490-494 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Tram 19, 57, 59, 68 Train Melbourne Central Tel (03) 9663 1685 Websitewww.elizabethhostel.com.au
BUG Review
Check in is at a convenience store counter, but Elizabeth Backpackers is nicer than you might expect from that first impression. Facilities are basic, but clean, and there are a few perks, including real spring mattresses on beds and a fridge in every room. Plus, free internet access is provided; there’s no actual time limit, but the hostel shares only two computers and guests are supposed to keep to a half an hour at a time. The biggest surprise has to be the TV room, which features a large projection screen and stadium-style seating. It’s almost incongruous with the otherwise modest settings. The owners are quite friendly and you can’t beat the, er, convenience to the attached grocery and liquor store downstairs. It’s located right near the Queen Victoria Market and the Greyhound Bus Terminal.
Price Dorm bed $23-31 Single room $65-70 Double/twin room $74-78 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
You have to put a deposit for dishes and cutlery, which is common at a lot of hostels. They neglected to give me a bowl and then tried to withold my deposit for the 'missing' item when I checked out. After 20 minutes of arguing and eventually speaking to the kid who gave me the dishes the night before, I had my money back but was glad I had decided to move someplace else.This place seemed alright when I first arrived. But I soon discovered that my room smelled of urine. Enough said.
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4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 11186)
Poor excuse for a hostel, April 19, 2005
Reviewer:
Marka
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This place has problems. When I stayed there in December 2004 it looked clean inside but that was after a dirty hassel on the outside. I arrived at night and was told my credit card was already charged for a room I didn't agree to. I kept calm but was getting upset with the idea of them having told me two separate times over the phone one price for a certain room but then charging my card without my consent for a higher priced room.We seemed to work it out. The lady behind the counter refunded my credit card and I paid the original quoted price. However, after arriving home I find my bank statement with a higher price than I was originally over-charged for. Granted it's not much, but the place obviously has problems.I did learn one thing: Don't reserve with a credit card if at all possible. And never go to the Elizabeth Hotel.
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(Review ID: 11187)
Back to the dump of old, March 24, 2005
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Anonymous
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Make no mistake, this place is dreadful. The recovery in previous reviews must have been short-lived as we found it smelly, filthy, unfriendly and pathetically short of any minimum standards we have encountered in our trip so far.The stench was generated both by the disgusting state of the lounge and 'kitchen' (cesspit) which doubled as the only smoking area in the building. The staff were completely disinterested in us once our money was handed over and relied on stares and scowls as a means of communication from that point. Bathrooms were disgusting (men's apparently worse than girls. Only 1 with a working light which didn't smell like a festival dumping hole, though it would not make much difference were you to pee on the floor in the dark by mistake.On the plus side....free internet, though as this did not work it did little to redeem the hostel / hovel. There are much better places to stay for your money - you have been warned!
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(Review ID: 11188)
no complaints!, March 27, 2004
Reviewer:
natalie_kong@graffiti.net
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i do not know what happened last time as the review was quite bad. But what i found out wasnt true at all. Richard is nice! rates are cheap 6 mixed is 18dollar and 10 mixed is 17dollar p person. environment was ok. what i like most is that it is so convenient! -so close to queen elizabeth market and near tram station! want a cheap n convenient n friendly place?drop by here!
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(Review ID: 11189)
sleep finally, March 22, 2004
Reviewer:
Matthias
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good hostel. Cleanest hostel i have staying in australia. Good service they have been caring to ask if all is good. I recomend this place.
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(Review ID: 11190)
a great accommodation, February 12, 2004
Reviewer:
Sato
( satosuzuki254@hotmail.com)
from Osaka,Japan
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i came to melbourne two weeks ago, and i didn't change hostel, because i think it is good to stay at elizabeth backpackers. they are cheap, $119 a week in dormitory.i think they only finish the rebuilt.everything is new,clean.i can use kitchens on the each floor. i cook by myself and it is easy to shopping because the victoria market is only across the street ant there is a supermarket in the ground floor. they have the very very big tv room with foxtel, and i met lots of backpackers from all the coutries and have a lots of fun with them. this is a problem because there is not pub in the hostel,but it is quiet. they're installing internet on the level 1, they tell us it can be used in 2 weeks. anyway, it is very good to stay.
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(Review ID: 11191)
Nothing wrong with it!!, February 11, 2004
Reviewer:
Tom
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I Dont know why they all complain about this place, Ive just moved here from a hostel recommended by lonely planet and it was the pits! Its quiet, clean and safe.If you think this place is bad you should backpack in Europe!!! Is there some reason the complaints come mostly from Australians?
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(Review ID: 11192)
IT'S FINE!!!, January 16, 2004
Reviewer:
Steffie
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When I staid in Melbourne I found the Elizabeth Hostel near the Vic Market. I have to say, that they have very fair prices for an accommodation. I paid 17 $ for a dorm which I couldn't find anywhere else. The backpacker is clean and has good facilities. The Backpacker is under new managment and the staff helped me a lot with getting around the place. The backpacker is absolutly save and provides everything you need. I met some really nice people there I started to travel with. I definitely enjoyed my stay!
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(Review ID: 11193)
DO NOT STAY HERE!!!!!!!!, December 7, 2003
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Anonymous
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Where do I start?The staff have no idea how to run a hostel, they allow people to stay in a building site, and on floors where the smoke/fire detectors are covered up so they don't work.Richard the "guard" is really rude, threatens people and behaves in a totaly unprofessional way.Avoid, unless you like spending money on an unclean, insecure room and being insulted for it too!
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(Review ID: 11194)
this Hostel should be closed down, September 29, 2003
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Anonymous
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We drove to Melboure via the great ocean road, We arrived in Melboure and found this Hostel, we checked in and found the place to be totaly unacceptable in many ways, once we had paid the manager, he decided not to be able to speak English, there was used syringes in our room, the staff (They are Asian) were racist against me ? as I have a Chinese Girlfriend, there were alot of undisirables staying here, I had to stay with my Girlfriend the entire stay of 1 night as she was to frightened to go to the showers or the kitchen by herself, She was confronted by some dirty old man with a grey beard just after we arrived, I recommend that my fellow backpackers would find it cleaner and safer to sleep in a gutter than to stay here, I have travelled the world for the last 16 years and have never stayed somewhere so bad, this hostel does not deserve a star :(
