790 on George Backpackers

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julest905

1/5Tripadvisor· 6 months ago

Lift broken at least twice, over two days. Old woman on the 7th floor. Me on 5th floor. No offer of refund. On a previous stay, lift out of order then, too. A staff member said the lift is going to be replaced in May. I bet this hostel stays open for business, with a malfunctioning lift, right up until the day it gets replaced. Tap fittings wobbling off their base. Middle kitchen toilet had same 'Out of Order' notice from months ago. Disregard the 'Recycling Bin' sticker on one bin and 'Glass Only' on another bin; this hostel doesn't have that system. Everything is lumped together. It costs them money to the Council to recycle your rubbish, and why be in business to pay (a small amount) to be accountable to the environment?🤔 About 5 forks in the kitchen. One caked with dried foodstuff. Cheap, charity shop frypans; your food sticks and burns. Old electric hotplates that take ages to heat up. The food label sticker, you can't separate the sticker at the front from the piece of paper at the back. And if the sticker got any smaller, they may as well just provide black felt pens to write directly on your food bag. The doona covers feel weird. They feel like a Georgian-era chair-covering material; they're like canvas. They are like a thick, curtain material, or a tablecloth. Mine had the residual smell of perfumes from many a bygone nights out. I don't want to ask how often they are laundered. Hence me adding the photos of bites on my legs. Apart from the cleaners who maintain the (barest of) cleanliness of the bathrooms (and I only witness the female bathrooms getting a wipe over), it is very obvious the owners don't spend any money on this place.

TM

Trip.com Member

3.7/5Trip.com· 10 months ago

I appreciated that the staff were friendly and the bedsheets and toilets were clean. However, there is a relative lack of amenities and comfort, which is reflected in the lower price of this hostel compared to others. Each floor had two toilets and two showers, but 1 of the toilets on my floor was spoilt. There is only 1 elevator for the whole building meaning that sometimes I had to wait fairly long to go up / down. The only charging ports were in the lockers, which made it inconvenient to use my phone. Don’t get me wrong, this hostel does do the basics unapologetically, but if you have budget I’d recommend paying more for a better hostels.

MB

Mac Burnell

1/5Google· 4 weeks ago

It was terrible. I booked this place for a one-night layover. When I arrived, I found out there was no hot water. I was not told this at check-in, and I even got towels at check-in (which I had to pay for).  One of the main reasons I booked this place was for a hot shower in between long travel days.  Ended up with no shower... Talked to the front desk immediately after, they "know about the no hot water , it's been a problem with the entire building for a while now". This hostel was not accommodating dealing with this issue. With a known building problem like this, there should be a discounted price upfront, or at least a partial refund.  It should be considered unacceptable to allow your customer to waste 30minutes of their valuable time getting ready for a shower, only to stand there naked and cold with ice cold water running at their feet. And then to have to get dressed again without getting clean. This is a "I know the price is high and the amenities are shit.  But hey, at least you get what you get, right? Now give me your money!" kinda establishment

MO

Monnie i i o

1/5Google· 6 months ago

1. Discriminatory and unreasonable behavior from reception There is a receptionist who behaves very rudely and appears to target guests selectively during nightly checks, especially non-white guests and those of the same gender. They frequently send warning emails about “not hanging clothes in the room,” even though I paid to use the dryer. I only hung clothes briefly to avoid wrinkles — not to air-dry them. There is no alternative space provided for hanging clothes, yet guests are forced to use a paid dryer ($4 per use), which does not even dry properly. When I reported that the dryer didn’t work, the only response I received was: “Pay again and use it again.” As a paying customer, I genuinely question: is this really your solution? 2. Poor facilities and inconvenient layout The building is poorly maintained. The elevator breaks down frequently. For a six-floor hostel with around a dozen rooms per floor, there is only one elevator. Waiting times are extremely long, and when the elevator is out of service, it becomes very inconvenient. Additionally, power outlets are placed inside lockers. Are guests expected to stand while charging their devices? This is a hostel where you basically need to bring your own power board to function normally. 3. Poor kitchen conditions and careless staff The kitchen is located in the basement with very poor ventilation and strong oil smells. During regular fridge clean-ups, staff often mishandle guests’ food bags, causing spills and mess. Please handle people’s belongings with care. 4. Strong paint smell and disregard for health The hostel frequently repaints stair skirting boards, leaving strong paint smells throughout the building. Ventilation is poor, and this raises serious concerns about guests’ health. Instead of fixing major issues, management seems overly focused on repeatedly repainting the same areas.

