The Hostelz.com Review
"Flashpacking" seems to be all the rage in Melbourne, and Urban Central Backpackers is the newest of the "upmarket backpackers" places in town. If you look at the website or brochures, you think it must be too good to be true, especially for those who like the stark and simple industrial/urban style -- shiny metal surfaces and lots of gray on black on white. Urban Central certainly has the image side down, but there are a few areas where it may not be live up to some backpackers' expectations.
The location is in Southbank -- close to the Crown Entertainment complex and all the swanky riverside bars and restaurants, but farther away from traveler staples like supermarkets, takeout, and cheap Asian food or cafes.
This hostel has a lot going for it, but also some disappointments. It also depends on what you are looking for. It feels like a big hotel -- many floors, a key code-operated lift (which takes forever to arrive), mazes of indistinguishable hallways. The toilets and showers are plentiful and squeaky-clean (although the glass walls between each shower means the naked person next to you is pretty visible).
There are technically three lounge areas, one on each of the first three floors -- the "TV room," the "chillout area" and the "library." But these common areas seem to be a bit of an afterthought. They feel more like hallways -- probably because they are. Each of them is located in the larger section of the corridors just as you step off the lifts, so people are constantly walking through. The TV area often has people in it, but it's just for watching TV, no one talks. The other two areas never have anyone in them, as they just aren't that comfortable (and the "library" consists of about four books).
The only real lounge area is in the bar, which is filled with comfy couches and a large plasma screen TV. However, at night this area is so loud you would be hard pressed to carry on a conversation with anyone. Ditto the kitchen and eating area, which is large and nice, but constantly chaotically busy and loud -- and the competing music from the bar area (whether live or recorded) and the piped-in music in the eating area doesn't help matters much. The bar has nightly entertainment including live music and stand up comedy.
And although the kitchen is well-stocked, the three sinks are always piled high with dirty dishes and you will probably have to wash things in order to use what you need. The hostel offers free breakfast, free rice and pasta, free tea and coffee plus a free meal on Monday nights.
The best part of this hostel is the beds. With a maximum of four beds in the dorms, you're less likely to get stuck with snorers! At the time of writing, we're happy to report that the glowing white linen of the beds is indeed a reality, and the firm spring mattresses and cozy duvets are a luxury after the sleep sheets and foam of so many other places. There are free personal lockers in each dorm room, which include a useful power point for charging electronic devices.
All in all, if you're a solo backpacker looking for a place to meet other travelers and have good conversation, this may not be your best choice. But it's a great place to go if you are with a large group of friends (which it seems to be filled with) or plan on spending all your time in the bar or out on the town.
The location is in Southbank -- close to the Crown Entertainment complex and all the swanky riverside bars and restaurants, but farther away from traveler staples like supermarkets, takeout, and cheap Asian food or cafes.
This hostel has a lot going for it, but also some disappointments. It also depends on what you are looking for. It feels like a big hotel -- many floors, a key code-operated lift (which takes forever to arrive), mazes of indistinguishable hallways. The toilets and showers are plentiful and squeaky-clean (although the glass walls between each shower means the naked person next to you is pretty visible).
There are technically three lounge areas, one on each of the first three floors -- the "TV room," the "chillout area" and the "library." But these common areas seem to be a bit of an afterthought. They feel more like hallways -- probably because they are. Each of them is located in the larger section of the corridors just as you step off the lifts, so people are constantly walking through. The TV area often has people in it, but it's just for watching TV, no one talks. The other two areas never have anyone in them, as they just aren't that comfortable (and the "library" consists of about four books).
The only real lounge area is in the bar, which is filled with comfy couches and a large plasma screen TV. However, at night this area is so loud you would be hard pressed to carry on a conversation with anyone. Ditto the kitchen and eating area, which is large and nice, but constantly chaotically busy and loud -- and the competing music from the bar area (whether live or recorded) and the piped-in music in the eating area doesn't help matters much. The bar has nightly entertainment including live music and stand up comedy.
And although the kitchen is well-stocked, the three sinks are always piled high with dirty dishes and you will probably have to wash things in order to use what you need. The hostel offers free breakfast, free rice and pasta, free tea and coffee plus a free meal on Monday nights.
The best part of this hostel is the beds. With a maximum of four beds in the dorms, you're less likely to get stuck with snorers! At the time of writing, we're happy to report that the glowing white linen of the beds is indeed a reality, and the firm spring mattresses and cozy duvets are a luxury after the sleep sheets and foam of so many other places. There are free personal lockers in each dorm room, which include a useful power point for charging electronic devices.
