20-24 McLeod Street, Cairns Bus 1, 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1H, 1X Tel (07) 4051 0772 Websitewww.yha.com.au
BUG Review
This YHA hostel is indeed very central. It occupies a spacious, colourful building in the centre of town and it has a good atmosphere. The dorm rooms are very clean and sleek - although bordering on institutional - and some of them are a bit too small. But almost all of them have spotless en suite bathrooms with new tiles and nice glass showers. The large, fully-equipped kitchen is excellent with indoor and outdoor seating. There is also a cosy movie lounge with couches and a huge screen TV, but most people hang out near the swimming pool, which has two gorgeous spa baths. There are deluxe family rooms available, which are huge and luxurious and perfect for a couple days of spoiling yourself. There is also excellent security, which is rare in Cairns, and the reception staff are for the most part friendly and welcoming. It is not a party hostel, but still has a convivial ambience.
Price Dorm bed $26-31.50 ($23-28 HI/YHA) Double/twin room $67-84.50 ($60-76 HI/YHA) Family room $182.50 ($160 HI/YHA) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Within walking distance to everywhere, great pool
Cons:
Not THAT much of an atmosphere
lorkers
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(2)
This is a great YHA hostel, just over the road from Cairn's Central. Best of all it is quiet with real travelers passing through.Set around a central courtyard, there is a great pool with a jacusi, a large (and very clean) kitchen at the far end, and some (very expensive!) internet computer. The Global Gossip cafe down the road is much cheaper. Rooms are OK, if sparten, but at least all come with aircon. The place is open until 11pm - after than point you need you card to get in through the front door (and there aren't any staff around if it doesn't work).There is no bar, but at reception you can get vouchers for a $10 meal in the Woolshed (which seems to be the backpackers central bar).My only real complaint is that the reception staff were pretty unhelpful both in booking tours (they read the brochure infront of me, and then told me what it said, rather than going on their own experience!) AND in sorting out the problems I had with my door card which continually failled.
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(Review ID: 1063)
Dull but clean and well-maintained hostel, December 28, 2006
Pros:
Clean, well-maintained, decent location
Cons:
No atmosphere, seems to attract snorers, expensive
Jabe
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(2)
The hostel was good as far as cleanliness and facilities go, but it was lacking in atmosphere and seemed to have attracted some of the competitors for the World Snoring Championships. It was also by no means the cheapest hostel in Cairns. I would stay here again but the nightlife in Cairns is so excellent that you're bound to have a good time there regardless of which hostel you stay in.
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(Review ID: 573)
Bad customer service, bugs and insults., July 6, 2006
Pros:
Good kitchen and showers.
Cons:
Poor customer service.
elfears
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
Looks good, but scratch the surface and it's pretty poor.
I arrived tired and wanting to go to bed, but there are always long, chaotic reception queues with people pushing in. I had to wait ages to check-in.
The motel-style design means sound travels, so you go to sleep when everyone else has and wake up when the first person gets up.
I was bitten during the night (4 bites in a row), but because the receptionist couldn't find a bug in my bed she refused to do anything. She said I was hardly covered in bites, (I don't know how many bites she expects me to endure before she does something). I had to ask for her to change my linen. She would not refund the following night's stay because they cannot do it "just because someone believes they have bed bugs", so I had to stay or lose my money and pay again for a room elsewhere. She insisted they weren't bed bugs and just mozzies or something, but when I asked for bug spray, she said that wouldn't kill bed bugs thereby contradicting herself. So I felt really insulted and I had paid for this!!
We were cold at night too.
There are no lifts so you have to lug everything upstairs. I imagine disabled access would be a problem.
The kitchens are better than most and the pool and bathrooms ok too, but I would not recommend this place to anyone.
They also charge for luggage storage.
They do not deserve 4*!
