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The B.I.G Backpackers
18 Thornhill Road, Green Point (Cape Town) 8005

Centrally located just a 5 minutes' walk to V&A Waterfront and Sea Point Promenade, The B.I.G Backpackers offers a choice of modern private room or dormitory room accommodation. It features a pool, braai facilities and free Wi-Fi and a free breakfast. A continental breakfast is served daily. There are 2 fully equipped kitchens for guests to share. Several cafés, restaurants and bars are a 5 minutes' walk away. B.I.G Backpackers has 2 furnished terraces and outdoor seating areas, indoors there are lounge areas, a library and a games room with a flat-screen TV. Cape Town Aquarium is a 5-minute walk away. Bicycle hire is available for guests to explore the area. Clifton's beaches, Camps Bay, Signal Hill and Lions Head Hiking Trail are all within a 10-minute cycle from The B.I.G Backpackers. The tour desk can help to organise any day excursions and an airport shuttle service at a charge. The ferry to Robben Island is a 5-minute walk away. Free parking is available at the hostel.

Score from 887 reviews
Superb

9.3/10

Rooms: 16

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Address: 18 Thornhill Road, Green Point, Cape Town 8005 map

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The B.I.G Backpackers - Photos

What people say

We stayed three nights at B.I.G. in one of the worst downpours, with hail, seen by Cape Town in years. This managed to mess up our plans.... But due to Amilion, Linda, Tulua, and Amy, we were able to have a wonderful time anyway. When we first arrived, Amilion (spelling?) suggested we go immediately to see Kirstenbosh due to the pending bad weather. Since this was top of our desires, we are soooo thankful to her for her insistence as we may not have been able to see it otherwise. The rooms were.
all reviews » We were welcomed with a traditional South African braii - barbecue! How much better can you get to meet everyone and get comfortable with the Cape Town groove?! We loved the staff - from the owner to the housekeepers - they really took good care of us while allowing us to still enjoy the "backpacker-style" of lodging. They helped us plan our days to use our time and $$ so we could get to do all the things we hoped to enjoy in our 5 nights stay. The Dave Matthews Band concert brought us 8,000. Really friendly & helpful staff with lots of top tips and fab local knowledge. Chilled out dogs and lovely people hanging around Reception and the Communal areas. Cool furniture and colour schemes. Really good value. Clean, welcoming and comfortable rooms. All in all - from the moment we stepped inside, our shoulders dropped and we relaxed. B.I.G. is a wonderful 'boutique' backpackers hidden within 5-10 mins (depending how hot it is) walk from the V&A waterfront. Lots of cool place. The best hostel I've ever stay. It's easy to see that every detail has been carefully thought out, since characters (modern and cozy) to the common areas. There were spaces to be comfortable and quiet, as the reader room and tv room. On the other hand, if you want to interactive and entertaining space, a well-equipped kitchen and a large table next to the winter garden waiting for fun! The bedrooms are in a separate area and has comfortable bad and the bathroom very clean.Finally, but not least. I felt so confortable in this hostel!! Is not a backpackers hostel, is much better that many hostel that I saw all over the world. Very good value for money! Helpful and very friendly staff, tasty breakfast, lovely rooms, wonderful ambiance, is like you are staying in a friend's house; they provide towels also, very nice bedding. The staff is very helpfull with booking tours and other advices about visiting South Africa and Cape Town. Is also a "green" housing, well done! I loved to stay in B.I. I loved the staff. They were very kind and friendly. They made me feel at home in a foreign place. The facilities are very clean, and the style and design is wonderfully modern while still unique to the B.I.G. In addition, its dorms only sleeps FOUR people which is fantastic considering that most hostel dorms accommodate for 6 to 10. The whole B.I.G package was a hole in one for me!. The location is great, Green Point itself is very nice and the Hotel is close to the V&A waterfront. Our room was very nice and clean, the shower was huge :) All amenities were in great condition and everything had this cool style to it. Breakfast was delicious and plenty. But the best was the staff - very, very friendly and helpful!! Too bad we only stayed for one night!. When we arrive we received such a warm welcome. The facilities offered were more than everything you needed and the bed was so good! It was home away from home. My kids were shocked when I said we were staying in the backpackers and now they are only too keen to take the next trip to stay there, this time for a longer stay. Thank you for making our weekend so wonderful. A nice backpackers with entousiastic staff in a good area. Close to mainstreet (some nice restaurants and a pub) and Waterfront. Take a taxi when it is dark to get back to the BIG