YHA Coolangatta Gold Coast

The bathroom was clean, and the staff were friendly, but that was about all I liked. The place is awkward to reach without a car, stuck between the highway and the airport and far from everything else. In the kitchen, the old pots and pans seemed unhygienic and need replacing, and there was no water filter. My room felt like a prison cell. The mattress seemed like it had never been changed, I felt like I was sleeping in a hammock, and there were no curtains for privacy. Light filled the room at night, and the power outlet didn’t work, with no other place to charge anything overnight. After three years of travelling, this was one of the worst hostels I’ve stayed in. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you need somewhere before an early flight.

I keep coming back because I fly out early for work, and being able to walk to the airport in about 10 minutes is ideal. It’s a decent hostel, with dorms and private rooms, a small pool, a big communal area and a kitchen. I usually book a private room. They’re small but comfortable, with a single bed, lamp, little desk and chair. The reason I’m giving it three stars is that the showers in the main downstairs facilities have been cold on my last few visits. It’s not a huge problem, but having a choice of water temperature would be nice. I’ll stay again anyway.

The kitchen is spotless and roomy, and the fridge is so enormous it could have its own postcode. The hostel’s close to the airport too, handy if you’re looking for work or getting away from an Aussie girlfriend who’s a bit too energetic. The staff really make the place feel magical. Highly recommend it!

The staff were lovely, and it was quieter than I expected. That’s about all I can say for it. The common areas are tatty and unattractive, and the pool area looks just as bleak, with peeling paint and sad plants. Everything feels old and dirty. I never saw a clean-looking bathroom, and the kitchen was full of flies. There’s no air conditioning, and the louvres don’t close, so it must get unbearably hot in summer. I assume winter is freezing. The rooms feel like jail cells, with nothing comfortable or appealing. The bunks have no curtains. Our room had no mirror and was missing a light shade. The two fans were caked in dust and looked about 50 years old. The door didn’t shut properly unless pushed closed, which felt like poor security. The only power points are inside cupboards, so bring an extension lead. This isn’t in Coolangatta, which is 3 kms away. There aren’t any shops nearby, and the only place I could find to get a meal seemed to be the junk food at the airport next door. At least the bus stops and beach are close, so you can get away from this concrete-block nightmare. Nobody was friendly, though maybe everyone was as miserable there as we were. Stay away.