Summer House Brisbane - Hostel

A friendly, relaxed hostel in a really convenient spot. It was clean, the bathrooms were well looked after, and the receptionist was kind and always ready to help, which made the stay even nicer. I'd happily stay here again.

We spent three nights in a six-bed mixed dorm. The beds were comfy and had curtains and power sockets, but there was no window and we could hear a lot from the kitchen nearby. Our room wasn't ready at the 2pm check-in, so we waited another half hour. There was a decent ensuite, plus more bathrooms down the hall. The common spaces were small, short on comfortable seating, and closed at 10pm. The kitchen could use more room too. It got very hot and crowded at mealtimes, there wasn't any fridge space, and I found cockroaches on the floor. I wouldn't stay again.

My advice is not to book too many nights ahead. When they get a chance to keep your money, it seems they take it without hesitation. In my experience, they give some guests credits but deny others, without applying the same standard. Someone who just wanted a Gold Coast holiday got a credit, while I had what I felt was a genuinely valid reason and was refused. It left me feeling they wanted to hold onto my money, especially as the hostel is usually full and could easily rebook the bed. It feels like money is all they care about. A friend was even kicked out after bringing her e-bike battery inside to keep it safe in heavy rain. They charged her $350 instead of showing any understanding or flexibility. Terrible, unfair and money-driven.

This was one of the worst hostel stays I've had in Australia. The place felt chaotic and poorly managed, with constant noise, no respect for personal space, and people touching my belongings without asking. Whenever there was a problem, staff were rude. For what you get, it's ridiculously expensive. The kitchen was tiny, overcrowded and awful to use. Beds were very uncomfortable and the pillows were terrible. I couldn't get a proper night's sleep once during my stay. I know hostels aren't perfect, but I definitely wouldn't recommend this one.