though. Costs for taxi are around R50. Btw, we do not feel old (34 and 44 yo), but compared to the rest of the guests we were definitely old :). Loved the decor and the thoughtfulness behind all of the rooms and layout of the common spaces. While I was not there long enough to use the common spaces, I would have liked to. Hot showers and balcony overlooking the ocean...gorgeous. Amy was fantastic and accommodating - the perfect host. Also loved the puppies :). Very close to attractions. Safe are that is close to long beach as well. Will meet awesome people while never having to worry about being kept up at night. Very clean place with great breakfast. The staff makes the place worth it. I wouldnt stay anywhere else in Cape Town. Excellent value for money. Friendly and helpful staff, good location, safe, lot of activities, good facilities (kitchen, "honesty fridge" with drinks, barbecue, swimming pool, fireplace etc.). Could advertise as a boutique hostel - nice details like Africa shaped lamps etc. Informative staff, very attentive to everyone's needs and interests. Lovely touches, like use of umberellas when it suddenly rained, a taste of the Owner/Cook's special dishes, activity boards to keep you in touch with local events. The friendly atmosphere, the positive attitude and the fact that we were allowed (or rather urged) to prepare parts of our breakfast (the egg dish) ourselves. Even retired people enjoy very much being active in the kitchen!!!. We took a private room, it's a great value for money, confortable room,large bathroom.Inside facilities are state-of-the-art, nice breakfast.However, the best thing was Amy herself!! Thanks for making our stay great ,Amy;-). We had a lovely stay there!! The crew were awesome, very helpful and kind.. The backpack was so comfortable and clean. It was very nice and a wonderful experience being there. We definitely recommed to others travelers!!. I really enjoyed my stay i have never travelled on my own before and when arrived the were fab and explained where places were and their was lots of things going on to join in with i just had such great time. * I felt more like coming to friends than to a hotel. * The crew is incredibly committed to help us guests with their advice. * Great idea to sit around one table instead of every guest for himself alone. We were made extremely welcome. Our room was spotless and comfortable. Best of all was the friendliness of staff and sitting n the courtyard sipping wine. It was close to amenities and was in a safe area. Location could not be better. Great, well prepared, professional staff. Place clean and organized. Nice shower. I definetely reccomend and would stay there again. I like the people of BIG. I love them. They are very helping & supportive in nature.I would to suggest to everyone they shoud opt for BIG. everything! a must stay in cape town, very clean and comfortable and the most welcoming and helpful staff. would stay again in a heartbeat. Friendly atmosphere, very nice decor for a backpackers place. Very close to Waterfront - we can walk back and forth (during the day). Staff is absolutely fantastic. Felt like at home, breakfast great and all facililites (tuktuk) and infos given top class. Excellent place to stay while in Cape Town. Super friendly staff, huge comfortable beds, great location!. Very welcoming and helpful staff. Good beds and en-suite facilities. Free internet. Good car parking. Owners were more knowledgeable than a tour guide and more helpful than a travel agent. helpful staff, good breakfast and location, towels and clean beds. It felt like coming home. The staff made me feel like family!. great team, friendly and helpfull. great atmosphere. Great, friendly, helpful staff and good vibe. Enjoyed the privacy and location. Friendly Staff Great Location. Everything. Love the BIG. everything is good. Friendly staff, very nice breakfast and kitchen. It was a bit cold in the upstairs room as they did not have heaters. We did not hang out there too much. This is a hard one.....???? ...... Oh, an outlet in the bathroom to dry/style my hair and look ravishing! The pool area is lovely but the water didn't look filtered - not too inviting:(. That I/ we don't know when we'll be going back!!. nothing at all. Is not very close to public transport, but ask help/advice at reception, they have some tips :) for a budget transportation. The breakfast is from 7:45 am, so a little bit late for people who need to start the day earlier :). Nothing!!. Nothing. Nothing. An amazing hidden gem that I would love to visit again. Taxi prices which the hostel cant control. A bit cold during the night (September, but no more than most hotels in SA). Even if I'd think for hours to find something - I couldn't find anything I did not like. We like everything. nothing!. Lack of soap in the bathroom. Nothing. Nothing. short beds for people over 190cm... There was a lack of secure parking. Nothing. Too many numbers to remember to unlock room, front, reception doors. There was no heating system. One must prepare their own breakfast and do the washing up!!! Street parking!!! No grooming products!!! Only appropriate if you are in your 20s.

