BUG review
This is the first place backpackers try to book when coming to Cairns. It has around 500 beds, but is often completely full. Gilligan's is a modern, purpose-built hostel with the ambience of a five star hotel. There are four floors, each with its own kitchen and comfy TV lounge. The dorms immaculate are air-conditioned with en suite bathrooms. On the ground level, there is a beauty salon, travel agency, a huge bar, restaurant and nightclub plus beach volleyball and a resort size swimming pool with a spa and waterfall. They also have internet access, a gym and laundry room. On weekends, there is an excellent fruit and vegetable market right next door. Security is great, location is central, and surprisingly for such a big place, the staff are mostly friendly.
About BUG's hostel reviews
This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.
We show up unannounced at hostels to write honest and unbiased hostel reviews. Many of BUG's reviews now feature videos and photo slideshows. BUG never receives payment for listing any establishment and BUG's researchers never accept free accommodation in exchange for favourable reviews.
Price Dorm bed $22-28 Double/twin room $120 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit cards American Express, Diners Club, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
ok, but you feel that they just want to get rid of the masses of people 5 January 2011
Pros:
price
Cons:
n/a
Madeleine S
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 14554)
The first impression that you get of this hostel when you enter it is the massive alcoholsmell out of the disco. In the evening they cool it down like a freezer so that you can´t smell it. I stayed there for one week and the free meal they offered was the same every day and it was such a small portion that you were more hungry after the meal than before. I can´t understand why people say that the security of this hostel is very high. They had no lockers for each person and when you put your things in the locker of the reception you have to pay a lot of money and you could just go in and take what you want. Furthermore this hostel is very loud and noisy because of their own disco. You can even feel the vibrations of the music in your bed! The most disgusting thing were the birds in the kitchen. They were all wandering around in the kitchen searching for food and even eat out of the toaster! The worst news I got at the time in Gilligans was that there are bed bugs in my room, but they didn´t give me the possibility to wash and dry my clothes after I heard of that, because it was after 10 o´clock where they close the laundry. Furthermore they refused to pay for more than one washingmachine! The cleaning of the rooms was not the best: The bathrooms had as much hairs on the floor as before the cleaning. But there was also something good about the hostel: the price of a 10-bed-dorm was just 17 dollars and they were in the middle of the city not far away from the greyhoundstation and the swimming lagoon.
Pros:
The pool, the location, the staff, the bar etc etc.
Cons:
Nothing springs to mind
bathengineer
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 10878)
Stayed here for a few nights. Wow, what an atmosphere. It's a very lively hostel in a great location in Cairns. Maybe if you wanted a quiet hostel this wouldn't be the best choice for you, but if you want a lively time, having a few drinks in the bar in a perfectly clean hostel, this is the place for you. The staff are also very helpful and their travel centre are very helpful in booking tours and buses etc if thats what you need. Highyl recommended!!
This place is riddled with BED BUGS and the management need serious training in customer Service 28 August 2008
Pros:
The facilities, having the bar and pool on site was good
Cons:
BED BUGS! and the unhelpful attitide of the office manager, I have never been treated like that.
Aisling
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 8658)
BED BUGS! BED BUGS! BED BUGS! This was my experience in Gilligans! On entering the hotel i was very impressed with the building and the facilities however my feeling changed when my friend woke up the nest day completely covered in bites and after asking a cleaner to check our room we discovered all 8 beds were riddled with bed bugs! After an angry conversation with the cleaner she admitted that they were aware there had been bed bugs in the room shortly before our stay! After this we demanded to speak to the manager and were complete disgusted with the way in which he handled the situation, he basically said tough this is what happen and refused to allow us to put our clothes into a laundrette and pay for our bill, instead we had to spend half the day washing all our clothes at the hostel missing tours we had paid for and in the end he asked us to leave because we had contracted "BED BUGS".
After speaking to various people throughout the day we learned that there were at least 9 other rooms with bed bugs at that time.
I have been working in customer service for the past 10 years and have never came accross anyone acting so un-manerly and unprofessionally, at one stage he said he didn't care what we thought he didn't need our custom!
Serious Customer Service training required!!!
Nice hostel, but rude staff & too big to make friends 17 May 2007
Pros:
Clean, balconies on rooms
Cons:
Air con on too high, RUDE reception staff, no atmosphere
paula112uk
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 5086)
This hostel is ok to stay in if you fancy a few days in a nice clean room, but thats all its got going for it, the reception staff are so rude and i was here 4 weeks and dont think i ever got a smile or a hello or even a thank you when i paid. They were so unhelpful when i asked where i could put my bike and the guy just shrugged. They seem to think because were backpackers we can be treated however they want and also maybe because its a nice hostel they dont need to be polite. I would not stay here again and i will make sure everyone knows how bad it is, i felt so intimidated by staff that i did not enjoy my stay, Also the air con is on all night very high and you cant turn it down or off so i wore a tracksuit and fleece to bed and socks!!! I wouldnt even wear those layers at home in UK!!! Dont stay here.
Pros:
New Hostel
Cons:
Things starting to break....
yeeman15
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 518)
Kitchen was very clean, nice glass plates; however pots and silverware were to be desired. One burner was broken appears that maintainence is not keeping up with the upkeep. Kitchen on each floor.Travel desk was decent, found a special $15 intro dive. :D Room patio door was left open on check-in so there were nats/flys in the room.Good locationStayed in 3.5 star room and it was the best room we had during the whole trip.
It was like staying in an economy hotel (per US standards) 10 April 2006
Pros:
The location and amenties are great. It's REALLY clean!
Cons:
I don't have any cons to list...
Kansaichick
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 296)
We checked into this place, per a traveler's suggestion... between the pool, bar, hotel-like atmosphere (in the sense of cleanliness), and the location, it's definitely worth it.
Gilligan's-good times but staffing could use help 15 February 2006
Pros:
great place to relax as well as to socialize
Cons:
staff at check in desk could use cheering up
OZx3
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 130)
Well Gilligans. I have stayed there twice now and do really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere by the pool, the bar is great and the cleanliness is also top notch. A few things though, two of the fridges on my floor weren't working, leaving 1 fridge for the whole floor, pretty cramped. Also, there aren't any cooking ovens, only microwaves , just a note to keep in mind in case you like to cook. There weren't any knives to be found in the whole building, I searched all 4 floors kitchens (as was told to do by reception when I voiced that there weren't any knives). On returning to the desk to let her know that "no" really, there aren't any knives, the lady at the desk said she's leave a note for her supervisor. 3 days later and spoiled meat and veggies that I couldn't cut, there still weren't any knives.
Also phoned a couple weeks ahead and tried to book a dorm room, the man who answered the phone said I don't need to book, tons of rooms. That wasn't the case. they were booked up when I got there.
11 of
18 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
emmy77
Ireland
Excellent Upmarket Hostel Accomodation 6 February 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
emmy77
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 10395)
HelloMy boyfriend and I aged 28 stayed in one of Gilligans double rooms for 77 dollars. The room was spotlessly clean, had a large balcony and the room itself was very spacious. Our towels were changed daily and our bed was also made daily..The complex has great facilities however I do have one criticism , the complex is very noisy on Friday and Saturday nights as the music in the bar is pumping until 2 am...So if u are planning an early night forget it.....
8 of
16 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
dancing girl
New Zealand
EXCELLENT 16 August 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
dancing girl
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 10396)
We arrived in Cairns to a backpackers that will remain nameless but we quickly phoned Gilligans to find that we could only have a 4 bed dorm at $28 pp (a bit pricey) but we decided to take it. We were not disappointed, the entrance is hotel standard, the rooms were spacious with two king size single beds and a double bunk. All rooms were en suite with separate shower, toilet and wash basin. Fresh towels were supplied daily, the rooms had card entry, sliding doors to a large balcony and each floor had its own kitchen, lounge and tv room. The pool area and the bar and restaurant around were excellent. The restaurant meals were very reasonably priced and good portions. It is central to all the other bars and restaurants and Rusty's market next door.
