We often dream of hopping on a plane to escape Singapore, but when we’re short on time, day trips are the next best option. And with a place like Johor Bahru a stone’s throw away, going over there for cheap food and shopping’s almost a no-brainer.
To cover more ground, you can extend the usual JB day trip to a weekend trip. While hotels in JB are generally cheap, sometimes we just want the cheapest accommodation – after all, all you need is a simple, clean place to stay the night. Take a look at these budget-friendly hostels in JB we’ve sussed out for you to recharge in.
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Check out our guide on getting to JB from Singapore here.
Roof Talk Theme Hostel’s a nautical-themed hostel that comes complete with navy-inspired decor such as replica ship’s wheel, actual model ships, and pillows with anchor designs sewn on them.
Image credit: Booking.com
From $14/night, choose between different cabin designs that include The Navigator Room, Sailor Room, Fisherman Room and Captain Room. The decor changes according to the room, so those staying in the Navigator Room can expect pillows shaped like a ship’s wheel.
Image credit: Expedia
Bathrooms are shared, but you don’t have to worry about that as they’re all clean and spacious.
On top of the free all-day coffee and tea, this place is also a great base camp for retail therapy trips around the AEON Bukit Indah area. A plus point: the Causeway Link bus stop for CW buses is directly outside, so there’s no need to fork out additional cab fare to get to it.
Image credit: Expedia
Book a stay at Roof Talk Theme Hostel.
Rates: from $14 per person
Address: 32, Jalan Bestari 7/2, Taman Nusa Bestari, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 7-244 7158
Double dormitory rooms (Shared Bathroom)
Image credit: Booking.com
If you don’t require too much space, HereHotel.com Dormitory provides you with capsule-style rooms squeezes cubbies, power points, and racks into a single capsule for your convenience from $7/night. Here you’ll find chic-looking single and double dormitory beds with classy wooden partitions.
Single dormitory rooms (Shared Bathroom)
Image credit: Booking.com
This is a no-frills establishment, but that won’t matter too much when all you need is a place to sleep for the night. Nearby malls include Sutera Mall and Paradigm Mall, both of which are located in one of the hotspots for shopping trips for Singaporeans.
Book a stay at HereHotel Dormitory.
Rates: from $17 per person
Address: 45 Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2 Taman Sutera Utama 81300 , 81300 Skudai, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 7-244 2945
Image credit: Booking.com
You’ll find Double K Hostel Johor Bahru after a short 5 minute walk from Larkin Bus Terminal, which Singapore’s SBS bus 170 ends up at. The cheapest dorm rooms are priced at $8/night, while private rooms will set you back by $20/night.
Image credit: Booking.com
Private rooms come with unique art adorning the walls – some of them are simple white rooms with cartoon doodles, while other rooms come in vibrant shades of purple and orange, with illustrations of local delicacies like otak-otak and nasi ambeng.
Lounge area
Image credit: @nazri.arshad
You’ll get access to free mineral water bottles and a free-for-all breakfast at the lounge area including drinks, bread, and various spreads – perfect for some pre-shopping fuel.
If you’re driving down, make use of their carpark that’s free for guests. You can easily drive over to KSL City, which is just 10 minutes away
Book a stay at Double K Hostel Johor Bahru.
Rates: from $20 per person
Address: 31, 1, Jalan Dataran 1, Larkin, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 7-232 8299
Image credit: Beacon Inn
Sometimes getting out of the country doesn’t feel enough. To jet yourself out of this world, book a room over at Beacon Inn from just $16/night. Between the neon purple lights and futuristic-looking controls, you might get the feeling that you’re sailing through the stars in a spaceship.
Each of them is decked out with a power plug, a mirror, and a control system that allows you to adjust the intensity of the lighting.
Aside from those futuristic space pods, there are also the typical single and double rooms if you want a little more privacy.
Image credit: @creamery_jb
The hostel is surrounded by many cafes, such as Creamery Boutique Ice Creams JB and Boss Toast – so it’ll be ideal to throw a short cafe-hopping adventure into your itinerary. AEON Tebrau City is just a 10 minute drive away.
Book a stay at Beacon Inn.
Rates: from $16 per person
Address: 20-01/02 Jalan Austin Heights 8/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia.
Telephone: +60 7-364 5145
Image credit: Guesthouse Johor
For a place away from your usual touristy spots like JB Central, Guesthouse Johor is situated further up north in the heart of the Taman Damansara area. That puts you right in between Capital City mall as well as Kilang Bateri, the quirky container market perfect for fashionistas looking to spruce up their wardrobes.
