Perhaps no city in the Southern hemisphere is more famous for its delicious Malbec wine than Mendoza, Argentina. People from all over the world flock here in search of glass (or two) of that sweet sweet nectar of the gods.
In addition to the outlying hills being covered in sprawling vineyards and wineries, Mendoza is the pulsing beat of culture in Argentina’s Northern wine region. It is simply an awesome place to come backpacking.
So where do all those backpackers find budget accommodation?
Which hostels are the best hostels in Mendoza, Argentina?
In Mendoza, you come across every type of traveler. With that demographic comes every type of accommodation in turn. So how does one sort out cheap digs in Mendoza?
To answer these important question I bring you the ultimate guide to the best hostels in Mendoza for 2024!
This hostel guide provides you with all the information you need to book the right hostel 100% stress-free, so you can get back to exploring this fascinating (and inebriating) part of Argentina. Vamos!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Mendoza, Argentina
- Overall Best Hostel in Mendoza – Hostel Windmill
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Mendoza – Hostel Lao
- Best Cheap Hostel in Mendoza – Hostel Internacional Campo Base
- Best Hostel for Couples in Mendoza – Hostel Alamo
- Best Party Hostel in Mendoza – Hostel Internacional Mendoza
The 10 Best Hostels in Mendoza, Argentina
If you’re backpacking Argentina, visiting Mendoza might not come to your mind straight away. But it’s definitely a beautiful city that is worth exploring – especially if you love wine!
Hostel Windmill – Overall Best Hostel in Mendoza
The super friendly staff at Hostel Windmill actually take pains to make sure everyone staying here gets to meet each other and gets along. That alone surely is grounds for being the overall best hostel in Mendoza in 2024. But, no, there’s more: the atmosphere is amazing, everyone is really nice, and what’s more the music actually stops at 11pm. So you can actually get some sleep – major plus. The beds are really comfortable, and there’s a very decent free breakfast on offer, too. Also CHEAP. Not hard to see why, though basic, this ultra-friendly place is the best hostel in Mendoza.
Hostel Lao – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Mendoza
Made by travellers for travellers, Hostel Lao is the misleading name of this best hostel for solo travellers in Mendoza. The vibe here is super chilled, the staff are super nice, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet and hang out with new people. New like-minded people, as well, which is always nice. The dorms are very cheap, there’s a great outdoors area to chill in, there are regular BBQs, the traditional-esque decor of the place is a nice touch, too. Wanna meet some new friends? We’d say go here.
Hostel Internacional Campo Base – Best Cheap Hostel in Mendoza #1
Cheap! Very cheap! And for the location, central Mendoza, you can’t get much better for the price. That’s why it’s the best cheap hostel in Mendoza. But location aside, tours in the surrounding area can be arranged through the hostel itself, which is super convenient. Learning is fun! People are also fun, and the atmosphere here is nice and sociable – the staff organise nights where fellow travellers can meet and mingle with some food and drink. So you get all of this for a bargain. Watching the pennies whilst in Argentina? This Mendoza backpackers hostel is a great shout.
Mora International Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Mendoza #2
Budget hostel in Mendoza, you say? Here’s one. It’s called Mora International Hostel and it’s a 2-block walk from the main street in Mendoza, so you’ll be placing yourself well to explore the city from here. The hostel itself is nice, the staff are friendly, the garden is a chilled place for breakfast, coffee or a beer, the dorms and rooms are clean, and generally it’s got a very homely atmosphere that often comes with a hostel. Not the best hostel in Mendoza, but still a solid choice – especially if you’re more about chill than party.
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View on Osprey View on REIHostel Alamo – Best Hostel for Couples in Mendoza
Designed in 1944 by local architect Daniel Ramos Correa, this is a former family home converted into a Mendoza backpackers hostel. As such, as you might expect, it’s very pretty. The gardens are all full of plants and stuff, it’s all very green and lush, and the house itself is great – feels homely, y’know? As a result, it’s the best hostel for couples in Mendoza – the two private rooms here are very nice indeed and offer a nice slice of privacy in what feels totally like a private residence. Feels like an exclusive getaway… a little bit anyway. It’s nice, and couples will deffo love it.
Hostel Internacional Mendoza – Best Party Hostel in Mendoza
This is the sort of place where you might be planning to go out for the night, but you end up staying in because it’s too fun to leave the party. Yep, Hostel Internacional Mendoza is that sort of place. People come for a few days, stay for a few weeks, simply because it’s fun! FUN! To help with the party atmosphere there are social games like pool table and foosball, which are a great accompaniment to drinking with people you’ve just met. But yes, the best party hostel in Mendoza by a long-shot. Though others are sociable, the party is STRONG at this one. Oh – and it’s also one of the cheapest!
