The Hostel in the Forest - Reviews & Photos
The Hostel in the Forest

The Hostel in the Forest

                                    Lake
Traveller (22)
                                    One of the huts
Room & Suite (4)
LibraryDome @ Night
Family and Play Areas (1)

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About

4.0
#1 of 1 hostel in Brunswick
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.3 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Value
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HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Property amenities
Free parking
Room types
Family rooms

Location

Highway 82 PO Box 1496, Brunswick, GA
Getting there
Jacksonville Intl Airport
79.6 km•
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Brunswick Golden Isles Airport
23.2 km•
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48Reviews1Q+A13Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Rene B wrote a review Sep 2022
4 contributions4 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This hostel is friendly, clean, well maintained and just a great place for an unwinding vacation. Relax and enjoy the cute tree houses, good healthy meals, nice folks, and laid-back atmosphere of this resort. Dinner is communal, so you meet the other guests and enjoy their company if you choose. The lake is relaxing, although the fish will nibble on you a bit. Close enough to the coast for exploring and water sports if you wish.
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Date of stay: August 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Rooms are separate cabins and tree houses, with communal bathrooms.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cmack wrote a review Jun 2022
North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We enjoyed our stay very much. We arrived on a Sunday which is a power down day. This was not a big deal for me as I never had expected electricity. The large dinner was cooked over the fire and was the best meal we had on our entire trip. We talked about it the whole week. Rhonda showed us around and encouraged us to explore the grounds. The staff were all welcoming.
We were walking when we heard the bell and when we got back everyone was gone. I was disappointed that we didn't get to say goodbye and thank everyone. I would love to go back again when I need some quiet and contemplation.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikita Litersky wrote a review Aug 2021
3 contributions2 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This is one of the coolest places I have ever been to. It has a very interesting history, prices are reasonable, food is amazing, and it is a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy nature. The staff are some of the most interesting and kindest people I have ever met. 10 out of 10 would recommend for anybody traveling through southeast Georgia. Get there before 7:00 for an amazing vegan / vegetarian dinner. Proof of vaccination required. ;) <3
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rene B wrote a review Apr 2023
4 contributions4 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
What a great place to relax for a few days! The cabins are very comfortable, and well appointed. Outdoor showers are perfect. The lake is a great place to relax on a summer day, but be forewarned that the fish will nibble on you. And the communal meals provided were excellent. I highly recommend The Hostel in the Forest for a relax-and-unwind vacation.
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Date of stay: July 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Mosquitos are not bad, but if you will be walking around outside in the evenings you will want...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steve m wrote a review May 2014
1 contribution24 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Do you like mosquitos? This is the forest, I mean swamp, you want to visit. You have my personal guarantee that you will be swarmed with dung-fed mosquitos as soon as you step out of your car.

Do you like to swim in stagnant, amoeba-filled, mosquito-breeding ponds? They provide one of those for your swimming pleasure.

Do you like to be preached to by hostile hippies who crave rules? They got those.

Did I mention the mosquitos?

The little huts are cool.
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Date of stay: May 2014
2.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curtis H wrote a review Apr 2015
Milwaukee, Wisconsin2 contributions23 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
First of all, I must say that this is NOT a hostel I would recommend to everyone I know. Those who will get the best experience definitely need to bring a certain openness of mind and freedom of spirit.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a hug and a brief tour from a barefoot young woman in a tank top and a long, flowery skirt. After explaining the rules of the hostel (pack in pack out, respect the privacy of the staff lodgings, discouragement of electronics), she showed me to my tree house, handed me sheets for my bed, and left me to my devices until community dinner, which was to be signaled by a bell. It was around this point that I realized that there was something truly special going on here, and that it would take a bit of readjusting of my expectations if I was to fully appreciate it.

As of April 2015, the staff who keep the hostel running were among the friendliest people I have ever met in my life (as I understand it, the owner prefers to keep the staff turnover rate quite high by placing a cap on contract duration). They won't cater to your every need, but they were cordial, respectful, helpful, and loving. The culture of the hostel was very clean; unlike reviews from previous years, I never saw a cigarette butt on the ground as there were ashtrays that were cleaned out regularly. During the two weeknights that I stayed, none of the guests or staff were drunk or rowdy into the night and by 11, everyone had mostly turned in.

Urination in the woods was encouraged. As a guy, this didn't really bother me, but there were outhouses where one was expected to cover deposits with sawdust (which worked surprisingly well to combat the odor). The outhouses did have toilet paper and receptacles for feminine hygiene products.There was a partially enclosed outdoor shower and bathtub, which featured hot water. The enclosure blocked the view from the boardwalks and sandy paths, but left the bather(s) exposed to the undeveloped forest.

