The Village Bondi Beach

Joanna and Sharon were especially lovely, and all the staff gave great service with a smile. We stayed in a small private loft with an ensuite. It was on the small side but cosy and had what we needed for the night. The sofa and TV setup felt a bit awkward. Body wash, towels and a hair dryer were available, though you need to bring your own shampoo and get the hair dryer from reception. We were there on a Wednesday and saw that they had a $5 cook-up at 6pm. We passed by while they were making uthentic paella, but already had dinner plans. It looked like a great option. A welcoming place and a comfortable stay, and I’d happily come back.

The outdoor area was inviting, and the office had the basic things you need when travelling. Our room was just right, with crisp, lovely sheets, good air conditioning, and a clean, tidy feel. Staff were friendly and easy to reach when we needed help. My husband and I were very happy here. Noise in the hallway during peak hours woke me a few times, which is why I gave four stars, but it wouldn't put me off coming back. I would stay again.

As a solo traveller, I felt looked after throughout my stay. The team were always ready to help, and Eloise was especially welcoming and went out of her way to make things feel right. The Bondi location is ideal, and the rooms were comfortable and clean. I'd happily recommend this hostel and am looking forward to trying their other locations :)

The beach is only about a two-minute walk away, but that was the one clear upside of my eight nights at little drifter hostel. It was a very unpleasant stay, and for the price, I wouldn't say it was worth it. The common spaces are underground, without natural light, and shut at 11pm. After that, you can't get to your own food or even a glass of water. Half the kitchen hobs were broken, four out of eight. The room itself was a decent size for a superior, but there was hardly any storage. The closet was tiny and had no shelves. The en-suite bathroom was so cramped that my knees touched the wall while I was on the toilet, like a plane bathroom. Getting around is a problem if you have a disability, since there's no lift and you have to haul your bags up and down the stairs. Staff seemed to be in a bad mood. I asked several times over two days for a clean shower rug and was told they cleaned the room and changed it every day. Maybe they count taking out the trash as cleaning. I also had three English roommates who came back late, drunk and loud, then ate greasy, smelly food on the floor at 3am. I called night reception because I couldn't sleep. They said they were sorry but couldn't do anything right then, so I was left dealing with it.