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  5. Reviews of Gonow Family Backpackers Hostel

Reviews of Gonow Family Backpackers Hostel 2 stars

145-147 Vulture Street , West End, 4101 Brisbane, Australia

#139 of 143 hotels in Brisbane

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 463 hostel reviews

5.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    5.9

  • Comfort

    5.9

  • Location

    7.6

  • Facilities

    6.0

  • Staff

    6.9

  • Value for money

    7.1

  • Free WiFi

    7.7

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Showing 76 – 100

  • Reviewed: 21 May 2024

    3.0
    Ideal for backpackers who are willing to accept sub standard conditions.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The hygiene of the toilets and showers upstairs were very poor. WIFI details provided but access did not work. The manager was asked for a towel and he advised that there were only 12 towels for all the potential guests of 100 beds.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 10 May 2024

    3.0
    Do not stay here.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    The place is dirty (really), very old and rundown. And it feels like nobody cares to fix it either. Only one sink that was working, barely any glasses or mugs in the kitchen, literally zero free space in the fridge. The dorm room was messy and had no space at all to put my things (not even floor space) because long term guests/staff had so much of their things all over. And I can deal with all of that for a short stay (3 nights), but the worst was one of the female staff members who I shared the dorm room with. She was basically terrorizing people and management defended her/did not do anything about it. I was shocked. She was so rude and disrespectful (to other guests as well), kept touching and moving my things without asking for permission, cursed at me and told me to leave when I confronted her, had the loud fan running all night due to "bad smells", but was also eating smelly food in the dorm (which is not allowed), and other simply immature behavior. A nightmare, I did not feel safe or well here. Conclusion: don't stay here, it is not worth the money you are trying to save. Spend a few more AUD for some peace of mind.

    There is a cute cat. And there are lockers in the "main" house, but you have to deposit some cash to use them. Location is in West End and has restaurants, shops, cafés nearby, but it is a bit far from the station where the coach buses stop.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 8 May 2024

    1.0
    Disappointing stay all round
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Pretty much everything, felt like a prison. Rooms very smelly, booked as a couple and they didn't even get us in the same room, kitchen is so unclean, really disappointing.

    Was a cheap stay, literally the only thing we liked about it...

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 7 May 2024

    1.0
    I arrived with the dream of having a good experience on my arrival in Australia and this place has ruined it.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The worst experience I've ever had. Bad treatment of the cleaning, reception and managers. In two weeks I was stolen: my father's watch, my chef's shirt and my water cooler, rooms flooded with cockroaches, drug addicts in the rooms, drunk people, in the photos you can see: 1. One of the hundreds of cockroaches that may be in the room, I found more than 10 in my shoes. 2. Like a drunk, he broke a cup inside the room and a glass has been left inside my sandal and if I don't realize it, I'll step on it. In all cases I asked for a change of room and they were never responsible, they always had an excuse, I am sure that I stole the watch, but I was a friend of the person at the reception and they simply did not give an answer.

    Nothing.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 May 2024

    8.0
    Worth the money
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No power socket by bed. The bottom half of the hostel is locked away from 10-12 due to cleaning. Cleaning is good, but I found often I wanted to use the downstairs toilet, shower etc as the upstairs were full usually. They're probably a bit strict on no noise after 10 so if you want to call you not only have to go outside but you have to leave the premises. There is aircon, but sometimes it wouldn't work. The WiFi was pretty much useless and constantly cut out for long periods.

    Good location.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 May 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    A sink in toilet blocked. One sink, eg teeth cleaning for 15 ladies. Two shower recesses

    The kitchen and bathrooms were cleaned well every 2r hours.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 23 April 2024

    1.0
    If you’re looking to get STDS from just having a shower then good luck
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 2 Single Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Everything

    Very old and dirty

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2024

    1.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No answer from the owners!!!

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 April 2024

    1.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Really dirty, noisy, smelly and not good staff

    Nothing

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 April 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    All

    It is good cause it has kitchen and bathroom.were nice. .Environment welcome 🙏 No alcohol & gambling nice to stay and cheap.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 April 2024

    3.0
    Poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Didn’t feel clean at all, weird vibes in the hostel

    They have a cute cat

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 26 March 2024

    8.0
    Cosy
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 2 Single Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The stairs

    Nice environment

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 19 March 2024

    1.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    I accidentally booked a girl's dorm because it's hard to tell on the page what you're booking - then when I arrived they charged me a $40 cancellation fee

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 March 2024

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Super friendly and comfy bed linens

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 9 March 2024

    1.0
    Desaster
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 2 Single Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Everything

    Nothing

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 8 March 2024

    1.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Wow, just all. Read the other reviews, it is all true.

    Kitchen was okay.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 3 March 2024

    1.0
    Creepy
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Weird staff asking intrusive questions, dirty, no alcohol allowed at all (even in moderation). Felt like some kind of weird band camp school. Creepy feeling. Uncomfortable bed. To top it off the hostel charged an extra 20 dollars upon checkout. Ita cheap but it isn't worth the money.

    Good location

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 February 2024

    1.0
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    This review has been hidden because it doesn't meet our guidelines.

  • Reviewed: 18 February 2024

    2.0
    Not a typical Backpackers hostel
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Too messy the room, lots of long term tenants and . Not clean enough. I saw cockraches running in the room as the room was so messy with long term tenants' stuff, food, clothes all over the floor. Pillow is just filled with cotton, extremely not comfortable.

    kitchen, facilities to dry clothes. Reception staff is friendly and helpful.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 16 February 2024

    8.0
    Great familial hostel
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Beds were noisy, rooms are a little bit small.

    The fact that it's a small hostel outside the city centre but close enough to get there by feet. Good atmosphere, every age range, various nationalities,quiet (not like those hostel who provides a bar with loud music all night long.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 15 February 2024

    3.0
    Poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The hostel seems to have long term guests with very limited financial resources - thus it feels like half homeless shelter amd half hostel. The facility is run down and dirty, the beds are like the cheapest IKEA children bunk beds you can find. I had the unfortunate upper bed above a very heavy lady which made me not just wake up constantly as her every move transferred to my bed but actually made me hit my head in the middle of the night because of her rapid movement. The kitchen is beyond nasty, the bathroom facilities are manageable. I have stayed in many hostels and don't have high expectations but this was truly one of the worst! The location is good and in theory (if they would invest a bit) it could be a decent place. The only people I would recommend staying there are social scientists who want to study the impact of poverty and substance abuse issues in Brisbane Australia. Everyone else: go somewhere else!

    Location and one old, chatty lady who stayed there

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 February 2024

    2.0
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 2 Single Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 7 nights

    This review has been hidden because it doesn't meet our guidelines.

  • Reviewed: 6 February 2024

    1.0
    Very poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Street Noise, squeaky metal frames, rubber bed mattress old, lights coming in the room couldn't close curtains

    Not much

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 31 January 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The other peoples mess, which is not part nor responsibility of the hostel

    Location, people, convenience

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 January 2024

    10
    Perfect stay for low budget exploration in Brisbane
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Cute little hostel in the perfect location. The prices are fair and everything that you might need is provided. The staff was super friendly and helped me out a lot. Would come back here any time!

    Stayed in January 2024

Showing 76 – 100

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