When you tell fellow travelers that you are staying at Gilligan's they ooh and ahh and say, "Wow, you're staying at the fancy hostel." And you have to agree that Gilligan's is one of the best hostels you'll ever stay in. Even though you are paying a slightly higher price per night, this is the place to splurge a little because it's well worth the extra couple of dollars.
The reception area is immaculate and modern with an open area leading to the bar, cafe, and tour office. The rooms are also immaculate. Each room has its own bathroom, balcony, and lockers and it's air conditioned. Sheets and towels are provided and rooms are cleaned everyday. There is on-site laundry as well as plenty of pay phones to make those calls home. Luggage storage is available for those late-night flights or bus departures.
With airport/bus transfers and its downtown location, accessibility to this hostel is great. They house a tour booking office next to the reception as well as a cafe that gives you fifteen minutes of free internet when you purchase something. There's also a private pool for hostel guests. The kitchen area is huge and modern (has two stoves and sinks) with kitchens and TV lounges on every floor. It's a ten-minute walk to the wharf area and five minutes to the night markets/supermarkets.
One hostel guest got a case of the bedbugs during our stay, and the hostel staff weren't very helpful or compassionate with providing her any information on doctors or treatments. Staff members, while nice, are not really helpful at all with "trivial" tourist issues -- even the ones that have lived in Cairns for years don't seem to know much about the area's happenings. As well because of the hostel's massive size, it's a bit more difficult to meet fellow travelers.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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