I must have picked the best time of the year to go, as it was warm during the day, cool at night (I had to use my sleeping bag as a comforter), and I think I may have been bitten by mosquitos twice during my entire stay without using a drop of bug repellent, "natural" or otherwise. There were ducklings that scurried around the main structured area and the clear lake water was in the upper 70s during the day. This is probably a good time to mention that the lake is clothing-optional. This is one of the reasons, along with the bugs, outhouses, and anti-tech attitude that I must reiterate that this hostel is NOT for everyone. If you are offended by the nude forms of men or women whom you have only met the day before, consider forgoing this hostel experience.

All in all, I can't definitively recommend this hostel to anyone who reads this review. I can only hope that by recounting my experience, I can give the reader a better understanding of what they can expect. If you decide that this is an adventure you'd like to take, I pray that the staff who receive you are as wonderful as those who welcomed me.
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Date of stay: April 2015
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil1024 wrote a review Jan 2017
Springfield, Ohio27 contributions17 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
After staying here for 3 nights and reading some of the reviews here (mostly positive, some negative) I've made my own assessment:
Personally i liked it overall. Without repeating too much of the things other reviewers have said, I'll just say its a great escape from your everyday life. You stay in "treehouses" which are really just huts on stilts, each with her own unique design. (none that i saw were connected to trees) The rustic and primitive architectural appeal of the place is very unique. Its quiet at night and the air is still. There are bugs! Surprise. You're in the woods. (one reviewer complained about the bugs and suggested enlisting the help of bats to mitigate this problem...wtf?!)

One of my favorite things was showering outside in the sunlight. You're allowed too be naked in and around the lake, which i personally like. A lot of the amenities available (kitchen, composting toilets, kayaks) are not maintained well, but are available nonetheless. The staff seems to be rather disorganized and unaware of who is staying where, how many nights guests book, etc.

This is NOT a sustainable living place. I never even saw the garden, which i assume exists somewhere. It is (as others have reported) a place for hippie wannabes to smoke weed and tobacco, drink, collect trust fund checks, and pretend to be spiritual, with the guise of having a "job."
I have read a couple reviews that describe the staff as "cliquey" which i also observed. I realize that the staff changes frequently and there's probably not much of a vetting process. I did feel a bit separated from those who worked there. They have their circle of friends and you're not likely to be fully welcomed as one of their own.
Also keep in mind that the "treehouses" are almost never cleaned it appears. Bring a sleeping bag and prepare to get your "hippie" on and be dirty. This is not a hotel.
Overall i believe this place was created with good intentions, and is doing a decent job of keeping up with the original ideals in mind, however dissonant they've become over the years. Check it out and form your own opinion. Overall good good stuff 😊
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
victoriandream wrote a review May 2016
Asheville, North Carolina1 contribution10 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
The hostel, I adore, the land, and what has been built upon it is divine. However the staff can be very very pretentious and territorial. Humorous since workers are always going in and out of the hostel, may just me be but I thought the intent of the hostel was to remind everyone the forest is everyones home. Kazam I believe his name is, seemed to cling to his business ideals and want us out as soon as possible it was pretty rude and disheartening, he was a bit pretentious for reasons I'd love to know. A lot of the staff can be this way unfortunately. I understand the root since they stay there for longer periods, however it is indeed a hostel and was meant to welcome. I hope they can be more welcoming.
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dancing L wrote a review Apr 2019
Gainesville, Georgia, United States3 contributions9 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
So, let me start: I knew, sort of, what I was getting into. I am /not/ a hippie, but I kinda look like one. I'm a friendly outdoorsman who supports the environment. I have zero problems with a cold shower outdoors, composting toilets, or people who smell like people. I compost (kitchen :-) and garden at home, go "real" camping a dozen times a year, and am probably more of a socialist than any other leaning. This was not foreign territory for me.

TL;DR:
I have the best wishes for the people there, and I know that others' journeys are not like my own. But all in all, the hostel gave me a bad feeling. The property is wonderful, some of the buildings are amazing, but the owner came off like a creep and the staff was... mixed at best. I'll be at a Motel 6 next time.

Long version:
Some of the staff at the hostel were great. They were welcoming, friendly, and eager to help or answer questions. Others were... not great. They seemed to really enjoy being "crunchier than thou" and it definitely felt as though this was the staff's place to hang out and have a good time. From one perspective, I get that. They live here, work here, and are doing their own personal work. From a different perspective, I don't care what your personal beliefs are, but don't glare at me for putting dairy in my tea in the morning. Don't try to engage me in a discussion about _________ and then run off because I try to open a discussion rather than just agree.

Some of the buildings are very, very nice. My favorite time there was sitting in the library. The acoustics are wonderful, the wood is just so nice and welcoming. I stumbled across a book of poetry by a favorite and not-commonly-read writer. It felt kind of special, finding that. I really enjoyed that time, reading and listening to my girlfriend play guitar. Enjoyed it for about twenty minutes, before a band of hippies came in (literally) and started trying to get us to join their party.

