Boardrider Backpacker & Budget Motel

Mia Vom Burgwald 6 months ago

The saving grace of this hostel is its staff, who are extremely lovely, helpful, and sweet. The rest.... Well, it is evident that someone is trying to make as much profit as possible with budget Travellers, by promoting "cheap" (for Sydney) prices and cutting costs at every corner possible. They only employ two staff who have to wash all the linen (there is no spare linen), do all the reception work, and clean, while also only being present from 9:30 - 5 pm. They probably also have a deal with some of the occupants, having them clean a few hours a week for free stay, but nobody is really doing it. It S quite grimy, the floors are dirty, the bathrooms are quite shocking, it smells funny, and the common areas are really rocked down, with ripped up couches, chaotic kitchen, and sticky surfaces. We were lucky to get a room that was shared with two other short time guests, because many people live here permanently and their rooms look horrendous: chaotic, dirty, their stuff spread out everywhere, they re not even putting their linen on the bed to sleep. Very bad atmosphere as there are mostly young men around, and there are no female-only dorms. Wouldn't stay here as a solo female trave

Lisa Bartkowski a year ago

This must be my worst hostel experience probably ever. I’ve never seen a place this dirty, my ‘clean’ bedsheets that I received at check in had hairs and crumbs on them, and the room was in a terrible condition. It had sticky floors and only one small window that couldn’t properly be opened with absolutely no airflow, but the worst actually was the smell in the room. It was so bad it was hard to breathe, the air smelled moldy or like something rotten. I usually don’t have a problem with messy rooms, as I’ve traveled many times and have a lot of experience with hostels and I know what it can be like but this was too much. I don’t even want to imagine what it must be like in there during summer. The other areas were also really dirty, the common area and kitchen super chaotic. The space is quite big and they offer drinking games and other activities which can be good for young people looking for connection with other travelers but due to that it also gets really loud. I really can’t recommend this hostel at all. I also felt quite ripped off because of the price and what you get for it, and then the price was randomly changed just one day after I booked to a lower rate. I’m quite furi

Rares Neacsu 2 years ago

I’ve stayed at this hostel for over 2 and a half months, and I must say, the people here are the best. The social aspect is fantastic with a large common area, a table tennis table and a rooftop where there are social events are held almost daily. The location is perfect, just a 1-minute walk from the beach and the staff are incredibly friendly and always ready to help. They have free breakfast every day. However, as it’s the cheapest hostel around, you get what you pay for in terms of cleanliness, but overall, it's a fantastic social hostel. Would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to meet great people and enjoy a beachside location.