|
|
Jolly Swagman
27 Orwell Street, Kings Cross
Bus 311, 324, 325, 326, 327 Train Kings Cross
Tel (02) 9358 6400
Website www.jollyswagman.com.au
BUG Review
This large, bright hostel attracts a party-minded crowd who hang out in the downstairs common area which opens onto the sidewalk. Reception doubles as a travel booking agency and tour organiser, and staff have tons of advice on things to do and see in Sydney. Big yellow dorms have plenty of locker space and sinks. The kitchen is roomy but lacking in facilities and maintenance. It is not the cleanest place in town, but it has good security and location.
Price
Dorm bed $25-29 ($24-28 VIP)
Double room $70-78 ($68-76 VIP)
Prices include breakfast
Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards
MasterCard,Visa
Reception Open
24 hours
| Book Jolly Swagman |
|
|
|
|
No booking fee when you book Jolly Swagman online through BUG |
|
10 or more people? Book groups here!
Tell a friend
Last Update:
November
30, 2008
Travellers' reviews for Jolly Swagman
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Displaying Reviews:
1 - 10
|
Pages: 1 2
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Good hostel, August 4, 2006
|
|
Reviewer: Barbie from England
|
Pros:
friendly hostel
Cons:
Not the best kitchen
|
|
|
|
Barbie
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
 |
(3) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(3) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(3) |
|
Atmosphere
|
 |
(4) |
|
|
|
I am surprised by the bad reviews of this hostel and feel it is a shame really cause I had an excellent time at the Jolly (and I am not a young drunk/stoned teenager). I stayed here for one month in November 2005 and visited again in July 2006 before I flew home. I am quite picky, but found the cleanliness at the Jolly better than a lot of the hostels I have stayed in in Oz and I mainly stayed in Lonely Plant recommended ones. Fair enough the kitchen facilities aren't the best, but when I was there in July 2006 they were improved from my previous visit. I found the reception staff friendly and very helpful in not only information for sydney but also job hunting. I think a lot of what you feel about a hostel has to do with the time you had there and I met a great crowd at the Jolly and will miss it, so all you backpackers give it a chance!
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1 of
1 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
the worst hostel i stayed in........, April 2, 2006
|
|
Reviewer: sticky lemur from teesside, uk
|
Pros:
good location, handy for shops and transport links
Cons:
dirty with a strong stench, some unfriendly staff
|
|
|
|
sticky lemur
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
 |
(2) |
|
Cleanliness
|
 |
(1) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(2) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
in short this was the worst hostel i stayed in during my entire trip. the bed was filthy and came with a large brown stain and cigarette burns...all at no extra cost. the member of staff on the 'information' desk had never heard of climbing sydney harbour bridge and advised i ask elsewhere. the kitchen was buried in mouldy food and unclean teenagers. the highlight was the eccentric elderly lady who did her ironing in the first floor corridor.....wearing her vest and pants.....and nothing else.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
dirty, noisy and unfriendly, March 21, 2005
|
Reviewer:
sticky koala
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Imported Review
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(1) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(1) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(1) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
i stayed here last october having just arrived in sydney from the u.k. the place was a total dump. the room was filthy with brown stains all over the bedding and carpet. the hostel was noisy, this was compounded by the tannoy system which goes off at all times of the day and night - not great when you want to sleep after 36 hours of travelling. the social atmosphere was similar to that of a youth club - full of kids who think its great to get drunk and stoned. most of the staff were helpful although i had one experience with a female member of staff who didn't seem to know anything about sydney - how she got a job on the hostel information desk is anyone's guess. the location is pretty good but there are plenty of other hostels in the area which are cheaper and cleaner - stay at eva's across the road, there it is clean, friendly and cheap with breakfast and internet use included in the price. the jolly swagman was the worst hostel i stayed in whilst in australia.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
3 of
3 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Enjoyable, May 26, 2004
|
|
Reviewer:
Andrew12345
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Imported Review
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(4) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(4) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(4) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
I had a very pleasant stay at the Jolly Swagman, it was the friendliest hostel i have been in. I got tonnes of free stuff from reception. i would definately recommend it.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Very dirty, March 25, 2004
|
|
Reviewer:
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(2) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(2) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(2) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
