Coolangatta Sands Hostel is in a great location, is very clean, and has helpful staff and a feedback book full of happy travelers' comments.
The Location
The hotel is in a fantastic location, just five minutes from Gold Coast/Coolangatta airport. It is right across from the beach. Coolangatta is a very small town and it's easy to get around on foot. If you prearrange, the staff will pick you up from the airport. They also offer a free shuttle to or from Byron Bay, if you book a minimum of two nights at the hostel, and again, prearrange with the hostel.
The hostel is on top of a pokies bar/gaming room (run by the same company), which means it has the potential to be noisy until around midnight when the bar closes. The security door outside is very loud as well, so earplugs are a good idea. However, the location is fantastic -- directly across from the beach and right in the middle of town. It is very popular with surfers. And despite the pokies bar, there is plenty of security.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The inside of the hostel feels very safe and clean. There are security cameras in the hallways, and lockers (with power points inside the lockers for safe charging of phones) in the dorm rooms. The dorms have two sets of comfortable bunk beds and enough space to fit four people comfortably. The rooms also lead outside to a large common balcony. Although you can't see the ocean from the balcony, it is nice and breezy and has plenty of space for relaxing with a book. Queensland regulations prohibit alcohol consumption in the hostels, but there is a bar downstairs for partiers.
Bathrooms are also spacious and clean. There is one large bathroom for males and one large bathroom for females, each with about ten shower stalls and ten toilet stalls -- so no need to wait. The shower stalls have an attached changing area so your clothes won't get wet. Water pressure is not great, but it's adequate. There are also two separate smaller single bath/shower rooms. Bathrooms are cleaned morning and night.
Common Spaces
Despite the large balcony from the dorm rooms, one thing lacking in the hostel are common areas. They do have a kitchen with adequate facilities and an outside seating area, but there are no TV rooms or lounge rooms. If it's cold outside, you are pretty much stuck in your room if you don't feel like partying downstairs. There are laundry and internet (Global Gossip) facilities on site.
Summary
Generally speaking, the hostel is clean, friendly, and spacious. Staff are on hand until midnight for inquiries. Coolangatta itself (and the hostel) gets pretty quiet during the week, but livens up on the weekends. If you are flying into Gold Coast, it is a good jumping off point.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2008
Location/Contact
