Sydney · Australia
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
The location was amazing! It truly is a few feet away from the beach. However, the negatives did cancel out the benefits for me. There were roaches in the room, I saw no less than 5 during the two nights I stayed here. The bathrooms are very small and dirty, especially the sinks and toilets. I also woke up with a few strange bites on my body, possibly bed bugs. I did not use the common room or kitchen but they looked clean for the most part. The outlet situation was pretty bad, as the only options to charge devices were two power strips on the floor (no personal outlet). The beds were sort of unstable and the sheets were clean but clearly old and low quality. The 10 person room was very hot at night and I woke up sweating, but the open windows helped a lot! I think I would stay here again but the roach problem would need to be taken care of as soon as possible.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Bed bugs. Cockroaches. People having sex in the room. People running, arguing and playing music all night. Door to door with a pub. No free breakfast. No free WiFi.
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Confirmed Google Maps
People and staff were super nice - however, BED BUGS! I'm not very picky about where I stay, didn't mind the mouldy food under my bed or pigeons which occasionally joined us at night but I've now brought bed bugs back to my college dorm and it has been an absolute nightmare.
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Confirmed Google Maps
14 of us had a three-day safe and an economical stay here. It is a no-frill value-for-money lodge. Overlooking Coogee beach. We were not attacked by bed bugs, like some other patrons have experienced here.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Loud and dirty environment, Cockroaches in kitchen, sticky floors and surfaces, sand all over obscenely humid and crowded rooms, bugs on bathroom walls, no soap, toilet doors don't lock, shower is a power washer, very dirty bed, there was a large knife on the floor next to my bed, I got 120+ bed bug bites all over my body, and I was honestly scared of most of our roommates. BUT, it was right next to the beach, there was free dry musseli, the staff was decently friendly, and you can reach Maccas wifi from some rooms. I wish I could have gotten my money back to go stay ANYWHERE ELSE. I would never let someone I know stay here. TERRIBLE experience!
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Confirmed Google Maps
If I could rate a negative number I would! There is no employed cleaners that work at the hostel only residents that do it for free accom. If your considering a pet don't bother! You'll be able to pick up a bed bug the size of a small dog to keep you occupied! The owner in a money grabbing arrogant man with no respect or care for the residents! My rating is -8
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Confirmed Google Maps
DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOSTEL! Atleast if you dont want bed bugs, guys rolling weed and snorting cocain in your room and rude ignorant staff.. WORST HOSTEL EVER! You get free wifi if you give them 5star ratings so dont trust those ratings either...
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Confirmed Google Maps
DO NOT STAY HERE!!!!! Woke up covered in bed bug bites, disgusting uncleaned bathrooms, worst hostel iv ever stayed in, actually considering contacting the department of health!!!! Sleep on the beach over this dump
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Vibe Analysis
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach is almost absurdly close to Coogee Beach, with buses, food spots, shops, the coastal walk, and Rusty's Bar right around it. The location is the main reason to book: beach first, Coogee on tap, Sydney still reachable by bus. The social side can work when the hostel is in the right mood, especially for solo backpackers who want a young, beach-adjacent crowd. Staff are often friendly and helpful, and Anna's events have helped the place feel easier to join. The flip side is real: the long-term crowd can make the common areas feel cliquey, and advertised events may not always happen. Rooms and facilities are the weak zone. Expect a compact older building with narrow stairs to reception, small dorms and private rooms, a tiny kitchen and common area, limited toilets and showers, no air conditioning, squeaky bunks, and paid lockers or towel hire. Some rooms have curtains, bed lights, sockets, or beach views, but airflow, storage, cleanliness, and noise vary hard.
Signals to check
- Noise can be a serious issue from Rusty's Bar, the road, hallway traffic, and partying; light sleepers should be wary.
- No air conditioning is a major pain point, with hot and stuffy rooms in warmer weather.
- Cleanliness can be rough, including cockroaches, dirty bathrooms, stained bedding, mould, and general wear.
- Kitchen and bathrooms are small for the number of beds, so queues and mess are possible.
- Check-in may involve an app, online forms, ID and card details, plus a cash or card bond; deposit refunds may take time.
- Security and storage can be weak: in-room lockers may be absent, paid lockers may be in hallways, and doors or windows may not always feel secure.
- The social scene can be fun, but it can also skew young, party-heavy, and cliquey around long-term residents.