The Hostelz.com Review
HI - Jeffreys Bay - Island Vibe Backpackers Hostel is a hostel that has a pub feel to it. It is one of the bigger hostels that is always packed with surfing fanatics, some first-time surfers, and volunteers. It's an easygoing place with mainly a young crowd.
It being Jeffreys Bay, the main activity is to surf the waves or go shopping at the factory outlets. If you are looking for cheap Billabong, Roxy, Quicksilver, or O'Neill gear, this is the place to shop until you drop!
The Location
The hostel is located on the stunning sandy beach, just a short walk from the main street where you can find all the shops. They offer free pickup and dropoff from Intercape and Greyhound buses.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorms are rather big, with bunk beds for approximately ten people. There are no cupboards or lockers and the front door doesn't lock. That being said, it is very unusual for things to be stolen. There are smaller and private rooms and the beach house is the ideal place for a romantic getaway. The bathroom has plenty of washing basins, toilets, and showers with hooks. It lacks the intimacy and privacy of a bathroom you would find in a house, but the facilities are always clean and well maintained.
Common Spaces
Island Vibe has a spacious kitchen with a small seating area with TV next to it. The main common area is the pub-style restaurant that serves delicious food at very good prices! There are wooden benches, comfy sofas, a pool, and foozball table, and a bar. The bar has a great vibe and this is a real party hostel. Outside on the grass is a big bench where you can have a beer and are bound to meet new people (this space of grass is where the campers also put up their tents). There's plenty of space to dry your wetsuit. There is a locked luggage room and there are two computers with internet at reception.
Summary
Island Vibe is a young, vibrant hostel that is the ideal outlet to surf. Come here to enjoy what the waves have to offer, to party, and to shop.
It being Jeffreys Bay, the main activity is to surf the waves or go shopping at the factory outlets. If you are looking for cheap Billabong, Roxy, Quicksilver, or O'Neill gear, this is the place to shop until you drop!
The Location
The hostel is located on the stunning sandy beach, just a short walk from the main street where you can find all the shops. They offer free pickup and dropoff from Intercape and Greyhound buses.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorms are rather big, with bunk beds for approximately ten people. There are no cupboards or lockers and the front door doesn't lock. That being said, it is very unusual for things to be stolen. There are smaller and private rooms and the beach house is the ideal place for a romantic getaway. The bathroom has plenty of washing basins, toilets, and showers with hooks. It lacks the intimacy and privacy of a bathroom you would find in a house, but the facilities are always clean and well maintained.
Common Spaces
Island Vibe has a spacious kitchen with a small seating area with TV next to it. The main common area is the pub-style restaurant that serves delicious food at very good prices! There are wooden benches, comfy sofas, a pool, and foozball table, and a bar. The bar has a great vibe and this is a real party hostel. Outside on the grass is a big bench where you can have a beer and are bound to meet new people (this space of grass is where the campers also put up their tents). There's plenty of space to dry your wetsuit. There is a locked luggage room and there are two computers with internet at reception.
Summary
Island Vibe is a young, vibrant hostel that is the ideal outlet to surf. Come here to enjoy what the waves have to offer, to party, and to shop.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2009
Their Description
HI - Jeffreys Bay - Island Vibe Backpackers Hostel Details
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HI - Jeffreys Bay - Island Vibe Backpackers Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Fantastic! I stayed at Island vibe in August 2009. The staff is the friendliest in the world and their "traveling barman" concept meant that an aussie and a brazillian were serving the beers at night. The atmosphere was very international and I enjoyed my stay despite the fact that I don't surf. — Anonymous (2009-10-01) Great -- wish we stayed longer This place is brilliant! Great location right on the beach and the bar is great for a few beers at the end of the day. The bar also does good evening meals cheaply, which is a great way to meet people as most people do this. — Ann (2009-07-01) Amazing location, facilities and staff, shame about clique surf scene This hostel, the front desk posse, the setting, beach access, and cleanliness will blow your mind. If youre a surfer, the clique scene that extends from the frosty atmosphered bar to the group surfs will not. Not only does it clog the breaks a bit like rush hour at the preferred Point but also serves to exclude surfers who either haven't been living at the hostel for fourteen months or who don't show up with the mandatory dreads, cheap leather necklace, and flimsy traveling philosophy. All in all, an impressive hostel that just needs to figure out if it's a fun place to be or a second home for drop outs who think they deserved a place on the pro-tour. — Anon , British Living in Australia (2008-07-03) Beautiful view I stayed two nights in dorms. Beds not the most comfortable. Ton of surfers stay here. The beach is at door step. If you're looking for party place, this is good place to be. Walking distance to outlets. Place doesn't look like the pictures provided. Place is clean and has a nice atmosphere. Kitchen is little unorganized, but overall good place to stay. — Chantelle , Canadian (2008-06-06) Lovely! We stayed in a double en-suite room in the beachhouse and it was the best views that we've ever had, you almost feel like sleeping on the beach. The bar offers a big variety of different foods including a big selection for breakfast. The hostel is surfer's paradise, so we kind of stuck out but this didn't make us feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. Credit cards are accepted and discount for students is available. Although not located in a safe area the hostel's security is very good so that there's no need to worry. And nothing beats a morning walk on the beach. — Judith & Jens , Germany (2007-05-20) Stayed in this hostel May of 2005. Pretty much the best hostel I have ever stayed in! Unbelievable views, so clean, easy to find, and a really cool bar. It doesn't seem to be the most social but I was there in the S.A. winter, plus with a friend and not really looking to meet people at that point — Mike , American (2007-05-15) Very helpful staff! Excellent bar! In front of the beach! Food, drinks, bathrooms, bedrooms. Clean bathrooms, great pool table -- free until 5 p.m.! Right in front of the beach! — Rafael (2006-12-26) Fantastic, loved it!! We had a room with a balcony looking over the beach and sea, amazing! With a friendly cat, too. Great bar, great food, very hard to leave... — Jane (2005-10-10) Definitely a great place where I met very friendly people. — Marie (2005-08-29) Island Vibe rocks! The staff are brilliant, the bar is everything a bar should be and the views are amazing. — Penny (2005-06-28) This place was awesome. I met some great people here. I was supposed to stay for three nights, but ended up leaving three weeks later. I had my birthday here and Len behind the bar made sure I didn't forget. Check the dolphins in the morning surf! — Jon G. (2005-03-23) A group of four of us made use of the camping facilities here last winter. Despite the season we found very hospitable hosts, a great setting and a cool vibe. It helps to be into the surf scene, though—and even the dog has dreadlocks! — XV Pilot (2005-02-27) This was the best hostel I stayed at. I loved it so much I stayed for a month. Great people, great parties, great views — what more could you want? — Paula (2005-02-20) We've just spent nine days at this excellent hostel! All the staff are really friendly, the food is great, the setting is breathtaking, and the rooms are nice and clean. The surf school is also great! It's absolutely one of the best hostels in the world! We will go back there as soon as possible! — Sandra and Johan (2005-02-14) Great place. The quadruple Captain and Cokes were excellent, but for some reason I was still standing at the end of the night. Bring a skateboard for the flat days, as there is a ramp and bowl nearby at the Billabong store. I went there for a week, then to Cape Town for five days to visit a friend, but I couldn't wait to get back to IV. — Shawnboy (2005-02-11)