Sydney hostel named best in Australia

A Sydney backpackers accommodation has been named the best in Australia, beating the Queensland spot that’s won for the past five years.

A Sydney hostel just outside the city’s biggest transport hub has pulled off an upset win to be crowned the best hostel in Australia.

Wake Up! Sydney Central, just outside Central station, claimed the top prize in the Hostelworld Customer Annual Ratings awards — dubbed the “HOSCARs” — announced today.

It beat last year’s winner Travellers Oasis in Cairns, which had previously been named Australia’s best hostel in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The HOSCAR awards are based on 1.1 million customer reviews of the 17,700 properties across the world listed on Hostelworld over the past year.

Wake Up! Sydney Central has been named Australia's best hostel in the annual HOSCAR awards by Hostelworld.

The reviews are based on factors such as value for money, customer experience, security, location, cleanliness and facilities.

Wake Up! Sydney Central has a rating of 9.3 from close to 8500 reviews on Hostelworld.

Guests have praised its great staff, cleanliness and excellent location, right near the main transport hub and close to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, the CBD and the trendy inner city suburb of Surry Hills.

It’s the first time it has won the prize.

Other highlights include free walking tours, a packed schedule of social events, and the nightclub Sidebar located next door. There is a mix of accommodation options available, with rooms starting from $35, tax included.

The hostel offers mixed and female-only dorms or private rooms with the option of en suites.

“Fantastic friendly helpful staff, loads of activities in the day and evening, clean rooms and bathrooms, a great coffee bar and kitchen facilities as well as going above and beyond to offer hairdryers, and toiletries to the female only dorms,” one satisfied customer said.

The hostel is conveniently located near Sydney’s major transport hub, Central station.

“No other hostel on the east coast compared!” another guest, from the UK, said. “Super clean, powerful showers (important!), really friendly staff, lights and plugs by every bed and a great atmosphere. Activities every night made it easy to meet people.”

Wake Up! Sydney Central was also named in the top five for Best Extra-Large Hostel worldwide in this year’s HOSCAR awards.

Hostelworld chief executive officer Gary Morrison said the annual awards were an important way to help travellers find a good place to stay.

Wake Up! Sydney Central is rated 9.3 on Hostelworld.

“The importance of peer recommendations is constantly on the rise, as we’re seeing that guest reviews have a greater influence on how customers choose a hostel,” he said.

“The HOSCARs reward the best hostels in the world and remain a trusted way for our customers to identify the experience they want from their travels, and where to find it.”

The global awards also identified the top overseas hostels for Australian travellers. They were Montenegro Hostel 4u in Montenegro, and Carpe Noctem and Retox Party Hostel, both in Hungary.

Guests praised Wake Up! Sydney Central’s cleanliness, staff, location and excellent social opportunities.

OTHER 2020 HOSCAR WINNERS

Best Small Hostel: Roy’s Villa Hostel, Sri Lanka

Best Medium Hostel: Yes! Lisbon Hostel, Portugal

Best Large Hostel: Los Patios Hostel, Colombia

Best Extra-Large Hostel: Wombats City Hostel Vienna – The Naschmarkt, Austria

Top hostel for solo female travellers: Hostel One Prague