149 Grafton Street, Cairns Tel (07) 4031 1474 or 1800 065 464 Websitewww.asylumcairns.com
BUG Review
Asylum is a very run down complex of buildings with depressingly shoddy rooms. Bathrooms are dirty, as are the common areas. The swimming pool in front is not very inviting and the games room in an old shed has dusty furniture and a couple of pool tables. They do offer $3 barbecues, pub crawls, pizza nights, free internet access and a tour desk, but there is still not much of an atmosphere. Staff are mostly unfriendly.
Price Dorm bed $15 Single room $34 Double room $48-53 Twin room $48 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards American Express,Diners Club,JCB,MasterCard,Visa
Well, I'll admit I was very disappointed with this hostel when we first got there. You've got to walk outside to get to most of the different buildings. The reception area is pretty shitty. The only common areas are a small tv there and then a couple picnic tables outside and then there's a larger tv room. Our room was okay. I was in a 3 share and it was nice that the beds were all singles and not bunked. There weren't enough showers and the bathrooms were pretty dirty. So if you're looking for a high class hostel, this isn't for you.However, they've got some good hostel activities. On Mondays they have a party night where everyone goes out on a pub crawl and you get a tshirt, a meal, and like 5 free drinks for just $10. I had THE BEST time on this! You meet sooo many people and it's way fun. That's what made me love this place and sad to leave it. No doubt there are better hostels in Cairns, but this was fun.
Best hostel in Cairns , admittedly i havent been to any others neither would i , free internet , pay tv , table tennis , pool table , swimming pool , good funny staff that laughed at my silly friend Mctavish renaming him (going once going twice) over his dumb phonecalls he made ! , This place has a great party atmosphere and is a great place to drink and meet other backpackers, Ya best be going!
3 of
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(Review ID: 10303)
Not Central & Unclean, October 16, 2005
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Anonymous
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(1)
Good value pub crawl including free t-shirt which you MUST wear on the night to advertise the hostel. Vouchers available for reasonably priced meals at the popular Woolshed Bar in the town centre, although this seemed to be the case for most hostels in Cairns as everyone seemed to be using them in the Woolshed.Atmosphere generally OK although there were some older long term Australian residents. One tried to pick a fight with someone in the lounge area, although I have no idea if anything had lead up to it, it did seem unprovoked and the aggressor was very drunk. Our twin room smelled of putrid urine even with the fan on and every window open! Awful stinking toilets and shower area with regular blocked toilets and broken shower heads so you had to shower under a "tap" of water if the other cubicles were occupied. Generally VERY dirty compared to most other hostels we stayed at along the East coast of Austlalia. We were charged for the shuttle bus run to airport, which is advertised as free, as I hadn't booked any excusions with them; used Peter Pans in town as it cost less for the same tour which I think they were annoyed about. Attitude for anyone coming back late or not immediately returning used tea & coffee cups. There is about a 20min walk back from the town centre which seems a lot further and seems to take a LOT longer after a night out!Wouldn't go there again. There are several cleaner and more central hostels for a dollar or two extra.
