Name: Bluesky Backpacker & Lodge
Address: 10 Hill Street West, Knysna, Knysna, Knysna, 6571, South Africa
Rating: 6

Smoking areas

Television in lobby

Terrace

Express check-in

Reception desk

General

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Breakfast

Poolside bar

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Library

Barbecue grill(s)

Barbeque

Recreation

Outdoor pool

Pool and beach

Location

At the hotel

Plettenberg Bay Airport

Bluesky Backpacker & Lodge

Knysna

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

My experience in Bluesky was bittersweet so to say. The room was clean, the wifi worked and the pool looked lovely. 
The hospitality on the other hand was the worst I have ever had. The owner complaned to me about the other guest being dirty as pigs. (Okay, we can all be frustrated sometimes). Then everytime I sat foot in the hostel, she would talk so unkindly about the other guest. As a single traveller I felt really uncomfortable in Bluesky, and end up leaving as soon as I could!

My experience

The lady who runs the Hostel is very friendly and keen to help all guests.
The beds are extremely comfy even in the 12 dorm room - the breakfast is good for the amount of money you pay for the accommodation.
I'd definitely recommend this property to anyone willing to make friends and have a good time in Knysna.

Great place to stay in Kysna

The visit starts off with us being chastised like little children, unfortunately we had arrived 10 minutes early and assumed it would not be an issue to check in, since it was exceptionally hot we did not want to sit in the car. We rang the bell twice with no reply so we phoned the number given to us and that's when the whole tone of the weekend was set. We were accused of being inconsiderate and selfish to come before the check in time, we were apologetic and tried to listen to her. On the way to the office the owner stated that she was in a bad mood from terrible guests the previous day. Which we understand as some of us work in the service industry but still, that was not us. We had to listen to her rant and rave about a door she had to fix and that we were interrupting her lunch and she had to come to the gate with food in her mouth although she spoke properly over the phone. Then the rules were set, as it states on the door no children under the age of 20 were allowed to stay there, to find an infant staying in a room right at the recreational area. We were asked to keep the noise down after 10 pm due to people wanting to sleep which we understood and accepted, however on the first night we were asked by another guest to keep it down as she was trying to put her baby to sleep, the following night we were asked at 9pm to keep quiet as other guests were sleeping but the only person sleeping in that general area was the owners mother. When coming into the room we were mildly impressed with the layout, until we noticed that plug points don't work, lights on the ceiling are broken and hanging from cords, there were 4 used soap bars in the shower and there is an ant infestation. We tried to be polite and civil the entire trip but kept getting condescending remarks which she made not only to us but many guests who came in over the weekend, as we were sitting on the balcony we could hear and see everything. She gave us so much attitude about being 10 minutes early but welcomed a group who arrived 2 hours late. We understand there are certain rules to a place but it needs to be fairly adhered to. The owner then told us in the middle of the day that if we laugh as loud as we were at night, we would be in trouble. I am not a child and have my own mother, i do not need another. The place needs to be fixed up considering the amount being paid to stay there, with broken steps, no lights guiding your way between buildings to your room and the dogs everywhere who sit and beg for food when you eat. The staff cleaning the rooms were considerably friendlier than the owner who profits from us being there. We were constantly being told that other guests were paying a lot to stay there but so were we, with a room which was R1200 per night. We did not appreciate the way she condoned herself and found it very unprofessional. Being treated like children when i work internationally as a manager on a multi-million rand a week business, i found her to be inhospitable and unfriendly. As we checked out we told her this and instead of taking it as a guests feedback she told us we were irritating and loud and bothering everyone, then accusing us of revving a car at 3am when we were already asleep, no proof, just blatant ignorance. The unnecessary argument went on for over 7 minutes with her telling us we were impolite and rude and picked especially on one of my friends, who she claimed was very loud and obnoxious and said he was irritating the rest of the guests, although we had no issues with anyone else and actually socialized with some of them. There was also a African lady who walked in on the Saturday looking for a place to stay, she was greeted with "who are you". Her friend then came in and when the same question was posed to her, the walk-in guest said "I am a paying customer".

At the end we were asked not to return and we were not welcome there, from us just trying to voice our opinions, as a good business owner she should have taken it as constructive criticism to make sure that she is a well rounded business owner.

Overall a beautiful area, the venue needs to be fixed up considering the price point and the owner needs to adopt a better attitude. When having breakfast in the morning, before asking questions, try greet your guests.

Worst place i have ever stayed in. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED...

If you read further you will notice that this a trending complaint.

Spoken to like children, unaccommodating

4 days i spent in this beautiful backpacker and i enjoyed it a lot. Lolly, the owner, is a warm and entertaining woman, that took me and my friends for an 30min ride to the beach and gave us good advises. I was so happy to end up in this quiet and clean place. 
Thank you, Lolly. See you next time :)

great place to stay!

a cute and safe place with a very helpful, welcoming and lovely host!
Started the day with breakfast on the balcony enjoying a nice view, spend two great days with recommendations from the host and ended the day on that cozy balcony wrapped in blankets.

Bluesky Backpacker & Lodge

Main amenities of the hotel

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hotel

What other amenities are there?

General

Accessibility

Services and amenities

Meals

Internet

Recreation

Pool and beach

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Additional information

Payment