Hostels in Australia are good value and an affordable accommodation. You can stay in hostels for a small fraction of what you would otherwise spend for hotels or other accommodation types.
For solo backpacking adventures Australian hostels are not only the best way to save money on accommodation but it is also a great way of aggregation. Solo travellers in Australia who stay in hostels want to network, create connections, meet fellow travellers and make friends; they are also likely to join groups and become more integrated into the local community during their stay in Australia.
There are different types of Hostels in Australia, and you shall be prepared to know a few things before booking yourself into a hostel. There are a few features that draw the invisible line between classic hostels from backpacker hostels in Australia. The most known and established are the YHA Hostels. The runner up are Nomads and Base, which are also popular in the backpacker hostels scene.
Classic Hostels
Australian Hostels are known for the high standard of services, and however, within this category, there are different kinds of services, ranging from excellent, good, average, and less good. Classic hostels are frequented by people of all ages, from professionals, pensioners, international travellers, women travelling alone to school groups, group tours, etc.
The most known hostel chain isYHA Australia, the best hostels to stay in Australian cities. On my solo trips, I stayed in over 40 Australian hostels, and I saved tons of money on accommodation.
Backpacker hostels, known among the youngsters, are the home-away-from-home of many working holidays makers and students from all over the world and settling into their new temporary Aussie Life.
The typical feature of backpacker hostels is a relaxed atmosphere and, of course, a vibrant party atmosphere that distinguishes them from classic hostels. Within the backpacker hostels category, there are also different kind of services. Some offer a basic service while others have excellent facilities and great locations. Some also offer a higher service than classic hostels, like free airport pick-up, free breakfast and more freebies.
But you may also bump into backpacker hostels in rundown buildings, not even meeting the basic requirements of cleanliness and security.
When booking hostels in Australia, there are a few things you shall know. If you book through a search engine like Hostelworld, you will be charged a small deposit fee, but you don’t need to pay upfront. If you book from the YHA hostels website, you need to pay upfront the entire amount, but you can cancel your booking up to 48 hours before arrival for a full refund of the amount.
If you book directly with a privately owned hostel, you may be asked to give details of your credit card, but you will not be charged until you show up. Cancellation policy may vary, so always check the booking conditions of every single hostel.
Travelling on a long term in Australia for many years to me meant staying in Australian hostels. While I have tried many different hostels over the years, YHA is definitely my favourite hostel chain in Australia.
What I like most about the hostels in Australia is:
The central location – they are mostly located in the city centre and on strategic places, beachfront or in natural parks.
The great facilities offer a full range of facilities from the basic kitchen/laundry to internet cafès and travel forums and services so that connection is guaranteed.
In most hostels, the accommodation options can book a twin or a double, so you do not have to share dorms with strangers. Single rooms are available in some hostels, at reasonable prices too. Double and single private rooms rates are on average the same as in guest houses or B&B with the difference that facilities are better.
The great value for the money you pay – you get what you pay and usually with great service.
Security in Hostels: Some hostels offer 24hours check-in reception and have excellent video cameras installed in communal areas, which adds extra value to your stay.
Here a list of tips for hostel booking when travelling around Australia. Good hostels always put photos of their entire facilities so that people can see what the places look like and what it offers.
In many years of solo travel in Australia, I stayed in over 35 Australian hostels. Here below, you can find a checklist to help you evaluate and choose the right type of hostel.
Check the hostel location – Reception and Service I usually do that because most of the times, I travel solo and want to feel comfortable when walking home at night. Therefore the very first thing I check is where the hostel is located. Moreover, I also appreciate when the reception has night surveillance; most hostel chains have this service, the family-run hostels have limited service to midnight.
Check the lodging options – What rooms are available If I choose to share a dorm, I only share with four female dorms or fewer. I wouldn’t say I like mixed dorms, and the max number of people is 4 for me. I check if twins and doubles are also available to have the choice. If you opt for unisex dorms, prefer those with the lowest number of beds. Usually, there are four bunk beds, but some hostels offer dorms with three beds. Grab one bed in there and ask if there are private rooms to be rented on a shared option. I would also avoid six and higher shared dorms and mixed dorms.
Hostel Facilities This is also a crucial aspect. It much depends on how long you are staying at each hostel. If you plan to stay a few days, make sure everything you need during your stay is offered. The kitchen and the laundry service, the internet cafe, the travel service, and whatever you may need. Each hostel usually runs a website where you can check the services listed and the rates and availability. The good furnished and functional kitchen is a precondition.Laundry, Wi-Fi is also a must. Free Wi-Fi is usually offered in communal areas. This is a plus in Australia, as the internet is expensive. Free airport or bus-station pick-up is useful, especially in rural or Outback regions.
Hostel Trend This is also something I always check. I’m not too fond of those backpacker hostels where parties are organised every evening, and loud music is on until night. Again it depends on what you are looking for. I love fun and entertainment, but also to a certain degree. Furthermore, I prefer staying in small hostels rather than in those giant buildings with thousands of people in them. The crowd is not really my thing.
Hostels reviews For big hostel chains like Nomads or the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), you get hostel reviews from their websites and many website aggregators and comparison sites like Hostelworld. In 95% of cases, reviews are genuine true comments so that you can rely on what they say. But on the other hand, everyone is different and perceive a service or a feature of the hostel differently. This especially matters with cleanliness.
