Backpackers Imperial Hotel

Sign on the outdoor table outside the night entry said that people should be quiet from 10pm. On Friday and Saturday nights they were still really loud with music playing and shouting and laughing. Cigarette and cannabis smoke came straight into my window one floor up and filled my room. It was HORRENDOUS. No one polices how selfish the people are who use this outside social area. There are cigarette butts all over the ground outside the night entry and it is quite disgusting to use. The reception is also open very limited hours and even if you manage to arrive in time to be served by someone in reception, you have to figure out where everything is yourself. I never found the kitchen and had to fill my water bottle in the bathroom every day. There are also only stairs everywhere (and the hostel is on the first floor) which is difficult to navigate with a suitcase. The pillow on the bed is very thin so it’s almost like you’re not using one. The water in the shower takes forever to warm up and then almost doesn’t get hot at all. Luckily I stayed in summer so I didn’t need the temperature to be very hot. I stayed in a single room and I would not recommend this hostel. They put the price of the room up ‘because of demand’ but the noise and the cigarette smoke were truly unbearable. You simply had to have the window of the room open (which didn’t have a flyscreen) because the room is tiny and had heated up a lot during the afternoon sun. The room was a lot hotter than outside.

Liked: Room seemed clean.
Disliked: Common area noise and cigarette smoke in room.

Terrible stay, may as well...

Liked: Nothing whatsoever
Disliked: Everything about the joint

Pleasant

Passable

Very loud, uninterested staff and...

Liked: It was in a decent location and thats about it
Disliked: There is no hot water in any of the showers which is just ridiculous seeing as its about 3 degrees outside in hobart during winter, staff were rude and seemed to be annoyed everytime i asked them a question, rooms were really loud and also the reception was only there till 2.30pm every day which felt kind of weird and seems a bit dangerous. Also from what I experienced, majority of people staying here are men which as a women didn’t make me feel really that safe. There was zero vibe at all and no real common area or hang out spot. Obviously understand that its a backpackers and I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels and backpackers around the world and this one was not worth the money. Had I known there were no warm showers would have been enough for me to not book here.

Pleasant

Freezing Cold

Liked: Room was fine, bare basics - cheap and great location
Disliked: Shower had no hot water (during very cold rainy weather) Building is something of a maze, loud noises all throughout the night from other rooms.

Would not stay again

Liked: The location was great
Disliked: The showers were cold No elevator only stairsNo reception or staff available after 3pm Had to enter via a dark alley way after 3pm The room was tiny and it had no heating The mattress and pillows made the sleep hard and impossible

10/10

Liked: My single room is so comfortable and all I need. The wifi is great which is super important as I work remotely from home sometimes. So many nooks to chill, study, work, socialise or hang out alone and all in a beautiful historic building. Highly recommend staying here for budget friendly and comfortable lodgings. All the guests are calm, relaxed, quiet and friendly. Ann was a delight to speak with on the phone and sorted out a room for me straight away!

Avoid

Liked: Location
Disliked: Facilities were dirty, shower was cold and dirty and room was cold