a better place, like charity events, beach clean-ups, volunteering programmes, rewilding projects, partnerships with local schools, culturally authentic experiences and so much more 🤩

Our Responsible Travel Awards celebrate hostels that go above and beyond to protect the environment, preserve local culture and support the local community 🧡 Check out the finalists and cast your votes below!

H24-Eco-Warrior

The Eco-Warrior

This award shines a spotlight on sustainability by recognising hostels with eco-friendly facilities, sustainable practices, carbon-neutral activities and more. Keep an eye out for sustainability badges when you book your next hostel on our app or website 🍃 And get eco bragging rights knowing that hostels are 82% less carbon intense than hotels!

 

The Yard Hostel Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

The Yard Bangkok is the first hostel in Thailand to earn a Hostelworld Level 2 Sustainability Badge, and for good reason – it’s built from upcycled sh...ipping containers with recycled paper insulation, bedding is made with high quality surplus fabric, the natural toiletries provided are from small businesses that use returnable packaging, and high-efficiency appliances lower energy consumption ⬇️ And that’s just the start! Over half the hostel is a green space that improves air quality, profits from selected bookings go towards supporting forest conservation efforts by Indigenous communities, and homemade yogurt and jam is provided to reduce packaging. The hostel also hosts events for environmental groups and provides training for team members around environmental and cultural preservation 🍃 
 

Seabreeze Hostel Bali

Canggu, Indonesia

Eco credentials abound at Seabreeze, which is partially built with bamboo, resulting in 40% less steel and concrete vs traditional buildings. All... materials are locally sourced, they use low energy lightbulbs, and there’s no chemical paint on the walls. The onsite restaurant, which is powered by solar energy, serves organic and vegan food made with ingredients from local farms and plants from the hostel’s permaculture garden 🌿 Wood for the oven is collected from scraps and fallen branches, and when it turns to nitrate-rich charcoal, it’s used in the garden alongside organic waste from the kitchen. Seabreeze also sells waste to Eco Bali who responsibly separate and recycle to reduce the amount that goes to landfill. Plus, they offer free drinking water to encourage refills and reduce plastic 💦  
 

Haka House Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Lake, mountains and an International Dark Sky Reserve – no wonder this hostel is committed to protecting the environment around it! Duvets, pillows an...d staff uniforms are made using thousands of plastic bottles, solar power is used to heat water, and LED lighting is used throughout 🛌 The hostel also provides TOI toiletries which are 100% New Zealand made with locally sourced ingredients, plus free from genetic engineering, petrochemicals and parabens. Recycling is a priority – all old materials were upcycled or donated during a recent renovation, they use compostable rubbish bags, and they run lunch & learn sessions with staff. With ambitions to become B Corp certified, it’s onwards and upwards for Haka House 💪

 

JO&JOE Rio de Janeiro Largo do Boticário

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Proudly 100% plastic-free, this hostel opts for sustainable alternatives like biodegradable paper rubbish bags, eco cups, paper cups and paper st...raws – plus silicone mats and cellulose parchment paper in the kitchen. When guests return their eco cup during hostel events, they get a free can of water as a thank you💧The hostel uses clean energy and energy-efficient appliances like motion sensors, which led to significant reductions in energy consumption in 2024. Over 80% of the cleaning products they use carry a green label (certified by ABNT), waste is sorted responsibly or managed by specialised companies, and staff receive training on sustainability practices. Guests can also join beach clean-ups and tours of the Tijuca Forest to experience its biodiversity 🦜

 

ITH Sayulita Amazing Surf Hostel

Sayulita, Mexico

This coastal hostel on the west coast of Mexico has been busy cleaning up local beaches this year 🏖️ Funded by ITH Hostels and Worldpackers, this week...kly initiative has not only resulted in the removal of a tonne of trash in 2024 alone but also succeeded in bringing guests and local community members together. Everyone who participates in these beach clean-ups gets a free “I Changed The Earth Today” T-shirt as a token of appreciation for their contribution to a cleaner and healthier planet 💚

H24-community-superhero

The Community Superhero

This award recognises hostels that drive positive change in the local community. Whether their impact is felt through volunteering projects, fundraising events or social initiatives, making a difference is where it’s at 🫶

 

Wonderland Jungle Hostel

Koh Tao, Thailand

This isn’t just a hostel in a jungle oasis – it’s also a charitable organisation and educational hub where guests and local youth connect through free... classes in English, maths, and practical skills, plus cultural workshops 💡 Wonderland was designed to address educational and economic challenges facing communities in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, and in just two years they’ve equipped 300 students with essential skills, including two who started with no English and have since returned as ESL teachers! Recent expansions include a classroom-equipped dormitory for Indigenous students who attend programmes to learn computer skills, science, and arts & crafts. Every booking directly supports these transformative initiatives 📝
 

HI Los Angeles

Santa Monica, USA

Through programmes like the Great Hostel Give Back, HI Los Angeles Santa Monica encourages volunteerism by offering groups of six or more co...mplimentary stays in exchange for volunteer work in the local community 🤝 For example, the City High School group volunteered with Project Angel Food, preparing meals for individuals battling severe illnesses, simultaneously supporting a vital organisation and empowering students, helping them grow as compassionate, engaged citizens. Initiatives like these drive forward the hostel’s mission to inspire socially conscious change and foster meaningful connections 🧡

