St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers
St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers
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2.5
#4 of 4 hostels in St LuciaLocation
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Property amenities
Free parking
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Kitchenette
Location
310 Mckenzie Street, St Lucia 3936 South Africa
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 73 out of 100
73
16 Restaurants
within 1 kilometer
86Reviews0Q+A6Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Husband and I spent one night here and that was more than enough. This is the lowest rating I have ever given to an accommodation (or anything else?) on Trip Advisor, so keep in mind I am not one who typically gives bad reviews/ratings. I won't whine about anything at Bibs, as there's really not much to complain about. It was just really pretty dumpy. One of the lamer (lamest?) backpackers we've ever stayed in (and we've backpacked in Peru, Thailand, Swaziland and more, so we have quite a few other places to which we can compare).
On the far end of the "main drag" in St. Lucia, so not even conveniently located either. Service was meh.
I guess we slept okay, but who knows if it was b/c we had a really long day filled w/ activities...
Okay, no more complaining. Just know that I'm certain you can find another backpackers at maybe a slightly higher price that you will find considerably better.
On the far end of the "main drag" in St. Lucia, so not even conveniently located either. Service was meh.
I guess we slept okay, but who knows if it was b/c we had a really long day filled w/ activities...
Okay, no more complaining. Just know that I'm certain you can find another backpackers at maybe a slightly higher price that you will find considerably better.
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Date of stay: June 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at BIBS twice in my 3 years in South Africa, once in December 2008 and recently in April 2010. In 2008 BIBS was nothing special and it served it purposed in the sense it provided me and my friend with a bed and a place to stay during the evenings, it is a backpackers after all. We stayed in the dorm during the night and during the day we were out doing the millions of things you can do in St. Lucia. As the dorms are a bit away from the common areas and the swimming pool, noise levels from the other guests was kept to a minimum and all was well. Most of the tours could be booked right out of BIBS through the reception and we spend a wonderful vacation.
Now, 2010 was a whole different ball park....I truthfully want too...but for the life of me I can't think of any good thing to say about what BIBS has become.
The furniture, the fences, the rooms everything is dirty and coming close to being decrepit. It was extremely unclear who was exactly a employee and who a guest, which made it pretty much impossible to get any information, improvement or organization done during my stay. As I was with my partner this time around we voted to get some extra "comfort" and we opted to get a on-suite double. The double had no windows which made it more like a cave then a room. The shower was broken and dirty. The bed consisted of a wooden frame with a styrofoam mattress with a single old blanket.
Because there were no clear employees it was next to impossible to get any tours going through BIBS and we did all the tours by actually going to other B&B // Backpackers // third parties and organizing it with them.
It is a shame really as BIBS has the location and potential to be great, they just need some (major) cleaning up and organization going, for now I must say that I wouldn't recommend BIBS to anyone, not even the most robust-roughing-it backpacker out there.
Now, 2010 was a whole different ball park....I truthfully want too...but for the life of me I can't think of any good thing to say about what BIBS has become.
The furniture, the fences, the rooms everything is dirty and coming close to being decrepit. It was extremely unclear who was exactly a employee and who a guest, which made it pretty much impossible to get any information, improvement or organization done during my stay. As I was with my partner this time around we voted to get some extra "comfort" and we opted to get a on-suite double. The double had no windows which made it more like a cave then a room. The shower was broken and dirty. The bed consisted of a wooden frame with a styrofoam mattress with a single old blanket.
Because there were no clear employees it was next to impossible to get any tours going through BIBS and we did all the tours by actually going to other B&B // Backpackers // third parties and organizing it with them.
It is a shame really as BIBS has the location and potential to be great, they just need some (major) cleaning up and organization going, for now I must say that I wouldn't recommend BIBS to anyone, not even the most robust-roughing-it backpacker out there.
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Date of stay: April 2010Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at bibs for around 10 nights. I was placed in a 16 person room, which was actually not as bad as it sounds, it was pretty quiet. The place is quite run down, so there were times when there would be no running water (for a few hours tops), and the rooms would get freezing at night.
Other than that I had a really good stay here, the staff was friendly, the food was quite good (for a backpackers), and there were quite a few places to go in the area. A small shopping center is about a 3 minute walk from bibs.
Other than that I had a really good stay here, the staff was friendly, the food was quite good (for a backpackers), and there were quite a few places to go in the area. A small shopping center is about a 3 minute walk from bibs.
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Date of stay: May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A simple accommodation, but with an excellent location, very kind attention from Mariksa (owner) who made our stay unforgettable. Efficient with the information that she gave us and very generous, she gave us some exquisite clams that they were cooking on their grill at dinner time. Totally recommended
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Date of stay: December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Went to Bib’s Backpackers for one week and they were absolutely delightful. We had some health problems and we were helped exceptionally by the friendly staff! They were very helpful with any questions we had. Accommodation is nice, what was really appreciated is there was a fridge in the room. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a place to stay in St. Lucia!
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ten years ago this must have been a sensationally good hostel. But ten years is a long time and clearly no-one has put any time, love or money into it since then.
The staff are moody and disinterested, the bar is empty and unmanned, the swimming pool is covered in leaves and oil(?). The showers are rusty and flooded. No-one else was staying there (for good reason).
