Asylum Sydney

The Asylum Sydney a great place to start out in Australia. This hostel is great, everyone is very sociable and eager to meet new people. The dorms generally only have about six beds (bunks) so you can get to know some people very well and there is a varied nightlife with Mad Mondays being the highlight of the week. Both breakfast and dinner is included in the rate. There is also a returnable deposit.

Location

The Asylum is behind the Holiday Inn, Kingscross. It's about a minute walk to the nearest train station or supermarket and easy to find your way to and from the town centre or the Harbour. As it's so close to the station, it's easy to get anywhere from here -- Central Station is about two stops away. You would have to ring ahead to inquire about limited parking.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The bathrooms are quite clean (except for shower screens which are overlooked for weeks on end!), some dorms have an en-suite whereas others are across the hall; one bathroom in the basement even has its own bath (this bathroom is kept absolutely spotless, maybe for tours, visitors, or photoshoots?). Private rooms are often off the dorm rooms so you may have to go through a dorm to get to your room. You will also, most likely, be sharing a bathroom with them too.

The bedrooms have a lock that has to be engaged (they don't automatically lock) so it can be a worry that someone might forget to lock the door. There is furniture such as chairs, bedside cabinets, and wardrobes and there is also a fridge in at least one dorm room -- but no private lockers. But the bathroom functions well with space inside the shower for stuff but with only one soap-dish and no hooks. There is no hook for towels either, but the doorknob works just as well!

Some dorms have a private balcony which is lovely for smokers, putting out washing to dry, or just hanging out. Cleanliness is not a priority in this hostel, either in the bedrooms, bathrooms, or common areas, and as a result can be rather dirty.

Common Spaces

The common room is a lovely place with three settees, a large table with chairs, a sink, lots of books, and some board games. There is also a TV with two different DVD players and there are two PCs hooked to the internet with free access. The DVDs can run music CDs too. Since the common room is also where people eat their meals, it can get a bit scruffy.

The kitchen is quite small but doesn't get too busy as the free breakfast is placed in the large common room and dinner is provided at a local pub. There is a large amount of condiments and rice available for free. Next to the kitchen is a yard with picnic benches and two gas BBQs. The hostel is very much a party place and it's very easy to meet people and there also seems to be a good mix of long- and short-termers so it's common for people to stay longer than they thought! You can also pay for a late checkout.

Summary

The Asylum as its a fantastic place for the single traveler as it's a easy to meet new people. It's also convenient for so many places and not having to worry about your main meals is a major plus. On the downside, it's not especially clean. If you came to party you've come to the right place, but you won't be the only person having to get up early for work the next day!

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