Welcome to Ola Hostel in Manila, and I really liked this hostel. Sometimes, you get proper basic facilities, and that’s exactly what happened here. The room was good and spacious, with an attached bathroom. They have a rooftop bar and café, a cosy common area, and while there’s no open kitchen, the staff is always there to help. The hostel is easy to reach from anywhere, right on the main street, so all the basics were solid.

What really stood out were three things:

1. Free welcome drink — alcohol or juice, whatever you prefer.

2. Free breakfast — included eggs, bread with butter/jam, coffee, and tea (with milk powder if you want). Amazing!

3. The staff’s understanding — I arrived around 2–2:30 AM, but my check-in was only in the afternoon (1–2 PM). The guy at the hostel gave me proper space in the common area to sleep with a pillow, blanket, and AC. This kind of understanding is exactly what backpackers sometimes hope for, because not every place gets it.

I had a great time here, and if you book this hostel, I hope you have an amazing stay too!