After staying a couple of days in Memory Guesthouse JB, I decided to write a little bit about my stay in this amazing place, which also turns out to be the cheapest “hostel” in Johor Bahru. On Hostelworld the guesthouse got mostly 5 star reviews, but still there are a couple of 1-2 star reviews. Very sad, since the owners Gan and Roger are incredibly sweet and caring. I will tell you more about my experiences from this place down below, but first a brief share of my experience how to travel from Singapore to Johor Bahru.
Singapore to Johor Bahru
After my arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore at 5am, I choose to do a day trip in Singapore. From the airport I took bus 36 to station Suntec Tower and from their I walked to Marina South (Gardens by the Bay). After an exploration through the gardens I went through Marina Bay Sands shopping mall (wow, little Venetia!) and explored the floating Apple Store. From there I went to Chinatown, got myself some food and took a bus to Queen Street (Bus) Terminal to take a bus to Johor Bahru, leaving the Singapore Island. Crossing the border is pretty self explanatory, the bus (Causewaylink or other company) stops at the border, let’s you out (bring all your stuff with you), you walk through Singapore customs, and you enter the same or a next bus from your travel company, to continue your drive over the bridge to Malaysia. There you leave the bus again with all stuff, go through customs and you are in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Hint: do not exchange Singapore Dollars directly (in the first shop) after crossing the customs. Instead, exchange when you enter the Johor Bahru Shopping Mall, those offices provide much better exchange rates.
From Johor Bahru Central to Memory Guesthouse JB
From Johor Bahru Central I walked through the shopping mall and it took me about 25 minutes walk to reach the Memory Guesthouse JB on foot. An other option is to use Grab (Taxi), it’s a service similar to Uber that many people use. Busses don’t really run reliably and close to the hostel.
The guesthouse could be closer to the centre, but it is what it is. The guesthouse is actually located in a nice calm neighbourhood with still plenty of small food places around.
Cheapest hostel in Johor Bahru
When you arrive you will most likely be greeted by a smiling Gan. He will help you with the check-in, show you around and tell you everything you need to know.
Let’s not forget to mention. Memory Guesthouse Hostel JB is the cheapest backpacker-style hostel around town, most other places are more expensive, because of the close connections with the rich Singaporean neighbours. At the time of writing you would pay between 5-6 euro for a night in a dormitory bed. A private/double bed room is about 10 euro or less.
Accommodation, services, utilities
You get your bed, you already choose with or without airco, or a private room. Your mattress is a little less long than than the average European mattress, but it’s nice and cozy. The dormitory beds have a little curtain and your backpack can fit under the bed. Your belongings will fit in a small locker, which already includes a lock and key that you can take. Above your bed is a fan and light and next to your bed you will find free power sockets and a little night lamp.
The hostel has different services. In my opinion it’s great that you can get a towel to use during your stay – for free! And also services as bicycle rent, using laundry machine or handwash or easy and cheap services to use, if needed.
Also, let me mention there are 4 bathroom and in front of the door is a pair of sandals that you can take, so you don’t have to stand on a wet floor. There is hot and cold water coming from the showers!
Common area, living room
The hostel has open common area where you enter and exit the hostel. Here you find most of the things, like a small kitchen, the reception (with all services), here is a tap for hot and cold water, here are all the pets (fish, cat, birds, guinea pig) and in the common area you leave your shoes in a rack. You don’t walk with your dirty shoes all around the hostel. Also here you find a wall full of past memories of other travellers who stayed in Memory Guesthouse JB. The common area is a nice place to sit and relax with internet, although, thanks to 3 wifi-hotspots you are able to get a good internet connection from everywhere in the hostel.
Eye for detail
For me the place really feels like home and that is because of the eye for detail. There are many motivational texts on posters all around the hostel. Even in one of the bathrooms I noticed a poster! It just gives you that extra bit of power and happiness. Als in the common area you find a bookshelf and there are shelfs full of mugs: every guest has their own designated mug. It’s such an great way to keep the kitchen clean and give people their own responsibility the keep their own mug clean!
Birthday cake for the guests!
During my stay one of the guests (Honey from India) had his birthday and the staff surprised him with a birthday cake! We sung happy birthday for him and shared the cake together. How often does such a thing happen in a hostel? For me it showed how incredibly warm hearted the staff is.
More than a hostel
I extended my initial stay from 2 nights to 5 nights. I’m a slow traveler who takes his time and likes enjoy time with other of the longer residents here too. So there is Andrew, the tall ±50y old Australian guy who goes to the library every day to do some programming and knows a bit of many many languages. There is Iam, he is such a sweet and funny Singaporean guy, doing many of the translating for us, and whom I wish all the best in the near future with his children and the new apartment in Singapore. Then there is Honey, the open minded Indian guy from Punjab, who lives/works in Malaysia for quite some time now, who loves his free food on Sunday in the Sik Temple, and who I wish the best with his Catholic girlfriend and their marriage hopefully the end of this year. Last but not least, Alan, a big Malay with Indian roots, who stayed in hostels for 18 years and traveled the whole world based on traveller’ stories. Alan certainly developed his discernment skills and to recognise what guests tell is honest, lied or bragged.
One day before I left Memory Guesthouse JB I met Mat. Mat is self employed and he sells books around the state of Johor Bahru. He usually stays everywhere around the state, but when he is in JB he stays in the guesthouse. He plans to retire in 2 years (age 55, his own target). Since Mat travels around the state, I asked him if he goes to Malacca tomorrow, why not ask, right? It turns out that Mat goes towards his home tomorrow, which is close to Malacca! Perfect! So he told me excited that he will take me tomorrow!
The combination of type of guests surely make me realise this place is more than a hostel. For some it really is a guesthouse or even their current home. All of them have their own beautiful personal story to share, if there is space and trust.
To conclude
Whenever you go to Johor Bahru or you are crossing the city from or to Singapore, then don’t hesitate to stay in Memory Guesthouse JB. Whenever there is something that you don’t feel comfortable with, or if you need help, then never be shy and just ask. The staff is great and super friendly, as is the place and the atmosphere they give the space. Enjoy your time and give my greetings to Gan and Roger when you see them.