The Hostelz.com Review
The Oxford Backpackers is not our ideal in hostel living. The facilities are good with internet, a TV, video library, a bar and cafe, and colourful murals on all the walls. And the location is superb -- just a few minutes walk from both the train and bus stops and about five minutes from the centre of town. You couldn't get much better.
However when we first arrived, there was a huge group of people smoking in the lounge and having bowls of soggy cornflakes even though it was about midday. They never seemed to move much from the lounge so we are not sure if they were just very unmotivated tourists, very tired tourists, or long-term guests who had jobs and were enjoying their day off.
The rooms are clean and non-smoking (they are in a separate section from the lounge and reception). However short term stays of just a few nights get crammed into a tiny room with bunks and saggy mattresses. Maybe they try and encourage you to book a long term room! They do offer quite good discounts for long term guests and apparently these rooms are also larger but we didn't see them. Overall it feels kind of grungy, smoky, cramped, and not terribly friendly. The smokers are reasonably nice after awhile but it is just off putting for a non-smoker.
To get here is really easy. From the bus station turn right onto George Street and go straight through the traffic lights into Hythe Bridge Street across a small bridge. The backpackers is clearly marked on the left. If you arrive at the train station turn left and walk past the Royal Oxford Hotel. The hostel is on the right hand side before the bridge.
However when we first arrived, there was a huge group of people smoking in the lounge and having bowls of soggy cornflakes even though it was about midday. They never seemed to move much from the lounge so we are not sure if they were just very unmotivated tourists, very tired tourists, or long-term guests who had jobs and were enjoying their day off.
The rooms are clean and non-smoking (they are in a separate section from the lounge and reception). However short term stays of just a few nights get crammed into a tiny room with bunks and saggy mattresses. Maybe they try and encourage you to book a long term room! They do offer quite good discounts for long term guests and apparently these rooms are also larger but we didn't see them. Overall it feels kind of grungy, smoky, cramped, and not terribly friendly. The smokers are reasonably nice after awhile but it is just off putting for a non-smoker.
To get here is really easy. From the bus station turn right onto George Street and go straight through the traffic lights into Hythe Bridge Street across a small bridge. The backpackers is clearly marked on the left. If you arrive at the train station turn left and walk past the Royal Oxford Hotel. The hostel is on the right hand side before the bridge.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2004
Their Description
Oxford Backpackers Hostel Details
|
|
(To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Update Form.)
Map Location/ContactHow is Oxford Backpackers Hostel rated on other websites?
Not listed.
Oxford Backpackers Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
The hostal from HELL The room stank and the was incredibly hot. At 3 in the morning I was kept awake by the manager playing loud music in the common room. Don't stay here, it's not possible to sleep in peace or comfort. — Ant , Australia (2011-09-10) Bloody awful Please, I urge everyone not to stay here. My stay was absolutely dreadful -- we checked out after one night. Our first night was awful -- the dorm smelt of feet shavings and poo and do you think we got our money back for the night we didn't want to put up with it anymore? Oh no. Of course not. It was the worst time I have ever experienced in my whole life -- I have told all my friends to never stay here as they'll be bitterly disappointed with the lack of care, hygiene, and quality. Do not stay here, it's awful. — Nina , UK (2009-11-12) Not the best experience i'm afraid. I stayed here for a week before I went to backpack around Australia. First I was charged more than was advertised on the internet (I was charged the full £100 instead of the weekly deal advertised) The staff (who were mostly young immature female Australians) were more interested in their sex lives than the welfare of paying guests. The rooms were a bit shabby and the kitchen was way too small and with no air conditioning in the summer all the food was going off. This is the best case of we want your money but not you. The only plus points was the communal area which was well decked out and the two guys in my room who were really nice chaps. Oxford is a lovely city indeed and deserves a better run hostel. — CARL (UK) (2007-02-25) Sorry for my English but I do not write very well and have taken a translator because I want that the whole world in espanol and in English knows my experience of this lodging. First they charged from us 10 pounds of deposit, I never was in this situation, deposit during one night? In order that? For if we rob a berth? the carpet was turning out to be sticky enough. The sheets were yellow and indicating that they were not clean for every new client, the window obligatorily would to be kept opened