1 of
3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 10304)
Asylum Alright ... Too Much So!!!, July 9, 2005
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Anonymous
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I recently went to the Asylum and paid for two nights' accomodation on arrival. The first night was okay, although the British guy at the front desk was a bit aggressive in manner and the male manager a bit aloof, and my floor looked unvacuumed, but I didn't care because I was only staying there two nights. The next afternoon, I came back from my activities, got myself a coffee, and logged onto a fifteen minute Internet session. Five minutes through it, I had finished my coffee and suddenly the guy at the desk demands that I take my teaspoon back to the table for others to use. He was really angry. There were plenty of teaspoons available and also plenty of cups, and I hadn't broken their "rule" of taking either out of the common room area, so I said I'd do it in ten minutes. It was rather rude of them to demand such a thing especially when I was in the middle of writing an email, but I tried to let it pass. He wouldn't let up and got verbally aggressive by saying I was being inconsiderate and I think he threatened me with "the rules" or some such. All through this, I was, naturally, pissed off, but didn't swear or insult them. Finally, I couldn't be bothered any more with such a ridiculous argument and got up to take the spoon back - but then I felt that this was humiliating, like a child that hadn't even been naughty. I can't remember what I said, but was polite enough despite their extrememly rude, aggressive attitudes. Then the male manager got into it, with very arrogant body posture, started abusing me by saying forcefully I was selfish etc. and said I must leave the hostel and they would refund my second night. I couldn't believe it. I said, "No, I'm not leaving". I even offered to wash the mug just because I couldn't be bothered moving just for one night. They wouldn't listen. When I tried to delete my Internet, the male manager threatened to throw me out without refunding my money. Their manner was utterly vile. They knew it was difficult to find a room (which was admittedly why I was there - but I never even said so in any way). So I was thrown out of a hostel for refusing to return a teaspoon which wasn't needed for anything while in the middle of an Internet session and they were very very nasty about it. This sounds like they were trying to pick a fight with me, but why they would want to I have no idea - I am a quiet, polite, considerate person and had been friendly towards them. Utterly unbelievable. Beyond comprehension in fact. I was lucky enough to get the tourist office to find me a nicer cheaper bed, where there were nicer guests. If you stay at the Asylum, and this happens to you, you might even be on the streets with nowhere to stay as it's peak season right now. Total psychos.
5 of
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(Review ID: 10305)
Best Hostel in Oz, February 16, 2005
Reviewer:
guv
( guv@2die4.com)
from Essex, England
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
If you go to Cairns, don't miss the opportunity to stay in Asylum, the best hostel I've stayed in. The place isn't 5 star luxury, but it's fun, friendly and perfectly-sized. The staff (who are also the owners) are incredibly helpful and well-informed and do their best to make you feel at home. The Monday night pub crawls are legendary and ridiculously cheap ($10 for a t-shirt, 5 free drinks, free slice of pizza and free internet for a week), and the rooms are all bunk-free. There are also Friday night BBQ/pizza nights which are even cheaper. Oh, and a DVD projector screen at the frint. Oh, and hammocks. Oh, and Foxtel in the TV room. Oh, and free shuttle bus. Oh, and free meal vouchers. Need I go on? A crazy, welcoming place.
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(Review ID: 10306)
It's dirty, May 11, 2004
Reviewer:
coollamu
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saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
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(1)
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(1)
I just spent 3 days there, and while i was filling up my details,ants were crawling all over my hand. I asked for a single room and they put me in room 14, which was sooo dirty, big line of ants on the wall, spiders underneath the bed, like the room was not been cleaned for months. Had to stay there as i paid already thruough internet.Yeah the staff was friendly, quite big kitchen,but reception was absolutely messy, old and filthy.If you gonna have the coffe, make sure there's no ants in the cup...and book at Gilligans i've heard it's like a 5 stars hotel.
4 of
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(Review ID: 10307)
If U are in Cairns The Ayslum is the only place 2 stay, December 25, 2003
Reviewer:
John Koropchak
( john_koropchak@hotmail.com)
from Seattle, USA
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n/a
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saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Thanks for everything Anne, Ray, Leslie, and Janet!The Asylum is the best hostel I stayed during my trip to Australia. I did not come across a more friendly and helpful hostel. The staff makes you feel like you're at a second home. It's like one big family. :) They set it up so you can't help but have a great time. I was sad to leave but I was lucky to have stayed here.
5 of
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(Review ID: 10308)
You have to try it to believe, December 15, 2003
Reviewer:
Baier
( icetherapy@hotmail.com)
from USA
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Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Certainly Cairns' most unique hostel, from the wonderous family host staff including the infamous pink bikini clad hostess, the old school song singing host, and the insatiably charismatic Casio-playing Ariel, this has certainly been the best hostel I have had the priviledge of staying in during my time in Australia. Their party specials are a cut above the rest, their knowledge of things to do in Cairns exceeds any normal human capacity, and they certainly know how to have a good time. Thanks for the room guys, it was a blast :)
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(Review ID: 10309)
It is really Mad!!!!, October 27, 2003
Reviewer:
tim-sutherland@excite.com
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Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Asylum has been an interesting and enjoyable place to stay, the staff have been particularly helpful and really go out of their way, to ensure that your stay has been a memorable one. I highly recommend the pub crawl on a Monday evening, but would write the next day off if I were you.
