I guess it is time for updates on my one whole one week break in Perth. I shall do some introduction bit by bit. I also made three post while I was in Perth here, here and here.

Finding internet in Perth is not cheap. Like seriously. The cheapest I can get is $3.00 per hour. Here at where I am staying, it is $4 per hour. The longer you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Let me start the whole Perth update on where I stayed throughout my duration in Perth. It is The Old Swan Barracks. It is situated in Northbridge on Francis Street. Click for Map.


used to be a real barrack…

Now, why I choose to stay here initially is because, they are recognized and they have good review online. Staying somewhere we have not stayed before, it all depends on reviews. I wanted to choose Perth YHA as our accommodation, but decided instead because the review says that train runs behind the hostel and it can get quite noisy. Furthermore, The Old Swan Barracks is very accessible and not too far away from the city.

The Old Swan Barracks (OSB) is huge! They have three floors and they have all the facilities one need for a long term stay. The most happening place at OSB is the common area. They have a bar, big screen, flat screen LCD tv, dining area, pool tables, computers and space, large space.


they show Simpsons every morning…


the pool tables…

Above is how it looks like during a typical day, but when the sun sets, it is when the fun begins. Every guests will be here and outsiders will come over for a nice drink at the bar while watching the soccer matches played on the big screen.


the bar…


the big screen…

They have a common kitchen, where you can make your daily fix for your stomach. It opens from morning till 11pm and they have chiller and storage cupboards should you need to use them. If they would have allowed guest to enter later than 11pm, I would have made roti canai there already! :P


messy kitchen…


dry storage…


the chiller…

OSB also have washing and dryer facilities, which you have to pay of course. $3 for washing and $1 for 20seconds of dryer usage. The dryer also a little bit faulty, the one far left. Wasted $3 and when the dryer stops, the cloths are still wet. Grrrr….


washing machines…


the dryers…

Unless you want to save some money, you can use the backyard to hang and dry your cloths. If not, while waiting for your cloths to dry, you can play some cards.


the backyard…


playing this card game call “asshole”…

Want to see the rooms? Come let me show you. OSB offers many type of room configurations, from 4 share dorm to 12 share dorm. Jun mentioned that we should take the 4 share dorm to minimize our sharing with other people. That didn’t happen. I will touch on that later.


hahahhaha…


Family Share…

See the difference in the above two pictures? The double bunkers room is where Jun and Rue assigned to and the one below with one queen bed is where I was assigned to. I took the lower bunker in that Family Room.

Now, the rant starts here. You see, I did a reservation on Hostel World and got my first two nights booked at The Old Swan Barracks. When we arrive to check-in, the receptionist told us that we have to be split into two rooms. Reason why? They are fully booked throughout the week. Now, that sucks isn’t it?

So, I didn’t throw my tantrum yet, and accepted as it is. Besides, I’m the one who is staying in another room and I am fine with it as it is a backpackers experience. If Rue an Jun didn’t come with me, I will be staying alone anyways. I had to stay with two Irish guys with their partners. Yes partners found while they were there. Jun and Rue had to stay with one Korean and British.

We kept on extending our stay as our days pass until my 5th and 6th night, I was told that I will be moved to another room. So WTH right? I can’t do much but to accept it. The room they move me into smells strange, so I asked the Irish guys if I can keep on staying with them in the same previous room. They are okay with it.

Why I have to move when the initial room can actually stay 4 pax? They have one bunker bed and a queen size. The two Irish guy agrees to sleep on the queen as they are buddies while the new roomie from New Zealand can take the upper bunker. Reason was, the computer system blocked one pax and they can’t reverse that. How dumb. Argghhhh…

That’s not the worst, Jun and Rue have to be moved into another room for their 6th night. Where? To a six sharing room and I tell you, that room was a mess. This is purely a mistake by the night reception who didn’t extend the night as I have told him too. It seems also that the night and morning shift reception staff don’t communicate much. I don’t know. It seems to me only. How’s the six sharing room? Come, I show you.


uuuurrgghhhh…

Crazy mess it was, Jun decided to get outta of this place and enjoy a night like a royalty would. Where? Soon to be told… Soon to be told…

One lesson to be learnt about staying at Backpackers is to block your room in advance to avoid any inconveniences. By saying block I mean, pay up in advance. If you are the kind of person who is indecisive on what’s going on the next day, too bad, all backpackers run on NO REFUND policy.

Oh wells… what an experience at The Old Swan Barracks.