Big but impersonal (YHA Sydney Central)

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Product:	YHA Sydney Central
Date:	01/12/00 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plentyyyyyyyyyyy of space

Disadvantages: Toooooooooooo big

Theres an excellent spread and variety of Hostels in and around Sydney from the overly large IYHA one in the central suburb of Glebe to the little guys hidden away towards the outer sprawl of Australia’s most vibrant city.
I decided to base myself near the city center to look for work so Glebe was ideal and the area is nice and relaxed with all the cheap eats and beer benefits of being near Sydney university.
The hostel like I said is very big with numerous dorms and singles, trebles etc starting at $15oz a night with reasonable weekly rates, safes for the valuables and good security with great advice from the knowledgeable staff although there are regulations so if you want a break from the rules of the IYHA try the smaller YHA down the road with a much more laid back feel and a free breakfast to start the day.
Glebe is a nice relaxed rustic suburb with mossy Victorian verandas and studenty restaurant cafes littering the streets. Its only 30 minutes walk or 15 on the bus or train with excellent Metro pass available at the hostels efficient reception.
The building has a cool sun roof with a tiny swimming pool and games area to play a spot of pavement Chess or just enjoy the view up there of the cities twinkling night skies. The area is locked up at midnight to keep the noise down although it does offer a chance to have a quick snog if you cop off.
They serve cheap meals in the common room although it’s a touch small for the size of the hostel which also I’m afraid means a busy communal kitchen folks with stuff going walk about.
Sheets are an extra 3 bucks if you don’t have a sleeping bag, it’s quite nippy at night here in the winter time so pack one if you have one.
The main but seedy area of Sydney for hostels and especially work visa traveler’s is Kings Cross the exceedingly red light area and popular play ground of the cities more salubrious characters so don’t go there if you want to sleep atn
ight although the rooms and dorms are much cheaper if your down on the dollars.
Coogee beach and Bondi have hostels and cheap rooms and all the benefits of staying by the beach. The Bondi hotel offers English premiership soccer late at night for the large British contingent that rocks up here on the year out. The surfers too take up a lot of accommodation in and around the beaches so try and book ahead.
To and from the airport is quite a way out with only a few hostel touts doing pick-ups. Best to take the bus into town and then go from there on the highly reliable public transport system.
Australia has a lot of experience of hostelling and is ideal for Virgin and student traveler’s on the first tour of duty so to speak so take that picture out of your head of 40 beds toe to toe and washing up duties at lunch time. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

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