Back of Chapel Backpackers

Back of Chapel Backpackers has a great location just off Chapel Street, which is the great funky shopping and eating district of Melbourne. It's about three or four blocks from the train station, and you can also take a tram down Chapel. It's easy walking distance to the Prahan market -- something that should be on your to-do or to-see list while in Melbourne. From the Southern Cross train station downtown take the Sandringham line to Windsor Station. Get off and you are at Chapel Street. Walk left about three hundred or four hundred meters and take a left on Green Street. Or, from the Flinders Street station, catch the Sandrigham line to Prahan station (just three stops). Walk up Greville Street, turn right at Chapel Street, then second on your right (Green Street).

It's an old house, with narrow staircases. There are two bathrooms upstairs, and the toilet and shower are in one room. Downstairs is a large common room with a huge TV, as well as another common room with couches and tourist info. The reception is between these two rooms. There's a very large kitchen in the back, and a nice outdoor sitting area as well. There are four private rooms, four six-bed, and two four-bed rooms. People seem comfortable just hanging out, watching TV, and chatting. There's free breakfast, but it's no huge shakes -- cereal and milk mostly.

Overall it is comfortable, clean, and safe. The best thing is the great location, less than ten minutes from town on the train or about fifteen minutes on the tram, but in a great part of the city.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review