The Schoolhouse Backpackers

The Schoolhouse Backpackers has about as much to do with a schoolhouse as the Pope has to do with Protestantism -- virtually nothing at all. The so-called 'themed' hostel makes attempts to sound slightly schoolish, but isn't really.

The hostel itself is located in Sydney's Kings Cross area is considered to be a seedy, run-down, prostitute-laden area, which, to be fair, has some good clubs and pubs. The hostel is right outside Kings Cross station, so has easy access to trains to the city centre. Schoolhouse boasts probably one of the cheaper hostels in Sydney. The hostel also provides free internet access and a free breakfast, both of which are satisfactory.

The hostel is divided into two parts -- the lower reception/kitchen/TV area and the upper sleeping area. Reception is clean and welcoming and staff are friendly. There is a maintained book exchange and several computers for the free internet access. Downstairs leads to a woefully inadequate kitchen that needs a good cleaning and a loving hand. A small dining area leads on to a TV room, which is reasonably large and a little hot, but does have a VCR and DVD player. The chairs are worn and uncomfortable.

The upper sleeping areas are undesirable. Small cramped dormitories with no natural light filtering in feel claustophobic and suffocating. They tend not to be entirely hygenic. Our room looked like a bomb had hit it -- clothes, rubbish, empty bottles, and books strewn all over the floor. Cleaners did not arrive that day. Only the next day, a cleaner did arrive to make the place like a dorm again. The cleaner has not been back since. Bedside lights are either inoperable or do not have lightbulbs. Bathrooms are infrequently cleaned, have mould on the walls/shower curtains. The soap dispensers are permanently empty.

Overall, this hostel has an odd atmosphere. It feels like it's in desperate need of some direction and good cleaning. It needs maintenance all over the place. It may be cheap, but there's no excuse for poor appearance and cleanliness.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
April 2006