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Reviews of Wanna Stay?

72-74 Grafton St, 4870 Cairns, Australia

#48 of 75 hotels in Cairns

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 96 hostel reviews

7.6

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.9

  • Comfort

    7.9

  • Location

    9.1

  • Facilities

    7.8

  • Staff

    8.6

  • Value for money

    8.3

  • Free Wifi

    8.0

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: September 3, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Good location

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: July 25, 2025

    7.0
    Good budget option, but basic
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    We stayed in 8 room mixed dorm, 4 x bunk beds. Felt a bit like the room was occupied by more long term permanent guests rather than short break holidaymakers like ourselves, which I felt meant the room was a bit messy and felt dark and cramped. Not all the beds had curtains for privacy and beds did not have a private plug socket so I couldn’t charge my phone on the first night as all the nearby plugs were being used. Showers were pretty basic. Great for a budget but if you have more financial flexibility somewhere slightly nicer or one of the smaller rooms with fewer guests here might be worth the upgrade.

    Cheap for Cairns. Hostel events available on many days. Stocked kitchen with some free items like free pasta. No issues regarding feeling safe. Luggage storage room available for before check in or after check out times.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 20, 2025

    9.0
    Great location and friendly staff, could be cleaner
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 28 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Mouldy air con, people being loud late at night slamming doors

    Bed was comfy, free pasta oats and rice, fridge in room, nice showers

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: June 19, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The rooms are full of clutter from people, I literally walked in and I tripped over a bag/foodbag/shoes? It was very difficult for me to pit my bags anywhere, even under my bed.

    Good, clean, very helpful staff, and clean facilities

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 5, 2025

    7.0
    Good but misses a few things
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Lacking an outside area to hang out, felt to locked in. Could be cleaner as well

    Great location and kitchen

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: April 17, 2025

    9.0
    Affordable backpacker hostel
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Not a lot to say here. Was a very pleasant stay.

    Friendly and helpful staff made me feel welcome and looked after. Great location within walking distance of shops, bars, restaurants and attractions. Room was nicely air conditioned and the bed was comfortable.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: February 4, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Kitchen too small

    Really cool hostel. Bedrooms are perfect. The staff is incredible. SO to linda 😘.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: January 18, 2025

    8.0
    Good value would stay again
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The light in our room didn’t work

    Good value Good fan Good air con Big room Quiet even though very central Everything you need in the kitchen Good free events Walking distance to everything

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: November 23, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Value for money

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: October 3, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Reception staff work limited hours.

    Good location. Good facilities.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: September 30, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No

    They offer thick blanket

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: July 23, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Not many spaces in rooms

    Really social and friendly

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: May 4, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Close to the club so some tenants were so loud at night

    Every day cleaning the public area floor Not too much room so enough places

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: March 28, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Cinema room

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: March 20, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Unfriendly housekeeping staff Kitchen should be more organised

    Very helpful management at reception

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: February 19, 2024

    7.0
    Nice stay for a couple nights
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    only 1 shower and 1 toilet for each gender per floor

    free pasta and rice. good bedding and fans on ceiling kept the rooms cool along with the air con unit

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: February 13, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Super friendly staff running a very well organised hostel. Easy check-in/check out & the shower (although small) was fab! Can definitely recommend & would return if I'm ever needing this style of accommodation again in Cairns :)

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: December 12, 2023

    9.0
    Naomi is a SHEILA Bonza!!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It is right across the street from Gilligans, so party noise was expected, but very conveniently located within walking distance to everything.

    Naomi is very sweet & accommodating to me, going above & beyond to help me get into a room there. So very much appreciate her going over-the-top to make sure i was well taken care of. I’ve stayed at various hostels throughout the world, and this one is very well maintained AND clean!

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: December 8, 2023

    9.0
    Would recommend
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Great value for money, best hostel out of the 3 which I’ve tried in Cairns

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: July 30, 2025

    5.0
    Cheap place to stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    I really didn't feel comfortable in the bathroom. My window couldn't be secured for safety. It needs a new latch.

    It's probably the cheapest place in Cairns, so that's something. The bed was comfy and the linens were clean. There is a mini fridge in the private rooms, plus lots of mirrors, some hanging space and a power board. It feels a bit 'make do' and thrown together. There's no lifts, so be prepared to haul your suitcase up at least one flight of stairs, maybe 2. The bathrooms are uni-sex and there are 4 showers and 2 toilets on Level 2, where I stayed. It's all a bit cramped and open plan. With people just hanging around in the tight space, it doesn't feel private. While the cubicles have doors, there's no bathroom door. It is self-check in, which is fine, but there's not really staff on call. The window in my room did not have a latch to secure it, and even on the second floor, it could have been accessed from outside. I used a belt to tie it closed.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: June 26, 2025

    10
    Great
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    I liked everything!

    Amazing location and room. Very comfortable bed and free breakfast set us up well for the day! Very helpful reception with great travel recommendations.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: June 11, 2025

    4.0
    Disappointing
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The place is very small. All the communal area are very tiny, there is not much space at all to do anything or to chill. The rooms are ok. The bunk bed were I slept was moving so much for any little movements that the person behind was doing. Also, my room was just in front of Gillian’s so the noise were insane all night long. I understand it’s an hostel but there are way better hostels in cairns. I didn’t stay for my second night and I am not coming back.

    The mattress is very comfy. That’s pretty much the only thing I liked. The staff is lovely too.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 2, 2025

    10
    Exceptional
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Room
    • Stayed 25 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Wanna Stay, is honestly one of the best. I have never been to a hostel where everyone is so welcoming it’s like having your own little family. The room we stayed it was lovely had everything we needed and we felt very safe when we were here and had no worries at all. The people are great here and this is just what you want when you come to a new place. We both hope to stay here soon again.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: March 2, 2025

    10
    Krusty Crab Pizza, is the pizza, for you and me!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No pets allowed

    Feels like home <3

    Stayed in February 2025

Showing 1 - 25

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