The Hostelz.com Review
Funk House BackPackers Hostel is yet another one of the spray-painted kind that are so often found in this part of the country. There is not a square inch of the interior walls that doesn't have some colour on it -- we did at times wonder though whether that is to keep the house together.
The Location
The location right in the centre of Kings Cross surely is perfect for night owls but also caters to budget travelers with its cheap shops and restaurants around. It is absolutely not convenient if you have a car as there is nowhere to park at all. For travelers who only come from the airport and go back to it, a shuttle bus can be organized. The train and long distance bus stations are a fair walk from the hostel. Even though it is in the party district of Sydney there isn't too much disturbance from outside noise.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are on the small side but with intelligently constructed shelves, luggage storage is still comfortably possible. Beds are ok, mattresses are a bit thin, and in winter the blankets provided might not be sufficient for everyone. There is a little security locker for each guest in the dorm but it's only big enough for valuables. If you have a laptop and a digital SLR you might already be in trouble.
What's really nasty about the rooms though is the smell -- it's just stuffy, probably a result of the age-old carpet. Also the floors are squeaky and you'll feel like someone is trampling on your head when he walks by in the hallway. Another thing a lot of people find annoying is the music that is constantly played in the hallways from roughly 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that can also be well heard in the rooms.
Bathrooms are pretty filthy and constantly defective -- especially the showers, which are slimy, crusty, and hairy almost all over the place. And to make it worse, the water doesn't drain properly so everything floats on a murky, dirt broth. Additionally, it's barely possible to change inside the showers without getting your clothes wet. To make it all worse, the bathrooms apparently are frequently closed as the showers overflow and everyone has to migrate to the bathrooms on another floor. More people in that bathroom does not improve the conditions.
Common Spaces
Common space is relatively limited -- there is a combined kitchen/dining/TV area plus a rooftop terrace and a tiny little internet corner next to the reception. There is Wi-Fi and internet available (both are expensive).The rooftop terrace is small, pretty rundown, and filthy with no view. There is only one table with benches and it seems to be the chill-out area for the smokers. The TV corner of the common area is a dimly lit area with some old couches and chairs. Next to it is a space for dining with two large tables and benches around them comfortably seating about twenty.
The kitchen is right next to it and even though it has several huge fridges and storing space, travelers will not find a place to put their stuff as it is completely occupied by the "resident" guests of the hostel. The part of the kitchen where the stoves, microwave, and toaster are is quite small and utensils are scarce so sometimes guests have to wait quite a while for others to vacate the kitchen and do their dishes! Cleanliness isn't exactly what you would wish for but it's not nearly as bad as the bathrooms. The only good thing about the kitchen is the free breakfast. This is available everyday and consists of toast, margarine, preserves, muesli, cornflakes, and milk.
Summary
This is a place that definitely needs a lot of improvement. They surely try to keep the place tidy but it most likely would do better with a complete overhaul of not only the building but also the guests who seem to have been there for a long while -- there is a very high percentage of long-termers amongst the guests and actual travelers often find these people quite hostile. As a reply to a "Good morning" at breakfast time in the kitchen, you might get rolling eyes as an answer or be ignored completely.
The Location
The location right in the centre of Kings Cross surely is perfect for night owls but also caters to budget travelers with its cheap shops and restaurants around. It is absolutely not convenient if you have a car as there is nowhere to park at all. For travelers who only come from the airport and go back to it, a shuttle bus can be organized. The train and long distance bus stations are a fair walk from the hostel. Even though it is in the party district of Sydney there isn't too much disturbance from outside noise.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are on the small side but with intelligently constructed shelves, luggage storage is still comfortably possible. Beds are ok, mattresses are a bit thin, and in winter the blankets provided might not be sufficient for everyone. There is a little security locker for each guest in the dorm but it's only big enough for valuables. If you have a laptop and a digital SLR you might already be in trouble.
What's really nasty about the rooms though is the smell -- it's just stuffy, probably a result of the age-old carpet. Also the floors are squeaky and you'll feel like someone is trampling on your head when he walks by in the hallway. Another thing a lot of people find annoying is the music that is constantly played in the hallways from roughly 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that can also be well heard in the rooms.
Bathrooms are pretty filthy and constantly defective -- especially the showers, which are slimy, crusty, and hairy almost all over the place. And to make it worse, the water doesn't drain properly so everything floats on a murky, dirt broth. Additionally, it's barely possible to change inside the showers without getting your clothes wet. To make it all worse, the bathrooms apparently are frequently closed as the showers overflow and everyone has to migrate to the bathrooms on another floor. More people in that bathroom does not improve the conditions.
Common Spaces
Common space is relatively limited -- there is a combined kitchen/dining/TV area plus a rooftop terrace and a tiny little internet corner next to the reception. There is Wi-Fi and internet available (both are expensive).The rooftop terrace is small, pretty rundown, and filthy with no view. There is only one table with benches and it seems to be the chill-out area for the smokers. The TV corner of the common area is a dimly lit area with some old couches and chairs. Next to it is a space for dining with two large tables and benches around them comfortably seating about twenty.
