Brown Sugar Backpackers Reviews

There are warnings spread all over the place for absolutely everything (as if the entire audience of that place where teenage Americans), unpolite to say the least. I asked for help to get a cab, the lady at the reception called a gentleman with no taxi license. The car was really old and with windows broken - and, of course, it was not able to reach my destination, it just broke in the middle of the way. Despite the fact the "taxi driver" charged me double. No care for guests.

The swimming pool is a nice place to relax in the sun. What I didn't like is the raillings to close the bedroom...I was feeling as in a prison. I didn't like neither the fact that the television was on all the time and I think that it breaks any opportunity to enjoy this place. That apart, globaly good hostel for 2-3 nights maximum.

great hostel, has everything you need in the one place.

a real breakfast with eggs as wish, slide of cheese , sausage, real muslie, real yugurgt etc..not like everywhere with the basic corn flake and milk ...

Brown Sugar is a very clean hostel, it's got a lot of character (big old mansion), Liesel and what I believe to be her counterpart were very helpful and friendly. The rest of the staff not so much but customer service can be hit and miss. It is more expensive than other hostels I stayed at in Joburg, and the internet is not free, but it is a fun place to stay for the experience and atmosphere. I recommend it for solo travellers especially! Thank you!

I loved Brown Sugar and I look forward to staying there again; very quiet and comfortable and the breakfast was OUTSTANDING. Keep up the good work. LOVED the breakfast! Bill Chandler

Nice Hostel. We stayed there because it was a pick-up point for safari. The staff working there is very friendly. The free airport-pickup-service worked well and perfect. Thank you! Notice: The hostel is in the north-east of Joburg and NOT central.

Good place to crash and helpful staff...plus breakfast included!

Owner extremely nice and helpful. Very comfy bed, great looking hostel. Location a bit far away from everything (supermarket..etc) and taxis more expensive then what you can get elsewhere.

The free pick-up from the airport is great, but to a ride back is really expensive!

Great hostel, staff is very friendly, PC with internet for 20 rand per day is cheaper than average in ZA, just location is quite far from city center - but since we're talking about Jo"burg, its pretty unsafe there anyways...

This stay went wrong from the start as despite following the instructions in the confirmatory email regarding the free pick up, no one was dispatched to get us until we telephoned the hostel after waiting an hour. We never met up with the driver so took a taxi. The lady checking us in barely said a word to us at reception. There were so many 'rules' around the place it felt more like a school than a hostel, and everything but everything is charged for: Internet, towels, using a credit card (5%)

Great place. You have everything you need as a traveler. Location is a bit far from everything so you need transportation everywhere you want to go.

Really lovely, lovely staff who are extremely helpful and welcoming! Get them to drop you at the Mall or in to town - its a bit of a walk to anywhere. The pool could have used a clean out but it was the beginning of summer and rained the night before so might have just been a bad time to have a look at it. Jo'burg isn't the most exciting city but the hostel staff did have plenty of suggestions for trips to sights and activities.

I was very impressed with the owner/managers remembering guests names. Always when I passed through, they would address me by name, ask me how things were going, chat about South Africa/Australia etc...The meal option is great as well, reasonably priced, great food and very convenient.

Brown Sugar was recommended to me as a great place to stay whilst in Johannesburg. My stay there was absolutely brilliant in all ways. Brown Sugar it-self is fantastic and all of the staff are so friendly and always willing to help. I would recommend Brown Sugar to anyone who is staying in Johannesburg - long or short stay..... I am returning to the hotel shortly and am looking forward to my stay once again.....