Ritz For Backpackers

Desperate
I could honestly say that this place is in my top three worst places i stayed during a seven-month trip to Oz. The guests are horrible, cliquey, long term residents and are extremely rude. All staff were unprofessional except for the owner. the rooms were disgusting. For someone with extremely low accommodation expectations, this place was too much. I would advise anybody looking to stay here for more than one night to reconsider. A generally disgusting place.

Excellent
I was also there in 2000. Overall a great place to socialise as pub downstairs, not for the fainthearted but great fun -- which is what you want when traveling.

dirty, loud, and unfriendly
This hostel was the first we stayed at in Oz and we will always remember it as one of the worst. The place is filthy to start with, our twin room had god knows what stains on the floor, we were too scared to walk barefoot on it,and there were old manky bits of food round the beds. The pillows and mattresses have seen better days too. Everyone here is very cliquey, they do not make you feel welcome at all. We stayed for four nights and got absolutely no sleep, due to the thumping music going on until 3 a.m. each morning -- a couple of nights is fair enough, but when you are jet lagged and need some sleep, it is a bit of a piss take. Location was ok and the beach was the best part of it. The Ritz, I don't think so, more like the pits, for backpackers.

This hostel is dreadful. We only give it one star as there isn't a zero-star option. Most of the people who stay there live there. They've formed a big community amongst themselves and are loud, brash, and unfriendly. Our room was moderately clean, although we had twin beds and one had a huge hole in the mattress, which meant we ended up sharing a single. The pub/nightclub underneath ensures that you won't get any sleep. Before we stayed there we read the reviews on this site and thought it couldn't be that bad. It is worse. The only thing in its favour is the free pancake breakfast, over which we had to listen to the live-in residents talk about how drunk they were the night before and how drunk they'd like to be again. Of course we already knew this as they stood in the corridor shouting all night. We spent three horrendous nights at the Ritz and left looking like zombies. It's the pits. Please don't stay here!

Best hostel ever. Fairplay to Chris, he's doing a great job.

This is the worst hostel I have ever stayed in. It was dirty, loud, and it stinks of smoke and booze. When I arrived the toilet was covered in sick. The pub below as live music every night so it is impossible to sleep. We had booked for seven nights, we only stayed for one. It is not in a great area of St Kilda.

Ok so it was a long time ago, back in Sept. 2000, but the memories are still so clear in my mind. I still get homesick for Melbourne and the Ritz. Many great memories, great staff, Stu and Ben, and a great bunch of people, frostbite wednesdays and dollar pots sundays -- best three months of my life!

Best hostel I stayed at in Australia. Really cool staff, very nice, and helpful. They plan a lot of activities and throw parties at the hostel. Clean rooms and restrooms. Awesome location. Great place.

This place is filthy! I have stayed in many a backpackers and this one has got to be the worst! Unfortunately my room is the first one next to the lounge area so the cigarette smoke is not very nice and the noise is a pain, not only from the lounge but the bar directly below! I have had one good nights sleep since being in St. Kilda and that was when I stayed at a friend's house during the week! If the staff cared then I am sure most of the residents would also. The kitchen is in a poor state and needs a lick of paint. The free breakfast is awful! Good on them for trying but I would rather have pancakes that were cooked on a clean grill and not one covered in stale meat grease! (This is pretty much the standard of living at the Ritz, everything has to smell of fry-up and naff caf!) The bathrooms are foul and there is a shortage of hot running water! Unfortunately my stay has been when there are some particularly rude guests staying. They are the pits and have no respect for anything. They are dirty animals with no social skills whatsoever! They make the place untidy and do not look after anything. This place could be amazing given a scrub and free personality transplants to the staff! To anyone staying in any backpackers -- ask to see the rooms before you hand your money over and have a good look round! I wish I had!

Stay here! It's one of the best hostels I've stayed in and that's because the people there are great. Room was never full, lounge is a great place to meet people, and there is always something to do. Loved it! Wish I could go back.

The ritz was a great place to stay, the ten-bed dorm was spacious but was disappointed that they didnt have lockers in the rooms as suggested on this website. shower rooms were cleaned regularly which was good. staff were friendly and easy going and of course if you wanna go to the neighbours night stay here as it is held downstairs in the bar. the hostel has a nice homey and chilled out atmosphere.

I sit here on a cold winters evening in England, proudly sporting my Ritz t-shirt and longing to be back at my home from home in St Kilda. I spent 14 weeks living at The Ritz and can honestly say it is the best time i had in 15 months of travel. Yes it may be a little noisy with the bar downstairs, but the question is? What the hell are you doing in bed trying to sleep? The moto of the ritz is 'The party never ends'! So if you're not after that type of hostel, this probably isn't for you! However, if you want a fun, social, friendly environment to do what backpackers do best, then this is the hostel for you! Spend a Sunday afternoon at the Sunday Sip in Karma lounge, enjoying the cosmopolitan St Kilda culture....Cheese and Wine night on a Tuesday, followed by an evening at the Funky Cushion Lounge....See the stars of Neighbours in the bar directly beneath the hostel....Or simply relax in the newly decorated common room in front of a Dvd or on the pool table. Situated directly oppisite the beautiful Albert park, ideal for Summer bar-b's and Autumn strolls. Easy access to the city (although you'll never want to leave St Kilda) via the trams directly outside. This is the hostel for 'Backpackers'! You'll Love It!

This is without a doubt a fantastic hostel! After booking two nights we ended up staying for over three months. Managment and staff were down to earth and fun, and really active in getting everyone to socialise. Made some lfe long friends at this place....will definitely return! It's a great size for meeting people and the location is fabulous.

After only booking in for a few nights in January of 2003, my friends and I ended up staying for two months and I can honestly say that it was the best time of our whole trip. I am still in contact with all of the people that I met there. The many memories of nights out and the people in the hostel and many friends that we made will stay with us forever.

Awesome. I met some of the most amazing people who will stay with me forever. So yeah, it isn't squeaky clean but what the hell do you want? The people make it. I will return...