The Hostelz.com Review
The Location
Banana Backpackers is situated in the centre of Durban. It is close to beaches, shops, supermarkets, and banks. The area is fine during the day but taxis should be used at night, but this is the case all over Durban. The hostel is a Bazbus backpacker bus stop.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are twin, single, double, and dorm rooms available. The rooms are spacious and the beds are comfortable. Men's and women's bathrooms are separate and clean and hot water is available. Rooms have cage-style security lockers. Rooms are unlocked and can be accessed from the courtyard or the balcony terrace.
The hostel is accessed by a staircase and there is a security gate at the entrance, which is opened by the staff on pressing the buzzer. The reception is open twenty-four hours and also has a safe.
Common Spaces
The hostel courtyard is surrounded by the balconies of the three floors above. It is quite rundown and needs a lot of repainting. There is a paddling pool. In the main building, there is a common area with a pool table and some chairs where travelers can relax and watch DSTV. There is a cheap internet service available within the hostel, but is not open at all times. The kitchen is very good for guests who like to prepare their own meals. There is also a BBQ/braii area in the courtyard, which guests can use. There is a bar/reception area in the main common room.
Summary
This is an ok hostel despite its rundown appearance. Most of the guests are transient South Africans or other immigrants staying long-term. That isn't what most backpackers want to find at a hostel, but for some this may add some character to the hostel that you don't experience in a lot of places.
Banana Backpackers is situated in the centre of Durban. It is close to beaches, shops, supermarkets, and banks. The area is fine during the day but taxis should be used at night, but this is the case all over Durban. The hostel is a Bazbus backpacker bus stop.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are twin, single, double, and dorm rooms available. The rooms are spacious and the beds are comfortable. Men's and women's bathrooms are separate and clean and hot water is available. Rooms have cage-style security lockers. Rooms are unlocked and can be accessed from the courtyard or the balcony terrace.
The hostel is accessed by a staircase and there is a security gate at the entrance, which is opened by the staff on pressing the buzzer. The reception is open twenty-four hours and also has a safe.
Common Spaces
The hostel courtyard is surrounded by the balconies of the three floors above. It is quite rundown and needs a lot of repainting. There is a paddling pool. In the main building, there is a common area with a pool table and some chairs where travelers can relax and watch DSTV. There is a cheap internet service available within the hostel, but is not open at all times. The kitchen is very good for guests who like to prepare their own meals. There is also a BBQ/braii area in the courtyard, which guests can use. There is a bar/reception area in the main common room.
Summary
This is an ok hostel despite its rundown appearance. Most of the guests are transient South Africans or other immigrants staying long-term. That isn't what most backpackers want to find at a hostel, but for some this may add some character to the hostel that you don't experience in a lot of places.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2008
Their Description
Banana Backpackers Details
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Banana Backpackers Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Worst Hostel in Durban The staff were helpful but it went downhill from there in every way possible. I stayed at other Hostels in Durban and found them superior. After I wrote a critical review of this place on another site the owner sent me a pathetic insulting email. Avoid until they get new management and improve the place. — Ryan , USA (2010-06-26) Completely Unexpected This backpackers suited our group perfectly. there were 11 of us in total on expedition with World Challenge in 2005. We had no issues with cleanliness, and it was our point of call home as it had internet access!!! We'd had a bit of a rough time out in a little village called Nompondo. There was a bush fire that we were caught up in, and coming back to Banana's was like heaven. So close to everything, the beach, shops, supermarket, restaurants. Over all throughout the month going back and forth we spent about 5 or 6 nights here!!! And not one of us moaned. We even celebrated one of the guys birthdays there. The staff (Ewan being one of them) were amazing. Gave us little tips on everything to do with sight seeing and touring. I've since been trying to go back to SA and every time i look for accommodation, i always look for Banana's. I have a family as well now and i think it would be ideal!!!! — Robyn , English (2010-02-11) Poor, dirty, and not the nicest location We stayed here for a few nights recently and I have to say I would not recommend this hostel to anyone. Although it is cheap and quite near the beach it does not feel safe and is positioned above a brothel! The rooms dont shut properly let alone lock, there are cages in the rooms or outside them but you are able to look into them so it would only encourage people to nick something if they wanted to. If you are stuck for places to stay then its a bed but other than that I would not recommend this to anyone. — Ann (2009-07-01) Less than rubbish! Traveling around a lot using both normal Youth hostels and Backpackers places we have never seen anything like this! First of all there was not any sheets nor any towels to get when we came there. after walking from the beach expecting to be robbed every single second, the room we had was lousy and dirty with a totally broken window and a kind of a cupboard door without any locker (to be honest we could have at least a small locker after some arguing). the bunkbeds plastic mattresses was full of stains and as we had to bring all over clothes to cover them in lack of sheets it wasnt even pleasant to use those clothes after. The first nights visit in the ladies toilet were a nightmare -- I didn't directly find the light switch so I scratched the wall which scratched back and a bunch of cockroaches fell down in my hair. not a nice moment when the light went on and the rest of them (big as half a fist) ran away down the floor! There wasn't one full hours quietness in the place though in the inside yard there were stairways or corridors to other floors of the house where strange people seems to gather all nights long. The last night was a blessing though one of the new guys in the reception went out to town buying some towels so we could at least take a decent shower. But to return to this or to recommend it to whoever -- no way! — Yvi & Juha , Scandinavia (2008-03-03) What I needed Back in '03 I arrived in Durban after a long walk with a heavy backpack only to find R500 hotels in the area. I stayed in some absolute dump my first night in Durbs. Ants flying around the room, got locked in the toilet. So the next day I went searching and found Banana Backpackers. What a godsend. Now, if you're from a first world country, the centre of Durban may seem a bit rough. South African cities are rough. I'm from Cape Town and I stick to the suburbs which are a league apart. But I didn't feel threatened at all in Durban, even walking around at night. OkK, more about the hostel. It's great! A private room under lock and key. Clean bathrooms, a bar and lounge where I met two Americans. One very friendly Muslim man who was trying to learn Urdu (language in Pakistan), and a lovelorn lost soul. Ok, so a backpackers in Durbs is bound to attract such folk, but I had some interesting conversations. Nice girls there who wanted me to go to a Jazz Festival too. I didn't notice uncleanliness. The place is built to clean easily, which might explain people's comments about it being a rehab centre, upbeat banana benches and all.
