Mount Backpackers

We didn't stay here, but when we came off a cruise ship to visit, these legends let us hire beach towels. They were so friendly and the service was 11/10.

The noise made for a really bad stay. Loud club music and voices carried on until midnight, and would ruin your sleep if you wanted an early night. The bedding also had a pungent smell, which I might have managed if it weren't for the noise. The kitchen and fridge are off limits from 10 pm to 5 am, so have your food ready if you're leaving early. The fridge was crammed full, and I struggled to fit in two oranges and a small carton of milk. Outside, the dining area is crowded with drying wetsuits, laundry, and bikes, while the tiny living room seems to be where all sorts of nighttime activity happen. And at the bathroom sinks, people can see you washing up if the door isn't pulled shut. If you can, I'd urge you to find somewhere better.

The rooms were small, and we waited quite a while to get a bed. Worst of all, staff were loudly sleeping with other customers at 3 in the morning. There was no age verification either. I met a couple of people who said they were underage, but they were still allowed in.

This was my second stay, and it was still bad. When I checked in, the owner confronted me about leaving a less than good review last time and tried to turn me away on the spot, even though I needed emergency accommodation for the night. She wasn't friendly when I arrived a little after 2 pm to check in, despite the listed check-in time being 2 pm. I had appointments to get to. The bathrooms were just as bad as I remembered, with holes in the walls. The room felt stuffy, as if the windows hadn't been opened in days. I could feel the springs in the mattress, and there was dust on the duvets. A notice upstairs says quiet time starts at 10:30 pm, but people were making a lot of noise in the hallway at 12:30 am and again at 2 am. I ended up using earplugs so I could sleep. Next time, if my usual place is unavailable, I'll go somewhere else.