1770 Beachside Backpacker is brand new and owned by local people. They try their hardest to make your stay enjoyable but due to the location it seems a sleepy little place tucked away in the middle of nowhere. The hostel is a part of a bigger complex with individual lodges.
The Location
1770 Beachside Backpacker is located in the town of Agneswater along the road leading to the town of 1770. Along the same road closer to the town centre is another hostel with a similar name and many people mix them up. The hostel is further away from the shops (bad if you're on foot) but closer to the beach (good if you want to swim or surf). Finding this hostel in the dark can be a little bit tricky, also the two similar names are confusing. Greyhound offers a connecting service from the main route, which drops you off and picks you up in front of the hostel. There's also an off-street parking for those with their own car.
Rooms and Bathrooms
1770 Beachside offers four- to eight-bed dorms. All dorms have bunk beds and individual safety boxes that open up with a code. Room doors open with a key card and make a loud noise when they close. All rooms have also spacious en-suite bathrooms. The dorms are cramped when fully occupied because there are no lockers and backpacks take most of the floor space. Rooms and bathrooms are nice and clean although cold during the winter -- you have to ask for a blanket in the reception.
Common Spaces
Common spaces are the pride and joy in this hostel. Upstairs has a bar/restaurant and a small kitchen, downstairs has another kitchen, free laundry, three computers, ping-pong table, and a TV room. They also offer free bikes to ride around in the area.
The restaurant serves a backpacker meal as well as an a la carte menu, and is open to public. Kitchens in this hostel are tiny and not good for anything else than microwaving. Another irritating thing are the intricate seating arrangements -- you'll be asked to sit at the bar when eating a backpacker meal, in the restaurant if you're ordering a la carte and somewhere else (we never found out where) if you're cooking on your own.
Summary
Besides the eating dilemma, your stay at the 1770 Beachside is very carefree. The reception can help you out with activities in 1770-Agneswater. The beach is just around the corner and the shops about fifteen minutes' walk away. Free laundry is a plus, although there are only two machines, no dryers, and backpackers are asked to use them only after 2 p.m. 1770-Agneswater is a small and isolated place and gets quickly very boring if you don't participate in the local activities.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2009
Location/Contact
