During my travels through the some parts of the south and the mid-way east coast of Australia,…read moreByron Bay was one of my favourite places of all!!! It was such a peaceful and laid-back town that I even considered how it would be like to live there and just spend my days in peaceful bliss until the end of my days. Arts Factory Lodge was just the perfect place that captured the essence of Byron Bay. It was full of people from many different places and everybody was like they had known each other for years. Everything about this place screams 'peace'; at least for me it did and helped me refresh my mind in the best possible way. There are cabins, tents and teepees as the different kinds of accommodations that they are offering. The one that we preferred was the garden buree that was some kind of a tent but with much more to offer than a simple tent. Our 'tent' was big enough to contain two single beds of a regular size and plus our luggages; so don't hesitate when I mention a 'tent':)))) They also have the best milkshakes so I would strongly recommend one while you're laying by the pool (yes, you've heard it right! They also have a pool!! :)) ). There is also a big shared kitchen where you can make stuff and keep whatever you have bought for yourself from the supermarket; you just have to tag it and put it on a shelf or something. They have many activities for entertainment and if you're a friendly person, you'll definitely fit in here comfortably. Some nights you'll see people playing some guitar, drinking tasty drinks and enjoying each other's company in the courtyard, so you might not even need any kind of entertainment at all. The Lodge offers shuttle that take you to downtown and also back (I think) every half hour so you can also enjoy what Byron Bay offers you. The prices are affordable and the place is safe and friendly.

I give this hostel 4/5 stars even though it is truly the best hostel experience you'll ever get and…read morehere's why... Check in experience: staff are friendly but they do not walk you around and show you the hostel, talk about the rules/etiquette, etc. 3/5 stars. Vibe: if you like hippies, chill vibes, musicians, free spirited young people, and impromptu music sessions, stay here. If you don't like any of these things, then don't stay here. Yes people smoke pot here. And yes, the whole place has a chill but young and loud atmosphere. There is always something happening here including bush walking tours, yoga classes, talent shows, live and loud music, etc. Generally speaking however , it is quieter after 10pm, as in live music stops, but people are still socializing and drinking outside on lounge beanie bags or picnic tables. Seems like there's always something to do every night here. This place is not suitable for families. 5/5 Cleanliness: this place is not super clean and quite similar to many other hostels out there. I'm happy that my bed is made (and clean) when I arrived and while I do see the staff cleaning the bathrooms on a daily basis, it's definitely not at a hotel standard and even once it does get cleaned, its dirty quickly afterwards because of the volume of people here. There are cleaner hostels out there. That said, it's not incredibly dirty, and it's not very clean. No bed bugs... I guess I can be happy with that? 2/5 Kitchen: by 8pm, the kitchen is packed with people and you cannot find a place to cook, nor can you find utensils or plates to eat with. So I suggest you try cooking or eating at 6pm if you wanna use the kitchen. There aren't enough fridges for the amount of people coming here either... but you can make it work. 3/5 stars People: the best people I've met yet have been here. Young, chill, open minded, creative, and free spirited. And if you're travelling on your own and want to get a great experience, then this hostel will give you just that. 5/5 stars Power plugs: just expect that your electronics will be running on low battery for most of the duration while you're here. There aren't enough power plugs in the shared dorms , which is why you'll see people charging their stuff all over the place. If you book a private room or twin room, then I expect you'll be fine. 3/5 stars. Location: 15-20 min walk into town. Secluded and away from all the fun, but they have a free shuttle running to and from the city. The weather is nice and I have working legs so I always walked it. 3/5 Despite all of the shitty sides of this hostel, I still loved it because of the people, the vibes, activities/events, and the impromptu music sessions. You can always get a cleaner hostel that's closer to town, anywhere else, but you can't get an experience like this place. So go here anyway and enjoy it! That's why I give it a 4/5 stars. You have the honest review!