During the rainy season, Nha Trang, Vietnam, has 4 star and 5 star hotel rooms available at very low price.

For CAD $18 I stayed in the Summer Hotel. 4 Stars. Excellent breakfast buffet.

Next day I caught the bus up into the highlands ➙ a hill station called Da Lat.

There I stayed in a private room in the most popular hostel ➙ Dalat Family Hostel.

One Canadian has been living at the hostel for the past year. Less expensive than Edmonton, he told me.

I paid CAD $13.30 for a minimal private room. No TV. No window. No breakfast.

Cost-wise, both are about the same relative to my travel budget.

BUT my 4 star hotel room was boring. Like almost every hotel room at every price range.

The front desk was not very helpful. I went to a popular hostel down the street to get information and book my tour.

By comparison, within 10 minutes of arriving at Dalat Family Hostel I had my day tour booked. My onward night sleeper bus reservation made. AND I had signed up for a fun communal hostel dinner.

I left a review:

Unforgettable, fun hostel.

Scored 9.0

Advice on tours and bus. My 3 waterfalls tour on bike was excellent. Hostel is an entertaining maze of unique areas including weight room and pool. Great social dinners.

Not boring. 😀