The kitchen is right next to it and even though it has several huge fridges and storing space, travelers will not find a place to put their stuff as it is completely occupied by the "resident" guests of the hostel. The part of the kitchen where the stoves, microwave, and toaster are is quite small and utensils are scarce so sometimes guests have to wait quite a while for others to vacate the kitchen and do their dishes! Cleanliness isn't exactly what you would wish for but it's not nearly as bad as the bathrooms. The only good thing about the kitchen is the free breakfast. This is available everyday and consists of toast, margarine, preserves, muesli, cornflakes, and milk.
Summary
This is a place that definitely needs a lot of improvement. They surely try to keep the place tidy but it most likely would do better with a complete overhaul of not only the building but also the guests who seem to have been there for a long while -- there is a very high percentage of long-termers amongst the guests and actual travelers often find these people quite hostile. As a reply to a "Good morning" at breakfast time in the kitchen, you might get rolling eyes as an answer or be ignored completely.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2011
Their Description
Funk House BackPackers Hostel Details
|
|
(To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Update Form.)
Map Location/ContactHow is Funk House BackPackers Hostel rated on other websites?
Funk House BackPackers Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Best Hostel!! This was the first hostel I stayed at on my oz trip, and by far the best!! Everyone was super friendly and there was always something to do. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm home now and I still miss it. — Nikki , American (2010-01-22) Amazing this is an amazing hostel, all the staff are great. it's fun to stay. all the people that stay in the hostel are lovely and all in all i had a great stay. — anon , uk (2008-07-04) Place is colouful -- both literally and metaphorically. Kings Cross is loud and brash, but not as threatening as some report. Hostel was good -- rooms cleaned every day, good kitchen, and free breakfast which is never a bad plan!! Lack of air con in February did make the nights a bit sticky -- but our twin room had a fan which helped. Is loud outside -- and there was construction underway so sleep was difficult at times. Good central lounge area and pretty good kitchen too. Overall not a bad place to stay, and lively too. Fab rooftop area. Few Criticisms, Bathrooms need to be refurbished and kept cleaner -- particularly during the summer season as the whole hostel is partial to small bugs. Similarly, the lounge area also had some bugs in it which made the place look dirtier than it was. Also the management did not seem to make enough of an effort to halt the construction work until a reasonable hour of the morning. Many thanks to the front of house staff who extended our stay and kept us in the same room and for generally being approachable and helpful. — Jacqui , Ireland (2007-05-17) This hostel is a disgrace, it's run very badly, unclean, and the rooms are tiny. Fifty meters from the hostel is a prostitute and transvestite district! If you want to sleep, don't go here, as across the road is a club that opens from 10 a.m. until 7 a.m. the next day. The music is really loud, and the noise is crazy. Also the fans in the rooms are rubbish, so your room is hotter than the equator! All the hostel seems to promote is drinking and clubs, it doesn't promote the right attractions. Also do not have the free breakfast -- the kitchen's dirty anyway and they keep the food in a garage-like room! The location is good, as it's a twenty-minute walk to the Opera House, but only one member of staff was hepful - Ben! Sydney was brilliant, just wished we had a different hostel. — Amy , Uk (2007-04-17) This is an awesome place to stay. well located in the heart of King's Cross. the rooms are of average size but well ventilated. Great friendly crowd. The toilets and bathrooms are clean. I had a great time. I would go back again. — peipei (2006-11-26) This hostel is terrible! I have been traveling for a year now and this is by far the worse. We booked a doulble the room smelt and had not been cleaned since the last people. The bed was dirty with stains all over it.
We let reception know and the girl did not really seem to care. Someone else had a key to our room and decided to let themselves in early in the morning. So we were worried about going out and leaving all our stuff. Free breakfast! who cares the kitchen is dirty! — Becca (2006-07-12) Thank god we only booked for 1 night. We booked a double room with fan, fridge and TV. TV didnt work, fridge was filthy and the fan was crap and noisy!!! Avoid this place at all costs!!!! — fudge (2006-01-27) The funk house is a very small hostel, the other guests are generally horrible. I found bugs in the room we were staying in and the kitchen was always closed before normal time. Also food when missing from the kitchen. There are better 1s in sydney for less money. — em (2006-01-25) Recommended to us by friends, this hostel didn't disappoint us. The dorms were good, the location was great but most of all the people were fantastic. Everyone was really friendly and we made some great new mates. We will definitely stay here again if we re-visit Sydney! — Jo (2005-05-02) This place is majorly dodgy! The room was dirty and smelly, and the TV in the room didn't work. We had intended to stay here a week, but checked out after one night!! Avoid this hostel!! — Anonymous (2004-09-20) As dodgy as any other. All hostels around Sydney have one if not more guests dealing drugs. It's accepted by the establishment since it's all indoors, and in fact that's all there is to do on the roof. The doors are cool and the staff is great, but it's extremely loud and noisy -- good luck trying to sleep. — John (2004-06-28) The Funk House is the best hostel in Sydney, if not Australia. I've stayed at many, and had the most fun in this one. I trust the people who live and work there, and there are always cool people to chill out with. The staff and guests staying here always take care of the hostel and each other. — Matt (2004-04-20) Pretty dodgy hostel. The painting is cool but the rooms are quite small. I was a bit put off being put in a room with two shady guys cutting drugs on the table. Bathrooms pretty clean but not the rooms or common areas. Staff fantastic, however, very friendly and helpful. — CJ (2003-12-22)