Haven Backpacker Resort

Breakfast starts at 4:30am, which works well for the many guests heading out on early tours. The room was nice and the AC worked well, though it shuts off on a timer, so keep an eye on it. I didn’t use the pool, but probably should have given how warm Alice Springs gets. For the price, this hostel is a good budget option.

It’s a quiet, low-key place, with no loud parties or nearby bars, and the city center is about a fifteen minute walk away. There’s a full kitchen upstairs, plenty of spots to relax outside your room, and luggage storage for people going on tours. My room was clean and quiet, with its own bathroom. The staff were friendly and helpful, and breakfast was free, if simple.

There can be a shortage of parking spaces, and guests didn’t always clean up in the shared kitchen, though an employee took care of it eventually. The stove wasn’t working well. Breakfast was basic and good, but I missed having salt and pepper. My room had been set up for renovation, so only the ceiling neon lamp worked. The shower was okay, although it left the whole bathroom wet. The AC heated well on cold nights.

We spent two days here with my girlfriend, and I’d stay again. The clean kitchen and pool were both good. The rooms were spacious, large, and clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Wi-Fi was switched off during dining hours so guests would socialize, which I had mixed feelings about. The nearest Coles is quite a walk, though most people should manage it.