Rusty Nail Backpackers

We left at 5 in the morning after waking at 5, and found a guy playing online gambling on the TV in the cold common area. It wouldn’t have been an issue if we’d known what the place was like, since we could have slept in the car or continued on to proper accommodation. Instead, we arrived at 1 a.m. with my daughter and were met by a strong cannabis smell, a mess, and a TV blaring with nobody watching. It was very cold, and the bed didn’t feel fresh, the sheets were wrinkled and not clean, as if they hadn’t been changed between guests. It was extremely uncomfortable. I remember this as a wonderful, warm and clean place, but that charm was completely gone. We exchanged text messages with the host, who said that during COVID the rooms had been rented to permanent tenants. I don’t know, but this isn’t normal. We’ll never go back. It was a waste of money and I feel cheated.

I was looking for a room for the night and waited more than half an hour for someone to come down and talk prices or help me. The sign did say to be patient, but half an hour, just before sunset, felt like a long time, especially as I desperately needed somewhere to stay. I might have waited longer, but I still had no room. Hopefully I’ll be back in the area and give them another try.

The room was nice and the place felt homely. I only stayed one night and arrived pretty late, but someone greeted me and showed me where everything was. The kitchen has all you need, and the lounge looked really comfortable.

The owner was one of the friendliest people I met on my travels, and the property itself is lovely. The hot tub in de Backyard was a great extra. A handy place to stay before or after the Alpine Crossing.