308 Edward Street (corner Ann Street), Brisbane Train Central Tel (07) 3211 2433 or 1800 676 340 Websitewww.stayatbase.com
BUG Review
Just across from Central Station in an old ornate building, this Base hostel has tons of character. The old rickety heritage listed lift leads up to brightly coloured floors with spacious dorms. The Down Under Bar & Grill is a popular watering hole/nightclub, so expect a big party here most nights. They also offer cheap breakfast, happy hour, and pool tables. The hostel has a rooftop barbecue area with excellent views of the city, a large clean kitchen, an internet café, a job desk and a tour desk. Security is very good and the reception is open 24 hours. Since this (and the Embassy) is now a Base hostel, they are adding the Sanctuary- girls only dorms with special conveniences.
Price Dorm bed $25-28 ($24-27 VIP) Single room $45 ($44 VIP) Double room $65 ($63 VIP) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
good place to party, bad if you want to sleep, December 26, 2009
Reviewer: Beckiwoo from East Midlands, United Kingdom
Pros:
security lockers, spacious dorms
Cons:
small seating area for kitchen, high level of theft
Beckiwoo
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Maintenance
(3)
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Stayed one night on the 1st floor just above the bar - asked to move the next day as bar is open till 5am every night plus beds in dorm were so high up and no bars on themI then moved to 3rd floor, still a little noisy but not as bad.Kitchen was clean but not big enough for the amount of people preparing food and sitting at the table.Good location but if you are on the 3rd or 4th floor keep the windows closed at night and when you are sleep in the room if you can, my friends had their stuff nicked by someone who came in through the window whilst one was alone asleep - not very safe so use the lockers as well!!!
I loved staying here. We were working in a hotel in Brisbane which was opposite the hostel. We made sooo many friends here, and the roof is a great place to drink and socialise.We stayed in a 3 bed dorm was clean and there was nothing you could complain about.We also stayed in an 8 bed dorm, which was quite large, and also clean, and had a sink in it. Was good because it was big enough not to feel like there were 8 people in it.The kitchen is big, and fairly clean. The only problem we had was people stealing our food. You need to be careful about that.Good common areas, think there was a TV room on pretty much every floor. The showers were fairly clean, and the staff are so friendly. I wouldn't go in the lift though, we nearly got stuck in it. Use the stairs!The Down Under bar is really good. Cheap food and drinks and a very good atmosphere. Totally recommend this hostel!
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(Review ID: 7464)
Clean rooms although 4th floor are small, January 4, 2008
This hostel was friendly, centrally located and busy!! the rooms were very small but they were exceptionally clean as were the shower facilities - after all, you only need a bed to sleep in!There was an excellent cafe downstairs that served the best breakfasts at a very good price.
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(Review ID: 9976)
welcome to CHAV-palace, January 26, 2006
Reviewer:
scoobs
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its called palace for only one reason and thats cos it IS a palace for bloody chavs. full of them and i swear they're breeding in this place.seriously though DONT stay here... me and my mate stayed here as we was flying out the next day and wanted somewhere close to the airport. so despite how bad we heard it was we grinned and beared it.grinning however was NOT what i was doing.. the place is just swarming with CHAVS and the hostel stinks of some kind of dodgy chemicals. we stayed in a small dorm hoping to get a good nights sleep. how naive were we?from the minute the bar starts going it just doesnt stop, we were on the TOP floor and i felt like we was sleeping IN the bar. no matter how hard we both tried we couldnt get to sleep with the noise. the rooms aren't even sealed off as their is an open alcove above the door so u can hear the room down the corridors coversation.to TOP it all off... the CHAV that was staying in our room came back, turned on the light and started yelling and laughing cos we couldnt sleep. the ONE star this hostel gets is for its friendly staff.. thats about it. i would rather saw off my ears than stay here again. if your a CHAV or your deaf then stay here.. otherwise run for the hills.
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(Review ID: 9977)
Big, but practical and clean, January 5, 2006
Reviewer:
Jahane
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We were in a double room in the Palace, which was pretty small and basic as they go, but the place was clean, fairly secure and in a great location for the station and the city centre. We didn't find the bar that easy to get chatting to people as most guys were in groups already and it was a bit 'laddy' - seemed popular with some scally locals as well as backpackers (drinks were cheap, go figure). The food in there was great value though and scrummy! Overall it was okay.
