7 Carlyle Street, Byron Bay Tel (02) 6685 8853 or 1800 678 195 Websitewww.yha.com.au
BUG Review
Byron Bay YHA is a beautifully maintained hostel with a heated swimming pool and an outside kitchen/barbecue area. The TV lounge has cheap internet access ($3 per hour), and the upstairs deck has hammocks overlooking the pool. Dorm rooms and bathrooms are new and sparkling and the kitchen is large and well equipped for cooking. It attracts a mellow crowd of travellers who lounge on the deck and beside the pool. It’s not too far from town and the beach and they have bikes and good surfboards available for rent.
Price Dorm bed $25-39 Double room $82-112 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Had an awsome time you have to stop here on your way through Byron, February 2, 2008
Reviewer: juni_M from cabbarita Beach, NSW, Australia
Pros:
Geat atmostphere and location, Staff are Fantastic
Cons:
Funny smell from next door
juni_M
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
I had a blast, went surfing and caried on till the early hours of the morn. One of the better places i've stay'd. Booked me with some realy knoladgeable tour guids YAY. Hung out with the locals at the markets. The place was realy clean, and they where all loads of fun. Bathrooms are nice and it's so close to the beach you can smell the sea air Nice ahhh. Did have a problem with the werid week old fish smell that floated in from next door, but it was gone by the third day ewww.
This place was pretty good, until I actually walked into the door. From there, it was basically downhill. Its not necessarily the inept workers behind the desk or the check in process
that actually frustrated me more than my 13 hour travel day (which they were not exactly understanding of. And by “not exactly”, I mean that they couldn’t have cared less…) or the cleaners that managed to wake me up on multiple occasions after i repeatedly pleaded them not to enter my private room. I guess I should have known when the cleaners were coming in the morning, considering the complete lack of any information given to me concerning the hostel rules. (Not that I wanted to actually sleep, that would be ridiculous, right?) Also, I enjoy being stared at naked by complete strangers. It wasn’t any of these things, per se, but a grand combination of all. Everywhere I turned, I was disappointed. But, when things go wrong you turn to the manager, right? Your one last hope for some sanity, respect and just plain human decency, right?
Let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend that here. This so-called
“manager” was quite possibly the worst addition to an already
crap-tacular hostel. Rather than listening to anything I had to
say, he immediately became defensive and basically started
insulting me. An interesting strategy when dealing with guests,
I’ll be the first to admit. But a failure nonetheless. But in all
fairness, since he didn’t want to sleep with me, what use
would there be in helping me? (while throwing the lamest of attempts at almost any girl who walked through the door)
What a joke. the treatment received in that hostel was one of the most humiliating and offensive in all my live traveling!
Highly overrated hostel, to say the least.
Pros:
The relaxed atmosphere
Cons:
11 o'clock lights out in common areas
zulu17
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I returned for 5 days this November 2005 having stayed for a few days last year. A well dimensioned/designed hostel with good communal areas - a well maintained & clean kitchen. Staff are through & helpful & it all provides an good atmosphere. All carpets were being replaced whilst I was there showing a refreshing investment. Location is such that bars, shops, beach & transit centre are all a short walk away.Stayed again for 6 days in November 2006. Now known simply as the Byron Bay YHA rather than J's Bay. It is still a good uncrowded hostel with excellent facilities. Fitting some small security lockers would be a good ddition.
Pros:
big pool under palm trees
Cons:
quite expensive, no security lockers in the room
Johanna
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
A very nice hostel, a big kitchen and dining area, nice music around the pool, but not too loud. Free body-boards; the lockers are not in the dorms and very expensive
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(Review ID: 344)
NICE PAD... more tourist then hippie, April 23, 2006
Pros:
Pool great open areas and very spacious, hire boogie boards
Cons:
Nothing bar bit of trek to beach if carrying boards
Combo The Cat
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(4)
Def Def stop Bryon bay... Whilst the arts factory is novelty this place is top notce all other ways with open kitch. Nice pool, hire bikes and boards, lots of outdoor tables, TV room and stuff... GET THE FUCK OUT OF SHITTY SIDNEY and come hereDont book diving trips till you get here... Here $60
YAY. Hung out with the locals at the markets. The place was realy clean, and they where all loads of fun. Bathrooms are nice and it's so close to the beach you can smell the sea air Nice 
ahhh. Did have a problem with the werid week old fish smell that floated in from next door, but it was gone by the third day ewww.
