752 George Street, Sydney Bus 412, 413, 431, 432, 433, 436, 437, 438, 440, 461, 470, 480, 483, 501, L38, L88, L90 Tram Capitol Square Train Central, Town Hall Tel (02) 9212 4833 Websitewww.ccbackpack.com.au
BUG Review
This hostel is tiny and stuffy, and badly in need of renovations or at least some maintenance. Some may find it characterful, however, with the eccentric artwork lining the hallways and the offbeat crowd who stays here. The kitchen is dirty and old, and the common area/TV lounge needs new furniture, but the toilets are exceptionally clean. Reception staff are indifferent and security is not great for being located on a busy street. Dorms are sparse and ugly- they need a paint job. It is less expensive than most, though, and offers one computer with free internet.
Price Dorm bed $20-27 Double/twin room $75 Triple room $90 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Free internet, no catches
Cons:
The awful smell, institutionalised old men, unhelpful staff, and disgusting bathrooms
londonlass
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(1)
Do not stay here. I checked in for 3 nights as it was cheaper. It is filthy and I will be leaving today and never ever coming back. The security is awful, the front door was wedged open and one key gets you into the rooms. The toilets are overflowing, smell of urine enough to make you wretch and the kitchen is a health hazard. My bed had slats missing and everyone smokes so it stinks and so do all your clothes. There is one shower for every floor. The only good thing about this hostel is the free internet. But seriously, spend the $2 in an internet cafe and stay somewhere which doesn't consitute a public health hazard.Thoroughly disgusting hostel.
Dirty, smelly and the beds are noisy and uncomfortableI paid for a week up front as it worked out cheaper. The add said that you get your own fridge and TV in the room.
The fridge was not clean, the TV only got channel ten and the reception was shocking. Old and noisy bunk beds make it impossible to get a good nights sleep.On the first night I wondered why it felt like my bed was uneven. Upon lifting the mattress I found that the wire base of the bed had broke and so a door had been put in it’s place. The door was not wide enough to cover the whole of the bed. When I asked for my money back I was told that they do not do refunds for any reason.There are only four toilets and 2 showers for all the hostel. The showers are dirty and the floor is constantly wet.
The kitchen is small and dirty, nothing has been supplied to dry dishes with and so things are left to drip dry.The only plus is the free internet. But what I want from a hostel is a good bed with clean showers and toilets facilities.
This hostel does not have this.
One month out from stay: Booked, all ok.
Two weeks out from stay: Called to confirm booking. Booking not found. Booked again.
Day of arrival: Called to confirm stay. Booking not found. Booked again.
Arrival (12am): Called mobile of man that would let me in, he didn't know I was expected. Given key to 10 bed dorm that was already full of sleeping people. Given another key to another dorm.
(2am) Trying to block out the loud, nocturnal sounds of a very amorous couple.
Departure (7am): Faeces in the main entry.
Truly disgusted by this place and atmosphere. Staff and operations are beyond incompetent.
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(Review ID: 256)
Great position, lots of fun and lack of sleep, March 29, 2006
Pros:
Cheapest in the area, free internet, laid back atmosphera
Cons:
well, could be more bathrooms for buzy time
travel_junkie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
It was my second time in Sydney and I wanted to stay in city instead of Kings Cross, and I did a right choice. I tried few hostels and found this one was most suitable for my budget and atmosphera. Reception guys were very helpfull, security is great and those craizy guys who stay in the hostel forever alway organize parties and pubcrawls. I wish I could stay longer. The rest of you --- enjoy while u r here in OZ. Catch up with all of you next year when I come back again.
Dimitri
1 of
2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 9218)
Easy going place in great location, October 20, 2005
Reviewer:
Rick
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I stayed there for few weeks and had a great time. I had some weird incounters at the hostel, but hey, why are we travelling. It's not the cleanest place and has some idiots, as at most hostels I've been to, but it's the cheapest one in the area and has free internet 24/7. Kitchen is not the best and it's cleanliness was straight related to number of people in the hostel. I would recommend this place for those of us, who is not hygenicaly obsessed and wanna have fun. And hey, Roy, you belong in hospital, with your seek mentality. Next time you travel - just book a place for yourself there :-)Rick
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(Review ID: 9219)
Is it horrible,or am I getting old?, September 30, 2005
Reviewer:
Kris
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
Oh, Roy, thank you so much. When I stayed at this place 4 years ago, I was wondering if it is me getting old and not fitting in with the hostel atmosphere anymore or if it is just a horrible place. For everyone who wants to stay in this area, stay at the YHA... it is sooo much better!
