Zostel Varkala - Backpacker Hostel in Varkala - Thiruvananthapuram, India

The place was pretty and amazing! Very near to main tourist spots. Clean and beautiful. Amazing staffs and very helpful. Would highly recommend if you're looking for a affordable stay and also looking to meet and socialize with new people.

Stayed at Zostel Varkala recently, the place had a lively vibe and the location was great. Met a lot of interesting people during my 3 day stay and also explored the town. The rooftop restaurant had great food for reasonable prices as well. A special shout out to Mohammed at the reception for helping me out with all my needs.

Had a lovely stay at zostel in valkala. The rooms are really clean and there is a nice cafe on the roof. As well as this all the staff have been helpful particularly the lady who has advised on what to do and where to go. Our stay has been very enjoyable thank you

Bad service, receptionist was threatening to leave the hotel before 10am or they will charge one more night extra. Standard private room was not having geyser. Cafeteria food was overpriced and bad in taste.

Dead Vibe. Felt unwelcomed, bad hospitality. Amazing cafe location, but bad music killed the vibe. Property not maintained properly. Wouldn't even adjust ac temperatures, ac remotes not provided on request. Charges extra for blanket. Zero interaction. Bad management. Had plans to stay for a week, but checked-out the next day and moved to another property.

If only I could give more than 5.. From location, to views, and to hospitality by Zostel volunteer Atrayee, everything is perfect. Lastly, my only apprehension was hygiene when staying in a shared dorm, but actually, it was cleaner than even private rooms of other places!

The only pros of the stay was it's proximity to the beach and other tourist places .Food was good too However coming to the cons ,we had booked an all female dorm.They don't have a lock for the rooms because they said that's how dorms are. This would've been acceptable if they had a female attendant for the all female dorms . The male attendants lacked the common sense and courtesy to respect the privacy and safety of those staying in these dorms . They wouldn't knock and wait for us to let them in and would just barge into these rooms. This is such an invasion of privacy . Zostel enforces so many rules on its residents asking us to not wear slippers in the common area and respect the privacy of those staying with us in the dorms whereas they cannot do the same. It's my sincere suggestion to atleast have a female attendant for the female dorms or come up with an alternative to ensure the privacy and safety of women especially staying in these dorms.

This Zostel had the best views and food out of all the others, in my experience! I could just spend all afternoon lazing under the sun, enjoying the view without getting bored. Huge thanks to Manu for the delicious food that I was fed and Aatreyi for all the wonderful recommendations of things to do and places to eat at in Varkala. The location of the hostel is amazing. It's walking distance to the beach and a lot of delicious restaurants and eateries. Do ask the reception for recommendations. The people there are super helpful and friendly. The rooms are clean and spacious with access to hot water 24/7. And there was ample amount of space for people to sit and chill outside of the dorms. The terrace had the most breath-taking views. I would also recommend getting an Ayurvedic Massage, if you're staying Varkala and have a bit of time in your hands. You could also try out sunrise Surfing, if you're into water sports. Bonus: Don't miss out the fun parties at Sandy Bay!