Sydney Beachouse Yha

Both times I've stayed here have been great. The rooms are consistently tidy, the staff are pleasant, and the facilities are good, including a fantastic pool and communal dining area. Prices are reasonable too. I'd definitely recommend it to travellers looking to stay around the northern beaches.

During our two nights here in January 2013, the room smelled bad and wasn't clean. We were there as a family, with two children, my husband, and my brother. Smoke drifted into the room from people smoking on the internal terrace opposite. There was a party on the second night, but it wasn't especially loud. By 9am, when we left the next morning, cigarettes and empty bottles were all over the terrace, and nobody from the Hostel seemed to care.

After driving more than 10 hours, the noise from guests in the hallway and outside made it hard to sleep, especially with young kids making noise early in the morning and at night. The location is fantastic, across from the beach and close to plenty of shops and restaurants, and the staff are very friendly. It's a good place to stay if you're on a tight budget.

The staff and service were great, and you can tell they put in a lot of effort. But the hostel itself is falling apart. I first stayed here in 2003 and came back several times over the years, but never saw anything renewed or improved. It used to be a wonderful place, but this was my last visit. Owners, please don't let such a gem with so much potential go to waste.