About
At a glance: 4-star · Since 1901 · 10 rooms
Near: Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area · 2.1 km
Guests love: Service
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Guest reviews
4.6Excellent(612)
- Excellent501
- Good56
- Average21
- Poor18
- Terrible16
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TM
Trip.com Member
4/5
Trip.com· 3 months ago
Trip.com· 3 months agoWe stayed overnight at Drifter Hostel and had a very pleasant experience. The bed was comfortable, clean, and provided a good night's sleep after a long day of exploring. The room and facilities were well-maintained, and the overall atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. The staff were friendly and helpful whenever assistance was needed. For budget-conscious travelers looking for a clean and comfortable place to stay, I would definitely recommend Drifter Hostel.
AS
Alicia Szerszyn
5/5
Google· 3 months ago
Google· 3 months agoMy partner and I spent 2 nights in one of the private rooms with ensuite and absolutely loved our stay. The rooms were clean, comfortable and had everything we needed. We especially loved the smell of the shower gel and appreciated the complimentary water. The rooms aren’t very sound proof so you can definitely hear the noise from other guests walking down the corridor at night time but we can sleep through most things so it didn’t bother us at all, just something to note if you are expecting the private rooms to be quiet. As for the facilities everything was regularly cleaned and well maintained. We didn’t get to make full use of everything but wish we had and next time will plan to spend more time onsite. We had a good look around though and loved the communal kitchen, movie room, bbq area, swimming pool and just general vibe they have created. The staff are all super friendly and welcoming and I’m pretty sure were onsite 24/7. They also provide free wifi and mobile key entry which was super easy to use and made us feel very safe and secure. The location was also super central and within a short walk to the beach, shops and restaurants so we literally booked parking in the underground carpark and didn’t get back in our car again until we checked out which was a welcome break. Aldi was also attached to the hotel which is super convenient for groceries and the drifter run special events giving guests a chance to meet and mingle which is really cool. We highly recommend The Drifter and will stay again.
J
janemR5112TU
2/5
Tripadvisor· 5 months ago
Tripadvisor· 5 months agoI booked Drifter Hostel for a family trip to Byron, but the day before arrival I realised I had accidentally booked the Bondi Beach location instead of Byron Bay. Although both hostels are part of the same company, management initially refused to transfer the booking to Byron Bay Drifters. We were told the Bondi booking was non-refundable and that we would need to pay separately for accommodation in Byron as well. After a lot of discussion, they eventually agreed to let us reschedule the Bondi booking for sometime within the next month or two, which I appreciated. However, as we had already spent a significant amount on replacement accommodation in Byron, we simply couldn’t afford another trip to Sydney to make use of the credit, so unfortunately it didn’t really resolve the situation. I understand that the Bondi booking was made on a non-refundable rate, but given that it was an honest mistake between two locations within the same company, I was disappointed that there was so little flexibility or goodwill shown. Even a partial credit or small discount toward the Byron booking would have been appreciated, especially as there was availability. The staff I spoke with at both hostels were friendly, understanding, and clearly doing their best within the limits set by management, so this review is not directed at them. My frustration is with the lack of compassion and flexibility from management in handling what was a genuine mistake.
SW
Shay Warne
5/5Google· a month ago
Google· a month agoDrifters in Byron is amazing!!! The location is in the centre of town, so you are right in the mix for your stay! I had a private room with ensuite and balcony pool view. It was spacious, clean and beautifully styled … very comfortable. The shared facilities were impressive also .. laundry, communal kitchen, large indoor/outdoor living/dining and the pool was beautiful. Bianca on the front desk was a dream.. she was knowledgeable, gracious and a highly considerate host! Thank you, I loved my stay, I’ll be back!!
LO
Love Olivia
1/5Google· 3 months ago
Google· 3 months agoI rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience. My stay at Drifter was overshadowed by the fact that personal belongings went missing from our room after housekeeping had been inside while we were out. Among the items missing were cash, an expensive perfume, and clothing that had been packed in our suitcases. We searched everything thoroughly before raising the issue and are confident the items did not simply get misplaced. When we reported the theft, we were assured it would be investigated and that management would follow up with us the next morning. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen, and we had to chase for an update ourselves before leaving. What disappointed me most was the response from management. Rather than feeling that our concerns were being taken seriously, it seemed that the possibility of staff involvement was dismissed almost immediately. The explanation given was that the housekeeper was trusted and that corridor footage showed nothing suspicious. However, this did little to address our concerns or provide any reassurance that a proper investigation had taken place. To make matters worse, another guest mentioned to us that she had also experienced items going missing during her stay, which only increased our concern. The value of the missing items is frustrating, but the bigger issue is the feeling of having your privacy and trust violated while staying somewhere you expect to feel secure. A hotel’s response to a serious complaint can make all the difference, and unfortunately, I left feeling dismissed rather than supported. Based on this experience, I would not feel comfortable staying here again.
J1
JimJam101 101
5/5Google· 6 months ago
Google· 6 months agoI had a very good stay at drifters. Such a good location, everything is so accessible. There is an Aldi next door, which is very convenient for the essentials. The hostel organises so many free, if not ridiculously cheap activities ranging from BBQ's, picky bits, sunrise yoga, which made it super easy to make friends. LOVED the pool area, was surprised how nice it was for the price we paid per night. In terms of the rooms, the beds were very private. However, the room I stayed in was very narrow, which made it slightly difficult to move around. I felt like everyone was on top of eachother! I had to empty the bin myself a few times, it seems workers aren't cleaning between people's stays, so the room actually ended up being quite dirty. Also, everytime I had a shower it smelt a bit like sewage. I did notice they were being cleaned regularly though, so this might be more of an internal plumbing issue, not sure. Service was good, wouldn't say particularly friendly. Everything is done online, so when you ask them to check in/check out they kind of shooo you away to do it yourself, which is inconvenient for those with temperamental devices. They have a happy travels agent, that can help you get bus passes and organise your whole east coast trip for you, she was lovely and extremely helpful. Overall, I highly recommend!!!
TM
tatiana ortega melendez
5/5Google· 4 months ago
Google· 4 months agoI had an amazing stay at Drifter Byron Bay. The atmosphere at the hostel was incredible — very social, welcoming, and relaxed. They organize really fun activities, which made it super easy to meet people and enjoy the experience even more. One of the highlights was the awesome BBQ night we joined. Everything was well organized, the vibe was great, and we ended up making some amazing friends from all over the world. It honestly felt more like a little community than just a hostel. The hostel was also always very clean and well organized. The common areas were comfortable and had a really nice energy. And the heated pool was such a bonus — especially after a long day. It was always warm and perfect for relaxing. I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Byron Bay looking for a fun, friendly, and comfortable place to stay.
FG
Fern Guthrie
5/5Google· 4 months ago
Google· 4 months agoDrifter is the nicest hostel I’ve stayed in across the East Coast. We arrived and were greeted by the friendliest staff who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. We took part in the free Wednesday cook up, where we ate delicious tacos and made friends with other people from the hostel. The beds are incredibly comfy and the rooms are clean and spacious. Location is perfect. Can’t wait to participate in the free beach front yoga today too!
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