Asylum Cairns Share House
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Asylum Cairns Share House
149 Grafton St, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
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About
3.5
#21 of 34 hostels in CairnsLocation
Cleanliness
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Value
Mega Share house for sober and quiet long term residents. Suitable for students and professionals alike.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Vending machine
Airport transportation
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Laundry service
Parking
Internet
Outdoor pool
Non-smoking hotel
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Safe
Telephone
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Languages Spoken
English
Location
149 Grafton St, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 88 out of 100
88
Cairns Airport
4.8 km•
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43 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
150Reviews1Q+A12Room tips
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Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
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Detailed Reviews
Lots of social events and chances to meet people, cheap rooms, hot showers and communal computer available for free.
The rooms were a bit shabby but then it's a backpacker hostel and super cheap so you cant really complain. If you're looking for a place to meet people and see Cairns for cheap then this is it. Anything else any you'll be disappointed.
The rooms were a bit shabby but then it's a backpacker hostel and super cheap so you cant really complain. If you're looking for a place to meet people and see Cairns for cheap then this is it. Anything else any you'll be disappointed.
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Date of stay: August 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When our bus pulled outside the hostel my first thought was OMG look at the state of this place. Walking into check in, was very clustered with stuff everywhere however the staff seemed very friendly.
Took quite a while to check in but probably because there was a group of us.
Got to the room, very basic however had no air con but had a ceiling fan, which helped slightly. Mattress was the most uncomfortable thing I've slept on.
Hostel was clean and staff were helpful. I felt a lot of people staying there were actually living there.
Don't expect much as it is only $15 a night.
Took quite a while to check in but probably because there was a group of us.
Got to the room, very basic however had no air con but had a ceiling fan, which helped slightly. Mattress was the most uncomfortable thing I've slept on.
Hostel was clean and staff were helpful. I felt a lot of people staying there were actually living there.
Don't expect much as it is only $15 a night.
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Date of stay: November 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ok so the kitchen cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired the rooms are nowhere near 5* but that's missing the point!
if you are staying here the staff are helpful and easily approachable the whole hostel vibe is to make friends and party they arrange a weekly pub crawl which if you are travelling alone and want to get to know people is great, all the inmates were fairly approachable and if you want a good time go here!!
if you are staying here the staff are helpful and easily approachable the whole hostel vibe is to make friends and party they arrange a weekly pub crawl which if you are travelling alone and want to get to know people is great, all the inmates were fairly approachable and if you want a good time go here!!
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Date of stay: November 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at asylum for a few days and have had a blast. Great friendly vibes from everyone. I was made to feel included as soon as I walked through the door. The amenities and accommodation are basic but clean and well looked after. The kitchen is huge with everything you need. 100% would recommend this place to other travellers.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I usually go along with the "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all", but this place holds a special place in my memory. After six months of travelling and staying in several hostels in various countries, this place still shocks me. It's advertised by backpackers as a great value and wonderful way to meet people with all the social events. When my boyfriend and I checked in, we had high expectations. Crackers (receptionist) was incredibly friendly and offered a lot of help. Then it all went down hill.
The room we stayed in didn't have lockers and the four other people in our six bed dorm had stuff littered across the room (clearly had been there for a long time). The air-con unit didn't work properly and the bunk beds were really squeaky, which were annoying when bunk-mates arrived at 2AM drunk to go to bed. We were happy that the place was only a short walk to the main area (but so are many other hostels).
Then, on the second night, I was attacked by bed bugs. If it were just a few bugs and a few bites, I probably wouldn't have cared, but the bed was infested with both large and infant bed bugs that were even crawling in broad daylight (not normal). I asked one of the guys at the desk if we could change rooms and he told us that he'd switch the mattresses for us instead. We didn't want to cause a fuss, so we said sure, as long as the problem was fixed.
He stripped the bed and put the sheets (still with visible bedbugs) on the floor and took the mattress outside. We left the hostel to give him time to change the bed. Four hours later (and 100+ bites itching) we went back to the hostel to find the same sheets with the same bedbugs on the floor and my same mattress outside. He either gave up on the idea of helping us or just forgot. When we said that we were going to switch hostels, he started giving us excuses about how you can get bed bugs at the best of hotels and it's not the hostels fault. I agree...no place can prevent bedbugs, but a hostel/hotel can take responsibility for their beds/ bedrooms.
