Backpacking our way to 850,000 Overnight Stays Per Year
Wombat’s is your inspiring meeting place housing like-minded people, your reliable bed, your safe shelter.
Wombat’s has become an integral part of the backpacker scene with houses in several countries, a loyal community and countless awards. Wombat’s has won the “HOSCAR Award” for best international hostel chain 7 times and has been named “Most Popular Hostel” more than 20 times in various cities over the years.
What makes Wombat’s so outstanding? In addition to the unmistakable design, characterized by a loving, eclectic mix of materials with history and meaning, one thing counts above all – a community in which every team member feels comfortable, and every guest feels immediately welcome.
This family spirit is no coincidence: Wombat’s is probably the only hostel chain of its size that is still managed by the founders themselves, without institutional investors. The advantage? Independence. Disadvantage? The founders still “have to” work together. Indeed guests might meet Marcus Praschinger and Sascha Dimitriewicz in their houses, even at the reception.
Co-Founder Marcus explains – “We still love it when people meet each other in our properties. We create spaces specifically for those encounters, allowing our guests to meet in an organic way. There’s a good reason that our core message is ‘Bringing people together’”.
Another core message should also be taken literally- “By travellers, for travellers”. Founders Marcus and Sascha were actually backpacking themselves when they had the idea to start their own hostel.
As Sascha puts it, “We were travelling through Australia in the late 1980s when we first came into contact with hostels and found ourselves among like-minded people. Immediately, we felt the spark.”
Inspiration from Australia
In 1999, the first hostel in Vienna was opened under the name “Wombat’s” (referencing the formative experience in Australia). The two young entrepreneurs’ concept worked and for 20 years it has grown organically.
In 2019, Wombat’s achieved its record year with more than 850,000 overnight stays in a total of 7 hostels in 5 countries. Then, Corona pressed the stop button and Wombat’s had to quickly get used to travelling with lighter luggage. Our house in Venice and one in Vienna, ‘The Lounge’, had to be closed in 2020.
However, wombats are resilient animals, and the hostel chain was able to survive the virus thanks to its resourcefulness and flexibility. Though the hostel wasn’t accepting guests, we were working away in the background, using the time to revamp Wombat’s services and offers.
#ReliablyUnexpected – Reliability with Quality that Surprises
Today, Wombat’s City Hostel’s doors are wide open again, with an increased focus on regional suppliers, sustainability and new gastronomic offers – unusual for a hostel. Early summer 2022 saw the launch of a new cultural initiative – womBEATS – providing new stages for artists, exciting concerts with free admission and, when possible, the opportunity for guests to get involved and surprise us with their own original tunes.
In April 2022, Wombat’s resumed expansion with the reopening of the Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel creating a new, unique place for inspiring encounters.
Marcus tells us, “In the long run, you can probably only run a business like this if it’s fed by a focused attitude and genuine passion.”
Sascha adds, “We started something informed by our own experiences that has endured to this day.”
So, the travellers’ journey continues…
Foto: Marlene Fröhlich | luxundlumen.com20 years on a joint journey: Wombat’s founders Sascha and MarcusMore about Wombat’s The City Hostels
Why stay at Wombat’s
Over the years we’ve created more than just a hostel chain. What we’ve built is an opportunity for friendly gatherings in an affordable accommodation, a travel community that comes together to share stories of exploration and not just share a living space for a few nights.
More than 300.000 travellers pass through our Wombat’s City Hostels in Budapest, London, Munich, and Vienna every year.
Every one of our hostels sits in the heart of the city so that travellers are right in the thick of things. They are conveniently located with easy access to major transport hubs so that travellers don’t spend too much time looking for the right way. After all, we wouldn’t want them to miss Happy Hour at the famous WomBars.
Gone are the days of simplistic, dirty buildings and cramped 10-bed dorm rooms with squeaky bunk beds. Style is at the fore of Wombat’s, with the unique design of each hostel reflective of its cultural surroundings. And you’ll find no more than eight beds in a dorm.
The spacious dorms and private rooms are decked out with modern interiors and en suite facilities. So no need to wander endless corridors. Locker space and key-card only access ensure extra security, and we are more than happy to boast about our award-winning cleanliness rating.
That’s on top of winning six Hostelworld HOSCAR awards for ‘Best Hostel Chain’. Just saying.
We don’t impose curfews (that would be boring) but instead our receptions are staffed 24/7 and only by travel-loving locals and experienced backpackers. In order to entice you out of your room, our bars remain open until very late at night. Here you can socialize, become a pool champion, play bar games or gather a group to go out and paint the town.
Want to post that selfie of you and your new friends? There’s high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the entire building. Run out of clean pants? There’s a self-service laundry. Starving or want to impress your roommates? Cook up a storm in the guest kitchen (we even throw in some free pasta). Hungover or needing fuel for a city expedition? There’s an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet to fill yourself up.
Wombat’s has all the facilities needed fora carefree home away from home. We’ll lift that travelling stress off your shoulders, so you can concentrate on the fun stuff. So drop off your backpack, find your kindred spirits and start your adventure with us.
Hope to see you soon!
Awards
Multiple Hoscar Winner
Wombat’s wins award for best large and best extra large hostel