I didn't come here to party in a drum circle. I came here for some repose while I made a tour of the barrier islands. I don't mind a bunch of hippies having a good time, even if they run 'til one in the morning.

I also like the "no phones in public spaces" policy, but I did not like hearing someone yell "NO PHONES IN PUBLIC SPACES PUT IT AWAY THANKS" twenty times a day. And it was always the same guy, who obviously relished it. I didn't enjoy ducking behind a tree to check the time, or being glared at for reading the morning news with my tea... in my own bunk. Some understanding needs to be established that not every glance at a phone is someone checking their Facebook or seeing if they have new followers on __________.

It is worth noting that their "leader" made me very, very uncomfortable. While I agree with his stated philosophy on a number of things, her personally seemed... off. I noticed that most of the male staff shared certain personality traits prone to being taken advantage of. "Male daddy issues", young men who have little guidance in life and look for a father figure to provide it. Maybe these young men needed whatever life advice the owner was providing, and a respite doing good work in the woods can be great for that.
But the whole thing with him -- little spiritual meetings, invitations to tea at his house on the property... I did not get the feeling of being around someone who offers real guidance. I hate that young men feel compelled into that headspace. It felt more like he was grooming & maintaining workers rather than acting as a guiding light for anyone.

I have the best wishes for the people there, and I know that others' journeys are not like my own. But all in all, the hostel gave me a bad feeling. The property is wonderful, some of the buildings are amazing, but the owner came off like a creep and the staff was... mixed at best. I'll be at a Motel 6 next time.

If you're in Brunswick, there is a KILLER fish & chicken place called... if I remember... Jay's Fish and Chicken. Don't miss it if you are in the area!
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Date of stay: March 2019
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Was told it's near-impossible to get a treehouse.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
capnconrad wrote a review Jun 2012
st augustine, fl1,687 contribution60 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
What I see from the reviews is most of the negative ones come from people who 'don't get it'. One of them made a comment about getting the Palapa, or Corrale, as opposed to a treehouse, and Tom said they were thinking of changing the price structure to accommodate that. But the Forest hostel is so much more than a treehouse, and remember the staff continually change and that they are all volunteers. Every 6 months there is a new manager, crew stay on for 3 months max with a few exceptions. Each time I come there is a new manager, so there is no continuity in personality, but there is continuity in spirit, and that is what this magical place is about.
On my latest trip the car broke down nearby and they were kind enough to host us even though they were near capacity. Every time I've been I've worked on some kind of project, and if you see the new board on the walkway to the Pool Hut, well that's what I gave back this time. I can still picture the circle, Alex, Tess, Eddy, Balance or Valance?, Bella, Andy, etc.
Josh and Wyko singing German opera in the dark in the new dome, Sean and Sheera with their musical instruments, Eddy and I chopping wood, V(B)alance flipping pineapple on the grill (mostly losing it to the ashes below!)
The source of the produce varies, depending on the enthusiasm and skills of the 'garden manager'. When Jeremy ran it, they could feed the whole place. This last time the Okra had been left on the plant too long, army worms were devouring the tomatoes...etc. Maybe if the negative poster had volunteered a few hours in the garden he could have made a difference, but instead he chose to criticize it.
This last trip a bunch of staff and guests paraded through the forest to the lake dressed as faeries with whoops and hollers and drumming. It was an awesome sight. If you don't see the staff all day its because they probably have chores....if they don't cater to you personally, remember it's not about 'you'...It's about carin' and sharin'...
Your $25 includes a vegetarian meal (we brought bacon and eggs for brekkie) and I've had raw yecchie kale to awesome veggie lasagne and homemade blueberry pie....sometimes it's late (bring munchies to get you through) and sometimes its early, just go with the flow and relax. If you don't like roosters, bring earplugs. If you don't like mosquitoes (who does?) bring DEET, bring DEET anyway 'cos it works, some of the other earth friendly stuff doesn't....
Yes there are composting toilets in outhouses for which you have to cover your doo-doo with sawdust. If it bothers you, I'm sure there is a Hilton nearby. Whatever did your grandparents and great grandparents do before Thomas Crapper came along?
Thanks to all the staff there for doing what you do.
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Date of stay: June 2012
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: The screen hut is possibly my favorite. bring some candles and some massage oil. The Honeymoon...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
the hostel in the forest hotel brunswick
LOCATION
United StatesGeorgiaGeorgia CoastGolden Isles of GeorgiaBrunswick
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
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The Hostel in the Forest - Reviews & Photos

Frequently Asked Questions about The Hostel in the Forest
Is parking available at The Hostel in the Forest?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Hostel in the Forest?
Conveniently located restaurants include Hooterville Diner, Joy in Jesus Designs, and Friendly Express 94.
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