$12 per night, 10 bed mixed dorm with shared bathroom, 22nd December 2014 and 3rd January 2015
$35 per night, double room with private bathroom, 22nd December 2014
$34 per night, double room with shared bathroom, 3rd January 2014
Vibe
A real mix of young, old and everything in between, both passing through and hanging out for a few days. Multiple communal areas around pool, in bar, kitchen and TV room provide a genuinely friendly environment.
Location
Slightly too far from the bus station to walk (instead requiring a $3 taxi ride) the hostel is located in a residential area, approximately 15 minutes from restaurants and supermarkets.
Best bit
Although we didn't cook in it, the kitchen was excellent with a multi-burner stove and quality fixtures and fittings.
Worst bit
The tree-house dorm, whilst being attractively rustic, is impossible to sleep in without ear-plugs. Whilst the management acknowledge the ongoing 'rooster problem' (we were offered an upgrade to a quieter room immediately upon arrival - although we would have to pay!), to have 10 rooms in your hostel which repeatedly incur complaints and bad reviews, they should consider dropping the price by a more significant amount. $12 is too much.
The double rooms, stayed in by our visiting family, were obscenely over-priced, particularly the 'private double with shared bathroom' - on arriving it became clear that a mistake had be made with the booking and instead of the promised double, it was a single and two bunk-beds. We were given $2 off the price but no apology.
Value for money
Poor. The facilities at the hostel are actually really good quality, and we can only assume that this is the reason for the inflated prices. Not once have we stayed somewhere where the doubles are 3x the price of a dorm and, as stated above, the dorms are overpriced.
Recommended for
Perfectly fine for anybody who finds themselves passing through David on the way north or south.
Top tip
Eat at the fish restaurant across the road - it has been open for 40 years for a reason! Excellent and cheap.
Amenities
Kitchen, wi-fi, tourist information, pool, bar, breakfast can provided for small additional charge, computers for use, communal spaces, English spoken, lockers.
