Cardiff Backpacker is a beautiful little independent hostel, situated a stones throw from the entrance to Bute Park and the city centre, and occupying a promenant position within a great little enclave of local businesses and take-aways. With The Rocking Chair Café-Bar and Diner, serving traditional Caribbean food, and Yummy Yummy, providing authentic well priced Chinese food, and the renowned Madhav's opposite, offering a fantastic selection of homemade Indian delights, its got to be one of the best placed hostels in Europe in terms of convenience. There's also a couple of corner shops here too, selling papers and other essentials for getting the lowdown on Cardiff the moment you arrive.
Of course, you can eat in as well. There's a BBQ in the garden, and hammocks to lounge in whilst you wait! There's all the usual services from internet to pool table. The nightly rate starts at £19.00, with free bed linen and a light breakfast included in the price. Best of all, there's no curfew!
It's a small trek from the station, but well worth the effort. Being a 30 bed hostel, it's really intimate and friendly, and is staffed by people like Clare, who has worked here for 12 years, and will make you feel very much at home. There's four private rooms that can be used as a double or a twin.
Sadly, there have been a few changes in recent years. Cardiff Backpacker
Is now only open at the weekends. The owner of this hostel is also the owner of NosDa, a 170 bed hostel, slightly closer to town, which boasts better facilities as well as a slightly more central location. For one, there's a gym... but... er... well... not wanting to be impolite... but, I'm of the opinion that staggering around from city to city with my rucksack on my back, constitutes a mega workout, besides which, my explorations in general provides me with all the exercise I need... it's home comfort that I'm looking for! Show me to that hammock!
So, if it's large and impersonal that you want, head to NosDa, but if it's intimate and friendly that you're after, then make your way to Cardiff Backpacker. read more