BUG Review
This hostel has a great location on the Esplanade right in front of the lagoon. The dorm rooms tend to be a bit too small, but they are being renovated with brand new beds coming in. They are kept very clean, and the double rooms are very nice. The kitchen is nothing special, but is sufficient for cooking the basics. There is a useful tour desk downstairs with some of the friendliest staff around. There is a good common area with internet, TV, books and couches. Things may change in the near future, though as renovations are ongoing in the next year.
Price Dorm bed $23 Double room $55 Twin room $45 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Right on the Esplanade and VERY clean.
Cons:
No atmosphere and staff aren't very interested.
Rhian77
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
This hostel is definitely the cleanest I've stayed in. It's also got a great location, right on the Esplanade. Despite this, it wasn't too nosiy. But the kitchen and lounge facilities were poor, and the staff couldn't really care less about the people staying there - they're primarily concerned with selling tours. This is a travel desk with a hostel attached, not a hostel which happens to have a travel desk.
Pros:
Great location, very clean.
Cons:
Older type building
tezza
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(3)
I didn't book ahead and found my 2 desired Esplanade locations booked out (duh, it was only high season!) So I staggered into #89 and they had a bed. It's located in a 50's era ex-holiday guesthouse and at first glance does not look particularly inviting. But I found it much better than expected.
Location is a key factor in hostels, and #89 is right on the Esplanade with its multitude of cafes, tour shops etc, directly across the road from the fabuloulsy popular and rather nice free Lagoon pool complex, 5 minutes walk from the new pier complex where all the dive boats and daily reef and island cruise vessles leave from, and on the edge of the central business district for supermarkets, clubs and other activities.
The place itself was clean, had nice big bathrooms with lots of lovely hot water at peak shower periods (how many backpackers can claim that?). My 4 share dorm was pretty small and squeezy with all occupants and their gear. It had old rickety looking double decker bunks which proved surprisingly comfy and were not creaky/noisy and didn't rock and roll as much as I expected when people turned over. There was a fan plus a coin aircon for the hotter months. I'm not too cut up about pay aircon because I hate the things clanking away at night. The kitchen had sufficient cookers/refrig space/wash up facilities/plates/cutlery, but there was a shortage of pans for cooking. There is a small indoor/outdoor pool which looks okay but who needs it now the Lagoon is across the road?
Front counter staff were friendly and helpful. Sure they pushed me for trips when booking in, offering a discount on my $25 dorm + free meal (if it's the usual Cairns backpacker freeby at a nearby bar it's worth about $1), but they backed off quickly when I told them I had things organised (that will be the day!).
Pros:
Its directly on the esplanade
Cons:
you can only stay if you buy trips
kasperism
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(1)
Hello again, well I a have just changed hostels after staying at hostel89 for 5 nights split, I Arrived at the hostel to be greated by the rudest lady I have ever met in my life after a 15 minute interigation as to what my plans were, what I wanted to do in Cairns and was I buying any trips I finally made it to my room, the pool area was nice and clean and the kitchen was good as well, I entered the room and found out I had to pay for air conditioning you have to insert 20 cents every fifteen minutes, the room was clean but small.
Everytime I left the Hostel I was harrassed by staff about buying a trip, I finally sat down with a female employee who told me in a very direct way, I would only get my free meal and free internet which they advertise as standard if I buy trips, I sat through 2 painful hours, I'm not sure if she was abusing me or making a sale.
I decided not to buy my trip from her and went to peterpans for my cape trib tour, when I got back to the Hostel the female receptionist was extremely upset at me telling me the tour I had bought was shit and I shouldnt of bothered her earlier, In my opinion I found her unsuitable for a hostel position and after speaking with other guest found the had simular experiences with all the other staff this hostel is an enemy to the average backpacker aand I would not recomend them at all, I have now moved to the Asylum which is a bit run down but beams with character
2 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 10408)
Sales first, November 19, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
We checked in to Hostel 89 and was greeted with questions about which trips we were going to book etc. They seem very focused on sales.Since we hadn't booked with them luggage storage was 5$/bag/day. The facilities are good and almost clean - we only had to kill one cockroack in our room. The coin-operated AC is a bit annoying!
3 of
3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 10409)
best hostel at the esplanade, October 12, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
I stayed here twice and enjoyed it both times. There is a small pool in the back. The rooms and bathrooms are very clean. You can`t beat the location.
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(Review ID: 10410)
Very Clean And Quite, August 28, 2003
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Pros:
n/a
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Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I was in Cairns and stayed at Hostel 89 in August 2003. The cleanest rooms and bathrooms I have seen in my travels was here. The people behind the front desk were great, friendly and helpful. I say stay here!!!!
