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HI - Johannesburg - The Backpackers Ritz Hostel

Johannesburg (Dunkeld West), Gauteng, South Africa

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Address
1A North Road, Johannesburg (Dunkeld West)   Map
Price
Location/Contact
Details
Their Description

Features

  • Kitchen
  • Lockers
  • Bar
  • Gameroom
  • Lounge / Common space
  • Pool Table
  • Swimming Pool
  • BBQ
  • Food/Restaurant
  • TV
  • Book Collection/Exchange
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Clothes Dryer
  • Travel information provided
  • 24 Hour Free Hot Showers
  • Phones (public or in room)
  • Currency Exchange
 
The Hostelz.com Review
The hostel is situated at the end of an anonymous residential street, with no sign or name on the cage-like double fenced gate. But don't get fooled by the name: this is no Ritz! it is a big hostel, very impersonal and with a cold atmosphere. Chance are that if you stay here is only because you're killing your time waiting to join some tour or some other the next day, so since it is not the staff friendliness or the livelyhood of the surrounding which brought you here, you only have to be patient and make the most of it till they come to pick you up.

So for the time being, while you sleep in the huge crowded 18 bed dorms (en-suite), pass in front of the reception and TV lounge to get to the showers, and submit to the rip off prices of their "restaurant" (all the other restaurants around close at about 4:30pm [16:30] on most weekdays), internet and washing machine, you can relax next to the small swimming pool or enjoy the view of Jo'burg from the back of the old mansion's turrets.

Otherwise go shopping, see a movie or go eat in the nearby two big shopping centres (Hydepark at a 15 minute walk and Rosebunk 30-40 minutes away). Although, if you have money to spend, there's Soweto and Suncity tours and night restaurants and pubs tours and shuttles you can book at the reception desk.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review


Your Comments
This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites, we don't censor out the negative comments.
We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Sean, USA
June 2007
Some Ritz
One of the worst hostels we saw in our six months in Africa. Way overpriced with unhelpful staff and very meager facilities. It was very cold in Jo'burg and our room had no heat. They provided us with only a thin blanket to insulate ourselves. They made a big deal about providing us with a complimentary "breakfast" because the kitchen was closed for renovation. Breakfast consisted of toast and coffee. For less money we stayed at another place with friendly staff and an en-suite room. I would never stay here again and I would encourage others to stay away.
Comment by Anonymous
April 2006
What an absolute waste of a location this beautiful hostel is. Despite the fantastic view of Johannesburg, the convenience of a posh mall (two actually), and some quite nice restaurants, this hostel sucks. There are two large, sweaty, ugly, incredibly rude English ex-pats who run it, who openly verbally abuse the staff (mostly the cleaning ladies and a few guests as well), and if they're not bracingly unappealing enough for you, take your pick from one of desk clerks who are mockingly unhelpful, or an assistant manager who tries to molest every man and woman who enters (occasionally in good humor, sometimes not). With the addition of the crummiest dorm beds I've ever seen, suffice it to say, I would definitely not recommend this hostel.
Comment by Anonymous
November 2004
I was not happy at the Ritz. I was waiting at the airport for about two hours for someone to pick me up. Everything was overpriced, and you are not going to get the service you pay for. I never will go there again.
Comment by Anonymous
July 2004
A bit pricey at R80 per dorm bed. A double was R240, I think. But the building is nice, the staff are very friendly, and there is no closing time on the gate. Their tours are WAY overpriced (R300 for a half-day in Soweto or the Lion Park), but may be worth it for peace of mind. This place is generally clean and comfortable, even in the cold of winter.
Comment by Christina Galbrairth / Ann-Marie Toland
May 2004
We were very happy with the accomodations at this hostel. It was clean and the staff were very friendly and informative. Yes, the accomodations were basic. We had a twin room but would definitely stay there again.
Comment by Anonymous
March 2004
Lovely staff, very helpful. I had fun staying there.
Comment by Anonymous
May 2003
Friendly helpful staff. Bar, pool table, swimming pool, tv room. Easy walk to shops. Met some interesting people there.
Have you visited this hostel? Post your comments here.

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