Katoomba Hostels

Blue Mountains YHA is located close to the train and incredible bush walks. I took a school group of 14 Duke of Edinburgh students and they all loved the experience. Clean rooms, spacious lounge with a fire and great communal kitchen. We used the outdoor BBQ to cook burgers. All supplies easily purchased from the supermarket next door. We were even treated to a special breakfast on our first morning. I will definitely be back!

On arrival the place appeared rundown but not terribly bad. We arrived late and settled into a shared 4 bed dorm. We got lucky and it was just us to start. After an hour of sleep on a bed of rocks, a guest (who was called an annoyance by staff to me) was placed in our room. The gentleman was drunk and noisy upon arrival, up and down with all the lights on and off at least once an hour. This would have been fine except I was informed by an unapologetic and rude staff member the next day (hours after checking out) that there was a spare room he could have been placed in. Being in a shared dorm you expect other travellers, we ourselves had just driven for 15 hours from queensland. The first thing we were hoping to do upon arrival was shower, alas there was no towels to be found anywhere in the premises. And not for a lack of searching either as I searched both that night and the next morning before we left. The room was provided with a tiny electric space heater, which combined with a broken window and high ceilings, did nothing to keep any heat as we froze in our beds all night to the sound of our roommates jet plane snoring. The next morning we promptly checked ourselves out by 10am. Whilst we waited to see if any staff would show (in case you're wondering, they didnt), we shopped around online for a new hotel. Having found a new hotel who could get us in (and with a working shower) by 11am we sent a text to the property asking them to contact us. I prebooked 2 beds for 10 nights, of which we stayed for 1. None of which has been refunded, or acknowledged, after multiple attempts to contact the hostel I was told to take it up with booking.com from the rudest staff member I had yet to speak to. After following all the steps on booking.com I was ignored by the property for 10 days. In this time I have called and sent multiple messages to the property. I would not recommend my worst enemy stay with the conditions we were greeted with. I am yet to receive any communication from the hostel regarding my stay.