Not really a Jewell (Jewell House YMCA - Perth Australia)

Member Name: alphason

Product:	Jewell House YMCA - Perth Australia
Date:	31/07/08 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Price & location

Disadvantages: Residents habits(?)

This was my first ever experience of staying in a YMCA and my first ever visit to Perth Australia. I was on a budget and was just making a flying visit to Australia to visit a visa consul.

Perth seemed to have a very limited choice of low cost places to stay in the CBD (Central business district), I hunted around and really found nothing reasonable, I was just about resigned to having to stay in a 3 star hotle when I was recommended thi splace via a travel forum on the Internet.

Price wise it was great at just $39 AUD per night for a private room (around 18 GBP), most of the hotels I was looking at were $60 - $100 per night. I made my reservation for 3 nights just long enough to conduct my business.

The hostel is located very centrally within walking distance of the city centre and most tourist sights, the full address is:

Jewell House
180 Goderich Street
Perth, WA, 6000

A quick look around before I went to my room revealeda 24 hour reception manned by a friendly team, there is an Internet room on site as well as a cafe run by a volunteer charity, there are also coin operated snack and drink vending machines and pay phones.

Two lifts take guest up to their rooms, there are 200 rooms in total over 11 floors, amisture od single, twin and family rooms.

On arriving in my room I discovered a small but clean place, a single bed along one way, facing it a wardrobe and opposite the bed a heater and small desk. All the furniture is functional but quite dated in a nasty dark brown colour.

I was surprised not to have my own bathroom as I though I booked a private room, probably my own hurried booking but I later found out private room meant it was just for me. Tnhe bathrooms are located on each floor and consist of a room with toilets and another with showers. They were relatively clean and as you would expect, the quantity was fine as I never had to wait to use the facilities.

That evening I met a few of the long term residents of the YMCA, some were a bit odd and seemed slighly disturbed, some you would describe as characters.

The one thing that put me off was a fairly big one. On the evening of my 2nd day I was abit bored in my room so was poking about, I opened the cupboard above the wardrobe and was in for a shock. I found several syringes and foil and other bits and pieces. I reported this to the reception and they were very apologetic, checking I had not been pricked or anything - I was fine and went out for a stroll, on my return it was all gone and cleaed up.

I would stay there again but I would check out the prices elsewhere first.

If you are interested you can book via hostelbookers or contact them directly (08) 9325 8488.

Summary: Best price for Perth