Maze Backpackers

Check-in was easy and cleanliness was okay, but sleeping in the room was a disaster. The heat was unbearable. Even with the window wide open, hardly any air came in, and the room felt stifling, like an oven. The only way to get a little airflow was to leave the door open, which meant giving up privacy. A room you can’t comfortably sleep in is unacceptable to charge guests for. A hostel should at least provide a place where you can rest, and this one didn’t. I wouldn’t recommend Maze Backpackers in Sydney.

The staff were unfriendly and unhelpful when we raised problems. They seemed annoyed, brushed us off and took no responsibility. We got no refund for the bed bugs, and my friend wasn’t allowed to move rooms even though they’d booked one. There was no real solution offered. We found bed bugs in our room repeatedly, and later learned that people who’d stayed in that same room before us had the same issue. It felt like the problem was being ignored instead of treated. Cockroaches were all over the hallways, common areas, near rooms and even the TV room. The place felt unhygienic and unsafe. The smell was awful too, especially in the TV room, which reeked of sweat, old food and dirty carpets. The hallways and common areas stank as well. Ventilation was practically nonexistent. It was always hot and stuffy, the air felt dirty, and the fans barely worked. There was no proper air conditioning, making sleep nearly impossible. Maze Hostel in Sydney was dirty, uncomfortable and badly managed. With the insects, constant smells, heat and rude service, it’s one of the worst places I’ve stayed. Save your money and book elsewhere.

The bunk bed creaks loudly and makes sleeping difficult. Mattresses had cockroaches, and the whole place smelled awful with no ventilation. It looks nothing like the online photos.

For a hostel, it’s decent and the location is great. The staff were really friendly, and our private room was okay by hostel standards. It’s an old building, though, and I spotted a small cockroach when I lifted my bag. There’s just one shared women’s bathroom and one men’s bathroom for the whole floor, so it can take a bit of a walk to get to one.