Well, as great as the Australian hostels may be, you must know that a certain level of adaptation is needed. If you choose to share dorms and have not experienced it yet, you may need a while before getting used to it. For me, it has been not easy to get used to sharing dorms. I always have been lucky with my roommates.
While there are many advantages of staying in hostels in Australia, there are also drawbacks. Here is the list of the pros and cons of staying in hostels.
The Good things about hostels:
An excellent way of meeting fellow travellers and make friends while travelling.
It’s the perfect way of finding out about events and travel opportunities.
There is a chance of sharing ideas, thoughts, tips, information and all-around experience.
For solo travellers, an excellent source for car-sharing or finding out about tours and travel companions.
It is an excellent way of saving money on accommodation while travelling in Australia.
The Bad Things about Hostels
Snoring Dorm Mates Snoring and noise represent the most significant issue while sharing dorms and are the first cause of sleep disruption. Sharing dorms requires a good spirit of adaptation.
Night Owl Dorm Mates The same for those who have twisted the day for the night and are used to stay up till late at night and go to bed in the early hours of the morning. Inevitably they will make noise while entering the room at night, so you must be prepared for that too. Earplugs are a good thing to pack when sleeping in hostel dorms.
Aircon in the Dorms I have seen people having substantial arguments over this topic again and again. Usually, during the day, everyone seems to be happy to enter a nicely refrigerated room. The air-con troubles usually arise at night when people go to sleep, and here the fight starts. Too cold, too warm, this is going to be an ever-ending moaning. Most hostels have their day-and-night Air condition regulations, which is the best solution to avoid any perpetual argument. Small privately private hostels let people in each room arrange how to handle the Air Condition issue, so be prepared for that too.
Eating in the Hostels Dorms While all hostels, small and big ones, do have kitchen facilities, occasionally, you may bump into roommates who love to have their meal in the dorms. Again, you must follow hostel etiquette, which is no food in the dorms, and you should nicely remind your dorm mates of this rule.
Beware of Hostel Scams While hostels are an excellent way to save money on accommodation, especially for solo travellers, you need to be prepared and adjust to situations. Don’t rely 100% on search engine results for quality hostels. All that shines is not always gold, unfortunately, so there is no 100% guarantee that the place matches their photos on the internet.If you are not sure about your choice, the best thing to do is a book for the first night and see the experience. You can always extend your stay if you like the hostel or you can leave straight away. On a trip to Western Australia, I had booked a single private room into a backpacker hostel in Perth that Google delivered as a boutique hostel.This hostel had been rewarded as the best backpackers hostel in W.A., but my private room turned out to be far from this promise and left straight away. I am also open to more budget accommodation options like private solo stay with Airbnb or housesitting in Australia as a good alternative to hostel accommodation.
Conclusion about staying in Hostels when travelling Australia
My personal experience while staying in the Australian hostels has been overall positive. Apart from the sleeping disorders I had for the first weeks, I always have been lucky with my roommates. I have learnt that a certain etiquette in hostels is vital for living together and share wonderful life hostel experiences.
Be yourself and be an example of the ideal hostel etiquette that you would like to have, and for sure, you will naturally receive back the kindness and the attention you are also prepared to give to others.
Either loves it or hate it. Hostel life is somehow part of your travel experience that you will not regret. Living in hostels is indeed a tough test for your behavioural and survival skills, a vast opportunity to learn from yourself and from other’s perspective of living and enjoying life outside the box.
If you plan to travel around Australia and stay in Australian hostels and consider more budget Accommodation options for female travellers, here is a complete Ausralia Solo Travellers Guide.
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Michela is a passionate traveller and outdoor enthusiast, who has been travelling solo for +30 years between Australia, Italy, Europe and more countries. She is keen to share her knowledge and best tips to help solo travellers travel more and plan their adventures in a simpler and smarter way. Michela is the founder and editor in chief of Rocky Travel.
Nice Post!! I think you have tour in a group, solo or with family in Australia, then backpacker hostel is the best option to stay in Australia. There are various backpacker hostel accommodation in Australia, which are offering an affordable and best service, then VIP Motels. So You should choose backpacker hostel which is near by airport, beach, etc.
Hi Fenny, yes that’s correct. Hostels in Australia are great value, especially for solo travellers who are bound to spend double money for a hotel room for single use.
If you are planning to stay in a hostel, then you should plan in a group of 10 members or much more. Because hostel could be costly for 2 or three people or alone one. And yes, if you are not a group and want a cheap accommodation then Kirklan House Bed & breakfast is the best for you. You can check their services.
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Fenny
July 22, 2014 @ 1:57 pm
Nice Post!! I think you have tour in a group, solo or with family in Australia, then backpacker hostel is the best option to stay in Australia. There are various backpacker hostel accommodation in Australia, which are offering an affordable and best service, then VIP Motels. So You should choose backpacker hostel which is near by airport, beach, etc.
Rocky Travel - Solo Travel Australia
March 25, 2015 @ 2:03 pm
Hi Fenny, yes that’s correct. Hostels in Australia are great value, especially for solo travellers who are bound to spend double money for a hotel room for single use.
Accommodation Brisbane
November 25, 2014 @ 6:52 am
If you are planning to stay in a hostel, then you should plan in a group of 10 members or much more. Because hostel could be costly for 2 or three people or alone one. And yes, if you are not a group and want a cheap accommodation then Kirklan House Bed & breakfast is the best for you. You can check their services.