The Best Places to Stay in Paramaribo on a Budget: Reviewed
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I spent hours poring through various websites to find decent affordable accommodation in Suriname’s capital city. And as with all of the Guianas, accommodation choices are limited.
However, if you’re wondering where the best places to stay in Paramaribo on a budget are, I found two good options, and ended up staying in both.
I spent 1 night in Hofste Appartementen before a long journey to Georgetown in Guyana.
After a few days, I returned to Paramaribo for a further 3 days, during which I stayed in Twenty4 Hostel.
These are the only two cheap options in the Surinamese capital which are suitable for budget travellers unless you get lucky and find a Couchsurfing host (they’re very rare out here, most are no longer active) who will let you stay for free.
Other cheap places to stay had no or terrible reviews. Therefore, if you’re looking to travel through the Guianas on a tight budget (something I found to be virtually impossible), then it’s one of these two places that you should stay in.
Below, I will review them both, and you can decide which one takes your fancy ahead of your own Suriname trip.
Twenty4 Hostel: Reviewed
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twenty4 Hostel
✅ Suriname’s only dedicated backpacking hostel
✅ Tours available at reception
✅ Offers helpful advice on getting around Suriname
Pros
Twenty4 Hostel is the only hostel in Suriname that caters to foreign travellers.
It has English-speaking staff, tour information in the common areas, and staff can help you book tours through the hostel. There was a dolphin-spotting tour that caught my eye. Unfortunately it was the wrong season for it and they told me the dolphins weren’t around in early December.
The rooms have lockers in them, and there’s a security guard at night which is necessary since Paramaribo is not a very safe city. A big reason why Suriname became my least-favourite country.
The showers have both hot and cold water. Although I would say hot water isn’t really necessary in humid Paramaribo.
The common area downstairs has spaces to meet other travellers, as well as a kitchen space if you wish to cook.
The Wi-Fi here worked well throughout my entire stay.
It is also well-located, around a 15-minute walk from the central areas which most tourists are likely to visit.
Cons
The hostel is located down a quiet alleyway. At day it’s fine, but I wouldn’t recommend walking out here at night.
There’s a lack of fans inside the hostel. There were two in the common area and was just the one in the room. One selfish guest decided to stop the fan from rotating and angle the fan towards himself every night which wasn’t fun… There isn’t any air conditioning here.
There are mosquito nets on bed, although they aren’t on every bed, and had several holes in them regardless.
There were no privacy curtains on the beds. As someone on the wrong side of 30, I love hostel beds where I can shut myself off from the other people in the room and create my own space. Instead I hung my towel from the top bunk as an alternative.
There are limited plug sockets in the common area, meaning you may be competing with other guests if you wish to charge your devices.
Verdict
Twenty4 Hostel is currently the only dedicated backpacking hostel in Suriname, a country without much of a tourist trail to follow.
If it’s your first time in the country, this is a great place to stay due to the English-speaking staff and tours offered. The staff can help you find your feet in Suriname and you can learn about what to do, and what to avoid.
The staff also gave me accurate information on the bus to Albina which you need to catch if you’re travelling to French Guiana next.
Unless privacy is your number one priority, I would say that Twenty4 Hostel is the best place to stay in Paramaribo on a budget.
Book rooms quickly, as they do sell out. The only reason I didn’t stay here on my first night in Paramaribo is because the cheap dorm rooms sold out weeks in advance.
Hofste Appartementen: Reviewed
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hofste Appartementen
✅ Cheap private rooms
✅ A helpful owner
✅ Fridge and TV in room
Pros
You get your own private room here, and it’s significantly cheaper than any other viable options in Paramaribo.
The owner Leo is friendly and welcoming. He helped me find my way to a legitimate currency exchange shop, which was much needed after being scammed half an hour previously by a dodgy street exchanger.
The location is not too far to the centre, and it’s just a 5-minute walk from Van Sommelsdijck Street, which is where you have a good range of restaurants, each specialising in a different cuisine such as Japanese, Mexican or Turkish.
The room has a small fridge which is useful in Paramaribo, where any chocolate is going to melt the moment you leave the store (slight exaggeration, but only slight).
There’s also a TV in the room if you want to see what Surinamese people watch when they’re relaxing.
Cons
The fan in the room wasn’t the best, and it was still pretty hot and humid, even with the fan on full blast.
The wifi was atrocious. At one point it wouldn’t work for several hours. The following morning when I had a 4am journey to Georgetown, I couldn’t get hold of my taxi driver who was 40 minutes late. I should have done what I do in most countries and bought an Airalo eSIM to ensure I was covered for situations like this.
The mosquito net on the bed had several holes in it, and quite a few bugs came in the room which wasn’t pleasant.
When I first arrived, I was stood outside the front for a while in the blazing heat as there wasn’t a working doorbell, and without internet I couldn’t contact anyone. It was only when Leo noticed me from his balcony that I was able to enter.
Verdict
Hofste Appartementen is definitely a good budget option in Paramaribo. If you want a cheap private room, this should be your number one choice when looking for a place to stay.
Make sure you buy a SIM card before coming here. You cannot rely on the Wi-Fi at this place.
This is a good option if you want your own space complete with a fridge and TV. And the affordability factor makes it one of Paramaribo’s better options.
If you arrive at night without internet, this is not your best option as you will need to be able to contact the owner to get inside.
🏨 Book your stay at Hofste Appartementen before it sells out! 🚨
Twenty4 Hostel vs Hofste Appartementen: Which is Better?
Having stayed in both, I would say that Twenty4 Hostel is better overall, but Hofste Appartementen is by far the best option in Paramaribo for cheap private rooms. Twenty4 Hostel has private rooms, but they aren’t budget-friendly and you might as well splash out on a hotel if you have the money to pay for them.
If privacy is your main concern, this is a big win for Hofste Appartementen. You won’t find a private space for a better price round here.
If you want good internet, Twenty4 Hostel is far better than Hofste Appartementen.
For meeting people, Twenty4 Hostel also wins due to its large common areas, and the fact you can meet people in your dorm room.
For facilities, Twenty4 Hostel is the better option again due to the fact it has a full kitchen and tourist information, as well as the opportunity to book tours with the staff. Also, they sell a few snacks and other items you may need, which can be useful if you need something after dark.
If helpful staff is a key deciding factor for you, it’s a draw. Both places have great staff who speak English and can help with whatever issues you may have.
Ultimately, it’s up to you depending on what matters most when booking budget accommodation.
Personally, I would book a place in Twenty4 Hostel if I returned to Paramaribo any time soon on my own, but would stay in Hofste Appartementen if I came with the missus.
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