The Hostelz.com Review
This hostel is a popular one, previously with a loud party reputation but now a lot quieter as it is in a quiet residential area and neighbours have complained.
Nomads is in the Musgrave area of Durban, a safe residential area, and less than five minutes' walk to the Musgrave shopping centre which has a supermarket, cinema, shops, cafes, ATMs and foreign exchange. It is also near the bus stop for goingin into town and the minibus taxi stop. These buses go via Florida Road where there are many cafes, pubs and restaurants. There is off-road parking behind a locked gate, and there is a pedestrian access code to get into the grounds as well. It is about a 20 minute downhill walk to the Botanical Gardens, and a further 20-30 minute walk into the city. As Musgrave is on a hill overlooking the city, it is easier to walk into town and catch a minibus back rather than the other way round, but the buses and minibuses are inexpensive. A regular taxi will cost about 20 times as much.
There are various sized dorms, as well as private room options. There is a 6 bed dorm with three bunks, an 8 bed (with a normal bunk and two triple bunks) and a 10 bed dorm (with three normal bunks and two triple bunks). The larger dorm has an ensuite bathroom with shower over, which is good sized and has a sink and WC as well. The main bathroom facilities for the other dorms are next to the reception, with a small shower room with WC and sink. This is a bit outdated and tired looking but generally clean. Next to this is a bathroom with sink and WC, but this is also where the washing machines are so the cleaners are frequently in here. There is a separate newer building with private rooms, and guests can use the shower room in here also.
The first entrance room is large and open plan with a pool table, table and chairs where breakfast is served, and the reception / bar in the corner. Off here are corridors to the dorms, there is an open plan lounge with sofas, coffee table and book exchange, with a computer room off here with one computer for internet access. The kitchen is also off the main entrance room, which is outdated but adequate. Again, there is a newer kitchen in the other building which guests can also use, but storage and fridge space in both kitchens are limited, especially as it is shared with all the people who work here. In this newer building is also a large open plan room with a few chairs around a TV, although there is no option to change channels yourself as it is only an extention of the TV in the owner's cottage and whatever channel they are watching. There is also a dining table here and patio doors to a large outside picnic table. The main seating area is outside next to the swimming pool, as there are benches around a coffee table under a covered area. There are also tables and chairs around the outside servery which is occasionally manned to serve snacks and beverages, and there is a larger grassy area infront of a third building which some guests are put into.
The hostel is generally clean, although quite tired. The bar is limited as is the activity centre - some of the staff are friendly and helpful. It is not all that sociable and facilities could be better managed and rooms placed - the bathrooms being across the open social spaces next to the bar is not ideal. However, it has one of the best locations in the city, being in such a safe neighbourhood and so close to the Musgrave Centre and the bus routes to get into the city.
Nomads is in the Musgrave area of Durban, a safe residential area, and less than five minutes' walk to the Musgrave shopping centre which has a supermarket, cinema, shops, cafes, ATMs and foreign exchange. It is also near the bus stop for goingin into town and the minibus taxi stop. These buses go via Florida Road where there are many cafes, pubs and restaurants. There is off-road parking behind a locked gate, and there is a pedestrian access code to get into the grounds as well. It is about a 20 minute downhill walk to the Botanical Gardens, and a further 20-30 minute walk into the city. As Musgrave is on a hill overlooking the city, it is easier to walk into town and catch a minibus back rather than the other way round, but the buses and minibuses are inexpensive. A regular taxi will cost about 20 times as much.
There are various sized dorms, as well as private room options. There is a 6 bed dorm with three bunks, an 8 bed (with a normal bunk and two triple bunks) and a 10 bed dorm (with three normal bunks and two triple bunks). The larger dorm has an ensuite bathroom with shower over, which is good sized and has a sink and WC as well. The main bathroom facilities for the other dorms are next to the reception, with a small shower room with WC and sink. This is a bit outdated and tired looking but generally clean. Next to this is a bathroom with sink and WC, but this is also where the washing machines are so the cleaners are frequently in here. There is a separate newer building with private rooms, and guests can use the shower room in here also.
The first entrance room is large and open plan with a pool table, table and chairs where breakfast is served, and the reception / bar in the corner. Off here are corridors to the dorms, there is an open plan lounge with sofas, coffee table and book exchange, with a computer room off here with one computer for internet access. The kitchen is also off the main entrance room, which is outdated but adequate. Again, there is a newer kitchen in the other building which guests can also use, but storage and fridge space in both kitchens are limited, especially as it is shared with all the people who work here. In this newer building is also a large open plan room with a few chairs around a TV, although there is no option to change channels yourself as it is only an extention of the TV in the owner's cottage and whatever channel they are watching. There is also a dining table here and patio doors to a large outside picnic table. The main seating area is outside next to the swimming pool, as there are benches around a coffee table under a covered area. There are also tables and chairs around the outside servery which is occasionally manned to serve snacks and beverages, and there is a larger grassy area infront of a third building which some guests are put into.
The hostel is generally clean, although quite tired. The bar is limited as is the activity centre - some of the staff are friendly and helpful. It is not all that sociable and facilities could be better managed and rooms placed - the bathrooms being across the open social spaces next to the bar is not ideal. However, it has one of the best locations in the city, being in such a safe neighbourhood and so close to the Musgrave Centre and the bus routes to get into the city.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2007
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Clean, friendly staff, safe stayed with a friend who booked a double room. He requested very specific things from them and the staff went out of their way to accommodate him from flowers to candles -- Thanks. The room was very nice, facilities great, friendly and helpful staff. Safe and within walking distance from the Musgrave centre. Recommend highly. — Denise Meyer , South Africa (2009-07-03) I think Nomads is a fabulous place, it has changed a lot over the past two years. There is really great staff there now. Lovely home cooked meals! Clean and very professional. I recommend it to all my friends! I will definitely go back again! Great atmosphere! Keep up the good work guys! — Israeli Boy , Israel (2007-05-23) I have visited Nomads many times over the last five years with my children. We always have a wonderful time. The staff are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is very happy and loving. I have met many wonderful people there and I highly recommend Nomads! — Robyn (2006-07-25) This is not a place you want to stay in. The owners are unfriendly and opportunistic junkies who only make money to party and use drugs. Then they also have friends who frequent the hostel and are sexual predators seeking out the female backpackers. "Ziggy" and his friend are the two dreadlocked Caucasian sex and drug predators you should watch out for. Leigh and her husband are quick to help an international traveler who had been robbed. But they would make it very difficult for such a person. They would eat lavish meals in front of a hungry person yet never offer a crumb. Greed and compassion cannot walk hand-in-hand. They are the most evil willed double-faced persons I experienced there. Poor Lionel, I wonder why he sticks around there. He is as much a sexual predator as the rest of the Nomads crew. — Anonymous from the Netherlands (2005-06-24) I found Nomads to be really dirty and crowded. I found the staff very unfriendly. I really did not enjoy my stay here and I left as soon as I could. — Anonymous (2005-02-21) My stay here was quite enjoyable, but the place was too crowded at times. Though I was unfairly treated by the manager, I had an interesting stay, seeing fellow South Africans and other travelers. I was robbed three times in Durban of all my possessions. I made it to Pretoria then back to Australia. I was pretty distraught but back on my feet again. — Rod, Australia (2004-10-07) Fantastic atmosphere! My lasting memory of the place is sitting cross-legged on a barstool refining my South African accent! Apple schnapps all around!!! — Lucy (2004-10-04) I always stay at Nomads when I visit South Africa. Liegh is really friendly. And I love the dogs! — Rhiannon Belcher (2004-02-06)