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The Backpack Reviews

74 New Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa

Reviews & Ratings Explained

92%Overall Rating

From 173 ratings
  • 92%Character
  • 94%Security
  • 92%Location
  • 91%Staff
  • 92%Atmosphere
  • 92%Cleanliness

The following reviews were submitted by customers who booked in the last 6 months.

The reviews and ratings in the rating box are based on all-time feedback and are the opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up to the minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is. Read our review guidelines »

We now classify our reviewers based on how well travelled they are.

  • Novice Nomad: 1-10 Reviews Added
  • Avid Traveller: 10-20 Reviews Added
  • Globetrotter : 20+ Reviews Added
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83%

Clean and comfortable, especially the bedding! Maybe make the price of parking more apparent so that this can be budgeted for. I was under the initial impression it was a tip not an actual fee. Got a bit of a shock on the way out! Great location and in easy walking distance from the center of town. But the address online does not reflect the actual location of the backpackers. Overall a great stay in a great place!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 14 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • South Africa
  • Female, 25-30
  • (2 reviews)


93%

Amazing. The staff were incredibly helpful. Clean rooms, the most comfortable hostel beds I've stayed in.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 13 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Australia
  • Male, 18-24
  • (1 review)


100%

My second stay at The Backpack was just as fun as my first! On both visits I've found an incredible community of travelers, vacationers, and the hostel employees. I can't recommend this place strongly enough! LOVE IT!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 12 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Female, 18-24
  • (9 reviews)


97%

Great atmosphere! The bar is a nice place to hang out and meet people. The view is excellent! The location very good. I would definitely recommend anyone to come and stay here. A great addon is the private storage in the room that you can lock up your stuff and there are tons of proper safes to use as well. For anyone worrying about security or keeping stuff safe, no need to worry over here. Everything The Backpack has to offer is great! Keep up the good work. Thanks!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 06 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • South Africa
  • Male, 18-24
  • (2 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the awesome review. We are really glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us at The Backpack and most importantly you felt safe and secure while here. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

97%

No doubt the best hostel i've stayed in! Friendly and helpfull staff, clean and nice and awesome atmosphere!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 02 Jan 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Denmark
  • Female, 18-24
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for reviewing our hostel. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us at The Backpack. We always strive to ensure our guests have the best stay possible while in Cape Town if staying with us. We hope you visit us again soon. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

93%

I had an awesome stay there and I was their unofficial party organiser! I would recommend to all!

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the review on Hostelworld. We are really glad to hear you had an awesome stay with us at The Backpack. It is always nice when guests get the chance to go out and party with each other and share stories and adventures. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

93%

Very nice! Sooo clean! A little pricey, may be bexause I was traveling in December. I would highly reccomend it to anyone! Nice atmosphere, and the staff were helpful and friendly :)

  • Novice Nomad
  • 31 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Canada
  • Female, 18-24
  • (2 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the review. We are glad that you found the cleaning standards high at the hostel. Our house-keepers work extremely hard ensuring the hostel stays clean and tidy. It is good to hear that you found the staff helpful and friendly while at The Backpack. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

100%

It´s one of the best hostels I´ve ever been to! Great staff, delicious breakfast.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 28 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Brazil
  • Male, 25-30
  • (7 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the review. It is awesome to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Cape Town while you were staying with us at The Backpack. Our cooks in the cafe, always make sure they serve our guests the best breakfast available on a daily basis. Glad to hear you enjoyed yours. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

77%

Many good things about the hostel but our room was small, dark, stuffy and rather noisy. Not worth the money we paid. Other facilities were good. Didn't appreciate the way the hostel thinks it's entitled to keep your key deposit for their charity without asking you first.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 28 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • China
  • Couple, 31-40
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for reviewing our hostel. It is unfortunate to hear that you weren't happy with your room. We always want to make sure that our guests are comfortable during their stay with us. If key deposits aren't returned the money is donated in your name, but we will first see if we can find a copy of the receipt if you have lost yours. Sorry if you felt that you didn't have a choice. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

90%

very good hostel with excellent car parking, close to long street with all the pubs, try the breakfast in a glass at the hostel bar

  • Novice Nomad
  • 27 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Male, 31-40
  • (7 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the lovely review. It is very useful having the parking lot located in front of the hostel and having a security guard on duty 24/7 is an added benefit too. Glad you enjoyed the breakfasts on offer. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

93%

Fantastic place. Staff could have been more helpful. Otherwise highly recommend.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 26 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Australia
  • Couple, 31-40
  • (2 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the review. We are glad that you enjoyed your overal stay with us. Sorry to hear that you weren't entirely happy witht eh services provided by the staff. We always strive to ensure our guests have the most enjoyable stay possible. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

100%

Loved the friendliness for all generations! Xmas-Bingo was funny and the complimentary Christmas dinner an unexpected wonderful surprise. Only family rooms need a real aircondition/heater as the fans don't help at all - sleep was a luxury under the rooftop with 35 C during the day...and at night it did not really cool down :-(

  • Novice Nomad
  • 23 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Mixed Group, 41+
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
It is lovely to hear that you enjoyed the Xmas Eve Bingo night. We believe at The Backpack that we are a non-agist hostel, and we are glad that you felt that. We currently in the process of installing air-cons into our loft rooms. Hopefully next time you come to visit, the room will be on the cooler side. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

100%

This place was so good, not only did my mum stay, but she loved it too. I stayed in both a dorm room and a private twin room and would recommend both/either. The staff are incredibly helpful and organised all our excursions. The rooms are clean & comfortable, with big lockers. The best is the courtyard/common area, which not only has a stunning view of table mountain but is the perfect place to hang out and meet other people. I recommend the breakfast menu - YUM!