always, well for the smell, but fatally for the cold that we pass, I slept dressed and with the long jacket over the quilt or that was it. I like to say that the attention was good but is not completely true either, they were nice but when for the morning they served the breakfast not have sugar, not coffee, not tea, not cutlery, we imagine that we have to enter on kitchen and to look what was absent because nobody give us attention, on having gone away we understood for education that it was nice to give what we used in the bank of the kitchen, though if they serve breakfast it is supposed that also they gather it, but for good education we took the cups and plates and we take them to the kitchen, go out to gather our bags and to recover our 10 pounds of deposit, And one of the employees was running behind ours to say us that we have to wash the cutlery and cups and plate we used. Incredible indeed. Two cups and two plates -- we had to wash it. We know that we aren't in the Hotel Hilton but this was excessive. My valuation for this hostel is very negative. I do not recommend it to anybody. — ESTHER (2006-11-27) I enjoyed being at this hostel, although I was old enough to be most of the other backpackers mother. I stayed for two weeks, hoping to move to Oxford, as many people come looking for a job. At times people were too loud in the hall after the designed quiet after ten p.m. However, after I asked them to be quiet, they were respectful about it. One person was staff and should have known better. I'd prefer if the fragrance or sanitary dispensers had a pleasant smell. The staff was friendly and helpful. The hostel was clean. The kitchen was a little small at times, but I felt at home here even though I didn't fit into the young people who drank at the open bar in the living area and the smokers. I was glad to be there. Repairs were fairly quickly. I thought Nic was a good manager. I'd recommend it. Nice to talk to people around the world. — Anne Centers (2006-04-18) Really enjoyed this hostel! The staff were great, and the bar and people there made for such a fun atmosphere! The rooms were nothing special, but clean and everything. The washrooms had a hairdryer, which is always nice, but there was often a line for the showers. — Anonymous (2005-07-09) I have to say that I was really impressed with this hostel. The staff were friendly and HOT!!! There were a few dirty bits but that is hostel life. They went out of their way to ensure that my stay was pleasurable and that all my needs were seen to.
I highly recommend this place, as I will definitely be going back if I go to Oxford. — Jessica (2005-01-11) I stayed there a few days back and found it to be extremely pleasant and the staff extremely friendly. It's run by backpackers and is extremely fun. The bar opens at 2 a.m. — genius! And the bartender, WHAT A DREAMBOAT! — Anonymous (2005-01-11) There's nothing worse than climbing the 18 or 20-something stairs to this hostel (after finding the place following an exhausting train/bus trip) with a 30 kilogram backpack plus extras, and then not even be noticed at reception (even though you're "totally f***ing exhausted"). Plus then you're greeted (?) by a 19 year-old female slag leaning all over the counter flirting carelessly with (probably yet) another male. — Amy (2004-12-14) It is about 500 m. closer to town than the Youth Hostel and
I managed to get a decent sleep each night, which isn't something
you necessarily expect in youth hostels. The atmosphere was
friendly. It's on the tolerable side of grubby. I was slightly irritated
that when I left to catch a 7.30 train on a Saturday morning, the office wasn't open and I couldn't collect my deposit. The kitchen, which allegedly opens at 7 am, wasn't open either. — Nick (2004-07-22) I went to this hostel a week back. After reading all the available reviews in the Net, I was a bit cautious whether to stay or not. But believe me, it was really a pleasant atmosphere there. I found that extremely comfortable. I would say this would be the best low-budget accomodation available in Oxford. I remember reading some reviews about incidents of theft happening in the hostel, and I was extremely careful about this. In fact, I forgot to take my umbrella when I checked out from the hostel, but to my pleasant surprise I got back it back from the same place where I left it and that also hours after I checked out!! So I must recommend this place strongly. Experience it yourself before making prejudices. — Anonymous (2004-07-16) I stayed at this hostel a couple of weeks ago. It was loud and the staff were rude. There are these strange perfume dispensers in the rooms that run on some sort of timer, so every half an hour there is a spray to "freshen" the room, and it is extremely potent! I think I would rather just smell a smelly backpacker than that. Anyone allergic to perfumes stay away!!! If nothing else is available, go here, but otherwise look elsewhere! Oxford is a walking city, so the proximity to the city center is not that important. I suggest elsewhere! — Anonymous (2004-05-12) It is center of town BUT not so clean, and quite noisy. — Anonymous (2004-03-23) This hostel is the coolest hostel I've ever come across in my entire life. You'll know why when you get there... — JC (2004-03-10)