All the rooms here are private rooms that have a cosy, homely vibe – just right for a family stay. Private bathrooms are available for rooms on the more expensive end.
Image credit: @guesthousejohor
It comes ready with free breakfast to provide you with some food to power you through the rest of your day. There’s also a communal kitchen equipped with stoves and a fridge, which you can make use of the late-night hunger pangs come knocking.
Rates: from $24 per person
Address: 8, Jalan Aliff Harmoni 2/3, Taman Damansara Aliff, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 19-779 0664
Book your stay at GuestHouse Johor.
The thought of exchanging wedding vows in a hostel would probably never cross your mind, but at BukitIndah-YESIDo-R.O.M Chapel, that’s exactly what you can do. It comes with a garden, a pool, 6 bedrooms, and a chapel that you can hold your ceremonies in, so it’s essentially a one-stop location for that dream wedding of yours.
Image credit: Booking.com
Most rooms here are private rooms, but there are two dorm-like ones that can fit 4 people each. Don’t fret if you’re not here to tie the knot – from $23/night, you can still book a room for yourself without holding a wedding here.
Image credit: Booking.com
This chapel-hostel can be found just north of AEON Bukit Indah, which you can reach within a 15min drive.
Double Room with Private Bathroom
Image credit: Booking.com
Book a stay at BukitIndah – Yesido-R.O.M Chapel.
Rates: from $8 per person
Address: Jalan Bestari 15/4, Taman Nusa Bestari, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 17-783 7738
Look for Memory Guesthouse JB if you want to soak in some kampung vibes. It’s a short 10 minute drive away from JBCIQ, and is a favourite amongst backpackers looking for a cheap place to stay.
Image credit: Booking.com
From $8/night, most rooms are dormitory-style, but there are also private rooms available if you prefer to keep to yourself.
If you’re up for mixing around, there’s an outdoor common area where you can hang out with people from all over the world. It might not be fancy, but it’s a chill spot with nostalgic old furniture – much like what you’d find at your grandparents’ house.
Image credit: Booking.com
Instead of calling up a cab or a Grab, opt to explore the neighbouring streets on a bike that you can borrow from the owners. It’s available on a first-come first-served basis, so borrow it early!
Book a stay at Memory Guesthouse JB.
Rates: from $8 per person
Address: 2H, Jalan Inche Besar Zubaidah, Kampung Mahmoddiah, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 17-783 7738
Image credit: Booking.com
If your idea of a long-weekend trip involves swinging by multiple states, a short rest over at the airport can cut down on the time you’d normally need to get from place to place. Rest up at one of these capsules over at UZ Airport Capsule Hotel for just $19/night at Senai Airport so you won’t have to drag yourself out of bed at an ungodly hour to catch your flight to another state like Kuala Lumpur.
With a futuristic design and neon lights, this high-tech hotel is reminiscent of a pod aboard a rocket ship. Each capsule comes complete with a digital safe system and your own TV channel for you to peruse whenever you’re bored.
Rates: from $19 per person
Address: Lot 3&4, Jalan Terminal 2, Senai International Airport, 81400 Senai, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 19-666 8851
Book your stay at UZ Airport Capsule Hotel.
Image credit: Booking.com
Warm Blanket Hostel is nothing fancy, but with prices starting from just $16/night, it provides a cheap, cosy abode for you to recharge amidst your JB adventures. After all, all you need is a clean, convenient base camp for your shopping adventures.
Standard Twin Room
Image credit: Warm Blanket Hostel
You’ll find that all the rooms come in simple no-frill designs, with a feature wall adding a touch of colour.
It’s right at the edge of the Bukit Indah neighbourhood, meaning that AEON Bukit Indah is just a short drive away. Those who enjoy theme parks can also take the opportunity to visit Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Legoland, which are just a 10 minute drive away.
Book a stay at Warm Blanket Hostel.
Rates: from $20 per person
Address: 20, Jalan Indah 25/16, Taman Bukit Indah 2, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 7-244 2945
Sometimes a day trip just doesn’t give us enough time to cover all the places we’d like, which prompts us to look for a convenient place to spend the night. And amidst all the cheap shopping and food, there are loads of cheap hostels in JB that are comfortable and clean, allowing you to get a good night’s rest with peace of mind.
Check out our other JB-related articles here:
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