Bandar Seri Begawan · Brunei
Co.Living Hostel Kiulap
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Hostelworld
This hostel is very average, nothing much going on, have to check in via WhatsApp and can only communicate with staff via that too. Was bed bug spray in the bathroom which was alarming but I couldn’t see any evidence of bugs. No lockers available. This place is about 40 minute walk from the centre, buses are very unreliable and there is no uber/grab
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Vibe Analysis
Co.Living Hostel Kiulap is a basic budget base in Kiulap, better suited to a short Brunei stop than a social hostel trip. The area has plenty of cheap food nearby, with Indian, Chinese, Malay, Western, kopitiam, and Ayamku-style options close around the block. Bus access may help, including routes near the hostel, though the main sights are still a long walk away. An electric piano sits in the small living area, which gives the place one small oddball detail beyond the usual bed-and-shower setup. There is also free drinking water, a fridge, microwave, small kitchen or kitchenette space, and simple room setups with AC in some rooms, plugs, Wi-Fi, towels, blankets, privacy curtains on some beds, and private rooms that can be more comfortable than the dorms. This is not a reliable hangout hostel. It can be very quiet, sometimes almost empty, and the atmosphere is more functional than fun. Check-in and help often run through WhatsApp, with limited or no reception presence, which can be smooth for simple arrivals but messy when anything goes wrong.
Signals to check
- Bathroom standards are inconsistent, with repeated problems around flooding, cleanliness, broken sinks, hot water, and too few toilets for the hostel.
- No lockers are a recurring issue, and room or front-door security may feel weak.
- Dorms can be cramped, beds may be noisy or uncomfortable, and some bunks have awkward privacy-curtain or ladder issues.
- Staff and owner communication can be difficult, with multiple serious complaints about rude, aggressive, or unhelpful handling through WhatsApp.
- The location works well for food, but the main tourist sights are not right nearby.