Victoria Park Lodge - Hostel

They refused to give my son the room because he arrived without his ID, even though I’d booked and paid for it and he got there within a few hours of the booking. They then refused me a refund and put the room back on their site to rent straight away.

Cheap, and the location is decent, close to Wooly’s and restaurants. Great hostel, run by a lovely couple who are very sweet.

It’s calm and quiet, away from the CBD, and could work for a short stay. The place is cold with no room heaters, so bring your own jacket. It’s an old, big house that could use a lot of improvement. The rooms are crowded, there’s very little space, and all the beds are bunk beds. I wouldn’t recommend it for students, though it may suit working men better. It’s occupied much of the time because it’s close to the airport. If you arrive late, order food before 10am, as all the eateries close around 09.30pm and late night orders are overcharged.

For the price, it’s reasonable. I chose a private room with a comfortable double bed. It had a ceiling fan, but the switch had been removed. The attached bathroom and toilet were spacious and clean when I checked in. The kitchen had equipment but was quite dirty, and there was no filtered water. A walk-through with a receptionist on site would have made the stay better.