WakeUp! Sydney Central

Wha? The WakeUp! hostel
Huh? Sydney, Australia
Oh? Massive hostel with good facilities - impersonal though
Und? 7/10, good
Ah! My pleasure!

Nights spent: 7
Room: 703 (10 share)
Check out time: 10am

1. Beds: Standard bunkbeds, a bit squeeky but comfortable enough.
2. Bathroom: Shared with some.. fifty people? Non mixed bathrooms with showers, toilets and sinks, all times four. Clean. The showerheads can't be moved, but you do have some space to turn your butt.
3. Alcohol: Not allowed on the rooms, as the hostel has an alcohol license, prohibiting you from bringing your own. Not enforced, but keep it out of sight! They'll probably kick you out.
4. Kitchen: Standard sized, nothing too fancy. All the needed utensils are there, and plenty.
5. Location: Tres bien, some hundred meters from Central Station. Plenty of public transport near the hostel, but walking to the CBD, harbour and main tourist sights is easy enough. Roughly twenty minutes.
6. Price: For a backpackers', it's expensive, and probably the most I've paid for a hostelbed anywhere, not couting extra holiday charges. In november 2007 and April 2008, around 35A$ for a 6 share dorm.
7. Features: Internet (not free), travel help, job search, SideBar (+!), laundry, 24hour acces.

The WakeUp! is a massive hostel in Central Sydney. It was quite impersonal, not as easy to get in touch with other packers. It does have all the facilities though, and if you're new to the backpackers circuit or just starting your trip, this is a great place. I was quite sick for a couple of days when I arrived here, and I'm very happy about the spacious bathrooms for which I never had to wait. Underneath the hostel is SideBar, a great spot to start your night out in Sydney.

Tips:
* Ask for a room on the fourth floor or up; SideBar parties, and parties hard - every night. If you're higher up, SideBar won't keep you awake.
* Don't use the internet in the WakeUp! as it's sometimes almost four times as expensive as other places. Just around the corner is George Street, which is littered with internetcafes, who charge as little as 2A$ per hour. There's also a GlobalGossip on the corner, for assured quality.