Boardrider Backpacker & Budget Motel

I was furious about the price. It changed to a lower rate just one day after I booked, and what I got for the money felt like a rip-off. What a waste. I’ve stayed in lots of hostels and can usually handle a messy room, but this was too much. I’ve never seen a place this dirty. The sheets handed to me as clean at check-in had hairs and crumbs on them, the room was in terrible condition, and the floors were sticky. There was only one small window, which wouldn’t open properly, so there was no airflow. The worst part was the smell. It was so bad it was hard to breathe, like mold or something rotten. I don’t want to imagine what it’s like in summer. The common area and kitchen were chaotic and very dirty too. The space is quite big, and they offer drinking games and other activities that might help young people connect with travellers, but it also gets really loud. I can’t recommend this hostel.

I arrived in December and still haven’t left! I’ve made amazing friends and there’s such a great community here. Like most hostels, there are things that could be improved, but this is the only one that has made me feel so welcome. The reception staff are absolutely amazing. My favourite part is the hostel events. The two people who run them deserve a special shout-out. They’re so much fun and always make the events feel special 💖

I’ve been here for over 2 and a half months. The people are the best, and it’s a fantastic place to meet others, with a large common area, a table tennis table and social events on the rooftop almost every day. The beach is just a 1-minute walk away, and the staff are incredibly friendly and always ready to help. There’s free breakfast every day. It’s the cheapest hostel around, so cleanliness is what you’d expect for the price. Still, it’s a fantastic social hostel, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to meet great people by the beach.

The view was really nice and the staff were kind. I had a nice stay, but the bed kept rolling away from the wall whenever we lay down, and it didn’t have brakes. The bathroom was very small, barely enough room for both of us to brush our teeth at once. The shower looked dirty, though maybe it was just old. The policies about towel stains felt a little ridiculous: even an accidental stain gets you charged $10, which is rough if you get nosebleeds.