The Hostelz.com Review
If you're visiting Melbourne, hanging out a few days in eclectic St. Kilda is essential, and Cooee on St. Kilda is a great base for exploring. Cooee is a friendly and modern hostel just a few minutes' walk from the beach, Luna Park, countless cafés, bars, and even the red-light area.
The Location
Cooee is located at the intersection of St. Kilda Road and Inkerman Street. From the CBD, tram Route 16 is the simplest way to get there, though it's a tad difficult to reach by car -- when driving south on St. Kilda Road, turn right on Inkerman, a quick left on Market Street, and left again on Blanche Street for Cooee's parking lot.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The bedrooms are great, with thick, new mattresses on every bunk. Dorms range from four- to ten-bed shares, with adequate-sized lockers under the beds (bring a padlock) and swipe-card access to rooms. There's free linen and the nice added touch of having a fluffy duvet to sleep under on those chilly Melbourne nights. Bathrooms are clean, sleek and modern in design -- faux-wood doors, steel fixtures, and earthtone tiles provide facilities that feel anything but grungy. But it's the small things, like good water pressure and shower caddies in every stall that really get the day started right.
Common Spaces
Cooee appears a bit institutional from the outside, but has a happy, laid-back energy inside the doors. The three-story hostel feels new and clean -- it opened in 2006 -- and is especially lively and social in the evenings. There's lots of room to gather, chat, and just veg out -- most of the ground level is an open-concept common area filled with couches, beanbags, tables, and chairs. A pool table, old-school arcade game, flat-screen TV, and in-house internet café provide the entertainment -- the hardwood floors, fireplace, and stylish lighting fixtures provide the atmosphere.
The kitchen, situated off the common area, is well-equipped with several microwaves, toasters, stovetops, and even a few ovens. The only complaint is its size in proportion to the hostel -- fridge and shelf space are tight in the busy season, and there aren't many counter tops for food prep. However, there's plenty of cooking equipment, and personal dish sets can be hired. During mealtimes it can be quite cramped -- but maybe that's due to a second large flat-screen television, to which backpackers flock like flies to honey.
Summary
The secure, gated (and free!) parking lot definitely eases the burden of traveling with a car or camper van in the city, and getting one hour free internet upon check-in is another bonus. Other perks include laundry facilities, twenty-four-hour reception, heaps of organised outings -- from bowling nights to BBQs to bike tours -- and a sunny patio filled with deck chairs. And evenings are always something to look forward to -- whether you want to bar-hop or just stay in, with flicks from Cool Runnings to Hot Fuzz (bring a DVD and they'll play it) on the big TV screen, it's often hard to leave.
Review by Dayle Parker
The Location
Cooee is located at the intersection of St. Kilda Road and Inkerman Street. From the CBD, tram Route 16 is the simplest way to get there, though it's a tad difficult to reach by car -- when driving south on St. Kilda Road, turn right on Inkerman, a quick left on Market Street, and left again on Blanche Street for Cooee's parking lot.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The bedrooms are great, with thick, new mattresses on every bunk. Dorms range from four- to ten-bed shares, with adequate-sized lockers under the beds (bring a padlock) and swipe-card access to rooms. There's free linen and the nice added touch of having a fluffy duvet to sleep under on those chilly Melbourne nights. Bathrooms are clean, sleek and modern in design -- faux-wood doors, steel fixtures, and earthtone tiles provide facilities that feel anything but grungy. But it's the small things, like good water pressure and shower caddies in every stall that really get the day started right.
Common Spaces
Cooee appears a bit institutional from the outside, but has a happy, laid-back energy inside the doors. The three-story hostel feels new and clean -- it opened in 2006 -- and is especially lively and social in the evenings. There's lots of room to gather, chat, and just veg out -- most of the ground level is an open-concept common area filled with couches, beanbags, tables, and chairs. A pool table, old-school arcade game, flat-screen TV, and in-house internet café provide the entertainment -- the hardwood floors, fireplace, and stylish lighting fixtures provide the atmosphere.
The kitchen, situated off the common area, is well-equipped with several microwaves, toasters, stovetops, and even a few ovens. The only complaint is its size in proportion to the hostel -- fridge and shelf space are tight in the busy season, and there aren't many counter tops for food prep. However, there's plenty of cooking equipment, and personal dish sets can be hired. During mealtimes it can be quite cramped -- but maybe that's due to a second large flat-screen television, to which backpackers flock like flies to honey.
Summary
The secure, gated (and free!) parking lot definitely eases the burden of traveling with a car or camper van in the city, and getting one hour free internet upon check-in is another bonus. Other perks include laundry facilities, twenty-four-hour reception, heaps of organised outings -- from bowling nights to BBQs to bike tours -- and a sunny patio filled with deck chairs. And evenings are always something to look forward to -- whether you want to bar-hop or just stay in, with flicks from Cool Runnings to Hot Fuzz (bring a DVD and they'll play it) on the big TV screen, it's often hard to leave.
Review by Dayle Parker
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2008
Their Description
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Habitat HQ Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Clean and Sterile I give this hostel three stars because there are good and bad points. As far as clean, fresh air conditioned rooms go, this hostel gets a five-star rating, the beds are comfy, which is rare for a backpacking hostel to have and the bathrooms are clean, there are housekeepers maintaining this large place everyday. However, if you are traveling alone do not stay here. Unlike the hostels in adelaide and brisbane, this one is too big to really meet many people and when you do they are so cliquey you cannot even say hello without being ignored. The reception staff are cold and basically could not care less, i was also misinformed of the price as it differs from the website, considering i stayed off peak as well. For 210 per week i suggest staying somewhere in the central city which is a lot safer than the location here (prostitute central just around the corner). You also have to pay a deposit for cutlery and cups, and to top it all off the cutlery i received was not washed and the mug had lumps of sugar and coffee residue, the staff informed me it's the Traveler's Responsibility to clean up. Another time I was approached by the manager and asked to show my swipe card because she did not believe i was staying here. I mean for goodness sake! I did not look forward to coming back here at the end of a day/night out in melbourne to sleep because everyone that stays is inconsiderate and loud, especially if you are looking for work and have a job to start early in the morning. The TV is fixed on foxtel 8 so if you like watching american idol over and over again then this is for you.
