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Appaling Ballito Backpackers

WARNING: DO NOT BOOK AT BALLITO BACKPACKERS – A COMPLETE ****! Our experience at Ballito Backpackers was beyond appalling – it was a nightmare from start to finish. If you’re considering staying here, DON’T. We were outright conned by misleading advertising and suffered through rude, *********** management, filthy conditions, and blatant dishonesty. False Advertising & Deception Our booking promised a beautiful courtyard with garden views. In reality, there was no courtyard, no garden, and certainly no view—unless you count a rundown property with zero charm. The images online are a complete misrepresentation of what you actually get. Management: Rude, Aggressive, and Unprofessional Upon arrival, we were “greeted” (if you can call it that) by Augustine, the so-called manager. He was hostile, unhelpful, and made it painfully clear he had no interest in assisting guests. When we raised concerns about our room not matching the listing, we asked to upgrade. His response? A flat-out lie. He told us we could only upgrade the following Monday. However, we personally checked and saw the upgraded room was EMPTY. When we confronted him, he became aggressive and defensive. How is someone like this even employed in hospitality? Disgusting, Unlivable Conditions The first room we were given had a broken bed. After persistent complaints, we were finally moved—only to find the new room had a mattress with springs sticking out, dirty bedding, and an overall unhygienic state. We repeatedly requested clean sheets and housekeeping—only to be ignored. Eventually, we took matters into our own hands, taking the bedding to be deep cleaned at our own expense because it was too filthy to sleep in. Verbally Abusive & Aggressive Staff If you thought Augustine was bad, Mrs. Mayuri Singh takes the cake for the most disgusting and aggressive hotel manager we have ever encountered. After we cleaned our own bedding, she stormed into our room, screaming at us, falsely accusing us of theft, and threatening to call the police. Her behavior was completely unhinged, and we were left with no choice but to slam the door in her face just to get some peace. ****ming Disabled Guests To add insult to injury, we booked a private room for a disabled guest, only to find out it was actually a shared dorm with eight strangers. This blatant deception is inexcusable. When we requested a refund, they flatly refused. After more fighting, we demanded an extra mattress so our guest could stay in our room, but again, Singh made this a battle. She has zero compassion, zero professionalism, and should not be in any customer-facing role. A **** Operation Masquerading as a Backpackers Ballito Backpackers deceives guests, takes their money, and then turns hostile when confronted. It is not a legitimate hospitality establishment—it’s a trap designed to lure unsuspecting travelers in with **** listings. We are now trying to get in contact with the owner, Grant, because as a luxury travel and lifestyle magazine, we are horrified by what we endured for nine days. This was hands down the worst accommodation experience in our professional careers. Final Warning: AVOID AT ALL COSTS! For actual quality accommodations in Ballito, visit our website: www.adventurelifestylemagazine.com.