Backpacking in Singapore🇸🇬: Staying at the Green Kiwi Hostel in Bugis

I was recently back in good old Singapore and I loved it. It was a sentimental journey as you might have read. This time, I had the choice of staying in a budget backpacking hostel dorm like my roots or my own room in a four star hotel. I am so glad I opted to remain loyal to my roots of backpacking.

It was my fourth visit to Singapore and therefore I had “ticked off” most of the key sights in the past including the Singapore Sling in The Long Bar at Raffles and the Night Safari. This time I was reminiscing and chilling out, if that is at all possible in the intense heat of this roaring city, country and island (s).

I decided to stay in the Green Kiwi Hostel. They have two cool locations, one at Bugis and one at Lavender. I opted to stay in Bugis which is slightly closer to a lot of the main sights. The area of Bugis is also like an Arabic area, with places like Baghdad Street, Turkish restaurants and the impressive Sultan Mosque (step outside the door of the hostel and it’s right there!).

If you are a new backpacker and coming to Singapore, I highly recommend you stay at the Green Kiwi Hostel, here are five reasons why.

1. Free Breakfast
The free breakfast includes fruit (dragon fruit, watermelon, orange during my stay) as well as toast (choice of jams, spreads etc.), tea and coffee. A really good breakfast to get you ready for walking in the intense heat! When you consider the prices of things in Singapore – this is a really good deal.

2. Fast WiFi
Sometimes backpacking in Asia isn’t great for keeping touch with friends and family, or going on social media, or for writing your travel blog. But the WiFi here is fast. Works in the rooms and downstairs, so it’s also a good place to stay if you have some Skype-ing or some blogging to do. If you travel without a phone or laptop – no sweat – they have an internet station.

3. Lockers
It’s always important to have security as a backpacker – so lock your valuables in the free lockers while you explore the country. You can also leave your bags after you check out, which is pretty useful if you want to get the night train to Malaysia.

4. Cool Location
As I mentioned you are in the Arabic area, but there is a MRT close by (Bugis and Lavender are both close in fact) and you can easily walk to Clarke Quay, the Merlion, Raffles Hotel etc. Airport is only about half an hour away on the MRT (but they stop running at 11.30 pm ish).

5. Cheap
You’ll have heard that Singapore is dearer than the countries around it and really – it’s true so save as much as you can. You only need a bed and a shower in reality, so save some cash on accommodation by staying here. Dorm beds from $22 Singapore Dollars!

I should also add there is air conditioning in the rooms, tidy and clean bathroom facilities, tours and information as well as laundry. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. So all in all this is the place to stay if you are backpacking through Singapore.

Here are the details for booking:

1. Green Kiwi, Lavender:
   280A Lavender Street, Singapore 338800
2. Green Kiwi Bugis:
   55 Bussorah Street, Bugis, Singapore, 199471
   (formerly called the Sleepy Kiwi by the way)

Here is a video I made at breakfast in the Green Kiwi hostel in Singapore: