BUG Review
This hostel has a retreat feel to it, with large open-beamed cabins surrounding lush gardens and wooden pathways. It has a big upstairs kitchen and an outdoor barbeque area. There is also a café on site, as well as the Relax Haven massage therapy rooms. It is just across from the quiet Belongil Beach, and not too far from town. Some of the areas are a bit run-down and could use an update, but it is kept clean and has character. It is the perfect place to stay for a night of relaxation.
Price Dorm bed $28 ($27 HI/YHA, VIP) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
beach, people, atmosphere surroundings all perfect
Cons:
i had to leave paradise
tomass
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(5)
my first time in oz and this place is the icing on the cake, heaps of backpackers all friendly and chatting felt like i was at home straight away. place is huge when u actually get round it never seen such an open hostel not walls and padlocked doors everywhere really airy and u know your by the sea and i only had to walk 1 min to get to it and it was magic just crystal the perfect postcard pic i sent me mum and i was paying 26bucs a night for that was in a nice quiet dorm in the back of the place 6 bed dorm shower n all the usual, nice and clean, heaps of places to sit and chill at night tv room is good heaps of vids and big lounges just lay around and they had a small fire on was crackin jus laying around after me trip to nimbin the kitchen is enormous felt like a master cook chef with all the stuff they had was top but i can only cook pasta but yeh. and the vibe of the place is so calming im not a tripper but being abit spiritual round here wouldnt go out of place so yeh me first time travelling and here was so perfect real byron experience did everything i wanted a stayed a week longer .... if you miss going belongil you may as well miss going byron !!!!
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(Review ID: 8449)
Longtime Belongil Buddy sees the house getting better and betterer., April 11, 2008
Pros:
Beautiful Belongil Beach,Diamonds and Rainforest. Good facilities/Bus to town.
Cons:
Popularity. Sometimes hard to get in.
winoseti
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Set in tropical gardens the house is the nicest Byron hideaway you could find. A beautiful walk along beautiful belongil beach about 10-15minutes from town. There is also a handy bus service. I have been coming here for 7-8 years and have met a great many people who are all proud to say they are belongilites. Basically I am writing to say that the place has never been better thanks to Tom and Roz who are diamonds as another reviewer says. As to the bed bugs of another reviewer.. haven't see a single one again thanks to the vigilant management.
The current crop of staff are great being very friendly and easygoing. I, like many ,were surprised by bububoys comments
Well done guys. Keep it going.
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(Review ID: 7502)
A friendly magic paradise which i will never forget, January 24, 2008
Pros:
The friendly staff, the quiet peacful atmosphere and the cleanliness
Cons:
No partying after 11 (which i found a good thing)
jess1
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
What can i say belongil is by far the best hostel i have stayed in. When i arrived the staff were so friendly and helpfull. I was in a 6 bed dorm which had recently been renovated the room was a good size. fresh linen was provided and cleaners came in everyday to do the bathrooms and clean the floor.Fantastic kitchen really big and super clean there was more then enough facilities in there eg pots, pans blenders, sandwhich makers etc.Apart from being a clean and friendly hostel another big thumbs up is the location just across the road from the beach, also 10 min walk to town is close enough but also far enough away to avoid the hectic party vibe from town.The grounds are lovely it sets a real tranquile vibe and the place is so chilled.I deffinentally recomend belongil beachouse as the best hostel iv stayed in.
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(Review ID: 7500)
A rare 'retreat' style hostel that leaves you relaxed and revived. A real gem of a find., January 23, 2008
Reviewer: Alice from North Devon\Manchester\Lake District UK
Pros:
Stunning location - 50 metres from miles of the most beautiful beaches,Yoga centre, cafes. A haven!!
Cons:
A swimming pool would be cool
Alice
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
Belongil Beachouse is a real gem of a find. I was torn between keeping it a secret for myself or sharing it with the masses!
I've read some of the other comments and agree that it is not in the centre of town, but is only a short walk (15 mins) across the most beautiful beach, Who wouldn't want to do that when they're on holiday???
Theres a shuttle bus that regularly takes guests in and out of town from early in the morning until early evening with friendly staff who are helpful on where to go and what to do.