Basically if you stay one night, then perfect. If you are here for a holiday, like to drink, and don't care who your bed buddies are then go for it. I would much rather be in an adelaide hostel as melbourne is too expensive and rude, hostelwise! The city itself is awesome and I will come back to Victoria again and again. — Kiwichicker , N.Z (2008-02-14) Great hostel with a few things to improve This hostel was one of the best I stayed in during my trip so far. It has good air conditioning (you can adjust it per room), very clean rooms, nice beds with good mattresses, big kitchen, two big TVs, great showers and toilets, and two lights in the room, one big light and one night light. It was annoying that the room doors on the whole floor slammed shut. That's not really comfy when you're trying to get some sleep. And it would have been nice if the beds had personal lights, but that's not a big problem. Unfortunately the air conditioning in the kitchen didn't work during my stay (one-and-a-half weeks). So that area was more like a sauna. But still a very good and nice place to stay! — Jordana , Netherlands (2008-01-25) Nice hostel I liked this hostel. It had a good atmosphere and they had events to get people interacting. Nice social area downstairs, kitchen was big but had inadequate storage, and everything I put in the fridge disappeared. The dorms weren't the most spacious with 3 bunk beds crammed into a room with some space in the middle, but they were clean. Large shower/toilet rooms with multiple of each. Big car park was a bonus so you could take your car in and out and always get parking. There is a few prostitutes going about the area but they don't talk to you and the area felt safe. — Mark , Scottish (2008-01-15) Went from excellent to like the others Stayed there for ages like many others that were working in Melbourne like me. The atmosphere was brilliant, honestly the best backpackers I ever stayed in my whole life, and believe me there was a lot. Problem is, for some reason, the got a new manager and she screwed everything. Curfews, loads of ridiculous rules, deposit for your own plate. No need to say that the brilliant ambiance we had just been killed. We found out that the reason the probably waited all those months before putting all those rules is because we were in the winter, so they needed or money but as soon as summer was coming and they didnt need our cash anymore, they did everything to kick us out. Best example, a rule of a maximum stay of two weeks. Come on, which hostels will say, no I dont want more money from you? So all that made that this place was awesome and ended up just being a nice place like the others. — Nathaniel , Canada (2007-11-20) Good I thought this was a great hostel, the best hostel in any of the cities i stayed in in oz. Place was clean, everything was new. staff were pretty nice. Only downside was the kitchens a bit small. But apart from that i loved it. — Paul , Scotland (2007-10-08) We had a great stay here, with a roomy, modern double room and en-suite. Everything is brand new, and facilities were brilliant. Yes, the people were a little cliquey, but that can be par for the course with hostels in cities. Staff went out of their way to be helpful and friendly, and the pancake breakfast was good. Trams to the city were right across the road and it's a short walk to Acland Street. I'd happily stay again. — samadhi , NZ (2007-05-13) Pros: New building, good location in st kilda
Cons: Dangerous, drunk, rude guests are allowed to stay, poor staff, place just after money, no atmosphere
Steve1 saw things this way
Maintenance (3)
Cleanliness (2)
Facilities (3)
Atmosphere (2)
This is a newer hostel that has good facilities and location near St Kilda Beach. However, it is near a street where tranvestite prostitutes hang around and harass guests going to the hostel.
There are also several dodgy, shady "guests"(usually drunk) staying at the hostel that harass and physically assault other guests as well as stealing other guests' belongings-cellphones and cameras.
I personally witnessed a guest minding his own business that was kept up all night by some "long term" "guests" there who also physically assaulted and threatened the guest after he asked to keep their noise down and not block the door by throwing their stuff all over the room.
When the guest asked staff to do something after he was threatened and physically assaulted, the staff refused to kick out the guests acting in a criminal manner.
The staff also admitted physical assaults, drunken behavior harassing other guests was routine at the Couee hostel and to ignore it or find another hostel.
I was also told by other guests that their cellphones and cameras were stolen and staff coud care less about it.
When I asked for a partial refund due to other drunken guests keeping me up all nite, physically assaulting and threatening me(refusing to evict the "guests" threatening and assaulting me and other guests) the staff just ignored me implying this was a typical thing for hostels and if I didnt like it that was my tough luck.
They also allow certain guests to leave their garbage all over the lounge area on a regular basis.
The building itself is nice but I strongly advise people not to stay at this hostel due to the poor management allowing several drunk, dangerous guests to threaten and assault other guests and steal their valuables.
Even though I and others told staff they should evict certain "guests" for their criminal activity at the hostel we were consistently ignored — Steve (2007-03-20) I stayed in this hostel in October '06 for more than two weeks. I liked to stay three and a half weeks but the manger didn't give me the weekly price for the last three days. So I moved to another hostel! The hostel is very new. The receptionist have to write a kind of diary about the people staying there. The atmosphere was very bad. Everybody is by their own. The management is very strict. At night two girls were attacked by prostitutes. The police came. I would avoid this hostel for the next time! — Indi (2006-10-24)