BUG review
Cardiff Backpackers is a fantastic hostel, a 10-minute walk from the city centre. It has brilliant common areas that include a bar with a big cinema screen, a kitchen and a TV lounge with Internet access and a pool table. There’s also a rooftop deck with a barbecue and hammocks. The whole place is clean and well maintained.
About BUG's hostel reviews
This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.
We show up unannounced at hostels to write honest and unbiased hostel reviews. Many of BUG's reviews now feature videos and photo slideshows. BUG never receives payment for listing any establishment and BUG's researchers never accept free accommodation in exchange for favourable reviews.
Price Dorm bed £16 Single room £24 Double/twin room £38
Prices include breakfast Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
yep, the price is higher than most, but the location is good, the common areas are large, it's very clean and comfy and the staff is welcoming.
4 of
13 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Tom
Brisbane
good place but too pricy 27 March 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Tom
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 6375)
The hostel was generally good. HAd all the necessary requirements - clean, good kitchen, secure, fairly close to town, and adequate staff. Agree about the dodgy area- my mate almost got mugged by local pikeys at the nearby cashpoint.very expensive - £16 is too much for any hostel unless it is the hilton of hostels. To be fair though- you dont have much choice because there isnt much competition. If there are a couple of you you could probably get a twin-share B&b for a bit over £20 each, and get a full cooked brekky and own room with ensuite.Stay there if you have an insatiable urge to go to Cardiff, but otherwise, dont even bother going to cardiff.
1 of
7 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
localgirl789
This place would get 5 stars if the price was lower 28 August 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
localgirl789
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 6376)
This is a great hostel - funky decor, pool table, internet, really comfy sofas and TV lounge, proper bar with the full range of drinks, helpful staff, good security, clean bathrooms and bedrooms and a great location, just a short walk from the train station and very easy to find. It is, however, let down by one huge factor... the price. This is the most expensive hostel that I've ever stayed in (£16 per night), and to be honest I've had all the above features at half the price before, so I can't say that it's really worth it. I realise that it's a capital city, so prices are higher, but even London has places much cheaper than this. The 'breakfast' is also a bit of a rip-off, because what they really mean is that they put a loaf of bread in the kitchen for you to make everything yourself - so it would be a lot better if they didn't include it, and knock down the price instead. It had a great atmosphere and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a more comfortable budget, but for the real shoestring travellers amongst us - you could find places much better value.
4 of
10 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Anonymous
Brighton
Awesome place! 11 November 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 6377)
Well i thought this hostel was fantastic! apart from the fact that when me and my friend arrived they turned and said only foreign passport holders are allowed to stay.. we knew nothing about that, but they still let us stay. the place stood out amile.. painted bright purple and greeny yellow.. and dead easy to find. the rooms were nice and clean- apart from the fact the mattresses were made of plastic and the sheets and pillows were all connected so before you knew it u, you had no covers or pillow and are sweating on this plastic mattress thing!! the showers were clean tho.. and the bar was well nice.. nice lighting and comfy leather sofas! oh.. but there were no towels.. unless you wanted to fork out a £5 deposit. not everyone can afford that.. but other than that.. it was great! good friendly service.. and you felt like when you slept.. your stuf would be safe.. and you wouldnt get bitten by fleas!
11 of
15 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
wheels30@hotmail.com
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Awesome Place - Bad Neighbourhood 21 April 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
wheels30@hotmail.com
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 6378)
I loved the hostel, the bar officially closes at like 11pm, but it wasn't uncommon to party in the bar until 7 or 8 the next morning. The staff was great, only real complaint the area it's in is a little rough.
2 of
11 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Anonymous
Perth, Australia
Clean & basic but can be a little noisy in some rooms 3 October 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 6379)
Not far from the centre of town (5-10mins walk) and nice bar/breakfast area with clean comfy beds - but if you get a dorm near the front of the hostel over the bar, don't expect to get much sleep as there are no curtains and the music/ traffic/streetlights can keep you up. Smaller rooms at the top/back of the hostel (perhaps just the female only dorms?) are really quiet though - try and get one if you want an early night/ good nights' sleep! Considering we stayed at a great B&B for £16pppn (£2 more) the following night (out of Cardiff), hostels in Wales are not always the better value you expect.
6 of
13 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Anonymous
London, Ontario, Canada
Clean & Mostly Great Facilities 5 September 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 6380)
I enjoyed my stay at this hostel. The rooms were bright and comfortable. The kitchen was great (the hostel has a good organization system for food labelling as well as kitchen cleaning). Non-smokers should note that the bar and dining areas are together. There is a nice lounge area with a big TV and pool table. As for other facilities: the showers need work. Water tends to get all over the floor and I ended up having to use a shower with a broken lock and a door that didn't like to stay closed. Security seemed very good at the hostel... there are door codes and reception takes a careful look at everyone coming in (via cameras outside the main door) to make sure that they really are guests. The location of this hostel is great... about a 10 minute walk to the train station, and a 7 minute walk to Cardiff Castle.
