Bala Backpackers Hostel
7.2
Very Good(35 reviews)
32 Tegid St, Bala LL23 7EL, United Kingdom
+44 1678 521700
Hotel Description
Bala Backpackers Hostel is a charming and vibrant accommodation nestled in the scenic town of Bala, situated at 32 Tegid St, Bala LL23 7EL, United Kingdom. This welcoming hostel offers guests a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure with its ideal location, just a 13-minute walk from Bala Lake, one of the most picturesque natural attractions in the area. The town itself is rich in outdoor activities, and guests can enjoy the surrounding landscapes, including the stunning views of the nearby mountains. The hostel is also conveniently located near a variety of local amenities, with a range of restaurants, shops, and the famous Bala Lake Railway all within easy reach.
The hostel features a range of comfortable rooms, some of which come with kitchen facilities including a refrigerator, microwave, and kitchenware, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer to prepare their meals. The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly, reflecting the spirit of the town. Rooms are designed with the comfort of travelers in mind, offering cozy spaces for guests to relax after a day of exploration. Some rooms are equipped with showers, providing additional convenience.
Bala Backpackers Hostel is packed with special amenities designed to enhance your stay. Guests can enjoy access to a refreshing outdoor pool, complete with a water slide and a lifeguard on duty, making it a great choice for families with children. The hotel also features a sauna, bicycle rental service, and watercraft rentals for those seeking adventure. For the more leisurely traveler, there is a boutique shopping area, a hair salon, and a full-service laundry on-site.
Transportation options are abundant, with convenient access to public transit, including a walking distance to several key locations in Bala, such as the White Lion and Ysgol y Berwen. The nearest airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, is about 1 hour 37 minutes away by taxi, ensuring guests can easily travel in and out of the area. For those coming by train, Bala Lake Railway is just 11 minutes away, offering a charming and scenic ride through the surrounding countryside.
Health and safety are top priorities at Bala Backpackers Hostel. The property is smoke-free, ensuring a clean and fresh environment, and the pool area is supervised by a qualified lifeguard. The hostel provides a variety of essential services, including baggage storage, housekeeping, and 24-hour front desk assistance, making your stay as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Nearby, visitors can engage in a variety of exciting outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and a range of water sports at Bala Lake. The National White Water Centre, located just 7 minutes away, offers thrilling white water rafting experiences. Additionally, visitors can explore the beautiful Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall or take a scenic walk along the shores of Lake Vyrnwy.
For dining, guests can enjoy a wide range of nearby restaurants, including Plas Yn Dre, Y Cyfnod Cafe & Bistro, and Bala Spice, all offering delicious meals within a minute’s walk from the hostel. Whether you’re craving traditional British fare, Italian, or Indian cuisine, there is something to satisfy every palate.
Bala Backpackers Hostel invites you to experience the warmth and beauty of this scenic Welsh town, combining comfort and adventure in a stunning setting. Whether you’re here for the outdoor activities or simply to unwind and enjoy the local culture, Bala Backpackers Hostel is your perfect base. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
The hostel features a range of comfortable rooms, some of which come with kitchen facilities including a refrigerator, microwave, and kitchenware, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer to prepare their meals. The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly, reflecting the spirit of the town. Rooms are designed with the comfort of travelers in mind, offering cozy spaces for guests to relax after a day of exploration. Some rooms are equipped with showers, providing additional convenience.
Bala Backpackers Hostel is packed with special amenities designed to enhance your stay. Guests can enjoy access to a refreshing outdoor pool, complete with a water slide and a lifeguard on duty, making it a great choice for families with children. The hotel also features a sauna, bicycle rental service, and watercraft rentals for those seeking adventure. For the more leisurely traveler, there is a boutique shopping area, a hair salon, and a full-service laundry on-site.
Transportation options are abundant, with convenient access to public transit, including a walking distance to several key locations in Bala, such as the White Lion and Ysgol y Berwen. The nearest airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, is about 1 hour 37 minutes away by taxi, ensuring guests can easily travel in and out of the area. For those coming by train, Bala Lake Railway is just 11 minutes away, offering a charming and scenic ride through the surrounding countryside.
