Mad Monkey Backpackers on Broadway

There are lots of rooms, so there are usually plenty of travelers and a nice atmosphere. A bus stop right outside makes getting around easy. You also get a free two-hour gym pass, a handy bonus if you want to work out while traveling.

Common rooms are on the small side, but the price is low and the area is good for visiting Sydney. The common spaces and bathrooms were cleaned daily, the bed was quite large, and the air conditioning worked perfectly. It was a nice hostel, and I’d recommend it if you’re after an affordable option.

The one welcoming part was the night manager. I cancelled at the front desk as soon as I saw my private room, then was told she couldn’t refund me and I’d need to return the next day to get it sorted. The room stank of mould, and there was a bed bug bag on the mattress, so it looked like they were having trouble with bed bugs. I’d put this hostel at around 2.5-3 stars. The five-star reviews seem massively overrated, especially given other reviewers’ claims that they get free laundry service in exchange for them.

Other guests were loud through the night. When I politely asked them to quiet down, they rudely said, “we’re in a hostel, we all pay for the same thing.” To me, if you want to video call or make noise late at night, use the common areas instead of a dorm where people are trying to sleep. The noise carried on past midnight, then at 1am someone came in and loudly talked with the same girls, waking everyone up. My six-bed female dorm was too small for six and clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly. It was messy and uncomfortable. Staff didn’t make a great first impression either: the receptionist was rude and insisted I needed a passport to check in. I said I didn’t have it with me but had my driver’s license, which the arrival information clearly says is acceptable. He was dismissive and unhelpful, but when two other guests showed up moments later, suddenly my license was fine. There wasn’t much respect from staff or guests, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here. It’s worth paying a little more for a better hostel.