Glenelg Beach Hostel

Glenelg Beach Hostel is a virtual maze to navigate, with multiple floors and levels opening up into numerous empty spaces, patios, and porches winding throughout the large property. A large "beer garden" is located outside the rear of the building offering a nice place to relax outside, and the staff could not be more helpful.

The Location

The location is two blocks from the beach and is in a great area of Glenelg next to tons of places to eat and drink. There is a supermarket a few blocks away and anything else you'll need during your stay can be found on the main street just steps away from the hostel. Shoes, books, power adapters, sunglasses -- you name it, it's all within a two-minute walk.

Rooms and Bathrooms

You could call the rooms cozy, and some of the four-bed dorm rooms are just downright cramped. Some rooms have no AC or fans, so rooms can become quite hot in the summer. Each dorm has individual beds -- no bunks. The private rooms offer much more in the way of space and privacy as do the larger dorm rooms. The rooms can be very noisy due to heavy bus traffic right outside the window, so bring some earplugs. Bathrooms are clean and water pressure and temperature are great, but for a hostel of this size it is sometimes hard to find an available shower.

Common Spaces

The hostel has a newly renovated, fully functional bar offering everything from local wines to beer on tap. On the first floor there is a large room to socialize with bar style tables and chairs. There is another large area equipped with couches to the side that opens up into the computer area. Outside the rear of the building there is a large beer garden where most backpackers hang out at day's end, and it provides a great place to socialize.

Summary

Overall this hostel is good value with many places on the property to relax and/or socialize. The location of this hostel could not be better, being two blocks from the beach, and the staff are excellent.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2009