They kept our deposit and made us bring the bedbug ridden sheets to the front desk in order to get the key deposit back. Once they realized that we were miserable and less than satisfied, the same guy that was complacent to help in the first place offered to drive us to the YHA a few blocks away.
Aside from my personal catastrophe:
The kitchen was pretty gross and dishes were stacked in the sink with bugs for the two days we were there. The showers / bathrooms were a bit rundown, but manageable. The sitting area was always clustered with "residents" more so than backpackers and the internet was only free in 15 minute intervals (and was fairly slow). I hope they changed, but I wouldn't stay there if it were free.
The room we stayed in didn't have lockers and the four other people in our six bed dorm had stuff littered across the room (clearly had been there for a long time). The air-con unit didn't work properly and the bunk beds were really squeaky, which were annoying when bunk-mates arrived at 2AM drunk to go to bed. We were happy that the place was only a short walk to the main area (but so are many other hostels).
Then, on the second night, I was attacked by bed bugs. If it were just a few bugs and a few bites, I probably wouldn't have cared, but the bed was infested with both large and infant bed bugs that were even crawling in broad daylight (not normal). I asked one of the guys at the desk if we could change rooms and he told us that he'd switch the mattresses for us instead. We didn't want to cause a fuss, so we said sure, as long as the problem was fixed.
He stripped the bed and put the sheets (still with visible bedbugs) on the floor and took the mattress outside. We left the hostel to give him time to change the bed. Four hours later (and 100+ bites itching) we went back to the hostel to find the same sheets with the same bedbugs on the floor and my same mattress outside. He either gave up on the idea of helping us or just forgot. When we said that we were going to switch hostels, he started giving us excuses about how you can get bed bugs at the best of hotels and it's not the hostels fault. I agree...no place can prevent bedbugs, but a hostel/hotel can take responsibility for their beds/ bedrooms.
They kept our deposit and made us bring the bedbug ridden sheets to the front desk in order to get the key deposit back. Once they realized that we were miserable and less than satisfied, the same guy that was complacent to help in the first place offered to drive us to the YHA a few blocks away.
Aside from my personal catastrophe:
The kitchen was pretty gross and dishes were stacked in the sink with bugs for the two days we were there. The showers / bathrooms were a bit rundown, but manageable. The sitting area was always clustered with "residents" more so than backpackers and the internet was only free in 15 minute intervals (and was fairly slow). I hope they changed, but I wouldn't stay there if it were free.
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Date of stay: December 2010Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â stay at the YHA
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I should have read the reviews. My partner and I booked this place last-minute. What a mistake that was. Disgusting and dirty are the words that come to my mind when I think of this rat-infested hole. My partner and I stayed here for a night and it was the absolute worst hostel I have ever stayed in. I've traveled a lot and have stayed in many backpackers and hostels but this was the worst place. We didn't even use the shower because they so dirty and disgusting. We barely slept because the walls are paper thin a.k.a non-existing. The walls and window frames in our room weren't even stable - they were broken! Our room was literally falling apart. I didn't take any photos as I didn't want any memories. We checked out as soon as we could and found a nice hostel a few blocks away that charged us LESS. I wouldn't even recommend this place to my enemies.
Note: If you own Asylum, take my advice: TEAR IT DOWN! re-build something DECENT. You should be embarassed that you're actually charging people to stay somewhere so crappy.
Note: If you own Asylum, take my advice: TEAR IT DOWN! re-build something DECENT. You should be embarassed that you're actually charging people to stay somewhere so crappy.
