Europa Melbourne - Hostel

The bathrooms are pretty nice, better than the last hostel I stayed in, and the staff are nice too. But there are other things that make this a rough place to stay. The bed curtain had several stains from something wet, which bothered me at first, though it wasn't a huge deal. They say not to smoke or sit on the entrance steps, but on several nights groups of 5-10 people were there blocking the door, drinking and smoking. I even saw empty beer cans the next morning. I mostly don't mind, but wish the rules were enforced a bit more. The showers sometimes stay cold or only get lukewarm, which is really uncomfortable. After more than a week, I started suspecting mold because I felt sick with an itchy throat, coughing, wheezing, severe sinus congestion, a runny nose and headache. Then I saw mold in the showers, in corners and crevices, which confirmed my suspicion. I also read another review saying a roof tile fell out and black mold was visible everywhere. I'm on the top bunk right by an aircon opening, which doesn't help. I wish I could get a refund for the rest of my stay and find somewhere else.

The location is fantastic, right in the middle of Melbourne's CBD, with restaurants and public transport easy to reach on foot. After a long flight, I really appreciated the kind staff offering me a shower as soon as I arrived. They also have free luggage storage, comfortable beds and a great breakfast included in the stay. I was very happy here and would recommend this hostel.

Check-in was easy, the front desk was friendly, and Europa is well located in the CBD. It's mostly backpackers. The rooms have air conditioning, and lockers are available if you bring your own lock. The bunks feel cozy, with curtains on every side, charging ports and a light.

The bathrooms were often occupied, depending on the time of day, which was a hassle. There also isn’t much in the way of shared space: the tiny living room is usually taken over by the same people, and the rooftop is packed with smokers. Noise carries on at all hours, so this isn’t somewhere I’d choose if I wanted a proper night’s sleep. Breakfast is included until 9:30, but by around 9:00 there’s often no food or cutlery left, so you have to get there much earlier. I expected a very different kind of hostel, and I wouldn’t recommend it.