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Inn The City Cairns Backpackers

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

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Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Address
141 Lake Street, Cairns   Map
Location/Contact
Details
Their Description
 
The Hostelz.com Review
This hostel is very centrally located. You are in the middle of nightlife within 5 minutes walking time. Because it is not directly on the Esplanade the atmosphere is quiet and you will have a good sleep without noise.

The rooms are quite small, but clean, and air conditioning is available (but I cannot promise it is in every dorm). The beds are good, but the sliding doors for the entrance of rooms are more for view-protection than noise-reducers. After 9pm the front-door is closed because the guests of the motel won't be happy if all the hostel's backpackers stroll by their window in the night. Therefore you get a key for the back entrance reachable with three more minutes of walking. For the key you have to give a bond of AU$20 in cash (returned on checkout).

The hostel provides self-cooking facilities, laundry (extra $), internet ($1 for 15 minutes), chillout-areas, a BBQ, and a pool with sunbeds. A breakfast is included, as well as everyday vouchers for the restaurant "The Woolshed" located a five minute walk away. You get the vouchers at the reception after 4pm and you can dine from 5pm till late. For free you can choose from spagetthi bolognese, chilli, or a third option (I can't recall). It is definitely worth it to choose the upgrade option: for $4-$6 more you can choose a great meal from the menu-card. It is even more delicious and you won't be hungry afterwards.

There are a few drawbacks. The kitchen is not very well equipped. It has only one toaster, no oven, a few cups, dishes, and plates, but two microwaves. The breakfast comes as a black box put into the kitchen filled with toast-bread, raspberry jam, tea-bags, and coffee pouder. That's it. Nothing more. So don't count on too much for breakfast. The sunbeds in the pool-area are nearly all in a very lousy condition, so you may want to lay on the grass.

On the positive side, the Car Rental A1 (http://www.a1car-rentals.com/) is next door and the owner ot the hostel at the reception has some good knowledge about accommodation and activities in Queensland. He will book for you everything you need in the whole of Australia!

How to get there: From the airport take the Backpacker Coach Service ($6). They will drop you on the Esplanade in front of a tourist information where you can pick a brochure of the hostel with a small map on it. You will walk around 4 blocks in direction back to airport to get there (about 900 meters, 15 minutes). It's easy to find.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review


Your Comments
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Comment by niels
July 2006
this hostel and its staff sucked arse! it all seemed pretty nice in the beginning until on our second we got in fight with some guys from the next dorm! because the other guys were australian they got of with the whole thing and we got kicked out without our money which we paid to stay for the whole week and was promised us if we we're to leave with whatever reason, and he wanted money for the door that the other guys broke! so i highly recommend that anyone out for a good time should stay away from that sh*tty inn the city hostel!
Comment by Team Sweden
April 2006
B dorm is The Place To Be! Wonderful staff -- very layed back. Other hostels we stay in staff not like each other. Very sad for them. Breakfast sometime late but that ok. We survive.
Comment by Skunk!
July 2005
Top-notch. I stayed at Inn The City over four months and had a wicked time from day one. I recommend this place and the fellas, Kiwi and Rocket, to everyone. Those who do go, appreciate the barbecue artwork. Big thumbs up, Inn The City!!! P.s. I'm sending some mates your way in September.
Comment by Philis
April 2005
Wow, what can I say, it's awesome. I spent three months there with the guys and my traveling buddies, Nick, Kath and Sazzy. You've got Rocket (easy like a tiger), Kiwi, who just rocks, and the special boy himself, Question. You boys kick arse. I can't wait to get back up there. Go and enjoy the adventure of Cairns with Inn The City.
Comment by Anonymous
March 2005
This hostel was brilliant - the staff were VERY friendly and helpful. The rooms were spacious and clean, the communal areas were lovely (with telly), facilities excellent and the hostel was located in a very convienient place. I made several trips that I could easily book by looking around the hundreds of brouchers in the office. Staff booked all trips while I was standing there and organized everything. At the end of my stay, they even booked a last minute taxi to the airport at 4am for me. I would strongly recommend this hostel to anyone who is travelling alone or with others. Hope I will be able to come back soon!
Comment by Lesley
January 2005
These guys are on the right track. They have put years of experience from working in other hostels into this place, and know how to do it right. You are not treated just as a backpacker, but as one of their friends. It's like they've known you for ages. I was pretty much pushed for time in doing all my sightseeing, and was getting a bit anxious thinking I wouldn't be able to pull it all off. However, Nat and Rocket took the time out to organize EVERYTHING (down to the smallest detail) and it all went smoothly!! They are a funny bunch and you can tell they enjoy their jobs. Thanks everyone and I hope we meet again soon. To Kiwi, Nat and Rocket.
Comment by Wouter
January 2005
This is a very good hostel, with very helpful staff. Thanks Kiwi, for the shooting gallery tip! I recommend this hostel to everyone. It has very cheap, big cool rooms, and good beds. Be sure you ask for room 12!
Comment by Hannah and Sarah, Champange Backpackers
December 2004
This was our favorite place out of ALL the places we went on our world trip. We met SO many cool people here, who are now friends for life! The staff are so cool (even the mini dog) and we miss them very much!
Comment by Ricky Adams
November 2004
This hostel was by far the best hostel I have ever stayed in. The staff are outstanding, and as they did to so many others, they treated me like one of their family. You would be missing out if you didn't stay there. If you get this Steve, Pete, Cheryl, etc., e-mail me at: ricky20adams@hotmail.com
Comment by Oliver
November 2004
The staff are fantastic and helpful (a cliche I know, but it's true). They collected me from the airport when I called, so I don't know about the buses. It's located 600 meters from city center — what more could you ask for!! I booked a car there and they looked after me because I was staying with them. Book one tour and you get free Internet for the rest of your stay (I stayed one week — that should say a lot. Kiwi, Rod, Nat and Question have a great sense of humor and are full of funny sayings. So guys, cheers to you and IT'S BEEN EMOTIONAL. No worries, chicken curry.
Comment by Nikki Walser
August 2004
Wow! What more can one say? INN THE CITY is absolutely AMAZING! In all my travelling experiences, I have never experienced a greater sense of warmth and kindness than what was so graciously passed on to me by the staff and owners at this incredible hostel! It truly became a home away from home and I am anxiously awaiting the next time I can visit my Cairns family again!
Comment by Johannes
July 2004
The staff are very nice, but my key hardly worked, the breakfast was not there in time, and check-out was very early. Only half of the Internet PCs were working. It's not my favorite hostel, but it's a calm place for a good sleep, and it was clean as well.
Comment by Dave Krohne
July 2004
Easily the best hostel in Australia. It's definitely a place that you will resent leaving, and miss forever. Pete, Steve and Cherryl (the people who run the place) are the nicest people ever and will make your time there something to remember. Cheers, guys!
Comment by Will Anderson
June 2004
The best hostel in Australia!!! This place is too much fun; be careful, though, because it's tempting never to leave! The owners rule! Definitely stay here!! Long live Inn The City.
Comment by Anonymous
June 2004
Best hostel ever. It's run by the coolest people. It's great for long-term guests and those with jobs. They also rent cars and book trips. They're multi-talented.
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