Summer House Backpackers

I stayed three nights here, after also staying at the Summer House in Melbourne, so I had something to compare it with. The stay was fine and I didn't really run into any problems, but I wouldn't return. I'm pretty sure there are better hostels in the city at the same price. The kitchen and dining areas are small, though they were clean and seemed like nice places to meet people. I barely used them, but there should be more fridge space for the number of guests. There are also only four shared, unisex bathrooms for a hostel with over 100 people. They were cleaned during the day, but having just one toilet on the upper floor meant I sometimes had to go downstairs when it was occupied, which was frustrating, especially in the busy early hours. I was put in the 11-bed women's room. Its stairs were narrow and winding, with another set inside the room to reach most of the beds. I found that layout inconvenient, and wouldn't recommend the place if you're carrying a lot of heavy luggage. The room was large but short on sunlight and felt stuffy, even with the fans they provide. The beds were really uncomfortable, like sleeping on a cheap Temu mattress. The woman at the check-in desk didn't seem very friendly at first, but I let it go.

There are activities every day, so it was easy to mix with people and feel part of things. The hostel was very clean, and the staff and other guests were kind and welcoming. I'd definitely recommend it.

The courtyard is the best part, it's big and a really good place to hang out. The kitchen is good too, and the hostel is cleaned every day. Most of the rooms are pretty comfortable. The staff and other people are nice, and it's easy to meet someone new. It feels a bit like my second home, and the place is kept to a good hostel standard. Please get us more forks!

I planned to stay two weeks, then ended up here for four months. The hostel feels familiar rather than modern, and its great courtyard and daily activities make it easy to spend time with people. The staff are friendly, and it gets a thorough clean pretty often. The location's great too, shoutout to the Clown. A few things could be better: the rooms get far too hot in summer, one toilet per floor isn't enough, especially at 2am, and bigger fridges would help. Still, I'd absolutely recommend it, especially if you're starting a Working Holiday in Sydney. 10/10.