I stayed in a hostel where a bunk bed costs $3 a night. It's perfect for backpackers on a budget

• I stayed at The Explorers Guesthouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• An overnight stay in a mixed dorm costs $3, making it one of the cheapest hostels in the country.
• I ended up booking a private room for a few dollars more, as I didn't feel safe sleeping in a dorm with male roommates.

Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, is home to more than 8 million people.

Despite being Malaysia's most populous city, Kuala Lumpur spans only 243 square kilometers (94 square miles).

Located in the center of peninsular Malaysia, the city is a popular destination for backpackers because of its proximity to other Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore and Thailand. 

Some of the city's prominent landmarks include the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest twin skyscrapers, and Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world.

The Explorers Guesthouse is located in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur's most popular neighborhood among backpackers. It's one of Malaysia's cheapest hostels.

I've stayed in a few hostels in Singapore, and had both good and bad experiences. A night's stay in a Singapore hostel costs between $38 and $45, which is relatively expensive as far as budget lodging in the region goes. Hostels typically cost around $10 a night in Southeast Asia.

After my experience in Singapore, I was curious about staying in one of the most inexpensive accommodations in Malaysia. After searching online, I found The Explorers Guesthouse to be the cheapest hostel in Kuala Lumpur and booked a bed in the mixed dorm for $3. 

The Explorers Guesthouse had mixed reviews: Some guests said it was "nice and cozy," while others complained about the hostel being dirty.

The hostel's management did not immediately reply to my requests for comment. Insider paid for my stay in full, as is standard with our reporting trips.

The hostel's lobby was clean and spacious.

I arrived at the hostel on a weekday afternoon. I had spent the previous night in Genting Highlands, where I stayed in Malaysia's most infamous "haunted" hotel.

The hostel's lobby was filled with rattan decor and wood and brick accents. The receptionist greeted me, promptly checked me in, and led me to my room. 

I was glad I packed light as I had to carry my belongings up several flights of stairs.

There were five floors in the hostel. Rooms were located on the second, third, and fourth floors. My backpack weighed around eight kilograms (17.6 pounds), making it light enough to carry up the stairs.

Kuala Lumpur is generally safe, but reminders warning backpackers about pickpockets were plastered around the hostel. The signs also said not to walk alone on the streets after 10 p.m. or stroll down back alleys.

Guests can only access the hostel from 7 a.m. until midnight. It's closed during the wee hours of the morning for the guests' safety, according to a sign in the hostel.

My dorm was on the fourth floor. It was a small room with four bunk beds, three of which were occupied by men.

While I had initially booked a bed in the 10-bed mixed dorm, the hostel assigned me to a smaller four-bed dorm. I wasn't given an explanation why I was assigned to a smaller room. The price was the same.

There were no windows, and the room felt cramped. A Malaysian guest named Lau later told me that most of the hostel's guests were locals who lived there long-term. 

"There's not a lot of tourists at the moment; people who stay here are mostly Malaysians," Lau told me. "The cost and location are good, so I decided to rent here," he added. 

Lau had moved to Kuala Lumpur from Sarawak in East Malaysia for work.

The room wasn't particularly clean or big — but those were the least of my concerns. I wasn't comfortable sharing a room with only men.

I stayed in the room for a while and tried to settle down. While all the tenants were polite, I didn't feel comfortable sharing a small room with men I didn't know. They were already there when I checked in, and the receptionist didn't tell me I would be the only woman in the room.

I decided to move to a private room for my safety and comfort.

Private rooms were located on the second and third floors. Nearly all the rooms were occupied, with some rented by long-term tenants.

There were only a handful of tourists during my stay.

The private room cost around $10 a night. It was air-conditioned and had a double bed.

The room was just as big as the dorm. While it cost more than twice as much as the bed in a mixed dorm, it came with a double bed and a study table.

It wasn't the cleanest room I've ever slept in, but I can't complain for the price I was paying. The room smelled fine and no insects were crawling around. My only gripe was the dirty carpet.

I worked from the lobby late at night. The receptionist reminded me about breakfast and made small talk with me, making me feel welcome.

I ended up skipping breakfast, which consisted of packet cakes, coffee, and tea.

There was a bathroom on the same floor as my private room. It was much cleaner than I expected.

The bathroom had four sinks, two toilets, and two showers. The shower's water pressure wasn't strong, but the heater worked well. 

The toilets' wooden doors were full of graffiti spelling out political messages and Instagram handles.

My favorite part of the hostel was the rooftop, where I could see Kuala Lumpur's gorgeous skyline.

I could see some of the most prominent skyscrapers in the city, including the Merdeka 118 and Menara Kuala Lumpur.

I had a comfortable stay for an affordable price, but I wish the hostel had a female-only dorm.

The staff and guests at The Explorers Guesthouse were polite, and the room was definitely worth the cost.

If you're ever in Kuala Lumpur and are looking for budget accommodations, the hostel's mixed dorm is a good option. But if you're a female traveler and don't feel comfortable sleeping in a room with men, be prepared to spend a bit more.

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