The Hostelz.com Review
Elephant Backpackers meets the bare minimum requirements one would expect of a hostel in Australia.
The Location
The hostel is in a great location. It is right in the middle of town, just off Swanston Street and opposite Flinders Street train station and other transport modes, so getting around is no problem. It is also near shops, libraries, and other amenities and it's also very close to the river for running, walking, sightseeing, and cycling. The hostel is in the city centre so this also means that there is no parking.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm rooms are like no other, but this is not necessarily a good thing. The wafer-thin walls do not touch the ceiling, so basically each of the three floors are like one massive dorm. You can hear people whispering on the other side of the building and you can also peer into other people's dorms just by getting on the top bunk and standing/kneeling. This certainly gives the impression that the hostel is crowded.
The curtains are always closed and there does not seem to be any fresh air or light coming into the building -- even more annoying if you have a smelly person in your room. The door locks are secure and there are lockers for use in the dorms (bring your own padlock). There are options for "private" rooms too. The hostel also has a party feel to it so don't expect to get a good sleep, especially with the busy road just outside.
The bathrooms are satisfactory, with readily available hot water for your shower as well as space to change and hooks for your clothes. In general, there are enough showers and toilets to cater for the large amount of guests.
Common Spaces
Other common spaces take the form of a very very large kitchen and dining area. The self-catering facilities are large but a little simplistic. There is a policy for guests to clean their own dishes but this often gets ignored, much to the annoyance of other guests who then have to clean other people's dishes to use them, then clean their own. This area also has a mini-lounge area for watching TV and a DVD room. Desktop computers with internet access are also available for a fee. Luggage storage is quite costly -- when we arrived early on our first day, we asked to put our luggage behind the front desk, but this was declined. We were left with the only option of paying quite a lot of money to put our luggage in an automated locker.
Summary
If you are after location and low prices, then you can't go far wrong with this place, but if you're after a little more in terms of quality of building, sleep, and facilities, then this place is a little lacking.
The Location
The hostel is in a great location. It is right in the middle of town, just off Swanston Street and opposite Flinders Street train station and other transport modes, so getting around is no problem. It is also near shops, libraries, and other amenities and it's also very close to the river for running, walking, sightseeing, and cycling. The hostel is in the city centre so this also means that there is no parking.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm rooms are like no other, but this is not necessarily a good thing. The wafer-thin walls do not touch the ceiling, so basically each of the three floors are like one massive dorm. You can hear people whispering on the other side of the building and you can also peer into other people's dorms just by getting on the top bunk and standing/kneeling. This certainly gives the impression that the hostel is crowded.
The curtains are always closed and there does not seem to be any fresh air or light coming into the building -- even more annoying if you have a smelly person in your room. The door locks are secure and there are lockers for use in the dorms (bring your own padlock). There are options for "private" rooms too. The hostel also has a party feel to it so don't expect to get a good sleep, especially with the busy road just outside.
The bathrooms are satisfactory, with readily available hot water for your shower as well as space to change and hooks for your clothes. In general, there are enough showers and toilets to cater for the large amount of guests.
Common Spaces
Other common spaces take the form of a very very large kitchen and dining area. The self-catering facilities are large but a little simplistic. There is a policy for guests to clean their own dishes but this often gets ignored, much to the annoyance of other guests who then have to clean other people's dishes to use them, then clean their own. This area also has a mini-lounge area for watching TV and a DVD room. Desktop computers with internet access are also available for a fee. Luggage storage is quite costly -- when we arrived early on our first day, we asked to put our luggage behind the front desk, but this was declined. We were left with the only option of paying quite a lot of money to put our luggage in an automated locker.
Summary
If you are after location and low prices, then you can't go far wrong with this place, but if you're after a little more in terms of quality of building, sleep, and facilities, then this place is a little lacking.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2011
Their Description
Elephant Backpacker Melbourne Details
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Elephant Backpacker Melbourne Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Cheap, good location but hard to live in at times I liked it because I could afford a room for myself but I wanted to stay for a long time and the staff told me that if re booked my room at the same time every week I would never lose my bed. This was not the case and one day they told me i had to move on also no sockets in the bedrooms which was really annoying not to mention the walls that did not touch the ceilings but I got used to it in the end and was usually so tired i would sleep well. I met some very nice people in this backpackers but it could do with a few improvements. Its location is its biggest asset and I liked the board at the bottom of the stairs telling us all the info we needed to know. — Fitzy , Irish (2010-01-11) Clean and central but expensive! The hostel has probably the best location in Melbourne, opposite Flinders station. It's fresh and clean with almost a hotel feeling rather then a hostel. However, everything comes with a price. The staff are friendly if you pay for it! I had to pay $5 for storing my luggage two hours! No breakfast or even free coffee. The kitchen is the downside, in the basement. Fairly big but noisy and not very nice to eat a dinner. Laundry, TV, internet, kitchen, everything is in the same big room. Way too small fridges also. If you are able to squeeze in one milk there you are lucky! People are alright but not so easy to contact, mostly closed groups unwilling to meet others. If you want a nice and clean bedroom with central location, this is it. If you want to meet many backpackers and live cheap, this is not! — Fredrik , Sweden (2009-11-17) Go and experience it, its hilarious, its warm, its welcoming Well, this hostels facilities could be better, but it is adequate for the budget traveler, and overall, I enjoyed my time here and could just as easily check myself in and stay a few more nights. The room walls dont go all the way up to the ceiling, but me and my roommies found it more hilarious then annoying, but just dont go talking really loud or people could hear your secrets, I have found on occasion a couple arguing a few rooms away from mine, a few loud snorers and some drunks with some colourful language. The bathrooms could do with a remake as well as the kitchen, but the guests you will meet here are friendly, and drinking games are the norm in the evening. Good location. — mike , UK (2009-02-15) Excellent value! Friendly! Fun! Fantastic! Great atmosphere in an awesome location. yes its true that there are no roofs on the "rooms" which are more like cubicles -- a door and four walls but they are clean, the beds comfy, and the duvet lovely/warm in winter! bathrooms are of a good size and clean! The communal kitchen whilst not awesome is usable and the communal lounge room is a great place to meet other backpackers! if you have any questions or problems the staff mostly will bend over backwards to help you! A tip is to be flexible with when you cook/bathe/do your laundry. avoid peak times and theres never a problem! It's great -- would gladly stay there again! — Nathan , Australia (2008-07-15) Well, I only stayed here twice for one night each.
I quite liked the atmosphere, but what I liked best was the big laugh I had when I first saw the rooms.
It's ridiculous...but funny for a night. No roofs at all.
My advice: try it once, but not if u r planning to pull someone that night ;-) — FreshDude , german (2007-04-25) what can i say. this place is run by two of the best people i've ever met in my life. they've always made me feel welcome every time i stop by. i stay at the elephant once a year and i've been doing that for the past four years. every time i'm there, the atmosphere is great. people are great. no troubles whatsoever. and it's affordable too. — meng (2007-02-26) I stayed in a double room here for one night. Its clean, friendly staff, and all. But here's the thing -- all the rooms have no roofs, picture a call center and its just like that. You hear everything from other rooms even people moving in there beds in the other rooms, no joke. And the double was two single beds pushed together (and the gap always seems to get bigger). — James MEADE (2006-03-03)