All in all, if you're a solo backpacker looking for a place to meet other travelers and have good conversation, this may not be your best choice. But it's a great place to go if you are with a large group of friends (which it seems to be filled with) or plan on spending all your time in the bar or out on the town.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2006
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Urban Central Backpackers Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Not very good Urban central wasn't very good. Nothing wrong with the room, it was pretty clean. The staff was not polite at all, I'd even call them rude actually. The kitchen was filthy, smelly and far too small. It was always crowdy in the kitchen, it had an awful smell. If I go back to Melbourne I WONT stay in this hostel. Choose somewhere else. — Rasmus , Swedish (2012-05-10) Fantastic stay. So clean & friendly, great location, close to shops. I really enjoyed all the activities they put on in the bar, great way to meet people. Loads of freebies and discounts offered to guests, including a weekly meal. I stayed there whilst working in Melbourne and would definitely stay there again and recommend to others. — Anonymous , U.K (2011-01-18) Great, even for a person going solo i stayed in melbourne for about 3 months in 09' and this hostel was where i spent 2 months of the 3. its excellent atmosphere makes you feel at home and the people/staff make it even more fun. i met some good people from all over the world that im still talking to and planning more trips. it can be loud some nights but if you're looking for a good place to stay in melbourne, i highly recommend it. i personally will be heading back in a few months. — ruben , estados unidos (2010-08-16) Awful Spent three nights here and felt very unsafe due to loud drunks late at night kicking doors in all along the corridor. All my food was stolen from the fridge and the kitchen was disgusting. The dorms and big, good space, and lockers. Location is good for exploring melbourne. — scotty , scotland (2009-07-09) Nice for sleeping I've spend only one night at Urban Central but it made a good impression. it was a hostel where you could go to the bar but also have you rest on your room and not have to hear any noise of the bar. I also think it was a big plus that we got a free breakfast! Only bad point is that this hostel is so big that you don't really have the chance to meet other people. but its a very decent place to stay I would come back. — Marina , Netherlands (2009-01-18) Not as great as it thinks it is! I stayed here for 2 weeks in November 2008 and, to be honest, I was expecting a lot more. Many of the staff are working in return for free accommodation and they are cliquey and sometimes unfriendly. The rooms are sterile, the bathrooms not always clean, and there was constantly an awful stench of sewage in the 2nd floor ladies toilets. The whole place felt very sterile, and as a lone backpacker, I didn't really meet anybody, despite spending a lot of time in the communal areas. Free breakfast (7.30-9.30), Tea, Coffee, Milk, Rice and Pasta are a bonus though. — Roz , UK (2008-12-02) Excellent Easily the best backpackers I've stayed at in Oz. Quiz nights in the bar downstairs and spotless rooms. — Joshua , Australia (2008-09-03) Good This place was really nice. The rooms are very clean and they have air conditioning. The bathrooms and showers are also clean. I can't say anything about the kitchen. i just stayed for a short time and didn't use it. The TV rooms are nice but there are always many people so most of the time you don't get to watch what you want to watch. The only thing that I didn't like (this is why I gave it 4 stars) is that it is really far from the center. Ok not really far but when you have to walk it is far!!!!!! There is a supermarket close to the hostel and a McDonald's but you have to walk about 20 minutes to get to the center. — Lily , Australia (2008-05-02) Clean, but staff is clueless This hostel is clean, has a good location, and has an excellent range of services, but the staff is very very unfriendly and clueless, to boot. I stayed there for six nights and stayed in three different rooms. They were overbooked and forced many of the guests to continue to bounce around to different rooms. Some nights, they made two people sleep in the same bed because the staff didn't really know who was supposed to be in a room. On top of that, the staff were rude and unhelpful. Because of the useless staff, I would not recommend staying at this hostel. — Rob Sz , Canada (2008-03-09) Absolutely unbelievably amazing place What can i say? Spent nearly three months of my year in Australia in this great hostel, amazing spot hence the reason i kept going back! And what a send off they gave me before heading home with the big mexican theme night when i ended up running havoc with the master key! What a spot! On my return to oz this will be my first stop! — Jeff Wright , Northern Ireland (2007-06-22) This place is totally happening! Clean rooms, wicked bar with cheap beverages, brilliant ambiance, met some nice chicas, loads of activities, McDonalds is just bang opposite, and Crow Casino is just a breath away. Going again back for some more fun and action. — Gary , Dubai (2007-05-20) Stayed here March '07 for three weeks, totally for flashpackers and cheap. Every room is clean and airy, fresh clean crisp white sheets, and yes, duvets. Bathrooms are immaculate on every floor, kitchen clean, free breakfast, milk, tea,coffee, pasta, rice, juice list goes on. Staff are really friendly and helpful, and the all you can eat $5 pizza hut night goes down a treat -- not to mention the monday night free BBQ. Not forgetting the free Sunday night comedy show -- a real chuckler. If I went back to Melbourne I would stay here for sure. Book in advance -- gets booked up. I'm amazed how this has not been voted best hostel in Oz. — louise , UK (2007-04-18) Stayed in this hostel for three nights in March '07. It is a very nice, modern, and clean place located just a minute away form the Crown Casino. I didn't really see any lounge area other then the bar, and the other downfall is the size of the rooms (all fairly small with only four beds in them). I didn't like that they the dorms were mixed with girls and boys (should be separate). The bathrooms were new and clean most the time, showers had glass screens separating them so you could see other boys showering next to you, that was a bit of a laugh. All in all this place was not bad. — James , Australian (2007-03-30) I traveled for six months all around Australia and I can say without any doubts that this one is the best place in Australia! — Stefano - Italy (2007-03-05) Stayed here for the Grand Prix in March/April 2005. Best backpacker I've ever stayed at. It was clean, quiet (yet not deathly quiet), friendly. The rooms were great. The location is fantastic. A tram stop right outside and only a couple of minutes to get anywhere! I will definitely stay here again. in fact am booked to stay for the grand prix in march this year. — Carley (2007-01-18)