Melbourne International Backpackers

Melbourne International Backpackers (MIB) is situated on the corner of Elizabeth and Franklin Streets, at the top end of the CBD, a fifteen minute walk from the Flinders and Spencer Street Stations. MIB's location provides good access to the city's major attractions and tram network.

The hostel itself has three floors of accomodations and a ground floor consisting of reception, backpackers travel agency, bottle shop and the hostel bar 'Fluid Oz'. There is a large, clean kitchen with good food storage space in the form of a large walk-in refridgerator. However, despite the size of the kitchen there is a distinct shortage of pots and pans with which to cook and a woefully misproportioned dining and TV area. This hostel applies a policy of renting out crockery and cutlery for a refundable fee. An internal smoking room is situated next to the kitchen with comfortable seating, however, it is the only social area to close at 11pm every night.

The rooms are a reasonable size and not overcrowded; they are however very dark due to the very small windows on outside rooms and internal facing windows in the inner rooms-- these face into the smoking area though which gives the rooms an unpleasant stale cigarette smoke smell. The rooms also become unbearably hot during warm weather because of a lack of air conditioning and the fact the windows barely open. There is very slight relief in the form of a small wall mounted fan, but there is still the temptation to remove yourself and your bed into the walk-in fridge. A free breakfast is provided every morning, with all the basics - bread for toast (there is a limit of two slices each though), cereal, tea and coffee.

The bathrooms are kept reasonably clean, but are shut for cleaning for several hours every morning. MIB has good security, with a systems of keycard locks to the main hostels areas and bedrooms. There are also sturdy lockers within the bedrooms for personal effects and valuables.

The atmosphere inside the hostel is very bland, with no real sense of community and as such it is quite hard to meet other travellers. The bar downstairs is more of a place to socialise with its large screen tv and video jukebox but then you don't need to stay at the hostel itself to use the bar.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review