Little Drifter Glebe

I've been at little drifter for two months. The rooftop and cinema room are nice places to unwind, and there's a small park with the river alongside it just down the road. The rooms are comfortable, reasonably clean, and all have A/C, which is a nice extra. The staff are the best part. Diana, Thomas, and everyone else have been willing to help as much as they can. It may not be the cheapest hostel, but with the activities and accommodation on offer, it doesn't feel overly expensive.

The buses stop right outside, with regular services about every 10 minutes. It's easy to get to the next supermarket, around a 10-minute drive or 30-minute walk, or head to the beach or central. I liked how peaceful it was, especially sitting in the sun on the rooftop looking over the houses. The beds were clean and comfortable, and the curtains gave good privacy. The kitchen had everything I needed, even cooking oil. Bathrooms were basic but good. I'd book again!

Our stay was at the Village Glebe buildings after the Village Glebe was taken over by Little Drifter. These are separate from the Drifter building, and our experience didn't match the glowing reviews for that other property. If you're booking, definitely ask which building you'll be staying in. The building felt run down and poorly maintained. There was damp beneath the air conditioning in our room, and the skirting boards were coming away from the wall. In the kitchen, flies were everywhere and the sinks were already piled with dirty dishes when we arrived. Staff wouldn't wash them, which we understand is each guest's responsibility, but arriving to a kitchen in that state wasn't fair. Staff were also putting essential cookware into bin bags, so we had to fish items out if we wanted to make dinner. The towels were wet and dirty, and the hobs were unreliable, with some not sparking at all. We weren't told about the ownership change. We found out when our Hostelworld booking was invalidated, then had to investigate ourselves. It would've been good for the Little Drifter team to contact us and ask if we'd want to move our original booking to the Drifter building. We arrived an hour before check-in, hoping we might be allowed in early as at other hostels. The receptionist was dismissive and rude, showed us a completely full luggage room, offered no other option, then left saying it wasn't her problem. That was frustrating. Laundry was another hassle: there were no lines to hang clothes, so paying was basically the only option. This seems to be a hostel for long-stay guests and work visa holders. There were lots of Uber Eats deliveries and electric bikes stacked at the front, which wasn't great for a short stay. We didn't enjoy the Village Glebe.

The rooftop views over the city were incredible, and there's a bus stop right outside. Inside, the hostel was brand new and very clean, with modern, comfortable rooms and a new, fully equipped kitchen. The 24-hour TV room was handy for relaxing, and guests can use the gym equipment too. Staff were consistently friendly and helpful, and made me feel at home. Great value for money. I'd highly recommend it for a comfortable, clean stay with good vibes in Sydney.