Aussitel Backpackers - Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

Joshua

Hostel is in a reasonably decent location and the guy who checked us in was very friendly.

Many other reviews mentioned cockroaches and bed bugs, which we didn't see at all. However, the place felt pretty dirty, especially in the bedrooms and living rooms, with the communal space smelling very strongly of cigarettes. Bathrooms were relatively clean by comparison.

They were putting in new stove stops when we were there so seems like there's an effort to improve the place following recent bad reviews but when you can stay at much nicer places for a comparable price, I wouldn't recommend staying here.

olivia garcia

There are BEDBUGS here, do not consider staying here for this and many other reasons. We did not end up staying the night after finding bedbugs in our room. I found a motel down the street that was still open and willing to take us at midnight. I called the hostel the following morning to request a refund and they said to follow up with an email and they would refund the nights rate back to the card we paid with. They did not do that and we ended up going through our bank to get our money back. Rooms are obscenely dirty, I don't know what animal was previously in the dormitory, but there was feces beneath the bed. I will spare posting any photos we took before leaving. The staff fold the "fresh" sheets while smoking an entire pack of cigarettes, so that's what you're sleeping on. Overall a very uncomfortable encounter and would not recommend this place to anyone. The whole place felt incredibly unsafe and unsettling, stay literally anywhere else.

Line

Please take a look at this place before booking. I don’t understand the good reviews for this place. The staff is kind, but that’s it. It gives a vibe of a place for homeless people struggling in life (very sad) more than happy travelers. The place looks run-down, the bedding smells like smoke/cigarette and my room has a weird smell and seems unclean. E.g. there are used cups in my room, which another travelled told me had been in there for days, which understates the suspicion that the room hasn’t been cleaned recently. Toilets seem unclean. I checked in, but after a short time sitting in there I couldn’t imagine sleeping there. I left without being offered my money back. Should have trusted my gut feeling. Unfortunately, not surprised to read the bad reviews afterwards about bedbugs. I highly recommend ‘The Hoey Moey’ instead.

Eden Puric

Stayed here 2 nights. It was really good. Right next door to the service station so if you need something quickly it not too far. 15 minute walk to the beach. Its clean enough. Wasnt too hot in December. TV has streaming services. The longe was comfy to curl up on of an evening to watch a movie. There was also a guitar there for guests to play which was cool. I'd stay here again.

Aus Throwaway

BEDBUGS!!!
A warning to anyone considering staying here - there ARE bed bugs. You may not see them at first, but they're there.. My belongings are now completely infested, and I am covered in large, itchy bites.
Otherwise, if they could get the bed bug situation under control (seems like an ongoing thing based on other reviews though) then it's not a half bad spot.. but I definitely won't be returning.

Sophie Woods

WARNING OF BEDBUGS!!!
This hostel has bedbugs! I stayed here for a week in midt January 2024, and I found bedbugs in my bed (stayed in room 14).
Once I let the manager know he provided me with a steamer, UV light and free of charge tumble dryer. I used 12 hours to dry all of my cloth, steam all of my bags and to check the rest of my stuff with an UV light.
The manager told he, they have had bedbugs in the past, as well. He said, he would contact pest control straight away. He would then let them control my room and one other room (not the whole hostel). The owner of the hostel wouldn't give me any refund but the manager gave me a refund out if his own money for the two other nights I had paid for but didn't use (obvious I got out of there as soon as I found the bedbugs). He was initially going to refund me for three nights but since it took me 12 hours to clean up all of my stuff which, he said, meant he lost three beds of booking for one night. That for me would indicate that he might would have rented my room out for the night eventhough pest control hadn't been there yet.

I would not recommend staying here. The rooms are not very clean and I reckon the bedbugs could easily spread to several rooms. I have gotten bits which are itchy and other people staying there for a few weeks had gotten so many bits all over they couldn't sleep because they were so itchy all the time. The manager would however not recognise the bits as bedbugs bit until he saw them. But I could show him the bedbugs.

Tara De Koning

Clean and very quiet. Jackie at reception is a true multitasker - managing cleaning, bookings, and more, plus providing support to guests. She was even professional at 11pm when I locked my keys in my room going to the bathroom. It is quiet at night, allowing for a great nights sleep. the week before I arrived they were good at responding to communication regarding changing to a private room. The only thing - I did not realise the rooms had allocated days for cleaning the kitchen until the day I left. Overall a good stay. I just needed a relaxing change of scenery and to catch up with a friend. And I got that.

Alf Abet

Stayed there for 4 months in a private room. The owners Gary and Cherie were lovely and very accommodating. The hostel is clean, free surfboard hire and is a good price. Thank you for making my stay really nice, I would definitely recommend and stay here again!