Salty Dog Hostel

Sick hostel, beautiful location, nice people

Hands down one of the best hostel experiences we've had in Indonesia. We originally booked 4 nights and stayed for two weeks, and even then found it hard to leave!! Not only is Nias and Salty Dog a slice of paradise but Arif and his beautiful family are truly amazing people; so fun, welcoming, kind and helpful. We instantly felt like family. Arif goes above and beyond for his guests, speaking fantastic English it was a pleasure to hang out each day, he even took us to the local waterfalls and Bawomataluo village where he explained in depth about the local culture and traditions. Both days were such a highlight for us! The family room was spacious, comfortable, had AC, a private bathroom (cold showers but they were welcomed with the heat!) and a fantastic view of the bay. The bed was huge! The kitchen is fully equipped, WiFi is the best we've experienced (especially as remote workers) and just the vibe, volunteers, dogs and puppies were a dream. The bay is great for a swim, perfect for children as it's nice and calm, and we had such respect for Arif who works so hard to keep it clean and plastic free! Everyday we were greeted with a delicious local breakfast, Arif arranged scooter rental, offered ideas and tips of what to do and was always available to answer or help us in any way. His gorgeous daughter and nieces loved being with our 4 year old, always playing and involving her. Genuinely a slice of heaven. We will absolutely be back and look forward to this being our dream Indonesian hideout for many years to come. Thank you Arif and family for an unforgettable stay.

I had a fantastic stay at Salty Dog Hostel- my only regret was I couldn't stay longer!. Arif, Axel and the whole family create a really nice family vibe in the hostel and will always go out of their way to make sure you get the most from your stay on this beautiful island. The dorm I stayed in was basic, but had everything you needed- privacy curtain , Aircon and an attached bathroom. The hostel hires out both scooters and surfboards for cheap ( even more so if you take over a week ) and is only a 20 min drive away from the best surfing spots in the South. When I return to Nias one day I will certainly be going back to stay at the salty Dog. Many thanks Arif, Axel and family !! ❤️🧂🐕❤️

Arif the owner speak English perfectly and you can ask him everything the place is cool !

Had an amazing stay at Salty Dog Hostel. The most beautiful sunsets are there and surf is about 20 mins away. Arif is the most genuine and helpful person we have met in Indonesia, and he's surely the coolest guy on Nias! He helped us out on many occasions and always offered genuine advice and willingness to share the Nias culture. Thanks for the great time and see you again!

Arif was the sweetest most accommodating host, as far as amenities go I can summarize with; clean, comfortable and cheap.

The rain (obviously nobody's fault)

The owner was so nice and talkative. You will feel in the hostel like right home. The rooms were clean and spacious. You can use kitchen and cooked for yourself which is really nice tho. Surely if I will be back in Nias I will come back to the salty dog hostel.

- Arif is a super kind, welcoming and funny host! - Location on the beach is magical - Friendly dogs and a super cute funky puppy named Coco - Good price for backpackers :) - Lovely community & atmosphere - The best place to stay in Nias for sure!

Everything was perfect

Absolutely loved the vibes at salty dog, met some amazing people from all over the world and Arif and his family. Best social environment on the whole island in Nias but also very chill, Arif went above and beyond with sorting everything from ferry’s, bikes, surfboards, pizza night and breakfast (bread, two eggs, fruit, tea and coffee) which was the best breakfast offer ! He was such a cool host, answered every question and had gold humour They have kitchen facilities and a fridge so you could keep stuff there from the market and the pool table is endless entertainment

If you are not comfortable driving a bike then you may struggle to get around nias in general, a hot water tank would be nice if staying for long periods of time but this is Indonesia we have been travelling a month and yet to have hot water anywhere and this hostel is the best value for money so you can’t complain