[ecorachel]

Hello,
has anyone stayed at either of the YHA's in Cairns recently? The reviews for the one on the Esplanade look bad, but a friend of mine is recommending that hostel to me. However, she stayed there about 7 years ago! I'll be arriving at around midnight, so I will just want a nice, safe, clean, relatively quiet place to put my head down for the night. If I don't like it in the morning I'll just move. In the past I've been partial to YHA's because they seem to have a higher standard of accomodation. I'm 27 and female, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!!!
-Rachel

[Tim Uden]

The YHA on the Esplanade is no better (and in many cases much worse) than the other hostels on the Esplanade. Whenever I have visited I got the impression that the staff just don't care.

The one opposite Cairns Central shopping centre is MUCH better although the location isn't as good. Cairns Central YHA was recently renovated (about a year ago) and is clean, safe and well maintained. Similar hostels in Cairns include Global Palace, Gilligans, Serpent and Bohemia.

If you're after a quiet hostel I would recommend Dreamtime, Travellers Oasis and Tropic Days. They're north of Cairns Central Shopping Centre but they are (especially Tropic Days) not as central as most other hostels in Cairns.