1849 Backpackers Albany

This place are in the centre of the town. Walks easily everywhere. Rooms only and shared toilets and baths, however, it is perfect just for a couple who loves travelling and exploring places, not looking for a decent room. Good for a group of friends. Totally recommended to all explorers and backpackers.

1849 has the potential to be a great place but unfortunately the owner and his workers lack respect and the customer service to Excell. I would not recommend. Ab the owner is not very good with communicating his emotions and he is very money oriented. The opportunity to make this business Excell would be change of ownership and better public relations and his woman to take charge. Thankyou for ab experience but I would be coming back. Good day sir.

We often stay in back packers if only one night and accommodation is hard to find. We always book a private couple room, like supporting back packers! BUT this place 1849 was terrible. Run down, crazy management, the photos on website nothing like reality. We think it's a hostel now? Seemed many people were living long term. I would warn any holidaying families NOT to stay here. It is not a holiday place! There was a young mum with 2 small children living in a room. And long term elderly there too. I felt for these people and glad they had accommodation. But it should not be advised as a back packers. It was hectic, noisy and shambolic. Run down, messy. A night I'll never forget. It's the right community responsibility to post this honest warning review.

I found the room to be extremely basic and the bedding substandard. I didn't get to sleep until 2.30am due to noisy guests and was woken at 5.30am from other guests. I paid for the room in advance, and was informed afterwards that the wi-fi wasn't working. I travelled with my teenage son and I'm afraid I've inadvertently turned him off backpacking for life. Too expensive for what it was.

Big hostel with good communal spaces, well equipped if disorganised kitchen. Free pancakes in the morning were delicious. Bed was very squeaky.

A certain type of traveller may find this place quite suitable. It is actually in a top location in Albany. But you would need to be ok with noise and a very dirty kitchen: 2 of the biggest failures of this place. Best to avoid here if you want a good night's sleep or like to have clean utensils to cook with.

The room in the photo was nothing like the one we got. Ours was just a bed with very dark sheets and a filthy carpet. We were so disappointed that we payed to stay somewhere else even though we had payed for this room.

The two people running the place, Abraham and his Irish lady colleague are very helpful, polite and trying to do a good job. But they are understaffed and under resourced, and have to deal with a lot of people who have NO respect for others in the building. Blocked up toilets, not flushing them after 2's! People literally stealing the teabag out of your cup while you are washing up in the next room. People rummaging through the pantry in other peoples supplies, and THEN when they see you have a jar of coffee, having the cheek to ask for your jar, AND your own spoon.... Who stays at a place like this on a long term basis and doesn't provide their own tea, coffee, utensil??...SO many of them do NOT wash up the common room, even leaving their food in pots, pans, bowls, and leave it to the over worked staff to deal with... It is truly disgusting and pathetic. One "long term" resident even walked in front of two of us watching TV, and just changed the channel without even asking or saying anything, because, you know, he is entitled to, because he is 'long term'. SO many people doing self centered things with no thought for others sharing the common facilities and space. Will Never stay there again and do not recommend anyone doing it either, worst and dirtiest "back packer" experience of my time... This isn't a reflection on the staff, they try, do great pancakes, but are hamstrung by so many people who don't give a rats about anybody but themselves. Not all obviously, but a lot!