Sydney Central Backpackers

I felt gross and dirty the whole time here. There were cockroaches and mold everywhere, and my room had mold on the mattresses, suspicious yellow stains, and blood on the floor. At check-in, the receptionist just looked up from his phone and told me to wait 10 minutes. It felt incredibly unprofessional and like a bad sign from the start. When I asked for another mattress pad, he seemed annoyed that I’d bothered him. I’ve stayed in hostels around the world, and this was by far the worst. I wish I’d stayed anywhere else, and I’m honestly confused how they’re still legally allowed to operate.

The place has lovely architecture, and the rooms were clean with comfortable beds. The employee we met was incredibly kind and welcoming, and even gave us the best blanket they had when we asked for extra blankets. But the building felt run down and poorly maintained, and the owner didn’t seem to care about it. The broken window cut my finger when I tried to close it. Some appliances were broken too, and the bathrooms and showers need maintenance. The owner seemed to be in it only for the money.

The kitchen was a mess, with dirt and clutter everywhere, and the whole place was appallingly unclean. There was mold everywhere, and I even saw bugs in my room. The rooms smelled so bad I couldn’t breathe properly, and the broken windows raised serious safety concerns. I paid $200 for one night at Sydney Central Backpackers, and it felt like a complete waste. It was a nightmare and one of the worst places I’ve stayed. I’d tell anyone considering it to think twice and find another option in Sydney. It wasn’t worth the money or the risk to health and safety.

The smell was awful throughout the hostel, from the hallway to the room, especially the bathroom. I also noticed some mold in my room and cockroaches in the bathroom. I stay in different hostels every week for a night, and this was the worst so far. At check-in, the receptionist made me wait 20 minutes even though no guests were there. He demanded my passport while I was showing valid picture ID, despite the email saying either passport or ID was accepted. His attitude was terrible, and he told me to go home and get my passport. Why would I book here if home were nearby? He also gave me a damp blanket. Please don’t stay here for your own sake.