Don Det · Laos
EasyGo Backpackers
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Didn’t stay one night because it looked as though it had bed bugs and we didn’t want to take the risk. Toilets were unclean and smelly. Only used them once. Booked at a guesthouse in a better location for a good price.
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Vibe Analysis
The small riverside beach area is the thing to notice first: EasyGo Backpackers gives Don Det a cheap, barefoot base for sunset, Mekong-side lounging, and slow island days. It is rustic rather than polished, with a chilled common area, restaurant, bar, pool table, bike rental, and easy access to kayak tours or onward transport. The social side can work well here, especially for no-fuss backpackers who want to meet people without being in the busiest strip. The family running the place often seems warm and helpful, and Elodie appears to be a real bright spot. Food and shakes are a recurring strength, with low prices, good portions, and specific wins like mango shakes, garlic bread, pumpkin burger, Ka Pow, and cheap beers. Rooms are simple. Private bungalows seem better value and more comfortable than the dorms, while dorms are very basic, hot, and usually fan-cooled. There is no air-con, hot water is generally absent, mosquito nets may be provided, and the whole setup fits island-budget logic more than comfort-hostel logic. The location is calm but inconvenient for anyone who wants to be close to the pier, bars, or main village. Walking can take around 15-25 minutes, the road may feel dark at night, and bikes make the place much easier to use. This is best for cheap, social, rough-edged island mode, not for tidy facilities or a frictionless check-in-and-sleep machine.
Signals to check
- No air-con, and dorms can get very hot even with fans.
- Hot water is generally absent, and water pressure can be weak.
- Bathrooms, floors, mosquito nets, lockers, and bedding can be inconsistent.
- The hostel is a walk from the pier and main village; the road can feel dark or awkward at night.
- Laundry, transport bookings, bike condition, and booking handling have had occasional serious problems.
- Bugs are part of the rural island setup, and mosquito nets may have holes.