Westend Backpackers

Westend Backpackers (formerly called Footprints Westend, and then Legend Has It Westend, before it was renamed yet again) is located on Pitt Street, approximately five minutes' walk from central station. There is a convenience store next door, fast food outlets nearby, and backpackers bars close by. It is quite easy to find -- just look for the smokers sitting outside on the steps (smoking is not allowed inside the hostel), and you should be in the right place.

The reception is bright and inviting, and there are plenty of notice boards dotted about with information ranging from nights out, local cheap eats, jobs, and items for sale. There is a small internet area also. The building is high rise, but there are two lifts for anyone feeling particularly idle.

The cheapest of the dorms sleeps twenty-eight people (mixed) and is called the church -- probably only due to the windows being stained glass, as nothing else would equate it to being a house of God! The floor is dirty, and the room is very messy, but the bins are emptied regularly, and it doesn't smell too much. The bed linen appear clean, and we didn't find any nasty bites after having slept in the sheets. However, the beds are all bunks, and none have ladders.

There are four unisex toilets for the dorm, four unisex showers, and one disabled toilet/shower room. The water is hot, the doors lock, and there is always toilet paper. They are of a reasonable standard of cleanliness, but the plug on the hand dryer doesn't actually reach the socket, so it is a little pointless. The kitchen is of a decent size, and never seems too crowded. There aren't quite enough cups to go round, but better equipped than many other hostels. Every one seems quite tidy, the sides are clean, and no dirty dishes are left lying around. There is a large eating area, and also a TV room adjacent.

The hostel is nothing special, and it offers a reasonable standard of accommodation. However, what makes this hostel better than many of the others is the vibe that it has. Everyone is really friendly, and in the big Church dorm, every mixes and socialises together. If you want to be centrally located, and party until your feet drop off, then this place may have what you need.

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