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(Review ID: 9220)
Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here (Passport Required), May 15, 2005
Reviewer:
Roy Wilke
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
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(1)
As my budget was very tight, the $20 bed I was told about on the phone was very enticing. So at 8.30pm on a Saturday night, I set off with my bags from Central Station in search of the City Central Backpackers.Like Dante, I soon found myself "gone from the path direct." Although I happened to find the Australian headquarters of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), no hostel's welcoming light appeared in the neon-lined darkness.So it was back to the railway station for me, to check the address.Address checked and bearings regained, I headed back to George Street to find City Central's street frontage nothing more than than an unmarked door recessed from the street beside an army disposals store and a few doors up from a peep-show.The door was locked, but luckily there was a young Englishman there with a key, so he acted as Virgil to my Dante. All that was needed was a sign saying "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here..."Down a winding corridor and up a few flights of concrete steps we went, descending while we were ascending to a place reminiscent of the sleazy hotel scene in a 1940s film noir where the hero finds the corpse of the strangled prostitute.My discovery wasn't so grisly: all I found was the reception desk clerk, who had completely forgotten his phone conversation with me 10 minutes before and didn't appreciate having a new guest interrupt his first-person-shooter game on the office computer.I told him what I had come for, and no, I didn't mind that it was in a 12-bed dormitory."It's $20, plus a $10 deposit for the key," he said (he didn't mention this on the phone, but I could see why they'd ask for a deposit). "And you need to give us your passport."Huh? My passport? As I was still in the country of my birth and residence, I didn't think it necessary to bring my passport with me on a journey that didn't cross any national boundaries.He didn't care. I needed to either surrender my passport or my credit card (which I wasn't carrying either) to him, otherwise how was he to know I wasn't going to shoot through with the key.If I wanted a souvenir of my stay in Sydney, I'd buy a postcard. A key to a grotty hostel would not be what I'd choose.No, my driver's license wasn't acceptable. Either a passport, credit card, or a $50 deposit.So the $20 bed suddenly became a $70 bed in a 12-bed dormitory in one of the grottiest places I'd seen in at least a decade.Didn't sound like much of a bargain."I don't care," he said. "Those are the rules, and you're just keeping me from my work," he said (Hmm, nice work that. Being payed to play 'Doom' on the office computer).So it was back to George Street on a Saturday night, with a temper so hot that a group of UK backpackers started gathering around me to warm themselves on the steam that was coming out of my ears.I stayed at the Sydney Central YHA instead -- a Paradise compared to City Central's four floors of Hell.And they didn't want my passport.
4 of
4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 9221)
It would help if you were a cockroach, October 26, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
It only gets that one star because the staff were nice.I was stuck in a room full of chainsmoking squatters who had been living there for about half a year so they had shit skattered everywhere throughout the dorm. Not only that they smoked 24 hrs a day in the dorm particularily when one was trying to sleep. The bathrooms were about equivalent to the average public toilets in a rundown inner city neighbourhood. So unless you happen to be wearing a full biohazard suit I would probably avoid them. Can't say I had to much of a problem with the kitchen but then again I only used it once and that was a glass of water so I could was the smoke out of my throat. I did happen to notice though that the floor has a glue like coating of filth all over it so when walking across it be careful not to pause or you may become stuck.However if you do happen to be a chain smoker and not overly hygenic the it could be the place for you as it is cheap and in a handy location.
5 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 9222)
good for wot u GET, April 5, 2003
Reviewer:
olly
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
I Stayed here for a couple of months.Yes it is a shithole with a tiny kitchen and i got my phone and watch nicked. But wot an experience, so close to the centre, cheap compared to everywhere else round that area. Also u get to meet some really weird people. superb
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(Review ID: 9223)
very good, March 25, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Whilst staying in this loverly place i had a fantastic time. i met some outstanding and some very odd people a few in which without them my stay in sydney (4.5months) would have been very dull. I didn't want to leave. The staff were very pleasant, helpful and always there to help with information regarding partying or employment. i was extremely sad to say goodbye to this lovely but special place. fond memories and good times had by all.
