Located on Elizabeth Street, BIG is one of Sydney's newest hostels. While the hostel is in an older building, the interior has been fully renovated and offers a modern finish. The facilities are extremely clean by backpacker standards and the building is well maintained. There is a large stainless steel kitchen that is quite user-friendly with significant fridge space. Additionally, free breakfast is available every day, and consists of cereals, breakfast bars, and toast - with all of the necessary condiments provided.
Adjacent to the kitchen is the common room / eating area, where movies and music videos are projected onto a large screen. Unfortunately this impressive screen can take away from the social atmosphere, as most people are content to watch television in the comfort of the surrounding sofas. The absence of an alternate common room highlights this factor, making BIG a difficult place to mingle with other travellers.
In spite of this, BIG is in an excellent location and public transportation is easily accessable. Buses stop regularly outside of the hostel's front door and the train station is about an eight minute walk away. As well, one can walk to Central Station from the hostel in approximately fifteen minutes. George Street is just two streets over and is the home of 'backpacker alley', where many tour operators and Internet cafes can be found.
Overall, I recommend this hostel to someone who has had a long flight and is looking for a good night's sleep. The building has excellent security and the shuttle bus from the airport will drop you off from the airport for $8.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2004
Location/Contact
4.5 Average from 28 Ratings
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