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(Review ID: 9978)
good hostel, good bar, August 17, 2005
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Anonymous
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all booked in here on the oz bus. Staff were fine, the room was noisy, thanks to a large group in the rooms either side playing drinking games between the rooms most of the night and following day. Lockers in the rooms are useful. Bathrooms, though the floor was wet af few times were clean and not busy. I liked the kitchen, and never had any problems. The bar downstairs is great. overall, a good hostel, and we had a good time here.
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(Review ID: 9979)
Perfect location, has everything you need & old feel, December 30, 2004
Reviewer:
christellefv
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The pick-up service from bus station was good at night, but did not drop-off before 7h or so in the morning so I walked, but it is not far away so it is alright. Location is perfect: near shopping, historic buildings, cinemas, right in the action. The room was huge and although 6 people were in it with me it was big and felt spacious. The room gave out on a shared balcony for the whole floor. Great view from the 3rd floor where my room was! It was a bit noisy at night with city noise outside (cars, peolpe partying, etc). The bathroom were alright and clean but the toilet leaked and the floor was always completely wet (3rd floor). The kitchen was ok but not much space to eat (tables). You have to hire a crockery set with a 10$ deposit and if you need a sharp knife you have to ask reception and leave your key as a deposit. The staff was very helpful and I liked that reception was open 24h a day. The Internet also 24h a day, 3$ an hour. There were lockers in the room (with your own lock). TV room with basic channels and a few couches. Elevator indeed old but worked fine (only use it when you have luggage and otherwise use the stairs!). Nice architecture in the hostel, gave me a nice old building feel, like back in the days. Good hostel, I would stay here again.
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(Review ID: 9980)
Very noisey, unfriendly and unpleasant, October 17, 2004
Reviewer:
tuatara2004
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The palace is very noisey at night the beds are very uncomfortable. The kitchen is very badly equipped, dirty, crowded and too small. The locks to the doors often jam (including the front door!), so people usually leve them open. Make sure you use the lockers provided because theft was rife while I was there. The staff are extremely unhelpful unless they are trying to sell you something and the internet is very expensive. For me this was easily the worst hostel I stayed in whilst travelling around Australia. Really disapointing after some of the good things I'd been told about Palace hostels. OK it has a bar but I totally agree with the reveiwer from Yorkshire. As bars go it certainly isn't anything special. Why not stay somewhere queiter, cleaner and friendlier, and find a decent bar? If you are a more serious traveller who'd prefer to meet nice people, explore Brisbane during the day and get some sleep then stay somewhere else.
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(Review ID: 9981)
Embassy (down the street and run by the same)is better, April 5, 2004
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Anonymous
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I stayed in a double room and it was ok. The room was small and simple but average. There wasn't any noise at night since we were on the 4th floor. The elevator is SUPER old and takes forever and is very hard to open. The kitchen was small and we didn't use it since we heard there was a new hostel run by the same people down the street called the Palace Embassy. the prices were the same and it is brand new and GREAT. The entertainment room was huge with a huge flat screen TV and almost theatre-like seating. Best of all, the bunks come with a lock-able drawer underneath. The kitchen was good too. Our 6-bed dorm was empty except for us. There is still a party vibe if you want it. Stay here instead of the palace! only complaint is very sqeaky beds!
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(Review ID: 9982)
It's only a bar!, January 24, 2004
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Anonymous
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I think you get the idea from the other posts. It has a bar downstairs that gets busy. We came here straight from Byron & couldnt wait to leave. Agree with all the other posts about the hostel itself, & our dorm was right above the bar. They took over an hour to pick us up from the airport, I had to phone them 3 times & then couldnt beleive how far it was, we could have walked it.We like a drink as much as the next man but on your own terms.....if you want a party in your bedroom you'd arrange it yourself. Dont go here unless you fancy an 18-30 type stay every day of the week. Not what we travelled half way across the world for, go to Ayia Napa, Malia or Ibiza instead they have bars 100 times better than this & the flight is much shorter & cheaper.