Gorilla Hostel Mendoza – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Mendoza
As someone who travels around working with a laptop, there’s a few things you want from a hostel: firstly, you don’t want a dead atmosphere – that’s just depressing; next, price, since you’re working you can afford to splash out a little; and finally, a bit of privacy, a bit of style – after a dozen dirty hostels, you want some privacy. That’s why Gorilla Hostel feels like the best hostel for digital nomads in Mendoza. The private room is stylish, the dorms are pretty cool too, the common areas are V large, meaning lots of space to sit and work/chill (plus meet people). There’s also a nice pool to cool off in too. Book us in!
Hostel Suites Mendoza – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Mendoza
The decor at Hostel Suites Mendoza is really really retro, but in a sort of modern way: think oranges and limes and those sorts of colours, and 1960s-style lampshades and things like that. It’s a little basic, so it’s not the coolest hostel in Mendoza, but it is (especially for the price of them) the best hostel with a private room in Mendoza. So the affordability is definitely a plus here. The dorms aren’t the cheapest, but still budget-friendly. Couple with a decent location, a substantial free breakfast, AC, and friendly staff, and here’s another top hostel in Mendoza. Seriously, good luck choosing between them all.
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It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Mendoza, Argentina
Some neighborhoods are more fun than others – discover which are the best areas to stay in Mendoza and then book the right hostel!
Lemon Tree Hostel
Pricey for a Mendoza backpackers hostel, but then again Lemon Tree does look pretty cool. It’s got a big garden, a swimming pool, plenty of places to chill – including old vans and buses that you can sit in for the lols, live music, rooms with murals themed on The Simpsons (yes), amongst other things. So there’s that. However, you should be aware that it’s about a 25-minute taxi ride from the town centre. On the other hand, you’re closer to the wineries and thermal springs. Decisions decisions. But for a chilled time, if you’ve got the budget, this is (possibly) the coolest hostel in Mendoza for your money.
Chill Inn Mendoza
Relatively pricey (though still easily affordable) for a youth hostel in Mendoza, the Chill Inn basically says everything you need to know in its name. It’s chill. What did you expect – a non-chilled place? But! The chill may have seeped into the housekeeping since some of the beds and stuff are showing some wear and tear. Fine if you’re not expecting luxury, not fine if you can’t deal with that. However, the location is the main thing here: you’re paying to be downtown, and it’s a decent price to pay for a decent location, as long as you’re happy with the slightly basic style of this top hostel in Mendoza. In any case it is a great spot to enjoy the tasty wine of the region.
What to Pack for your Mendoza Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Mendoza
Alas, the time has come for me to send you on your travelin’ way: this is the end of my guide to the best hostels in Mendoza.
I know that with the insider info you now posses, you can book your hostel based on what you look for in budget place to stay.
Backpacking Argentina is a fabulous time, and Mendoza really embodies many of the things I love about this country. The hospitality in Mendoza is second to none, so where ever you decide to book, be prepared for a warm welcome!
If you are still having trouble deciding where to book, no worries. Too many choices can be overwhelming! If you are in doubt about where to stay, the easy choice is to go with my top pick for best overall hostel in Mendoza: Hostel Windmill.
Better to save the complicated decisions for the wine shop eh? Happy travels guys!
One more thing, don’t forget to check out the festivals in Argentina, one of the best in right here in Mendoza.
FAQ about Hostels in Mendoza
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Mendoza.
How much does a hostel cost in Mendoza?
The average price of hostels in Mendoza can range from $17 – $11+ per night. Of course, the private rooms are on the higher end of the scale than the dorm beds.
What are the best hostels in Mendoza for couples?
Hostel Alamo is an ideal hostel for couples in Mendoza. It’s homely and feels like an exclusive getaway.
What is the best hostel in Mendoza near the airport?
Aeropuerto Internacional El Plumerillo – Mendoza is quite far from the central area. Once you’re in the city, I highly recommend Mora International Hostel, one of the best cheap hostels in Mendoza.
Travel Safety Tips for Mendoza
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Heard some bad things about Argentina and want to check on the safety of the country? Read our dedicated safety guide here for some advice and information.
More Epic Hostels in Argentina and South America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Mendoza.
Planning an epic trip all across Argentina or even South America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around South America, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Mendoza has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Argentina for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Mendoza before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate South America backpacking guide.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