Health and safety are top priorities at Bala Backpackers Hostel. The property is smoke-free, ensuring a clean and fresh environment, and the pool area is supervised by a qualified lifeguard. The hostel provides a variety of essential services, including baggage storage, housekeeping, and 24-hour front desk assistance, making your stay as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Nearby, visitors can engage in a variety of exciting outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and a range of water sports at Bala Lake. The National White Water Centre, located just 7 minutes away, offers thrilling white water rafting experiences. Additionally, visitors can explore the beautiful Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall or take a scenic walk along the shores of Lake Vyrnwy.
For dining, guests can enjoy a wide range of nearby restaurants, including Plas Yn Dre, Y Cyfnod Cafe & Bistro, and Bala Spice, all offering delicious meals within a minute’s walk from the hostel. Whether you’re craving traditional British fare, Italian, or Indian cuisine, there is something to satisfy every palate.
Bala Backpackers Hostel invites you to experience the warmth and beauty of this scenic Welsh town, combining comfort and adventure in a stunning setting. Whether you’re here for the outdoor activities or simply to unwind and enjoy the local culture, Bala Backpackers Hostel is your perfect base. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
The Most Outstanding Trait
1. 13-minute walk to Bala Lake with picturesque views
2. One of the few hotels in the area with a pool and waterslide
3. Lifeguard on duty for added safety at the pool
4. Bicycle and watercraft rental available for outdoor activities
5. On-site restaurant offering local and international cuisine
6. Close proximity to major attractions like Bala Lake Railway and the National White Water Centre
7. Family-friendly accommodations with convenient amenities like microwaves and refrigerators
8. Convenient transportation options with walking distance to key spots in Bala
9. Nearby dining options including British, Italian, and Indian restaurants
10. Smoke-free property with a focus on guest safety and comfort
8.4 Excellent
Location rating
Top sights
Llyn Tegid
7 min
Bala Lake Railway11 min
National White Water Centre7 min
Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall46 min
Lake Vyrnwy33 min
Nearest locations
Plas Yn Dre
1 min
Y Cyfnod Cafe & Bistro1 min
Old Wives' Tales1 min
Bala Spice1 min
Badell Aur Restaurant1 min
Cwrt1 min
Star Kebab House1 min
The New China1 min
See more Interesting locations
Good to know
| Check-in | 17:00 |
| Check-out | 10:00 |
| Location rating | 8.4 |
| Nearest airport | Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
| Travel time to airport | 1 hr 37 min |
Recommended properties nearby
Location
32 Tegid St, Bala LL23 7EL, United Kingdom
Airports:
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Taxi: 1 hr 37 min
Transit:
Ysgol y Berwen
Walking: 8 min
White Lion
Walking: 2 min
Leisure Centre
Walking: 7 min
Y Badell Aur
Walking: 4 min
Olde Bull's Head
Walking: 3 min
Nearby locations
8.4
Excellent Location
Top Attractions
Top Restaurants
Amenities and Facilities
Activities
Bicycle rental
Golf
Horseback riding
Watercraft rental
Boutique shopping
Languages spoken
English
Accessibility
Not accessible
Food & drink
Restaurant
Breakfast
Wellness
No fitness center
Sauna
No spa
Hair salon
Pools
Pool
Waterslide
Lifeguard
No hot tub
Rooms
No air conditioning
Kitchen in some rooms
Refrigerator in some rooms
Microwave in some rooms
Pets
No pets
Parking & transportation
Parking
Services
Front desk
Baggage storage
Convenience store
Full-service laundry
Gift shop
Housekeeping
Turndown service
Policies & payments
Smoke-free property
Credit cards
Debit cards
Cash
Checks
Bathrooms
Shower in some rooms
Children
Activities for kids
Internet
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi in public areas
Public internet workstation
Reviews
100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo
7.6
10 reviews
Wonderful
6
Excellent
1
Good
0
Below Average
1
Not Good
2
DS
Dan S
5/5
Great place to stay in Bala! We had a peaceful and enjoyable time. ||The owner, Stella, is very welcoming and super helpful. The hostel was very clean and tidy on arrival. Clean sheets will be provided if you forget your own. …
N
Nomad65715971622
1/5
For £25 per night I would expect a basic, clean and friendly hostel. This hostel, I can only consider to be basic. It is unclean and the host Stella was rather passive aggressive in her approach to communicating with hosts. …
lh
lara h
5/5
Traditional hostel - great value for money, homely, well organised and equipped in a quiet part of Bala town. Close to lake for swimming paddleboarding, sailing. Peaceful atmosphere in and out. …
Lars Strohbeck
5/5
We had a fabulous stay at Bala back-packers, and the facilities were excellent and easy to use.Stella was very welcoming and showed us around the hostel and helped us out.The owner was very thorough on hygiene and provided us with sheets as we did not bring our own.