The hostel itself is not just for backpackers as the accomodation ranges from dorms to cottages( I was in a room of 6 girls with ensuite bathroom, beautiful polished wooden floors, beamed ceiling and what i thought was a nice touch is that every room had a unique stained glass window in it. Also some of the corridors and walls had been beautifully mosaiced - AND was the cheapest place I stayed whilst in Australia!! - I had a VIP card so got money off too! and so, as a backpacker myself it was lovely to get that slightly better standard of living for a while!
The kitchen was large with plenty of fridge space and clean in comparison to many of the other places I had stayed. The common areas were relaxed and friendly. Great BBQ areas, a bali style hut to sit in a and hammocks to relax in - (I said to my friend after having an early morning walk along the beach, dip in the sea, a great massage at the onsite 'relax haven' and then lying in a hammock listening to this guy play the guitar that I felt like I was at my own private retreat/ health spa!!)
There are 2 cafes either side of the beachouse both serving really good food and Coffees and the reception sells goodies too.
Ros and Tom the couple that run the place are real down to earth Aussies with a great sense of humour and suit the place really well.
So, if you want to feel the true spirit of what Byron Bay is REALLY all about spend some time at Belongil - in my opinion - a little bit of Aussie paradise!
Pros:
It's quiet.
Cons:
The price, grumpy staff, ugly rooms.
niamhkenneally
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
I want to congratulate Belongil Beach House on being the biggest rip-off on the east coast. I've stayed in hostels all over Australia so am very familiar with what to expect but am not a backpacker anymore and stayed there on a weeks vacation from work with my boyfriend.
The whole town was booked out so I had to pay $700 for a week in Belongils broom cupboard. I am sickened that I was ripped off like this. The double room we got was worth $40 a night, max. It was as basic as is actually possible to be without sleeping on the floor. Because it was Easter week they felt fine about almost doubling the price from $75 a night, which is shocking in itself. We didn't even get an en suite for this price. The room didn't even have it's own bin - clearly they are so hard up they couldn't stretch to buying a bucket for the patrons to put rubbish in. The staff were sour and grumpy whenever we just wanted to ask about calling a taxi or getting more sheets for the bed (I paid $100 a night and still had to change my own sheets).
The garden they boast about is really small with a few picnic benches and 2 mangey stringy hammocks. Hardly a tropical paradise. The bus to town isn't regular enough and after 9pm there are none. It's a half hour walk to town. The common room is next to the double rooms so each morning I was awoken to the sound of the tv blaring. There are friendly notes all over the kitchen reminding us that we are not babies and have to clean up after ourselves. The cafe next door is ok, but $4.50 for a muffin?!!
My main problem with Belongil is the price. It's a run-down looking, badly staffed hostel, but they charge like it's alot more. Not even a swimming pool! I really feel like I didn't have a proper holiday, as it rained alot and so we had to spend alot of time in our room, which was dark and tiny, the least romantic bedroom you can imagine. I am still bitter that they felt it was ok to charge $700 to spend a week there.
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(Review ID: 870)
Beautiful grounds but a bit out of town., October 10, 2006
Pros:
Decor, kitchen, beach on doorstep, fantastic cafe nextdoor!
Cons:
Out of town.
Minnie Munchkin
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
I really liked it here because of the lovely grounds... very relaxed atmosphere, the beach is just across the road and the fantastic beach cafe next door serves great food and sells good stuff for the occasional treat. I stayed here in a girls dorm for 5 days in May 2006. The two adjacent dorm rooms shared a bathroom which was fine but I felt that it could have done with a bit more frequent cleaning. Linen/blankets were provided at no extra cost and the bed was adequately comfortable.Although it was a little too far out of town for my liking (I like to be able to stumble home after a night out if there happens to be no taxis!), there was a regular shuttle bus that runs guests to and from town during the day and into the early evening. Nice and quiet area for a good nights sleep (except for the noise from your fellow dorm mates of course!).The kitchen was huge with adequate cooking facilities. The communal lounge area was small with not much seating but very pleasant to relax in with a TV, vidoes and stereo to entertain. There are internet facilities and you can rent a bike for the day if one is available.Even if you don't end up staying here I reckon the cafe next door is at least worth a visit!
the kitchen is enormous felt like a master cook chef with all the stuff they had was top but i can only cook pasta but yeh. and the vibe of the place is so calming im not a tripper but being abit spiritual round here wouldnt go out of place so yeh me first time travelling and here was so perfect real byron experience did everything i wanted a stayed a week longer .... if you miss going belongil you may as well miss going byron !!!!
