Play Pokies at The Jack Hotel & Backpackers in Cairns City

After being let down by two previous hostels in Cairns, I finally found Jack's... and ended up extending my stay. That pretty much says it all.
This place is seriously lucky to have Ricky. His hospitality is the real deal, genuine, kind, and always with a smile. I honestly felt like if I needed anything, I could just ask, and he'd be happy to help. He even recommended a tour that ended up being one of the highlights of my entire trip. R knows everything you have do and go in Cairns!
Beyond the amazing staff, the hostel itself is super clean, has great facilities, and the guest menu is honestly one of the best deals around, affordable, but still great quality.
Thank you, Jack's, for an awesome stay. I hope everyone gets the chance to meet a Ricky somewhere along their journey.

I don't know if it was just the particular days I stayed there, but I have never been in a hostel where guests showed so little respect for the place they live in. People blasting music until very late, screaming, slamming doors, and leaving everything filthy. The kitchen and bathrooms were honestly disgusting. The hostel is only cleaned in the morning, so by nighttime everything turns into a complete mess. There was often no toilet paper in the bathrooms, dirty kitchen utensils left everywhere, and many guests clearly didn't know how to clean after themselves. To make things worse, the kitchen is badly equipped for the number of people staying there. There were only around two frying pans and two large pots for what felt like hundreds of guests. The hostel is extremely overcrowded, with an internal courtyard surrounded by balconies, which really gives it a prison like atmosphere, especially combined with the lack of respect and education from many of the guests staying there. The only positive thing I can say is about the reception staff, who were absolutely lovely and very helpful. There is another quieter section of the hostel away from the "prison block", but if you stay there on a weekend, the noise from the bar will still keep you awake until around 2am. To be fair, it's also one of the cheapest hostels in Cairns, so now I understand why. The location is actually very good as well. Definitely not a place I would stay again.

After my first night in "The Jack", I wasn't really sure what to think about this venue. Then I caught the vibe, met wonderful people, and had such a good time. What really matters about a hostel is a family-like environment. I felt so included and comfortable like in no other hostel before. The staff is awesome and does a great job. Always listening to your concerns and trying to find the best solution for you. Thanks to the people I spent my time with at The Jack, it was the best time in Australia by far! I'll miss it.

I've been staying here for a while now, and I can honestly say this hostel is great. The staff are incredibly kind, friendly, and always ready to help with anything. The rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable, and the bathrooms are well-maintained as well.

I've met some amazing people during my stay, and the overall atmosphere is just incredible. It really feels like a home away from home. I almost forgot to mention that they offer cheap drinks and food for guests, which is a really nice bonus even though they have good kitchens really well equipped.

I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a friendly and welcoming hostel experience.

Would give it 6 stars if I could. Insanely helpful staff, helped me figure out an issue with booking (I booked the wrong hostel) and even gave me tips on how to get a refund. The discounted menu is insanely good value, but the kitchen is super clean if you fancy making your own food. Very good location, a bit noisy on the weekend but what do you expect from a hostel above a bar? Good value too.