Finding hostels... was Sydney Youth Hostel Recommendations

In article ,
says...
Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....

Initial googles came up with this site:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/aus/syd/

Be careful searching for hostels using these sites that take online
bookings. They do not list all the hostels and they often state
something like "no online availability", which appears to suggest that a
hostel is full. This is often not the case, it can mean the hostel does
not have a relationship with the booking company, or the hostel
management hasn't allocated any beds to the booking system.

Many of these booking sites are affiliates of the same company
(hostelworld) and they therefore all use the same hostel database. They
will also list guest houses, instead of hostels, if a hostel is not
prepared to play ball and let them take commission on the bookings they
take. You could therefore look at one of these sites and think that
there is not a hostel in that town.

Much better to get your information from another source...

in article , Paul at
wrote on 3/6/04 6:18 AM:

In article ,
says...
Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....

Initial googles came up with this site:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/aus/syd/

Be careful searching for hostels using these sites that take online
bookings. They do not list all the hostels and they often state
something like "no online availability", which appears to suggest that a
hostel is full. This is often not the case, it can mean the hostel does
not have a relationship with the booking company, or the hostel
management hasn't allocated any beds to the booking system.

Many of these booking sites are affiliates of the same company
(hostelworld) and they therefore all use the same hostel database. They
will also list guest houses, instead of hostels, if a hostel is not
prepared to play ball and let them take commission on the bookings they
take. You could therefore look at one of these sites and think that
there is not a hostel in that town.

Much better to get your information from another source...

an up to date guidebook from an independent source for your travel area is a
good start (LP, Footprint, Let's Go, Rough Guides). Since these too are
inherently subjective (and, as LP in particular takes pains to point out,
things change), I'm inclined to use them as a "rough guide" only. Also, you
take on the risk of being part of the herd since everyone else has read the
same reviews.

For my dime, I'd use these sources to book nights 1 and perhaps 2, unless it
is one of those times that everything is going to be booked solid (eg Sydney
at New Year's or during the mardi gras) - then walk around and make your own
assessment on where you want to be from then on. I'm hard pressed to think
of a time I've ever been caught out entirely without a place to hang my
backpack by just pitching up at one to three places, even in high season.

Paul wrote:

In article ,
says...

Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....


Initial googles came up with this site:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/aus/syd/

Be careful searching for hostels using these sites that take online
bookings....

One site which is useful is the www.bugaustralia.com one which doesn't
actually do bookings, but has user reviews of many hostels throughout
the Pacific and gives hostels a chance to put their own booking
information with the review. I have used and contributed to this site.

There can be advantages to sites like the bootsnall one, as it gives a
chance to find some sort of accomodation from anywhere in the world and
it can be used alongside the bugaustralia site or a guide book for some
sort of commentary.

AS for the original question, my favourite would be Glebe YHA. Others
have reported favourably on the Glebe Village Backpackers, just along
the road.

On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 14:40:27 +0000, Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:

assessment on where you want to be from then on. I'm hard pressed to think
of a time I've ever been caught out entirely without a place to hang my
backpack by just pitching up at one to three places, even in high
season.

Byron Bay is the only place it's ever happened to me. Accommodation always
seems to be tight there.

The YHA in Sydney looks good from the outside and it's in a good, central
location. You can book it online at www.yha.com.au

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports including
trips to Plymouth, Weymouth, Falmouth, Exmouth and Scapa Flow

in article , Jason at
wrote on 3/7/04 5:27 AM:

On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 14:40:27 +0000, Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:

assessment on where you want to be from then on. I'm hard pressed to think
of a time I've ever been caught out entirely without a place to hang my
backpack by just pitching up at one to three places, even in high
season.

Byron Bay is the only place it's ever happened to me. Accommodation always
seems to be tight there.

The YHA in Sydney looks good from the outside and it's in a good, central
location. You can book it online at www.yha.com.au

Jason

There are at least three YHAs in Sydney - central (across from the railway
station), Glebe (kinda funky, much more personal, fewer amenities, and a
longer walk to the CBD although more than feasible) and a seasonal one on
the water.

Yes, Byon's accom. is usually fairly full up but again I've never had a
drama.

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 10:18:50 -0000, Paul wrote:

In article ,
says...
Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....

As I recall, there is a youth or student aid office right at the
Central RR Station in Sydney. The entrance is at street level on the
outside. Just ask around.

But don't limit yourself to Sydney. As wonderful as it is, surely
you'll want a great beach and more local small town flavor.