DS

Della Steen

4/5Google· 2 months ago

The staff were excellent and flexible. My flight from USA landed at 7am. They let me check in early, have a shower and eat their free breakfast while I waited for my bed to be ready. Cheerful, helpful, friendly staff. I had messaged FOUR hostels in Sydney City asking about early check-in, and "790 on George" hostel was the only one to reply. Thank you. You got my business. Though your communal kitchen could do with some maintenance, I REALLY appreciated you offering a free breakfast: cereal and toast plus coffee. Thank you!!

FC

Foodie Couple

1/5Google· 4 months ago

Unfortunately my experience was disappointing. Lift is always not working🚨⚠️😐 The biggest issue is that the lift is not working and staff informed guests that it will not be repaired until the end of July. The hostel has 5 to 6 floors, and carrying heavy luggage up and down multiple flights of stairs is extremely inconvenient. It is also frustrating when you forget something in your room and have to climb several floors again, especially when using the kitchen. Another problem is the bathroom facilities. There are signs asking guests not to throw toilet paper into the toilet, but there are no bins provided in any of the bathrooms, including the kitchen bathroom. This creates confusion and inconvenience for guests. Housekeeping is also very slow because of only 2 lady staff for entire hostel. Cleaning starts around 11 AM and finishes around 3 PM, apparently because there are only two housekeeping staff members managing the entire hostel. Considering the room rates, management should hire at least one or two more staff members. Since guests prefer lower-floor rooms while the ⚠️🚨lift is out of service, those rooms should be prioritized for cleaning. Instead, some rooms are not ready until 2 PM or later, which is very late for check-in. I personally had to wait around 5 hours for my room. In comparison, hostels such as YHA Sydney Central and Nomads Sydney are much better organized. Their rooms are usually available much earlier, the facilities are cleaner, and they have working lifts. Overall, it feels like guest comfort is not being given enough attention. Until the 🚨⚠️lift is repaired and housekeeping resources are improved, I would have difficulty recommending this hostel. 🙏🙏💡One suggestion for management would be to increase housekeeping support. Apart from full time paid staff, the hostel could consider hiring 2 to 3 additional workers through accommodation exchange programs. Many travelers and backpackers are willing to help with housekeeping for a few hours each morning in exchange for free dormitory accommodation and a small weekly allowance for groceries. This model is already used successfully by many hostels around Australia. It would help rooms become available earlier, improve cleanliness, and create a better experience for guests without significantly increasing operating costs.

SI

store Innerneed

1/5Google· 5 months ago

Honestly, for a similar price, you’re much better off staying at YHA. Service: Very disappointing experience. One of the front desk staff (named Yasmin) came across as quite unprofessional and selective in how she treated guests. When I asked about changing rooms, she responded with a sarcastic tone and told me there was no availability — however, other staff members later proved that changes were actually possible. There also seems to be a routine room check, but the way it was handled felt uncomfortable. Comments about “bad smells” were made in shared rooms in a way that didn’t feel respectful. At the same time, similar situations in mixed rooms didn’t seem to receive the same reaction. It gave an impression of inconsistent standards. Facilities: Very basic — even for a hostel. Limited storage space, inconvenient power outlet placement (inside lockers), and frequent elevator issues. Hygiene: Below expectations. The room and kitchen areas felt unclean, with noticeable unpleasant odors. I even experienced skin irritation after staying, which was concerning. Overall: Not a comfortable stay. Would not recommend unless there are absolutely no alternatives.

LH

Luke Hartley

4/5Google· 10 months ago

Its a really solid hostel. Nothing flash, but very functional and meets your basic needs. Props to the young aussie lady and two dudes with cool hair styles for running a tight ship and been ultra helpful and friendly on the reception desk. Also the other woman with a dope playlist and good fashion sense. And props to the housekeeping team, its a thankless jobs but you guys look like you actually enjoy it and the cleanliness and team camaraderie didn't go amiss. (Sorry don't know names) Shout out to Magna too the in house magician with a paint brush. The place has character and your not served my robots or zombies. Also unlike Azzuro Darling Harbour this place isn't falling apart and with foul smelling drains. Breakfast is cheap and cheerful, bed frames squeaky but beds nice and comfy, ample storage space in locker and decent showers designed in a way that doesn't flood the entire floor after only a few uses, unlike many other hostel I stayed in. Room always felt fresh and air con worked fine. Great central location a minutes walk from Central Station and Chinatown. With World Square Coles and Market City eateries and shops close by. And the light rail line running parallel to hostel. Would definitely recommend for short or medium term stays on a budget. :) Will stay again if I return to Sydney. Keep up the good work!