--- title: "Parker Cottage vs The Backpack Hostel: which hotel is better?" description: "Too close to call. Each hotel leads in 2 categories. Your priorities decide. Parker Cottage or The Backpack Hostel in Cape Town? Compare guest ratings…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/parker-cottage-cape-town-vs-the-backpack-hostel-cape-town/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- # Parker Cottage vs The Backpack Hostel Both are in Cape Town, 280 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Guesthouse · Tamboerskloof ## [Parker Cottage](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/parker-cottage-cape-town/) - **Guest rating:** 9.6 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 7.0 - **Score by category:** 2 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1943642/agoda/?lang=en) Guesthouse · Tamboerskloof ## [The Backpack Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-backpack-hostel-cape-town/) - **Guest rating:** 9.2 · Excellent - **Location score:** 7.7 - **Score by category:** 2 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2189441/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 2 categories. Your priorities decide. 280 m apart. ### Choose Parker Cottage if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 10 / 33) ### Choose The Backpack Hostel if you want - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 33 / 10) ### Why is Parker Cottage better than The Backpack Hostel? 1. Higher guest rating (9.6 vs 9.2) (+0.4) 2. Newer or more recently renovated (2017 vs 2014) (+3y) ### Why is The Backpack Hostel better than Parker Cottage? 1. 41 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+41) 2. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 96 vs 86) (+10) 3. 16 more sights within 1 km (+16) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Parker Cottage | The Backpack Hostel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.6 (+0.4) | 9.2 | | Location | 7.0 | 7.7 (+0.7) | | Facilities | – | 5.8 | | Spa & wellness | – | 1.5 | | Beach access | 2.1 (+0.5) | 1.6 | | Public transport | 1.3 | 2.8 (+1.5) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.0 | 9.0 | | Guest rating | 9.6 (+0.4) | 9.2 | | Number of reviews | 13 | 47 (+34) | | Rank in Cape Town | top 24% | top 19% (+5%) | | Location | | Location score | 7.0 | 7.7 (+0.7) | | Distance to Tamboerskloof centre | 160 m (−250 m) | 410 m | | To the beach | 2.4 km (−140 m) | 2.5 km | | To public transport | 1.8 km | 1.5 km (−270 m) | | To the airport | 19 km | 19 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 95 | 136 (+41) | | To the nearest food shop | 280 m | 80 m (−200 m) | | Shops within 500 m | 7 | 7 | | Sights within 1 km | 14 | 30 (+16) | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | 10 | 33 | | Floors | 2 | 1 | | Newest building or renovation | 2017 (+3y) | 2014 | | Listed amenities | 9 | 15 (+6) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 | | Amenities | | Free parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Room service | ✓ | – | | Smoke-free | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Shuttle | – | ✓ | | Car hire | – | ✓ | | Concierge | – | ✓ | | Free breakfast | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Swimming pool | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Beach holidays | ✓ | – | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 280 m apart Parker Cottage: city centre: 1.4 km, nearest station Cape Town Station Deck: 1.8 km, Cape Town International Airport (CPT): 19 km, beach: 2.4 km, 95 places to eat within 500 m, 14 sights within 1 km. The Backpack Hostel: city centre: 1.1 km, nearest station Cape Town Station Deck: 1.5 km, Cape Town International Airport (CPT): 19 km, beach: 2.5 km, 136 places to eat within 500 m, 30 sights within 1 km. [Top-rated of 75 hotels in City Bowl](https://stayversus.com/en/south-africa/cape-town/area/city-bowl/) ## Weather in Cape Town [Cape Town weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/south-africa/western-cape/cape-town/weather) ## Parker Cottage or The Backpack Hostel: common questions ### Which is better, Parker Cottage or The Backpack Hostel? They are evenly matched. Parker Cottage is stronger in guest rating, beach access; The Backpack Hostel is stronger in location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Parker Cottage or The Backpack Hostel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Parker Cottage is closer: 160 m from the centre, against 410 m for The Backpack Hostel. ### Which hotel is closer to the beach? Parker Cottage is 2.4 km from the nearest beach; The Backpack Hostel is 2.5 km. ### How far apart are Parker Cottage and The Backpack Hostel? The two hotels are 280 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Parker Cottage vs The Walden House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/parker-cottage-cape-town-vs-the-walden-house-cape-town/) - [Parker Cottage vs La Grenadine Petit Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/la-grenadine-petit-hotel-cape-town-vs-parker-cottage-cape-town/) - [Parker Cottage vs Radium Hall Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/parker-cottage-cape-town-vs-radium-hall-guest-house-cape-town/) - [The Backpack Hostel vs La Grenadine Petit Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/la-grenadine-petit-hotel-cape-town-vs-the-backpack-hostel-cape-town/) - [The Backpack Hostel vs The Walden House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-backpack-hostel-cape-town-vs-the-walden-house-cape-town/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/parker-cottage-cape-town-vs-the-backpack-hostel-cape-town/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/