Augusters Lodge

In a city renowned for gambling and as the playground of the rich and famous, it's good to find Augusters Lodge and save on your sleeping costs. Be sure to book in advance, as this is a very small hostel that gets full quickly!

The Location

You couldn't ask for a better location to explore the city. A short bus ride from the airport (take MT1 or MT2 to the last stop in front of Grand Lisboa casino) and then a five-minute walk will take you to Augusters and the heart of Macau. Print out the handy map from their website -- it's in both English and Cantonese. The city's central square as well as most of its older architectural attractions (and of course, multitudes of casinos) are all within walking distance. From the front door it's three flights of stairs to Augusters, so be sure you can haul your luggage that far -- no elevator.

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are two dorm rooms (total of eleven beds) and one private room with twin bunk beds. The smallest private room has no windows and a bit of a funny smell -- probably years of humid air leaving their mark. Everything is clean -- a little basic in quality but in working order. There are no lockers but you get your own keys, so there is no curfew and only people staying in your room have access to it. There is a staff person always present and you could probably ask to store valuables with them. We didn't feel the need and just took our camera and passports when we went out for the day.

There is one tiny bathroom with a shower stall and toilet. Both of these have their own flimsy sliding doors that most of the time go unnoticed and whoever is using the bathroom usually ends up locking the whole thing, so sometimes waiting is unavoidable. The owner provides soap, shower gel, shampoo, and toilet paper. There are a few hooks and shelves for your towels and clothes while you wash. Everything is kept immaculately clean.

Common Spaces

Augusters is tiny. The common space outside the rooms has a TV, a small table and chairs, and a computer with free internet access plus a small book area with novels to exchange and guide brochures about Macau. About half to one-third of this same room is also the owner's office, so he is often available for general questions and conversation. You can leave your luggage for the day if you are flying out at night. No smoking is allowed inside. There is also a small clean kitchen with all the basic equipment for cooking.

Because of its small size, Augusters is mostly a place to sleep and shower. You can't help but bump into the other guests, so if you're looking to meet people, it's easy enough to strike up conversation.

Summary

For anyone traveling on a budget, Augusters is the place to rest your head, enjoy clean facilities, meet a few travelers, and rest assured your stuff is safe. However, if your wallet is fat enough to go a bit more upscale, you won't be missing much.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
November 2008