The Hostelz.com Review
1849 Backpackers at the London Hotel is ideally located within walking distance to the main town of Albany, and right across the road from a fresh fruit farmers market held every Sunday.
The Location
There is space at the front of the hostel to park a few cars. It is quite easy to find as it is just a few minutes' walk from the main street. Although Albany is a great place to visit, if you have your own means of transport to see the sights and tourist attractions will make your time here a lot more enjoyable.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms here are very spacious with big windows and high ceilings. They have dorms as well as private rooms, which are kept to a high standard with clean linen and comfy beds. The bathrooms are regularly cleaned, there is plenty of showers and adequate shelving and shower hooks to keep your clothes dry. They even have a bath in the bathrooms which is quite a rare luxury in hostels!
Common Spaces
There are plenty of chill-out areas here -- benches in the kitchen and out in front of the hostel, and couches in the common room. The atmosphere is very relaxed and, although the hostel has quite a few rooms, it never feels over crowded. The kitchen is quite small but very well organised so they have made the most of what little space they have. The cooking utensils as well as cups, plates, cutlery are all provided and free to use without a deposit as in many other hostels.
Summary
The hostel has its many highlights and although it is hard to find a negative, the one glaring downfall of 1849 is the cafe situated on the lower level of the building. On weekend nights the music blaring below makes it very hard to sleep, as you can almost feel the vibrations of the speakers as you lie in bed. Although the music does stop shortly after midnight and the owners of the hostel are currently petitioning to put a stop to it, it is a real inconvenience if you need a good nights sleep.
Apart from that the hostel can not be faulted. The staff are very friendly and helpful in providing information about things to do in Albany, and you can feel a sense of welcoming on arrival. It is well run and kept very clean and tidy. Also, they hold a free barbecue for customers every week, which can come in very handy for the cash-strapped backpacker!
The Location
There is space at the front of the hostel to park a few cars. It is quite easy to find as it is just a few minutes' walk from the main street. Although Albany is a great place to visit, if you have your own means of transport to see the sights and tourist attractions will make your time here a lot more enjoyable.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms here are very spacious with big windows and high ceilings. They have dorms as well as private rooms, which are kept to a high standard with clean linen and comfy beds. The bathrooms are regularly cleaned, there is plenty of showers and adequate shelving and shower hooks to keep your clothes dry. They even have a bath in the bathrooms which is quite a rare luxury in hostels!
Common Spaces
There are plenty of chill-out areas here -- benches in the kitchen and out in front of the hostel, and couches in the common room. The atmosphere is very relaxed and, although the hostel has quite a few rooms, it never feels over crowded. The kitchen is quite small but very well organised so they have made the most of what little space they have. The cooking utensils as well as cups, plates, cutlery are all provided and free to use without a deposit as in many other hostels.
Summary
The hostel has its many highlights and although it is hard to find a negative, the one glaring downfall of 1849 is the cafe situated on the lower level of the building. On weekend nights the music blaring below makes it very hard to sleep, as you can almost feel the vibrations of the speakers as you lie in bed. Although the music does stop shortly after midnight and the owners of the hostel are currently petitioning to put a stop to it, it is a real inconvenience if you need a good nights sleep.
Apart from that the hostel can not be faulted. The staff are very friendly and helpful in providing information about things to do in Albany, and you can feel a sense of welcoming on arrival. It is well run and kept very clean and tidy. Also, they hold a free barbecue for customers every week, which can come in very handy for the cash-strapped backpacker!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2012
Their Description
1849 Backpackers DetailsDetails
Curfew: No Curfew
Maximum Stay: Unlimited
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Open Dates: All Year
Size: Small (less than 30 beds)
Reception Hours: 7am - 10pm and available 24 hours
Free Amenities
Bedsheets Wi-Fi in LobbyOther Features
BBQ Grill Book Collection/Exchange Credit Card Payments Clothes Dryer Currency Exchange Gameroom Hot Showers Concierge / Info Desk Guest Kitchen Laundry Lounge Area Movie Library/Rental TVNot Offered
Wheelchair AccessibleAllowed
Service AnimalsAges / Restrictions
Max. Age: All Ages
Map Location/ContactHow is 1849 Backpackers rated on other websites?
1849 Backpackers Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Vibe has gone Danny, the now sole owner has decided to buy out his partner. The nice vibe has left and it's no longer a friendly atmosphere but instead you're left with a strange man wandering around checking on you. It's a pity because last time i stayed it was a nice place with a great vibe. I can tell Danny himself does no work at all, but instead he recruits help ex workers which for $25 a night fee are forced to work for sometimes a full day. Sorry 1849 backpackers. You've lost it. — Anonymous, Germany (2011-10-03) The new owners absolutely made it a great place to stay and we wish them good luck in the future. — Mike, Lian & Senna (2005-02-17) The hostel has just been taken over by new owners, and we had a wonderful time!! It's very clean, the rooms overlooking the ocean are great, and we even had a free barbecue! It's the best place in town!!! — Christina (2005-01-12) The new owners give the place a great vibe. The atmosphere of the old hotel is fantastic. — Ineke (2005-01-04)