Blue Sky Mining Backpackers & Lodge

Blue Sky Mining Backpackers & Lodge is a stone's throw away from the beach, and has great ocean views. Then you can surf well known spots with free boogie and surfboards.

The Location

If you have a vehicle it's not too difficult to find your way to this hostel with the directions mentioned, but the streets in this town are small and narrow, and the hostel is situated on a hill, so if you are not used to driving on the left side or if it's busy it can get difficult. The parking at this hostel is also very limited. There is also a second parking area down the street, but we're not sure how big or safe that is.

If you do not have a vehicle, you can jump on the Baz Bus that stops here. This is a shuttle service in South Africa that goes from backpacker to backpacker and you can hop on and off where you want to stay. This hostel also offers free airport pickup. The hostel is close to the beach and a main street with restaurants, pubs, and shops, so once you are there it's easy to get around on foot (as long as you don't want to venture too far).

Rooms and Bathrooms

The double en-suite rooms are spacious and have an air con and fan. The en-suite bathroom is big, clean, and has a shower and bath! There is also a safe in the room, and the locks to the door are secure. This room and bathroom are very clean. The hostel also provides free towels. The facilities are clean and well maintained.

Common Spaces

The hostel's main building is rather old, but they have put in lots of work to renovate and make it funky and fun. There is also quite a few outside buildings next to the main house that houses the communal kitchen, the pool table, outside bar, and more rooms. The lounge area is right in the middle of the house, with the rooms next to it. This is noisy when there are a lot of people and if the TV is on, but it has great sofas and sports some funky color lights in the room. In the office there is a DSL internet connection.

The kitchen in the main house is off limits to guests (used by staff only), and the communal kitchen is rather small. The outside bar is relaxed, and the front eating area is rustic and has great sea views. The garden is green with a clean pool. As this is a great spot for surfing, a lot of visitors come for the surf. At night it is great talking about surfing with your mates, having a cold one, and enjoying the other travelers that have come to stay -- such a relaxed atmosphere.

Summary

The location of this backpacker is great, but parking was a bit of a nightmare. Initially it was noisy, since our room was next to the lounge, but this subsided not too late. They also serve food here, but it is rather expensive for a backpacker. The staff is friendly. Overall, Blue Sky Mining Backpackers is a haven for surfers. The atmosphere is relaxed, and it's a great place to meet people.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review