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Date of stay: August 2010Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
i have been travelling and backpacking through south east asia and australia for 13 months and this place is by far the most disgusting place i have ever stayed!! The only positive is that the staff we pretty friendly, and it is quite a good place to meet people if you are travelling alone but apart from that its the most awful place i have ever stayed. It may be cheap, but there are plenty of other hostels just as cheap as this one in Cairns and they are a lot closer to the cbd and aren't disgusting and dirty! My bedroom was gross, people has there crap everywhere, there were really small lockers that were infested with mould and rust so i didnt even touch them not that they would've been much use anyway, the room stank, it smelt so bad and didnt go away the whole time i was there, the air con didnt work properly and the one time we actually tried to make it work and put it on the owner came round and told us to turn it off during the day because she obviously wants to save money, the cheek, what does she think we are paying for? because it certainly wasnt a great room at great value. My mattress was covered is dirt and mould, and the beds are SO squeaky, you actually feel like they are about to collapse, also one night when i stayed in on my laptop, rain was hitting the roof hard, and there was mould falling from the celling right above me (i was on top bunk) onto the keys of my laptop! Peole were constantly having sex in the rooms and there was always a lot of noise (which i actually wouldnt usually complain about but it just made a bad experience a whole lot worse). The bathrooms were flooded when i got there so i could only use the outdoor bathrooms, which were disgusting, i would actually save going to the toilet in a public place because it was bound to be far more pleasant than going at assylum. The kitchen was quite well equipped i give it that, but was dirty, washing up was never done properly, and the kettle, toaster and fridges didnt work!
I like drinking and going out and socialising, but doing it every single night just isnt my thing, it doesnt really appeal to me, but after being invitied out a couple of times i felt rude declining and thought i may aswell try it, so i joined in on the 'mad monday' night they do, (the only good thing that came of this was the free internet) we went to woolshed and had a meal, pretty basic but pasta and sauce and then we did get some free drinks after, which is good, but everyone was wearing the same assylum t-shirt, and jumping on tables doing stupid things and chating and stuff and i was just embarassed, everyone else in the bar was constantly staring, i felt like an idiot being with them, i felt like i was 16 years old again and part of like a summer camp or a school trip after my GCSE's, and i wasnt the only one who felt like that, so i decided to bail on the night after about an hour and returned back to the hostel. I left the next day after staying there for 4 nights, i must admit that i did start to get used to the place a bit more after a couple of nights but once i left i realised i shouldn't have had to put up with such bad conditions, especially after i moved to another hostel right in the center of the cty, which was $13 a night and so clean and spacious with a lot more facilities!
I know this is a pretty harsh review, and i really am not some snobby stuck up girl who cant rough it or handle a bit of dirt, but asslyum was just a new level of dirty and unhygenic and i just cant beieve that they expect people to pay to stay in such poor conditions. I wouldn't reccommend this place to anyone unless they change, there are plenty of other cheap places you can stay in Cairns.
I like drinking and going out and socialising, but doing it every single night just isnt my thing, it doesnt really appeal to me, but after being invitied out a couple of times i felt rude declining and thought i may aswell try it, so i joined in on the 'mad monday' night they do, (the only good thing that came of this was the free internet) we went to woolshed and had a meal, pretty basic but pasta and sauce and then we did get some free drinks after, which is good, but everyone was wearing the same assylum t-shirt, and jumping on tables doing stupid things and chating and stuff and i was just embarassed, everyone else in the bar was constantly staring, i felt like an idiot being with them, i felt like i was 16 years old again and part of like a summer camp or a school trip after my GCSE's, and i wasnt the only one who felt like that, so i decided to bail on the night after about an hour and returned back to the hostel. I left the next day after staying there for 4 nights, i must admit that i did start to get used to the place a bit more after a couple of nights but once i left i realised i shouldn't have had to put up with such bad conditions, especially after i moved to another hostel right in the center of the cty, which was $13 a night and so clean and spacious with a lot more facilities!
I know this is a pretty harsh review, and i really am not some snobby stuck up girl who cant rough it or handle a bit of dirt, but asslyum was just a new level of dirty and unhygenic and i just cant beieve that they expect people to pay to stay in such poor conditions. I wouldn't reccommend this place to anyone unless they change, there are plenty of other cheap places you can stay in Cairns.
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I came out of here itching. Litter on the street outside left by Asylum guests; a mess inside. The dirtiest mattress I have ever slept on - hence the itching, no doubt. A pool that looked as if it needed a serious clean, toilets that didn't flush, bathrooms that needed a proper cleaning, cockroaches all over the bedroom, very loud guests who were either pilled-up or sloshed on cheap box wine making noise until well after dawn, staff that were rude, uncaring and incompetent. A free breakfast that was a bowl of cereal. I wouldn't recommend this to an enemy, never mind a friend. There are much better choices in Cairns, believe me.