I've never been in a hostel this dirty before. I entered the 4-bed dorm and there were PILES of trash underneath my bunk and glasses piled on the table, random trash everywhere. I assumed it was from the other people who were staying in that room (they weren't there at the time). I went to reception and told them it was filthy and they sent in a guy to clean up. Later I talked to the other people staying in the room and they said the trash wasn't theirs--turns out it was from several people before and the room hadn't been cleaned. The room was incredibly stuffy at night and there were a couple cockroaches. I was mad at myself for booking 2 nights and not just one.. couldn't get out of there fast enough. Go down the street to Eva's Backpackers for a couple bucks more and a great hostel. Only good thing about Jolly Swagman was ok breakfast specials--oh, and safes in the room were good. ALso thought the reception wasn't that friendly or competant.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
3 of
3 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
excellent hostel, March 16, 2004
|
|
Reviewer:
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
 |
(5) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(5) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(5) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(5) |
|
|
|
When I first arrived in sydney airport I saw a notice for the Jolly Swagman backpacker and I gave them a ring. Within 5 minutes a shuttle arrived to bring us to the hostel free of charge which was very nice after a long flight. On arrival we were greeted with very friendly and helpful staff. They have a very good jobs board and work came in on a regular basis thank god as I was broke. We found the facilities were excellent the kitchen, bedrooms and showers were all very clean. The best part for me was the social aspect of this hostel as they have a court yard out front where every evening all the back packers have a few beers and chill out then head to the kings cross main pubs which are 5mins away. On a final note, I have made some really cool friends throught this hostel and would recommeded it highly.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
3 of
4 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
very nice, clean hostel with friendly staff and, September 5, 2003
|
|
Reviewer:
gboelens@yahoo.com
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Imported Review
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(5) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(5) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(5) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(5) |
|
|
|
The good thing about this hostel is that it is a good opportunity to meet people because the setup creates an open atmosphere so that you'll feel 'at home' soon.Because the hostel is not too big, it is easy to get in contact with other travellers.I've been travelling for about 8 months now and have been staying in quite a 'few' hostels, but I would like to recommend this hostel to everybody, compared with other, very big, impersonal hostels in australia.The other positive things about the hostel is that the kitchen is very clean and complete. Everything is working (in quite a few hostels I've experienced that toasters aren't working, waterboilers etc...). When something isn't working in the Jolly Swagman, it's being fixed within 24 hours, which saves a lot of angry faces, to my opinion....The 24 hours reception is also a good thing, so if there's any problem or whatever, it's too easy to speak to the receptionist about nuisances in and around the building.On sunday they organise a free BBQ for all of the guests which creates a very nice atmosphere. It's allowed to sit in front of the hostel on a very spacious courtyard to drink a few beers with other guests, sit in the sun and chill out. It's just great!I'm not going to talk about all the other facilities. Trust me on this one....It's complete! Thats all I have to say about it.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
7 of
9 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Draw your own conclusions, August 14, 2003
|
|
Reviewer:
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(2) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(2) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(2) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(2) |
|
|
|
Look at the reviews on this hostel. Whenever a bad one appears, a rave review with very specific information about it then follows.I found this hostel (in 2002) dirty and with poor facilities- usual VIP organisation standards I might add. One member of staff was extremely rude - I dont know why he didnt just go home if he didnt like the job. There are no formally organised social events at the hostel.However I did meet some people there and had a laugh with them, although that could be just cos it is a large Sydney hostel. This is a genuine review from a UK backpacker
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
3 of
3 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
very dissapointing, May 31, 2003
|
|
Reviewer:
Sam
|
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
|
|
|
|
Imported Review
saw things this way
|
|
|
Maintenance
|
|
(1) |
|
Cleanliness
|
|
(1) |
|
Facilities
|
|
(1) |
|
Atmosphere
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
As this was the first hostel i stayed at in australia, the hostel came to no way near my expectations of what i thought it would be like. It is a very bad hostel to stay at, facilities were poor and very bog standard. if your traveling by yourself and i found most people staying there travelling in groups of 5 or more and were not prepared at all to intergrate, not with me or anyone. I would strongly reccomend to look further a field when looking for a hostel
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
3 of
4 people found this review helpful
|
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Pages: 1 2
|
|
|
|
|
Top of Page
|
© 1997-2008 BUG Travel Publishing Pty Ltd
|
|
|
