BUG Review
This is a simple hostel in an older building just across from the beach. The reception area is also the kitchen and common room, and there is a games room with internet access ($4 per hour) downstairs. Rooms are very plain and clean, and toilets are shiny. There are not many facilities here but they do organise tours in the surrounding area. It has a bit more of a party atmosphere than the other hostels in Newcastle.
Price Dorm bed $28 ($26 HI/YHA, ISIC, Nomads, VIP) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Close to beach.
Cons:
Unfriendly, unhelpfull staff.
twojawas
saw things this way
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(3)
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(4)
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(2)
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(2)
Having worked in hostels myself, I was surprised at how unaccommodating the staff was at Backpackers by the Beach.First off, the room cancellation policy at this hostel is absurd. If you cancel a booking within 48 hours of arriving you pay in full for your room, which is fair enough. What surprised me was that if you cancelled outside of these 48 hours, you were still charged 50% of your booking regardless of whether than rent your room or not. This is the only hostel that I have stayed at during several visits to Australia that has done this.Having paid for a room that I wouldn't be using, I asked the Aussie working at the desk if he would refund my money if someone else wanted the room that night (the hostel was booked out). His short answer was no because it was unlikely that someone would book at that point in the day. While we were having this conversation, a bloke walked up asking about rooms and was told that the place was fully booked, as I stood looking on holding a key for a room that I would not be using that night.In his reluctance to erase my name from the booking book and write in someone else's, the guy at the desk screwed over two travellers: myself, as I paid for a room I didn't need and the guy who was sent away from a hostel that at a free bed.Again, having worked in hostels, I was surprised at the manner in which this staff member handled this situation. I understand that I should have paid, but the fact that someone else wanted the room while I was standing there should have factored into the equation. I can't think of another hostel that I have stayed at that wouldn't have given the other guy my room. This was not a matter of hostel policy but, rather, laziness on the part of that particular staff member.Needless to say, I would not reccommend this hostel. :(
Pros:
Good chilled out atmosphere, good location
Cons:
someone stole my chocolate!
jmcgui11
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
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(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
This hostel was in a good location near the beach and the bus and train station.The staff were friendly, there was a nice atmosphere in the communal room, which was clean and tidy. The tv's not always on which was good- good tunes instead. But if you want to watch tv they have a widescreen.Rooms were cosy and comfortable, duvets and heaters which was nice cos it was very cold when i visited at the end of July.Internet access on premises, laundry a few doors down the street, main shopping street 5 minutes walk away.Dorm rooms have some single beds not all are bunk beds.I would definately recommend this hostel to my friends.
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(Review ID: 9083)
Don't be fooled by the leaflet, September 27, 2004
Reviewer:
fimbo1977
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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The leaflet for this place sells it well, but don't buy it! I stayed here early in 2004, and was put off by most aspects of the hostel. To give praise where it's due, the staff were nice, and its not their fault if the owners have let the place slip. The dorms are pretty cramped and seem to be lacking in air conditioning. Mine was ensuite with about 10 people expected to share 1 bathroom. On top of that, the stairways stank of urine, the kitchen was pitifully small, and there was no real communal area other than the tables in the area adjoining the kitchen.On the plus side, location is good if you don't mind this for the odd night, as it's close to the superb beaches.
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(Review ID: 9084)
nice, friendly, March 3, 2003
Reviewer:
Hendrik
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Imported Review
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hey, i just saw that there wasn't a single review yet. i have been there last summer. it was my first hostel and i liked it. the hostel is rather clean and the staff is very kind (hi emma! :) they give you a free-meal-voucher on (wednesdays?) for the brewery, a nearby restaurant. they have a pizza-evening where they order a huge amout of pizza from pizza hut and let you enjoy a backpacker-pizza-beer (oh, its BYOB) evening :) it's pretty central and you can get around by bus pretty easy. a have-to-see is anna-bay/neslon bay about an hour north by bus. alcoholics may be interested in the wine-tasting trips to the hunter valley. overall: a good stay :)