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Date of stay: May 2010Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I wish I had read these reviews before staying here. 1 week we were booked in for, but left after 1 night (and I feel like I should receive an achievement award just for this). I don't understand how they can call themselves a 'hostel' when they can only just provide the most basic of facilities.
It starts with reception, well a reception 'area', that's not actually indoors, in fact it's just on a concrete slab underneath an old house. They don't even have a computer for bookings, they just use a novelty sized book and physically pencil in each reservation. To close at night they just rope an old tarp around the base of the house and toe it off at the pool fence.
The whole place screams South American favela, though sadly without all the pretty colours. There isn't enough time in the world to list everything that is appalling about this hostel, so bullet points will have to suffice;
- The mattresses were plastic, we had to baby wipe them down
- The windows were jammed open and the curtain/old sarong didn't cover them
-there was a hole in our roof, and tiles missing on the floor
- room mate below me was having incredibly loud drunken sex
- the bathroom sink was actually set onto of 6 cinder building blocks
- the pool was full of a mixture of dirt, cans and general pool slime
- bunch of me. Drinking below our room, literally all night. I had to pass them and their 100s of empty beer bottles, and 7am on my way to the kitchen.
$21 per night was far too much to pay for this place, how has fair trading not shut them down already?
It starts with reception, well a reception 'area', that's not actually indoors, in fact it's just on a concrete slab underneath an old house. They don't even have a computer for bookings, they just use a novelty sized book and physically pencil in each reservation. To close at night they just rope an old tarp around the base of the house and toe it off at the pool fence.
The whole place screams South American favela, though sadly without all the pretty colours. There isn't enough time in the world to list everything that is appalling about this hostel, so bullet points will have to suffice;
- The mattresses were plastic, we had to baby wipe them down
- The windows were jammed open and the curtain/old sarong didn't cover them
-there was a hole in our roof, and tiles missing on the floor
- room mate below me was having incredibly loud drunken sex
- the bathroom sink was actually set onto of 6 cinder building blocks
- the pool was full of a mixture of dirt, cans and general pool slime
- bunch of me. Drinking below our room, literally all night. I had to pass them and their 100s of empty beer bottles, and 7am on my way to the kitchen.
$21 per night was far too much to pay for this place, how has fair trading not shut them down already?
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Date of stay: November 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
staying this place prompted me to start using trip advisor. i wish id read the reveiews here before booking but happened to come across a flyer for the place before we landed... saw the location was central and took it from there.
bed bugs. bad attitude. super drunk roomies. dirty dirty dirty. i've heard crazy stories from people since leaving this dump and can't say it loud enough - dont stay here!
bed bugs. bad attitude. super drunk roomies. dirty dirty dirty. i've heard crazy stories from people since leaving this dump and can't say it loud enough - dont stay here!
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Date of stay: April 2012Trip type: Travelled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes we can have someone available to check you in around midnight. We just need to know in advance to expect you as the office usually closes at 10pm.
Please contact us to arrange this.
regards
Asylum Cairns
"rooms behind the kitchen are quieter close to the esplanade and CBD can book tours with the reception"Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
asylum cairns backpacker hotel cairns
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Asylum Cairns Backpacker Hostel
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandCairns RegionCairns
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Asylum Cairns Share House
Which popular attractions are close to Asylum Cairns Share House?
Nearby attractions include Cairns Aquarium (0.4 km), Reef Encounter (0.4 km), and Muddy's Playground (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Asylum Cairns Share House?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Asylum Cairns Share House?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Asylum Cairns Share House?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Asylum Cairns Share House?
Conveniently located restaurants include Mi Piace Espresso Bar, Dundee's At The Cairns Aquarium, and Bagus Cafe.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Asylum Cairns Share House?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Asylum Cairns Share House have airport transportation?
Yes, Asylum Cairns Share House offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Asylum Cairns Share House located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Cairns.
Are any cleaning services offered at Asylum Cairns Share House?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.