Zachary Jones
1/5
This hostel was hugely disappointing all round and there are so many negative points, i need to number them below:1) The host was unprofessional. She didn’t provide much information about check-in/parking before our stay. She did mentioned that check-in time was from 4pm onwards, however, she wasn’t there when we arrived. We understand that she was hosting a sailing activity at the lake, however, we would expect her to call or text us to let us know she would be delayed. We were left waiting by the hostel entrance for quite some time and made a number of attempts to call her. On arriving to meet us, late, the host made a remark about all of our calls as if we had somehow inconvenienced her.2) We spent an extra £3 to get ‘clean bedding’ on our beds. This turned out to be a thin linen sack in which you’re supposed to sleep. The idea is that the sack is clean and will prevent you from making contact with, what sounded like (from discussion with the host), a potentially unwashed mattress, pillow and duvet. It didn’t seem very hygienic and i didn’t sleep very well at all.3) We parked outside the hostel on the road. The host stated that we couldn’t park on the road and must park in the car park behind a nearby restaurant. At this point I couldn’t drive because I had had a pint (waiting for the host to arrive, late), and because the host hadn’t communicated any of this information until our arrival, our car had to be left on the street. We were made to feel like this would inconvenience all of the neighbouring residences.4) Security in the hostel is poor. There were no lockable storage chests in the rooms for each guest, and during busy times the front door to the hostel would be pinned open. This effectively means that any person from outside the hostel could walk in and potentially burgle your valuables from your rooms.5) The price is actually fairly expensive for what you’re getting. I was with a party of 4 and we paid £25 each for our room and £3 each for our “sack”. There are plenty of hotels in North Wales (chain or otherwise) where £112 (£28 x 4) could get you two double rooms. Even if i look at the price of other hostels in Cardiff (which I would expect to be more expensive), they are markedly cheaper at £15-£20.6) If you would like a sneak peak at the host’s unpleasant behaviour , I suggest you read some of her responses to other negative reviews on trip advisor or Google (you can see her response to my own review for evidence).
Kirran Lochhead Strang
5/5
I stayed at Bala Backpackers for a night in June. Everything was great! The owner was welcoming and interesting, there were a few other guests there who kept themselves to themselves, and the hostel itself does everything it says on the tin and is a nice building. I had a fantastic stay in Bala, the owner gave me some pointers to start exploring based on the interests I talked about, which was awesome, and I'd be happy to stay there again. The hostel's really close to the main street of the Bala and also not far from the lake. Has a good kitchen, facilities, etc. Some other reviews have commented about all the signs - they're fine, you read them and you know where you stand! Nothing wrong with a place having some personality :D Diolch yn fawr am popeth.
mw
murphys w
5/5
We stayed 1 night passing through Bala on our way to Barmouth. Had a room to ourselves which was lovely and warm considering it was freezing outside. …
E
EosOlympus72
2/5
The word that springs to mind here is 'dirty' - the dusty, grimy kitchen and the dirty, broken toilets and random toothbrushes etc. of long-departed guests gave a very bad first impression. …
AK
Anthony K
5/5
I spent three nights here in August 2020, because I needed a fix of mountains and Bala-Backpackers seemed to be the only place in Wales with cheap accommodation available for solo travellers in the days of Covid; and I came back for another …
Jenny Weston
4/5
The owner was very accommodating and her communication was excellent, she allowed us to book in last minute and saved us a unpleasant time camping in the rain. Shared facilities are as you would expect in a hostel. The room was very spacious, clean, quiet and comfy beds.