That said, don't be naive about backpacking in South African cities. If you're prone to projecting your fears, and you have to find a place in the city, you'd be better off in pricey hotels. — SPlug , South Africa (2007-09-28) A kind of family like situation -- great place to stay! Many relaxed backpackers, interesting individuals. fun and friendly staff and owner! after a short period of time people would have fun together, play pool, have a few nice drinks, or order some food from a diversity of delivery services (until late)! The drinks from the barnana -- like very nice ciders, beer -- come with a nice price. If people bring their own food or drinks -- no problem. breakfast available very cheap but to order a day in advance. I met a whole bunch of great people like international and national travelers and spent great times with them. One should not expect a luxury place (as cockroaches sometimes appear) -- but if one just expects a friendly, nice price, and safe place with an extra in friendliness I can just recommend Banana! the staff would tell you exactly where to go in the city at what times. during nights they don't recommend to walk alone on the streets (in durban in general). It's difficult to make a statement but I would say during the day you're fine in most areas in the city. I wouldn't recommend to carry around much valuables during the day. Townships and some other areas should just be visited with guides -- ask the staff. during the night I would not recommend to walk alone as a (white) stranger -- did'nt feel very safe after dark. You can even ask the owner, if the night staff could accompany you to a bar, or just show you around in the neighborhood. — Roland Schwabegger (2006-11-11) I booked this over the internet in early 2003. When we turned up they said there was a problem with my payment -- they had not received it. So we went somewhere else, just checked, today being September 12, 2006, statement from then and I knew it was 156 pounds debited to them at Happy Valley. Paid all that money for nothing and had to risk walking around trying to find somewhere else when they had my money. — SEBFON (2006-09-12) I visited Banana Backpackers in the summer of 2004 as part of World Challenge Expeditions. I thought it was an excellent place to stay, the staff are very friendly and would go out of their way to help you. It is in a prime location within minutes of the beach, as for the remarks that there is a high risk of mugging this is greatly over-exaggerated, I frequently walked to and fro from the beach often with souvenirs in my arms and was never mugged. However, if you dont handle cockroaches well then i might not recommend this hostel to you. If you dont I recommend you try out this excellent accomodation. — Ciaron (2006-02-21) Since a lot of these have been written they must have new staff. Duncan on the travel desk is a Godsend, friendly and helpful. The place is a little run down but not too bad. The area is relatively safe IF you are aware of surroundings, i.e. stick to where you are told is safe. I had no problem with staying there at all. — Chris (2005-09-07) I like this backpackers. The staff are friendly, and I didn't find it dangerous. But if you're uptight, and you just want to hang out in the suburbs, then it ain't for you. — Kate (2005-04-21) I've been at Banana's two years ago now, traveling through South Africa as an 18-year-old female. I think it's crap everybody talking about not being safe in the neighborhood. I've had a really fun time in Durban, and I walked daily at least twice from Banana's to the beach and back. Nothing happened, I'm still alive. Call me naive, I'll call you scared for nothing! I've been out with one of the guys of the hostel to a cafe, where we saw the cockroaches walking over the bar. That story is always liked here in the Netherlands. So, I can really recommend going to Durban and visiting Banana's Backpackers. — Corien (2005-04-07) If you're into drugs in your face, you will love it! But if you're into clean beds, a clean kitchen and an instinctive need not to be mugged, sorry, but you need to go elsewhere. Forget trying to get a taxi unless you order it a week in advance. Banana Backpackers is rubbish, in my opinion. If you're planning a trip to your local rehab clinic soon, then Banana's is probably more your cup of tea. — Carl (2005-01-13) This is a dangerous area — and the staff are uncooperative, unfriendly and unreasonable. Do not suggest this as a place to stay. — Rod (2004-10-09) As a female travelling alone, I found the area extremely daunting as you really do run the risk of getting mugged on the way to...well, anywhere really! However, I had a really great time with the guy who runs it! Shops, bars, cinema, botanical gardens are all within a 10 minute walk. The downside is that you have to get a taxi to the beach, etc., but it's better than being mugged! — Lau (2004-05-26) Very impersonal. The staff really aren't interested in helping you. It's quite dirty and in a pretty rough area of Durban. It's true, it is only a hort walk to the Golden Mile, but you have to run the risk of getting mugged if you go that way. — Kieran (2004-03-03)