Island Backpackers Reviews

There was a little dust on the bed, but everything else was great. It had all the essentials: a hairdryer, a shower, a washing machine, and laundry detergent. There was free bread with dipping sauces, hot and cold water available. The owner was very nice and spoke three languages. The location was excellent, very close to the bustling downtown area, only a three-minute walk, and a five-minute walk to the pier.

I like the location, super close to the port, and going around the center, the people working there super nice, and helped me a lot, it’s pretty cheap so i was not expecting much, they provide locker for your bags or valuable stuff this is the only photo i took lol

service very good, staff friendly

Excellent, very satisfied! The environment is great with spacious rooms, and the service attitude is exceptional. It's not far from dining spots in town, although the immediate surroundings aren't the best. The front desk staff were very helpful.

After an exhausting island hopping tour, don't even think about a decent shower here. The water pressure is so incredibly low it's infuriating; you'll spend ages just waiting for it to rinse off, and it's like this in all the bathrooms. As for the rooms, the door lock was broken and just fell off, and the pillowcases and duvet covers were of questionable hygiene. They play word games with the room types; all other single rooms clearly state shared bathrooms, but the double room description cleverly omits this, burying it in the fine print, just waiting to stab you in the back. I could tolerate all the previous issues, but the service was the most infuriating. Before booking, I repeatedly confirmed they had lockers for backpacks. Yet, on the day of my excursion, I was told the lockers had no keys, leaving me completely stranded and frustrated.

Probably one of the best hostels in the area. Great value for money. The problem is Semporna itself, which is a devastated town. The staff was always friendly. I would return.

Great value for money, really cheap. The front desk staff were very nice and helpful. You can walk to the pier, but if you're a girl walking alone at night, you might want to be careful. It's best to go with friends or not return too late.

Unfortunately, the room had a strong musty smell due to the lack of a window, and the bathrooms were very basic.

Good hostel with helpful staff. The beds are good and clean. The bathroom could be cleaner. Overall, very good value for money. I did an organized trip to the island with the hostel and the price seemed good.

I wouldn't recommend this place for solo female travelers. I stayed in a double room with a window. I had to carry my luggage up to the third floor. The hallway was quite dirty, accessed through a small glass door. The sheets and duvet covers were very old, and there were tiny spiders on the door that would crawl out when opened or closed. The room had a strong smell of mothballs that gave me a headache, and I barely slept all night. Afterward, I developed a sore throat and a cough, which unfortunately ruined my subsequent island hopping trip.

bins weren’t emptied in the rooms until 4 days of staying. watched staff put clean linen on a dirty bed for a few hours before changing for a new person. water wasn’t working at all on the first day, then only worked for one side the rest of the time. staff coming into the room at 11pm and turning the main light on was very disruptive.

Perfect location, right next to the night market and close to the jetty for excursions.

The bathrooms could be cleaner. The rooms are great and the staff are lovely.

Excellent! Even after checking out, I was able to relax and even take a shower. I could also nap on the sofas in the lobby. The staff there were all very good.