Arrival Lodge Hostel Accommodation

The access arrangements were a mess. After 5pm, you can’t get back into the building unless another resident lets you in. They gave me two numbers for late entry, but nobody answered either one after several calls. Thankfully, a resident eventually let me through. When I asked how people were meant to get inside after five, they just said, “good luck.” There’s parking downstairs too, but apparently someone had taken the garage door key, so I couldn’t use it. My room cost $120 for a double bed, and it was hot and pretty gross. The furniture was old and worn, there was no AC, and the sheets had dust on them. The shared bathroom facilities were filthy and slimy, and the whole place smelled funky. The door lock beeped obnoxiously every time it opened. The receptionist only handed me a key and charged me. It really wasn’t worth the price. You can find much better accommodation on Gold Coast for the same money or less.

The owner was lovely and gave us beach tips we really appreciated. The new guy at reception was fine too, and we had no problems. We just needed somewhere to rest on our East Coast road trip, with a toilet, shower and kitchen, and this place did the job. There’s even a pool. It was nice and clean apart from the fridge, which could have used a clean.

There were cockroaches everywhere, so many of them, and the room didn’t have the amenities they advertised. It looked like the place had never been cleaned. Honestly, don’t stay here. It isn’t worth $50, and I’m sure you can find somewhere better.

I only stayed three nights. My 90-year-old Dad had been hospitalised and was very ill, so I flew up from Melbourne Victoria to see him. I was already dealing with enough, and this place was absolutely filthy and nothing like the ad. Cockroaches ran around the room. The table was filthy, so I wiped it with a wet one on the first night. There were no cups or glasses, the curtains were see-through, and an empty cask was behind the dirty bar fridge. The shared kitchen and bathroom were filthy too, and the microwave was burnt out. Ricky the manager was very rude to me on the first night. I found out why: he’d start drinking straight vodka in the morning. On my third and last night, I got back around 9pm and he came to me crying drunk, asking me to call an ambulance because he wanted to end his life. When I went to do it, he said no, he just needed a hug. Then he called his boss from my room and said he’d had enough. He asked for two of my cans of vodka and raspberry. I only had four, but felt sorry for him and gave them to him. He said he’d pay me in the morning, but didn’t. He went on about not being able to see his two children. He asked me for a smoke too, and I don’t smoke. It was bloody ridiculous. He finally left my room. As I was leaving the next morning, he said, “sorry for last night mam,” and hoped I’d come back and give him a good review. Are you kidding me?