  • Avid Traveller
  • 22 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female, 25-30
  • (14 reviews)


100%

excellent hostel, best i have ever been to. dorm room cleaned and serviced everyday! how good is that? some dorms without bunk beds... wow! superfriendly staff, top security, great location close by Kloof street bars and eateries, shopping and art galleries, the park and right on the way to table mt. iconic view from the bar. and a swimming pool, laundry, wifi... fantastic. little more expensive but worth it. aussie hostels: come and learn!! how to improve: free brekkie? reliable/stronger wifi?

  • Novice Nomad
  • 16 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Italy
  • Male, 41+
  • (8 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks for the great comments they have blown us away! Sorry that you have to pay for your breakfast but hey we don't charge for water - we don't sell water (due to our principals on plastic that is a huge revenue stream that we gave up!!!) at all and we have put in FREE wifi in our reception and cafe area. Our Wifi is the best available and as soon as South Africa gets better we will too but actually its pretty awesome speed and did we mention its FREE???!!!Have a wonderful 2013 and hope to see you back here again. Kind regards The Backpack Team

87%

The backpack has a great location in Cape Town! 3 kilometers to the Table Mountain cablecarstation and one mile to the downtown Cape Town. The sfaff in the hostel is very helpful and friendly but still I hope that the frontdesk manager Mary A. will learn some day to greet her customers!!!! I stayed 18 nights in the hostel and I realized that this is NOT a easy trick for her!!! Other stuff in the reception sold me really top-level tours -like THE GREAT WHITE SHARK adventure! OLLI HAAPALAINEN,FIN

  • Novice Nomad
  • 16 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Finland
  • Male, 41+
  • (5 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for reviewing our hostel. We are glad that you found our location usual during your stay in Cape Town. Our staff always strive to ensure that meet are as helpful to our guests as possible, especially when it comes to booking tours and giving information. Sorry you felt that Mary was unfriendly to you. She always normally has a smile on her face when you see her walking around the hostel. Kind Regards The Backpack Team

87%

Wonderful hostel with lovely staff. Can't beat having breakfast looking at table mountain to get you into the exploring mood. The only criticism is that the hostel could organise some more activities in the evening go get everyone mixing - BBQ, games etc.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 14 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male, 31-40
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks for your advice and we took it to heart and did a Bingo evening on Christmas Eve which was loads of fun - so we will be doing more! We stopped our bbq evenings as there was no demand. We loved them but hey people were voting with their feet! Wishing you a great safe Festive Season Kind regards The BACKPACK Team

100%

When travelling I always stay in hostels and this one is without any doubt in my top 3 hostels: good location, very clean, excellent staff (in particular Primrose at the reception and Lucas behind the bar!)

  • Novice Nomad
  • 08 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Belgium
  • Male, 31-40
  • (4 reviews)


50%

IFood poisoning and very expensive. I was looking for a hostel with free wi-fi and a single room, I found this one, perfect!. What happened next? The only free wi-fi space was the cafe, where the prices are double than anywhere else in Cape Town. Breakfast is not included on the price so I paid. What happened next? Two hours after eating there I started feeling very weak, dizzy and sickening. Went to the clinic and they said I was food poisoned. Thank you for everything guys!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 04 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Spain
  • Female, 31-40
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
So sorry to hear about the bad experience you had whilst staying here. I am sure if we had known we would have done everything to rectify the matter. We will happily re-fund you your breakfast expense. Yes the only free wifi is in the cafe, on the deck and in our reception area. The prices in our cafe are industry related - we serve the best Fair Trade Coffee at R18.00 cheaper than any restaurant selling the equivalent coffee and of course you are not forced to buy anything but we really do hope that our guests get tempted! Wishing you a wonderful festive season The Backpack Team

97%

Great hostel and my first in Africa. The beds are really comfy and the room are really clean. Awesome facilities throughout: toilets, showers, kitchen, pool, tv, lounge, free wifi and lots of spaces all over. It's quite spread out so it takes a little bit to find your way around. It is easy to walk everywhere from the hostel and there are heaps of restaurants and bars near by. Would def stay here again!


97%

Great atmosphere, laid-back and relaxed, communal areas great for socialising and picking up tips. Helpful staff - they extended my stay (twice) without any fuss and even managed to arrange things so I didn't need to switch bunks! Good amenities, clean and comfortable. Location is excellent, near shops for self-catering, restaurants and bars for eating out and for transport (Baz Bus, Cape Town tour bus, taxis) and a manageable walk into town, the V&A, etc. Probably one of the best I've visited.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 03 Dec 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female, 25-30
  • (14 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks so much for your kind words - we really feel proud when we get things right and of course we want to make your stay a memorable one. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Season The Backpack Team

(82 results)


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