I stayed at 2 different backpacker hostels in Cairns, Australia from Oct. to Nov. in 2024. I guess most people choose backpacker hostels because of their low cost. The cheapest option is dormitory rooms where 8 ~ 10 people stay. I spent only 26 dollars per night.
I can tell you some useful information you can hardly get online.
1 Security
At a room of a backpacker hostel, you may need to stay with several strangers. You should care about how you store your valuables. Most backpacker hostels have a baggage storage room.
I stayed at 2 hostels. One has a storage room that everybody can access easily and freely. You can’t keep your valuables safely there. At the other hostel, their storage room is available only from 9 to 19.
I could have stored my stuff in a locker at both hostels. But, I needed a lock to lock it. One of those hostels had a limited number of locks. When I asked for one, they already ran out of those locks.
I ended up keeping my valuables including my laptop under my pillow while sleeping.
I advise you to take a lock with you.
2 Late check-in/early check-out
Websites of most hostels read you can’t check in at midnight or check out early in the morning. But, actually, you can. You could ask hostels. I’ll show you 2 cases I faced.
Case 1. When I arrived in Cairns, my flight had been changed. I needed to land there around 11 p.m.
I took a lot of time and looked for hostels that had 24-hour check-in. I couldn’t find one, so, I booked a hostel that I can check in till 12p.m. I was not sure I could make it to the hostel in time. A taxi drove me to the hostel. I was afraid of missing a board. My hostel says you can’t enter there after business hours.
I got off the taxi and saw a lot of people around the hostel. I was relieved. It was past 12 p.m. But, an office clerk allowed me inside.
Case 2. I booked another hostel in Cairns. I didn’t check the information properly online. I needed to check out the hostel early in the morning. But, the check-out time starts at 9 a.m.
I messaged the hostel if I could check out earlier than that. It answered yes. Nobody was working early in the morning. I dropped a room key in a box. I got a refund of 30 dollars deposit online on my card.
When you want to check in late at night or check out early in the morning and you can’t find hostels, you can contact hostels. It’s better for you to call them. Sometimes, it takes long time to get a message from hostels.
3. Free sightseeing information provided
At hostels, there’s a tourist information center where you can ask about sightseeing. They have pamphlets. They can search for information online. When you ask them, they can tell you where you should go around their hostel.
4. Information online can be incorrect
In a hostel in Cairns, I was expecting to have free breakfast, because the website said they had that. I woke up and looked for that. I was not able to find it. I asked an office clerk and he said I could have breakfast at next-door shop. It wasn’t free at all.
Comments