Hostel Reviews

Sydney Hostel Review

Please, if you have a moment, can you leave us a few thoughts about your stay here at the Jolly Swagman Sydney hostel.

We would really love to hear what you liked about the hostel, what you didn't like, and how we could improve the hostel for future visiting backpackers and travellers - we take your feedback seriously.

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Staff were friendly & informative. The hostel was great fun, lots of friendly people & a welcoming atmosphere.

The common areas were clean and welcoming. Our room was spacious with a fridge, TV, table and a sink, which was exactly what we were looking for! The place is quite nice, not too big, a lot of information about everything is available, there are computers, washing machines at every level, a small library, great location!

What I like most is the atmosphere, my fellow backpackers, and everyone showing initiative to go have some fun. The staff is always available when you need them. They always help you in a personal fashion, even in the middle of the night, which is highly admirable.

The Staff were friendly and sometimes funny, but always professional.

The Swagman exceded my expectations!

This is one of the best hostels Ive stayed in! The staff where awesome and the people who stayed there were all up for a good time! I enjoyed every minute! I loved how clean it was and the kitchen was an awesome size! Would defo reccommend and come back!

Loved EVERYTHING!! Thats why we came back to the Swagman family! :)

Great atmosphere. Staff always polite and willing to help. Daily evening events well organised by staff with great energy!

I liked the atmosphere around, its relaxing, comfortable and a great place to meet new people! And...the free breakfast ;)

The staff just seemed to blend in with the guest which I thought was really nice!! Bathrooms were really clean. Was really impressed. The TV area was a bit dominating and loud. I really liked the outside dining area!! Nice and social.

The amenities, facilities and services are great.. Just keep it up.

Welcoming environment, people at the front desk were always extremely friendly and helpful, activities and group outings to bars were helpful with meeting other travelers, pizza and beer night was fun as well. It was a bit cold in the hostel, but that was most likely due to the winter weather outside, it wasn't a huge problem.

Welcoming, good choice for first hostel in Oz. 

The staff was the friendliest staff we've had the whole time we stayed in Australia! I just loved the atmosphere.. the common area is where you meet SO many people..

Staff were fairly friendly and helpful, hotel atmosphere was great loved the music playing around dinner time in common area but sometimes played a bit too loud for people to hear the TV in the TV room.

Staff were very helpful - knew heaps about the local area and options on things to do. Encourage things like cooking meals together or pub outings - great for meeting travelers. Always saw the cleaners about - bathrooms were always kept tidy and washed daily.My only critisism would be the lack of pots in the kitchen, especially at night when everyone is cooking dinner.

The staff gave me the necessary information and helped me a lot to step-into my "work-and-travel-stay" in Australia. I especially liked the open common space and the "garden space" where it was easy to get in touch with other backpackers.

Staff was really helpfull. first days in australia and told me all I wanted to know about the country, places to go, etc. really patient. Hostel was okay too, but a little small downstairs.

Due to its multi-level (3 floors or 4 or so) structure, the upper floors of the building were quite silent, a very welcome effect in this party-area of Sydney. I really liked the fact that my room had a fridge, sink. I stayed here during Summer, and unfortunatly there is no air conditioning, only fans.

J.S. is a good hostel. I have seen better and worse all over the country, but I dont know others in Sydney. I guess amongst the hostels around the crowded Kings Cross it is one of the better ones. The reason I would not stay at J.S. again is only because I would not generally not stay at the Kings Cross area again, because backpacker culture nightlife is not my focus of travel.

Was a lot cleaner than I expected, toilets and showers were pretty clean too. Seemed like a lot of interesting people were staying there and wish I got to stay a bit longer and make some new friends.

Very pleasant stay.

It was heaps of fun, nice people, cool place to hang out! Good breakfast.

Staff were very friendly and helpful, always full of different types and ages of people - meaning there is always someone to get on with! Very easy going atmosphere, places to chill out or people to party with. I had a great time here, was the first hostel I stayed in in Australia (picked at random) and over my 12 months I returned 3 times. 

Xmas and New Year were fantastic with an excellent group atmosphere. I am still in touch with several of the friends I made here, meeting up with them in other places abroad and back in the UK - will be back at sometime i'm sure!

Loved the staff, loved the hostel and most importantly... LOVED the KITCHEN!

Easy to meet new people.. nice area to sit outside.

Atmosphere was fun and friendly. staff was very professional but also extremely welcoming and gave us great tips on what to do in the area. Facilities were very clean, even the bathrooms, only problem faced was the shower facilities, it was difficult to maintain the same temperature throughout showering.

Very helpful staff. Good vibe about the hostel. It was always clean and tidy. Excellent location, train station around the corner. Plenty of bars and cafes nearby. Kings Cross is a lovely area - far nicer than I expected. Could have bigger storage area for when you leave and come back.

The location was great. Only a minutes walk to Kings Cross train station and restaurants.

The staff were awesome. Very helpful and accommodating. The hostel atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly with lots of really nice people. We became friends with one of the main cleaners who stayed at the hostel. She was very friendly and a great employee. The cleaning was professional and quick. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. My friend and I were always included when the group went out. The only thing I found a problem with was lack of cutlery in the kitchen.

On my first trip to Australia in 2005 I picked this hostel at random. The staff are friendly and will bend over backwards to help you. I went back 3 times in my 6 month trip. When I went back in March 2007 the staff remembered who I was (not sure if this is a good thing) and am arriving again in early July 2007. I will be checking into the Swagman again. It is a safe, clean and happy environment. Lots to do in the near locality, plenty of great deals at the local watering holes. An overall happy experience. Don't worry if you're travelling alone because after one night here you won't feel alone.

Everyone in the hostel gets to know each other, we all go out together and party together.. Swagman till I die!

The most social hostel I've ever stayed at, anywhere in the world!

This was one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in and would recommend it. I stayed in a single room and it was like staying in a hotel but with all the character and fun of a good hostel. The room was clean and fresh, and the bathrooms were lovely.

We liked Jolly Swagman, and do recommend it. Location in Kings Cross was convenient for central city etc. Great having a fridge in the room!

We liked Jolly Swagman, and do recommend it. Location in Kings Cross was convenient for central city etc. Great having a fridge in the room!

We had a lovely time here. We were upgraded to a twin room when our pick up was late. Nice and quiet room even though there was obviously going on for those who wanted to party. An excellent place to stay, if you want to see a slightly different side of Sydney.

Everything fine. Clean, fun, quite neat rooms, good value for money. Upper class for Australia ;) I wish, other hostels before would have been like that.

Wicked hostel, we had so much fun!

Very nice atmosphere, helpful staff

Party place - always something on, but if you don't fancy going out the whole time it's also cool. Free breakfast (with vegemite!) is good!

Really helpful staff. They can't do enough for ya. Great location. Comfortable beds. Plenty of buzz in the place and lots going on all the time. Winner in my book!

I enjoyed it very much and saw it is very much an student/young group type of accommodation, but makes it easy for traveling and cheap accommodation. It is also a place to meet other young people of all countries. Thanks again for the opportunity to have stayed there and would recommend it, especially for having a free breakfast, free pickup at the airport.

We're coming back... ;)

Front Desk staff was incredible, had answers to any question you asked, very helpful