BUG Review
A warm and sunny reception/common area greets guests at King Street Backpackers, and the general feeling persists throughout the hostel. Everything is clean and well-maintained, although the dorms and bathrooms are on the smaller side. Free breakfast is offered daily, as well as a free dinner once a week. Internet access is also provided free of charge for a half-hour daily; there are, however, only two computers available and Wi-Fi and internet access beyond the free time is billed at $3 per hour. King Street Backpackers is extremely convenient to Southern Cross Station and bus terminal, which is 200m down the street. The Skybus Shuttle to Melbourne Airport runs from here, as well as long-distance buses and trains.
Price Dorm bed $22-28 Single/twin/double room $78 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Comfy/secure dorms, clean bathrooms
Cons:
High turnover of people, rubbish Internet
Jabe
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(3)
This was the first hostel I stayed in in Australia and I was pleasantly surprised, especially as it was surrounded by strip clubs. I found the facilities to be clean and well-maintained though I didn't use the kitchen. Though free, the PCs had been locked down to the point where I couldn't even access my Hotmail account, and other sites were really slow to display. Turnover seemed to be really high - after 3 days in a 4 bed dorm, I'd already had 7 dorm-mates. I'd stay here again.
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(Review ID: 675)
A very nice place to stay in the centre of the city, August 9, 2006
Reviewer: MarkMurry from Today in North Queensland
Pros:
Clean, safe, and very nice guests
Cons:
Couldn't really find anything
MarkMurry
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Nice place to stay, very clean and safe. It is just next street to the train station so you can walk there with your backpack without having to hear the trains in your bed. The were some strip clubs near by but they were classy places and with the funky bars close by, the whole area had a carnival atmosphere. A few of us went out and had really good night. Well done.
This is your typical large, city centre hostel. Friendly enough staff but a high turnover of guests means you don't really get to know anyone and therefore a dull atmosphere. The hostel itself is clean and tidy, and the dorms are small but well laid out with partitions seperating the beds. The price is fairly high (especially the private rooms!), admittedly they do dish out a lot of free food!I thought the area surrounding the hostel was fine, not at all dodgy although there is a stripclub next door.
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(Review ID: 419)
Good hostel surrounded by strip clubs, May 11, 2006
Pros:
Free food nearly every day
Cons:
It made me sick
smileymac
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(3)
Staying anywhere in Melbourne during the Commonwealth Games was a bit of challenge. You were lucky to get a bed unless you booked weeks in advance. The Friendly Backpacker was no different. Not a spare bed in the place for the whole week I was there. It is a fairly modern hostel on 3 floors so be prepared to hump your backpack up to the top floor.
The staff are generally friendly and helpful, offering tour advice- booking you on Neighbours tours and the like- and handing out free maps of the city. They even gave away some free tickets to the Comm Games. Most days there is something free on offer- breakfast everyday to those who get up before 9, free pasta nights once a week, free pancakes on a Sunday. It is a good place to stay generally- in a dodgy area of the city though and surrounded by strip clubs- but I couldn't help thinking there was something missing, it just lacked a bit of atmosphere. Oh and I got the flu while I was there which doesn't help!
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(Review ID: 11279)
Great place to meet people.. its up to u to have fun., January 15, 2005
Reviewer:
DeanoOfOz
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I had a 2 day stop over before heading out on a self drive of the great ocean road. But those 2 days were enough of a sniff to make me want to come back here. When I did return, it was almost for 8 weeks or more. I truely had a great end to my travels and this was a very good way to end it all.- Place I feel is designed in away to allow alot of social interaction with people.. What you do with this or how you interact with others is all your own choice. the place isn't perfect, but what places is? The staff are a great bunch of people and they all have travelled. I'm actually Big Dean from JMT of leeds review of the place, All I suggest, is group up with others and go and see the sights of melbourne together.. this way, you'll understand you can never truely be on ya own in any city in the world, in a kind of backpackers like this one.. Some of the great staff there where: Andy, heath, Helen, Dave and many more.. I found the friendlys to be a small sociable backpackers, that had its own share of daily events on, to keep you interested and the staff are more then willing to proudly point you in the directions around melbourne.The place is there for you to make what you will of it. Enjoy!
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(Review ID: 11280)
JUGS OF FUN!!!, November 11, 2004
Reviewer:
Jmt
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
What can i say, the place is clean, fun, friendly, Big kitchen and lounge, don't bother booking anything with the miserable cow of a travel agent tho. Loads of stuff arranged by shane(neighbours tours, pub crawls etc). Check out bug bar across the road( hi to matt/max/russ and the lovely Jo!). U can chill out there and get smashed(i didn't drink, honest!)and matt will cook u some grub if he can be arsed. Watch out for the Freindly residents, Big Dean, midget lover phil, Michael Owen looky likey Jamie, and Bevan. Although they will have left by now know doubt. I was on my own and these guys made it a blast! Right in the centre of town, secure as well, best place to be by far! Free brekkie, internet, What the hell do u want from a hostel? get there now, Go!, Faster!
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(Review ID: 11281)
Friendly by name, friendly by nature, September 20, 2004
Reviewer:
fimbo1977
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I only stayed briefly as I wanted to get away from the city centre, but the hostel is one of the best in Melbourne and lives up to its name. Its pricey by some standards, but there are various deals like free internet daily, etc, to compensate. They have an entertainments manager who runs stuff practically every day, so even if - like me - you are there by yourself, you soon meet people and get stuck into the action. Good kitchen too, clean facilities, and nice staff.
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(Review ID: 11282)
ok, April 10, 2004
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
i have no complaints about the friendly backpackers but be warned do not trust the lockers as when i was there numerous thefts occured from lockers being broken into
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(Review ID: 11283)
it's good if you have a poor sense of hygiene, February 26, 2004
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
Well the first impression of this place was so filthy. I stayed there for three nights and nobody came to sweep the bedroom floor and the entire hostel smelled like someone's shoe or sweaty armpit. It may be good for you Pommy fellas who can happily stay at the same hostel for months and personalise the bedroom as you wish by spreading your personal belongings all over the room (as you can read other comments those who gave it five stars literally lived there) but for genuine backpckers this hostel not an ideal place. Its good location and air-conditionings were plus points. Kitchen too small, TV room too small and it was 25 bucks a night not 22 bucks as listed.
