196-198 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne Tram 24, 30, 55, City Circle Train Flagstaff Tel (03) 9328 4383 or 1800 447 762 Websitewww.nomadsindustry.com
BUG Review
Putting the chic in “industrial chic” and the flash in “flashpackers”, Nomads Industry is certainly one of the most stylish hostels in town. Red and black leather sofas, brushed steel accents and other attractive touches dominate the reception area and the attached Industry Bar and Lounge. Dorm rooms are comfortable, if not overly large, and every level features individual toilets and showers – no communal shower blocks here. Kitchen facilities are limited, but this is offset by a free meal every evening. Other features include a rooftop lounge and nightly movies on a big projection screen. Several private rooms are also available and it’s no stretch to say Nomads easily doubles as a smart hotel. It’s located just a stone’s throw away from Queen Victoria market.
Price Dorm bed $28-36 ($21-33 Nomads) Double/twin room $90-115 ($85-105 Nomads)
Price includes an evening meal Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Location, modern design
Cons:
Price, noise, terrible elevator
suprchick77
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
My husband and I stayed in both a double and a king room (both ensuite) for 6 nights in July 2008. From all the advertising this hostel does about being a “flashpacker” hostel, my expectations were quite high. I paid $115 for a king “suite”, which was described as being “like a hotel suite with a private bathroom and a television”. Given the price I paid and this type of advertising, I expected more than the average hostel room, and I am basing my review on this expectation.The “king bed” was 2 double mattresses put together. I actually preferred the double bed we had for the second half of our stay because there wasn’t an uncomfortable gap in the bed to deal with. I was pleasantly surprised to have a TV in our king room, since this amenity isn’t typical of hostel rooms. But our TV didn’t work, and we made several requests for the hostel staff to try and fix it, but that never happened. Again, I understand that hostels don’t typically offer TVs in the bedrooms, but I think that if I am paying for this amenity, it should at least work!The room was quite clean and the front desk staff were mostly friendly and helpful. There seemed to be quite a few public bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities to choose from, and the bar/common room had a great atmosphere with plenty of seating and entertainment options. The location was quite good, although the noise from the bar often spilled out into the street and I was woken up by this noise on many occasions. The kitchen appeared to be extremely small, but I didn’t end up using it, so I can’t say much more than that. We had the free meal twice during our stay, which seemed to be quite a mixed bag. We chose to upgrade to a larger portion when penne with tomato sauce, sausage, and cheese was served, and the $7 charge was quite reasonable considering how a pint of beer was included, which normally cost $8 alone.There seemed to be a lot of fun themed activities going on in the bar in the evenings, which would definitely be a huge plus for people traveling alone and wanting to meet people. Although the convenience of having a bar in the lobby area was great, the non-happy hour prices were ridiculous compared to what we paid elsewhere around town. The elevator was the scariest that I have ever encountered!! It was extremely loud (I could hear it opening and closing all night from my room at the other end of the floor), jerky, and temperamental. Watch your fingers because the door closes very quickly and does not have a working sensor to keep it open if something is in the way! I would have definitely taken the stairs had I not been staying on the top floor.For a hostel, the rooms and facilities were quite good, but I would never compare them to a hotel. Private room rates were very high and, in my opinion, not good value for the money. Maybe dorm rooms/rates were more reasonable? I think the term “flashpacker” more accurately described the hostel 5 years ago when furniture, carpets, TVs, and the elevator were newer..
I absolutely LOVED this hostel; it was definitely the best one I've every stayed in. Everything is new so it's super clean. Reception is open 24 hours. Bathrooms are segregated so no communal showers, plus they're very clean. Bar area downstairs with tvs and pool table. And they've got free champagne on Friday nights for the ladies! The market is just half a block out the back door. It's also very close to the CBD and shopping there. I walked everywhere I went. Oh and you get free dinner every night.Only bad thing was that my room was pretty small, but I heard most of the others were bigger. If you go to Melbourne, seriously stay here! It is an awesome hostel!
3 of
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(Review ID: 300)
Only place to stay in Melbourne, fantastic, April 14, 2006
Pros:
Brand new, very clean, great facilities & fantastic staff.
Cons:
Nothing
Gillyman
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Nomads offers a funky bar with great drinks offers and free meal every night. Free cinema lounge with TV and DVDs. Internet cafe/phones and most importanly fantastic staff who are always up for a laugh and good night out. I had am amazing 4 months staying in Nomads and it would be the only place i'd stay in Melbourne (and trust me ive stayed in a few dodgy Melbourne hostels so i'd know).
Pros:
eveything is new, great facilties, really friendly staff
Cons:
kitchen is too small
rena911
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
i stayed at nomads industry for about a week at the beginning of december 2005. It was such a kool hostel it had great facilities, like the huge cinema lounge with a big screen its like being at the movies, the showers were good except my mate got locked in one one nite but it was pretty funny. good secruity. When we first got there our room really stank but i guess tht was to be expeced seeing we were sharing a room with 10 and most of them were male lol, but the smell went away. The staff at nomads were so freindly and really helpful. Industry bar was one of the best things about the hostel on fridays they have fizzology nite and all the ladies get free champagne which was really kool basically everyone hangs out there at nites and you meet heaps of kool ppl. Overall it was a great hostel i highly recommend it!