 

Mad Monkey

Hanoi, Vietnam

Driving lasting change and meaningful connections is at the core of this hostel’s vision, which is delivered through charity events, partnerships and ...direct action. A few examples: a charity football match united guests, staff and locals to raise funds for clean water solutions for communities in need ⚽ A Pink Tuesday partnership with the Breast Cancer Network Vietnam raises funds and awareness for breast cancer patients and their families 🩷 They participated in the Blue Dragon Walk to help combat human trafficking and support vulnerable youth in Vietnam 🫶 The Dream School Project in Ha Giang Province funded new classrooms and resources for disadvantaged students 📝

 

Nomads

Magnetic Island, Australia

Island life has its pros and cons – and this beachside hostel dreamed up the Island Burger Project to address the struggles of the local community, wh...ich has limited access to services compared to mainland Australia. Each month, they partner with a local charity which designs a signature burger that features on the hostel’s restaurant menu. For every burger sold, they donate AUD$5 to that charity 🍔 The project has raised $155,000 so far, including funds for local families affected by cancer or leukaemia. They also run a Grill and Grow initiative, a reforestation campaign where $2 from each veggie burger goes towards replanting the Mabi Rainforest, which is local to the hostel and home to the native tree kangaroo. Plus, they safeguard turtle hatching sites next to the property 🐢 
 

HI Banff Alpine Centre

Banff, Canada

A new Community Engagement Coordinator role at this hostel – created to support a growing array of community experience programmes that run throu...ghout the year – has led to record participation and fundraising 🤩 Between recovery efforts after the Jasper Wildfire Complex (where they lost three of their hostels), charity fundraising, and new Community Nights, they’ve raised over US$9,000 for local initiatives, donated meals and clothing, and created spaces at the hostel for grassroots agencies. They’ve also set up a job seekers helpdesk in partnership with the Job Resource Centre, launched a volunteer programme with Parks Canada, highlighted Indigenous-led programming at the historic Whyte Museum and so much more 🙌
H24-Culture-Champ

The Culture Champion

This award celebrates hostels that go the extra mile to protect and preserve local culture, from featuring Indigenous art on the walls to organising authentic cultural experiences for their guests in partnership with local organisations 🤝

 

The Old House Hostel

San Ignacio, Belize

The bar located just below this hostel isn’t your typical drinking hole – the Belize Soul Project is a cultural hub providing an authentic, immersive ...introduction to Belize’s music and cultural heritage 🎶 Visitors are immersed in Paranda, a distinctive genre of Belizean music performed by The Garifuna Collective, one of the country’s most celebrated music groups. As well as live music, guests can join impromptu jam sessions for a hands-on cultural experience, sample local wines, and browse an art gallery. With local and international cultural exchange at the heart of its mission, this gathering place for emerging and culturally iconic artists connects people through art, music and the spirit of community 🎨  
 

The Marion

Wellington, New Zealand

This boutique hostel is a gateway for travellers seeking authentic cultural experiences. Works from celebrated New Zealand artists have been... specially commissioned for the property, where walls and rooms are adorned with exclusive pieces to preserve and promote local culture and give guests a visual and emotional connection to the country’s rich heritage 🖼️ The hostel also offers free city tours exploring hidden cultural landmarks and interactive workshops led by Wellington-based artists. These workshops offer guests educational hands-on sessions with crafts, poetry, stand-up comedy and more, giving them the opportunity to experience the local culture firsthand 🎭

 

Lagarto na Banana

Pipa, Brazil

Lagarto na Banana's commitment to local culture shines through in many ways. They provide a platform for local artists, musicians and entrepreneurs, a...llowing them to earn from their crafts while enriching guests’ cultural experience 🎹 Language classes are organised for both locals and guests to promote cultural exchange 🗣️ They run a popular annual non-profit festival to celebrate shared values 🎊 Guests can share meaningful exchanges with children from disadvantaged families thanks to a charity partnership 💛 From boat trips to laundry services, the hostel collaborates exclusively with local providers to benefit the local economy and ensure guests have authentic experiences 😍 
 

The Central House Marrakech Medina

Marrakech, Morocco

Guests at Central House Marrakech are immersed in Morocco's rich cultural heritage through a thoughtfully curated programme that connects th...em with local arts and traditions. Supporting young Moroccan entrepreneurs and empowering local women is central to the hostel’s mission – guests can join henna workshops (a business started by two sisters during the pandemic), calligraphy workshops, Sip & Paint sessions focused on Moroccan Islamic art, bike tours (a local NGO training young people in bike repairs and guiding), Moroccan tea ceremonies, and Moroccan cooking classes in partnership with a non-profit. The hostel also hosts female-led DJing workshops and a monthly Marrakech Creator’s Market that highlights local talent 🚲🫖🧑🏽‍🍳

 

Lub d Cambodia Siem Reap

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Supporting local businesses and organisations that create long-term positive impact in communities is a priority for this hostel, which raised $1,261....83 for four organisations in 2024 through a programme of events and social initiatives 💰 Every time guests buy products from the hostel or join hostel activities, they’re helping women, children in schools and hospitals, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community 🌈 From street food tours to local events, all cultural activities are inspired by the local Khmer people. Additionally, the hostel design is Khmer-chic-inspired!