Not a single good thing to say about it. Do not go!
The staff are moody and disinterested, the bar is empty and unmanned, the swimming pool is covered in leaves and oil(?). The showers are rusty and flooded. No-one else was staying there (for good reason).
Not a single good thing to say about it. Do not go!
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Date of stay: March 2017Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Accommodation is old dirty and crumbled.
All the equipment in the room was defect ore broken.
For instance the airco-unit, the dresser, shower etc.
Besides the lodge-area is open for public, there is no adequate security.
All the equipment in the room was defect ore broken.
For instance the airco-unit, the dresser, shower etc.
Besides the lodge-area is open for public, there is no adequate security.
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Date of stay: October 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am a huge fan of backpacking and hostels and unfortunately, for South Africa's high standard of hostels an backpacker lodges, this place falls dismally short.
We were met at reception by a very unenthusiastic person who showed us around all the overpriced rooms and dirty facilities, which all resembled a concentration camp!
I'm sure it was an ok place to stay at 10 years ago but it looks like it hasn't been maintained in about that long.
We politely declined and got out of there as soon as possible. Don't waste your money here, and frankly, don't expect much better anywhere else in the town unless you can afford in excess of R600 per person sharing per night in a 5 star lodge. Sad....
We were met at reception by a very unenthusiastic person who showed us around all the overpriced rooms and dirty facilities, which all resembled a concentration camp!
I'm sure it was an ok place to stay at 10 years ago but it looks like it hasn't been maintained in about that long.
We politely declined and got out of there as soon as possible. Don't waste your money here, and frankly, don't expect much better anywhere else in the town unless you can afford in excess of R600 per person sharing per night in a 5 star lodge. Sad....
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don't go there.
Very dirty.
Every single area need a proper maintenance.
Unfriendly stuff
No Service.
All bathroom doors are broken same then showers and I general everything.
Very bad rotten smell in the rooms.
Wi-Fi needs to be paid on top with 50R.
They raced the prices without updating there homepage. It's not worth to spend there any money.
Maybe this place was nice 10 Years ago but now the owner needs to wake up and do something or close this place.
Very dirty.
Every single area need a proper maintenance.
Unfriendly stuff
No Service.
All bathroom doors are broken same then showers and I general everything.
Very bad rotten smell in the rooms.
Wi-Fi needs to be paid on top with 50R.
They raced the prices without updating there homepage. It's not worth to spend there any money.
Maybe this place was nice 10 Years ago but now the owner needs to wake up and do something or close this place.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Went there in october 2011 (I couldn't choose that in the list, but I really wanted to write this review anyhow) with my class for one night and it was THE mest awful accommodation experience I've ever had. The owner of the place was drunk when we got there and his sons who showed us around were hungover. Another guest 15+ our age kept hitting on us and he was high as well.
The rooms had not been cleaned and the beds were dirty. We slept in our sleeping bags instead. The food that we were served tasted in the evening so bad that no one could eat it. The dogs running around were scratching themselves so often they most likely had lice. One of our teachers told us she fell asleep to the smell om marijuana.
The location of the place was the only thing that was alright except for breakfast which also was pretty good. (since it wasn't even served in the backpacking place, it was served in a near-by restaurant). And St. Lucia is a nice little town, lots of friendly people. Nice beach, and I can recommend the hippotour in the wetland park.
I'd never recommend anyone to stay at this place. We had been living in the bush in tents the week before - but this place was even dirtier than that.
The rooms had not been cleaned and the beds were dirty. We slept in our sleeping bags instead. The food that we were served tasted in the evening so bad that no one could eat it. The dogs running around were scratching themselves so often they most likely had lice. One of our teachers told us she fell asleep to the smell om marijuana.
The location of the place was the only thing that was alright except for breakfast which also was pretty good. (since it wasn't even served in the backpacking place, it was served in a near-by restaurant). And St. Lucia is a nice little town, lots of friendly people. Nice beach, and I can recommend the hippotour in the wetland park.
I'd never recommend anyone to stay at this place. We had been living in the bush in tents the week before - but this place was even dirtier than that.
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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"The rooms on the inside of the complex are slightly better quality and you have the delight of your own bathroom. The rooms in the outer buildings of the complex are more for groups and have communal bathrooms. When I went we stayed in the outer buildings for 8 nights and I was not disapointed!"Read full review
"Check out the room that are NOT situated near the bar / community-area. They can be noisy."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
st lucia bibs international backpackers hotel saint lucia
LOCATION
South AfricaKwaZulu-NatalSt Lucia
NUMBER OF ROOMS
42
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Claim Your ListingST LUCIA BIBS INTERNATIONAL BACKPACKERS - Hostel Reviews (South Africa)
Frequently Asked Questions about St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Ocean Commotion Deep Sea Fishing Charters (0.3 km), Amala Massage & Gifts (0.3 km), and Cape Vidal Lighthouse (0.2 km).
Is parking available at St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include Braza, Greco, and John Dory's St Lucia.
Is St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of St Lucia.
Are there any historical sites close to St Lucia Bibs International Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Veyane Cultural Village (4.3 km).