Chilli's Backpackers - Hostel

Best hostel we stayed at in Darwin. The place was calm, clean and really nice, with friendly staff and a lovely pool area. Our room was spotless and had a fridge, TV and its own basin. The kitchen was a bit dirty, though.

The place was filthy, and I wouldn't recommend staying there. I booked a week at Youth Shack, then was told it was closed and given a room at chillies instead. Bear in mind, chillies has no pool, bar or pool tables. Staff wandered around as if they owned the place and smoked in the dining area despite the No Smoking sign. Nothing seemed to get cleaned properly, and urine and feces were left on many toilet seats. The building didn't feel secure, which made me feel unsafe.

For the money, you can't expect too much in Darwin, but the location is good and the WiFi is pretty decent. There are computers guests can use for free, and a fair amount of shared space. The rooms are okay too. The kitchen is the main bother, it's really small and usually dirty. It can also get pretty loud at night.

I booked a double room at Chillies, the sister shack of Youthshack. The bed was comfortable, and both the TV and AC worked, but the room felt overpriced for its quality. Shared showers and toilets were unpleasant, and cleaners shut the loos at essential times without being helpful about it. There was shocking noise outside the bedroom window from the small alley. I'm not sure why staff have to be so cheap with courtesy, customer service seemed too much to ask. Chillies may suit some people, but not others. I'd suggest buying utensils at the supermarket next door, since the refundable $10 utensil charge is a hassle.