Overview

YHA Southdowns is in a good spot and clean location but it lacks inclusivity for people with limited mobility as there are no ramps and the doors(not just lounge even toilets) are very narrow I booked this spot as it was available for long weekend(with filter on wheelchair accessible on YHA website) but it was not a great stay. I got a regular room even though I requested wheelchair friendly room for my father in special request. Management team replied to my google review stating that I should have called which I didnt understand as special request with booking is also a communication mode supported by YHA website.. It was nightmare getting him in and out of the toilet. Lounge is inaccessible as it's not wheelchair friendly, so are the surrounding spots. A simple ramp installation for the entrances would have been great but instead I got a reply from the owner that its an old place and they cant knock down the walls for 1 person which was highly unprofessional when I paid for 2 people when 1 was constrained to the room due to inaccessible spots. They are letting anyone park in disabled spot so I had to push my dad on a wheelchair over the pebble path before reaching the step ramp. On May 25th, Sunday they said most of the menu is not available and its disappointing as groceries close early on sunday and there are no commendable eateries nearby. WiFi is good in lounge and reception which are on two corners but the middle ground there is absolutely no signal. As it's in secluded location, mobile network is already bad and every time I needed network, I had to go to reception. There was no water refill station in lounge/kitchen as well.

Transport & Parking

I drove but car parking to nearby ramp for wheelchair was filled with pebbles which was not wheelchair friendly

Access

My father who was on wheelchair was literally just in the room as none of the spots were accessible. Simple ramps for doorways would have solved it or atleast they could have advertised that its not wheelchair friendly as its 2 hrs away from my location for me to physically inspect

Toilets

I did request for wheelchair friendly room but I was told by management that they didnt see the request in booking so I got narrow toilets which was not so good to use

Staff

People were parking in disabled spots which basically made our accessibility further reduced. Staff was not that great to look and correct this situation.