Take the ferry from Central Quay to Manly. There's a tourist office
right outside the entrance. Manly has a number of backpacing hotels
that cater to that trade. Manly has a fantastic beach scene. The fish
and chips at the Manly Fish and Chips shop a few blocks south of the
Corso are the best.

The last time I was in Australia I got on a train headed
north/northwest and got off at any town that caught my eye, walked
around for an hour or so to get the lay of it and never had trouble
finding a nice clean quiet and inexpensive room ($15AU) above a
tavern. Usially the bath was down the hall, no telly or phone, but who
needs 'em? I did that for a week, staying each night at a different
spot chosen spontaneosuly and wandering the town during the day before
my next afternoon train connection. At the end, I flew back to Sydney.

Great country. Wonderful people. Can't wait to return.



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Check out the local events online if you can. I have been in Sydney for
Mardi Grad and New Year and it was pretty busy. One to recommend in Bondi
(on the corner of Bondi Road and Bondi Beach) is Noah's. It's pretty
secure, too. Don't know prices, I'm afraid, but look them up on the web and
drop them an email. Avoid any that offer an "awesome, lively experience" as
it generally means that they have more of a party and puke attitude. It's
not much fun when you have a bus to catch at 9 am and someone comes into
your dorm at 3am and is sick from the top bunk all over your pack! There is
a really rated one by the Central Train Station (sorry, can't remember the
name) and is just a walk down Elizabeth Street into the CBD, Botanical
Gardens, Circular Quay, bla, bla, bla. Check out the bronze wild boar, too.
It's a twin with the one in Florance, Italy! Cheers Rufus
"Paul" wrote in message
et...
In article ,
says...
Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....

Initial googles came up with this site:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/aus/syd/

Be careful searching for hostels using these sites that take online
bookings. They do not list all the hostels and they often state
something like "no online availability", which appears to suggest that a
hostel is full. This is often not the case, it can mean the hostel does
not have a relationship with the booking company, or the hostel
management hasn't allocated any beds to the booking system.

Many of these booking sites are affiliates of the same company
(hostelworld) and they therefore all use the same hostel database. They
will also list guest houses, instead of hostels, if a hostel is not
prepared to play ball and let them take commission on the bookings they
take. You could therefore look at one of these sites and think that
there is not a hostel in that town.

Much better to get your information from another source...

Syd Central YHA, which is the one FDSA is trying to think of, is just that -
very central, very efficient, lots of amenities - but very clinical and
enormously crowded. Usually booked two weeks or so in advance, more so in
peak periods such as fdsa notes. It's wonderful if you're arriving by
train. In addition, the train to/from the airport also is from there so it
makes it a great first or last stop.

I like the YHA in Glebe - a short walk yields a more homey community both in
the hostel and in its surroundings.



in article , fdsa fdsa at
wrote on 3/26/04 8:51 PM:

Check out the local events online if you can. I have been in Sydney for
Mardi Grad and New Year and it was pretty busy. One to recommend in Bondi
(on the corner of Bondi Road and Bondi Beach) is Noah's. It's pretty
secure, too. Don't know prices, I'm afraid, but look them up on the web and
drop them an email. Avoid any that offer an "awesome, lively experience" as
it generally means that they have more of a party and puke attitude. It's
not much fun when you have a bus to catch at 9 am and someone comes into
your dorm at 3am and is sick from the top bunk all over your pack! There is
a really rated one by the Central Train Station (sorry, can't remember the
name) and is just a walk down Elizabeth Street into the CBD, Botanical
Gardens, Circular Quay, bla, bla, bla. Check out the bronze wild boar, too.
It's a twin with the one in Florance, Italy! Cheers Rufus
"Paul" wrote in message
et...
In article ,
says...
Going to Sydney for a week and would like to know of any centrally
located (close to public transport access, shops-cafes-galleries
nearby, walkable part of city) hostels.....

Initial googles came up with this site:

http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/aus/syd/

Be careful searching for hostels using these sites that take online
bookings. They do not list all the hostels and they often state
something like "no online availability", which appears to suggest that a
hostel is full. This is often not the case, it can mean the hostel does
not have a relationship with the booking company, or the hostel
management hasn't allocated any beds to the booking system.

Many of these booking sites are affiliates of the same company
(hostelworld) and they therefore all use the same hostel database. They
will also list guest houses, instead of hostels, if a hostel is not
prepared to play ball and let them take commission on the bookings they
take. You could therefore look at one of these sites and think that
there is not a hostel in that town.

Much better to get your information from another source...