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Southeast Asia – October 2025 – Mad Monkey Hostels, one of Southeast Asia’s leading social hostel brands, has unveiled a suite of new digital features designed to make backpacking both safer and more connected. The update integrates seamlessly into the Mad Monkey website and app, reimagining how travelers experience hostels — from booking to check-out.
As travel continues to evolve, Mad Monkey’s tech-driven approach focuses on enhancing connection, transparency, and safety, while keeping the fun and community spirit the brand is known for.
1. Join Group Chats Before You Even Arrive
Each Mad Monkey hostel now has a dedicated WhatsApp group where upcoming guests can chat, share travel tips, and plan meet-ups before check-in. Whether it’s finding a buddy for the sunrise hike or coordinating a night out, connection starts before you even drop your bags.
2. See Who’s Staying When You Are
Through guest profiles, travelers can see who else will be at the hostel during their dates. It’s a simple way to build trust and familiarity, helping solo travelers feel safer and giving everyone a head start on making friends.
3. Discover What’s On — Instantly
The new “See What’s On” section showcases all upcoming events and experiences in real time — from pool parties to cooking classes — so guests can join safely organized activities and never miss a moment of the fun.
4. Digital Check-In for a Smoother, Safer Arrival
Mad Monkey’s digital waiver system replaces traditional paper forms with a secure online check-in. This speeds up arrivals, ensures guest verification, and keeps essential information accessible in case of emergency.
5. Add Your Social Handles to Stay Connected
Guests can now link their Instagram handles to their profile to make it easier to stay in touch with new friends they meet on the road — turning fleeting travel friendships into lifelong connections.
6. See Who’s Leading the Adventure
A new “Leaderboard” feature highlights the most-traveled guests — those who’ve stayed at multiple Mad Monkey locations across regions. It’s a fun, gamified way to celebrate loyalty, inspire exploration, and build community across borders.
7. Meet the Mad Monkey AI Bot — Now in Uluwatu
Currently live at Mad Monkey Uluwatu and rolling out across all hostels soon, the new AI bot helps guests with everything from event info to maintenance requests. Guests can ask what’s happening that night, find out weekly activities, or maintenance issues directly through the system — ensuring faster response times and safer, more seamless stays.
“Our mission has always been to create meaningful connections — and these features take that to a whole new level,” said Luke Coleman, Head of Technology at Mad Monkey Hostels. “These updates make it easier for travelers to connect, feel safe, and have fun. That’s what travel is really all about.”
All features are now live across Mad Monkey hostels and integrated into the new version of Mad Monkey app and website, giving guests more ways to connect, explore, and feel at home anywhere in the world.
About Mad Monkey
Mad Monkey is a leading hostel operator in Southeast Asia, known for experience-driven stays that blend affordable accommodation with community, adventure, and unforgettable social energy. With locations across Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, and Australia, Mad Monkey is more than a place to stay – it’s a place to belong.
