1849 Backpackers Albany

Reception is very friendly and helpful. Overall the facilities available are very good and the location is good too.

pros: Dorm room is in the acceptable way and spacious. not bad wooden building.Some receptionists are nice. location is good tho. cons: but it seems they clean the bathroom too frequently even every night time around 9 pm something you need to wait for volunteers finishing their duty so u can go for shower which drives me crazy. At lunch time they got staff cleared kitchen area spraying annoying chemicals while you were cooking as well. Laundry room always too busy to do wash. I need to pay more than 8 dollars got my clothes dried. it’s ridiculous. kinda 100% work hostel without much working and holiday vibe. I stayed here more than two months out of love for the weather and beaches there and I decided to home. Then something I didn’t expect happened. For I wrongly transfer them one week fee for extension( I only stay two more nights) I was told no return even I told them I almost run out of my savings. so I had to ask help from bank for withdrawal.Finally they agreed to return part of them. I thought this dispute was over in the end. When I checked out I handed out keys and cutlery for refund of deposit, manager refused to return and beat around the bush asking me to leave.Rude and greedy. I don’t recommend there if you are backpacker planning stay in Albany for few months.

1849 has the potential to be a great place but unfortunately the owner and his workers lack respect and the customer service to Excell. I would not recommend. Ab the owner is not very good with communicating his emotions and he is very money oriented. The opportunity to make this business Excell would be change of ownership and better public relations and his woman to take charge. Thankyou for ab experience but I would be coming back. Good day sir.

A certain type of traveller may find this place quite suitable. It is actually in a top location in Albany. But you would need to be ok with noise and a very dirty kitchen: 2 of the biggest failures of this place. Best to avoid here if you want a good night's sleep or like to have clean utensils to cook with.

We booked 2 nights for a family of four as we couldn’t find any other accommodation on a Saturday night in Albany and we didn’t have a car. We had just finished hiking the Bibbulmun Track and my husband was at the Albany Hospital for a hip problem when I booked. The hostel was filthy, there was not a single cup, plate or spoon in the communal kitchen, the bathrooms were dirty, ********* fumes were all through the place, young people were high and yelling and acting crazy. We paid $320 for two nights and when we asked for our money back for the second night to book elsewhere they refused. The place should be condemned !! Big lesson learned for us !!! Abraham who checked us in was lively.

I've been there before this last time, so I told two more friends that it was ok to be there. But this last time was disappointing overall. I told them it was a simple hostel but it was ok in terms of cleanliness and staff. But when we arrived to check in, it was a huge scare for our eyes, even for me, who already knew the hostel. Cigarette pollution even in prohibited areas and the hostel entrance was very dirty. I was very ashamed of the girls (after all, they only stayed there because I said it was okay… fights, swearing, many of them are disrespectful. They slam doors all night. Then there are those who insist on waking up early and doing even more noise, it was not even 5 am). We couldn't sleep. This time we didn't even want to leave things in the room while we were out as we were really worried that someone was going to break into our room. We felt unsafe the entire time we were there, and we only went there to shower and sleep (we even avoided getting some rest during the day because that was impossible). The manager was pleasant and welcoming. This was my third and last time at this place, in other stays there I didn't have any problems. It's a strange place - a mix of hostel and halfway house with "very strange people". What a shame 1849 has reached this level, I had already recommended it several times to friends and I know friends who recommended it to me there for the first time. But this will also come to the notice of all the people I know so they don't go through the suffocation and despair it was for us this last time. read less

We often stay in back packers if only one night and accommodation is hard to find. We always book a private couple room, like supporting back packers! BUT this place 1849 was terrible. Run down, crazy management, the photos on website nothing like reality. We think it's a hostel now? Seemed many people were living long term. I would warn any holidaying families NOT to stay here. It is not a holiday place! There was a young mum with 2 small children living in a room. And long term elderly there too. I felt for these people and glad they had accommodation. But it should not be advised as a back packers. It was hectic, noisy and shambolic. Run down, messy. A night I'll never forget. It's the right community responsibility to post this honest warning review.

Fantastic place to stay in Albany. Historic building with very clean rooms and facilities. Friendly and helpful staff and superb location. Free off-street parking. A bit quiet when I was there but being offseason and still not many backpackers in the country it’s not surprising. For me a positive.