Boonkeys Surf Lodge

It was the cheapest place we found in Newquay, and just seconds from the beach, which suited us perfectly. Gary, the caretaker, is the main man here and handled a bunch of rowdy Geordies well. Evenings can be a little loud, but things quiet down around 11pm. Good for stags, hens or groups after a bit more of a wild trip. I'd definitely visit again.

The stairs are really narrow, and the hot water kept changing temperature. The bathroom was fking dirty. Even though the price is low, it was a really bad experience.

I've stayed in plenty of other hostels and this one was poor. Every company has problems now and then, but what matters to me is how they handle them. Here, the manager seemed to be trying hard to avoid dealing with anything. The room's main door was a heavy fire door with a stiff shutter. It had no handle on the inside, so we had to pull the Yale lock, and the five women in the room struggled to open it. The fire exit was marked "Fire Exit" but blocked on the other side, so it couldn't be opened during our whole three-night stay, as shown in the photos. There was chewing gum stuck to the top of a bottom bunk, and the toilet flush was so noisy it woke everyone. We dreaded using it at night. When I raised the door issue, the manager couldn't figure out how to make it easier to open, and I had to suggest adding a handle. We were told the fire exit was no use anyway because the front door was the only way out of the building. About the gum, instead of saying he'd sort it, he just said, "oh they love doing that don't they". By the time we mentioned the toilet, he seemed to want to get rid of us.

The staff were helpful, which made this mediocre hostal bearable. The shower water ran brown, and there was no cold water from our bathroom tap. It wasn't a terrible stay, but I don't think it was worth £25 a night.