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The B.I.G Backpackers Room information

Room Type	Max	from
Double or Twin Room [Room Information]	2	from ZAR 780.00	Search
This bright and airy room comes with wooden parquet floors and surrounding garden views. It features a kitchenette, a private entrance, a fan, ironing facilities and an en suite bathroom. Room Facilities: Toilet, Shower, Ironing Facilities, Fan, Bathroom
Family Room [Room Information]	4	from ZAR 1385.00	Search
This bright and airy room comes with wooden parquet floors and a balcony with pool and ocean views. It features a kitchenette, a private entrance, a fan, ironing facilities and an en suite bathroom. Room Facilities: Toilet, Shower, Seating Area, Kitchenette, Ironing Facilities, Fan, Bathroom, Balcony
Single Bed in Female Dormitory Room [Room Information]	1	from ZAR 220.00	Search
This dormitory comes with garden views. It features a fan and shared bathroom facilities. Room Facilities: Toilet, Shower, Shared Bathroom, Fan
Single Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room [Room Information]	1	from ZAR 200.00	Search
This dormitory comes with garden views. It features a fan, access to a terrace and shared bathroom facilities. Room Facilities: Toilet, Shower, Shared Bathroom, Fan
Triple Room [Room Information]	3	from ZAR 985.00	Search
This bright and airy room comes with wooden parquet floors and views of Single Hill. It features a kitchenette, a private entrance, a fan, ironing facilities and an en suite bathroom. Room Facilities: Toilet, Shower, Kitchenette, Fan, Bathroom

Amenities at The B.I.G Backpackers

Transportation

Street parking, Shuttle Service, Secured parking, Public transport tickets, Car Rental, Bicycle Rental, Airport Shuttle (surcharge), Airport Shuttle

Shops

Souvenirs/Gift Shop

Services

Wi-Fi/Wireless LAN, Internet Services, Free Wi-Fi Internet Access

Pools and wellness

Swimming pool, Pool towels, Outdoor Swimming Pool (all year), Beach umbrellas, Beach chairs / loungers

Miscellaneous

Non-Smoking Rooms, Luggage Storage, Lockers, Family Rooms, Designated Smoking Area, All Public and Private spaces non-smoking

General

WiFi everywhere, Private parking, Pets Allowed, Parking on-site, Free Parking

Front-desk/reception area services

Tour Desk, Tickets to attractions or shows, Ticket Service, Safety Deposit Box, Luggage Storage, Concierge Service, 24-Hour Front Desk

Food & Drink

Vending Machine (snacks), Vending Machine (drinks), Snack Bar, Packed Lunches, Fruits, Chocolate or cookies, Breakfast details, Bottle of water, BBQ Facilities

Entertainment and children services

Kids' outdoor play equipment , Evening entertainment, Children television networks, Board games/puzzles, Babysitting/Child Services

Common areas

Terrace, Sun Terrace, Outdoor furniture, Outdoor fireplace, Library, Garden, Games Room, Communal lounge/TV room, Communal kitchen

Cleaning services

Laundry, Ironing Service, Dry Cleaning, Daily maid service

Business facilities

Fax/Photocopying

Activities

Walking tours, Hiking, Golf Course (within 3 km)

Photo album

Featuring free WiFi, a year-round outdoor pool and a barbecue, The B.I.G Backpackers offers pet-friendly accommodation in Cape Town, 1.4 km from V&A Waterfront. There is a games room on site and guests can enjoy the on-site snack bar. Free private parking is available on site. Some units include a seating area where you can relax. Views of the sea, pool or garden are featured in certain rooms. The rooms have a private or shared bathroom. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property. The hostel also offers bike hire and car hire. Long Street is 1.9 km from The B.I.G Backpackers, while Sea Point Pavilion Swimming is 2.4 km away. The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport, 18 km from the property.