What our Guests say about us

Great place, lovely people

Tobias Schulte - Kiel

Great place.  Had a blast.

Michael Brett – Ireland

Great view.  Very clean.

Laura & Anna – Germany

Brilliant & thank you!

Jodie & Steve – UK

Cool place

Ben & Petra – Germany

Nice place!

John & Julia – UK

See you again next year!

Lex Vlooswijk – Belgium

Nice place to hang out!

Andrea & Ike – Germany

Great - friendly place

Lauren Scholey & Tom Stringer – UK

Good – in front of a beach

Antonio Lucas Palka – Brazil

Good & fair price

P Rosenthal – University of Natal, Scottsville

Cool place & good location

Tony Johnson – New Zealand

Very friendly, clean & cosy!

Anna, Natalie, Tanya, Beth – UK

Comfy rooms, nice place

Christel Hooijkaas -

Perfect!

Frans Holmberg, Daniel Melin – Sweden

Lekker!

Brett Ibbotson – South Australia

Had very good time

Machet Gael – France

Excellent

Hilary & Tom - Ireland

Very nice backpackers. Friendly staff, one of the best I’ve ever seen

Petr, Vit, Marcela, Marcela – Czech Republic

Excellent backpackers, would definitely come back & recommend

Chris & Garth – UK

Excellent clean & friendly hostel. Great location close to water

Andrew Gordon – Australia

Very friendly atmosphere.  Excellent place to stay

Lee and Alexia – England

Greener than Swaziland!

Glenn & Lara – UK

Great place to stay, had an excellent time!

James & Tanya – Australia

Super!

Ingrid & Bavo – Aartselaar

The best hostel we’ve stayed at yet!

Cameron & Stephanie – New York, USA

Friendly, happy and excellent service

Guj Pahal – UK

Very clean, helpful, just lovely

Stefan & Tamara – Switzerland, Spain

FANTASTIC!! Stayed much longer that I thought because was such good company.

Lucy & Rich – Somerset

Best Backpackers I have stayed in & will be back soon.

Matt Davies – UK

Great place! Very neat & clean.

Mela Winter – Herborn

Great. Friendly place with a  very good surfing teacher – thanks Rudy!

Olli Luhrig – Germany

Normally we wanted to stay for only 2-3 days, but we stayed for 10 days.  I think that says all!

Bjorn Bredehorst – Hoyerhagen, Germany

Great place!

Maayan & Gran – Israel

One of the best backpackers in SA.  Thanks for the great time here!

Stefan Hochstrasser & Tamara Escamiria – Germany

Great place! Loved the horse ride on the beach!
McCain Smith – California, USA

It really is very great…

Martina Locher – Switzerland

Excellent : Service, Friendliness, Helpfullness

Phil Brookes – Wales

Friendly staff and very helpful with how to get around Durban.  Would recommend it to others.

John Kavanagh – Australia

Really great/perfect

Benedikt Braun – Ravensburg

Excellent

James Clark – England

Excellent

Jaerge & Simone – Germany

Excellent, as usual
Zack Dennis – USA (Parkhurst while in SA)

I had a good time, best place to stay in Durban

Petra Huenerkopf – Germany

Best place

Dr Michaela Huenerkopf – Germany

Thanks. It was very nice!

Lukas Nagel & Raphaela Strassman – Switzerland

Great people!

Phillipe Berard & Isabelle Leupi – Switzerland

Cool people
Phillip & Christine – Stuttgart, Germany

Excellent stay.

Eric, Sebastian, Anthony, Chris, Ruben – France, USA

Very nice!

Marc, Martin, Llelo – Germany

Nice place 2B with nice people! Beautiful beaches

Marc/Tobias – Germany

Thankyou all so much for being a family to me.

Guj Pahal – Huddersfield, UK

You were all brilliant! Thanks! Hope to see you soon again!

Joline van Sintmaartensdyk – The Hague, Netherlands

Thanks for everything – we really had a nice time!

Thomas Pufe, Melanie Hansen, Andreas Franke, Nadine Claudius – Germany

Nice place to stay.

Rudiger Frank, Barth, Britta – Friburg, Germany

Nice, wonderful, friendly staff

Raphaella Ott – Germany

Best shower ever, friendly staff, really nice place 2 stay.

Claudia Rupprecht – Germany

Only stayed 1 night, but cool place. Very friendly!

Niall, Rob, Lindsey, Charlotte – UK

Great place! Highly recommend it!

Karin Hopkins, Naomi Prinz – USA

Excellent stay, nice people & Mick’s a great bloke

Sean Lord – Australia

Laxed place – great!

Kirstyn Crofskey – New Zealand

This place kicks ass!

Rob Hansen – Jersey

Very friendly place.  Palmbooms and staff were excellent.  Best hostel of our stay in SA

Dave & Matt – Channel Islands, UK

Perfect beach house! Beautiful location, clean & nice rooms, staff fantastic

Tarabrooke & Fran – USA

SUUUUUPERRRRB – BEST BACKPACKERS

John & Hannah Mc Manamon – Wales, UK

A most amazing stay!! We’ll miss it!! Thanks so much

Kim Gunson – Newfoundland, Canada

After 5 months in Zimbabwe, an amazing place to unwind. Thanks everyone

Penny Cofield – Newfoundland, Canada

Excellent atmosphere excellent staff, rating out of 10 = 11 overall excellent

Chris Bagnall – UK

Most genuine , approachable staff of any backpackers in SA!

Jo Weston, Nicolas Gillieaux – Sussex UK

Peaceful place

Dr Herbert Wiedermann – Hamburg

Absolut genial! Herzlichen dank

Nadja & Kurt Oberhagen - Switzerland

Sound as place!

Jamie Grbic – New Zealand

Love the place, 2nd time here, great people!

Rebecca Albright – California USA

Two thumbs up, definitely come back!!! Thanks x x

Anna Tickle – Hertfordshire, England

I said that I would come back, and I did! Thanks!

Janne Erchinger – Weingarten Germany

It’s great here, because of that I came back

Simone Knaus – Tuttlingen Germany

Thanks for the awesome time at your laid back joint!

Simon Christian Hass – Germany

This place is the best! Good vibe, good surf and good people!

Ane Straume – Norway

Excellent! Nice atmosphere, clean, friendly people

Connie Tji – Holland

Excellent – as you know, we didn’t want to leave!

Anna Shaw – Herts Algon UK

Wicked!

Tom Lambert – Braunton England

This place is the best, I love it! Thanks guys!

Jess McKay – Swansea Wales

Amazing!

Soetkin Ringoot – Belgium

Came back again! That’s how good it is!

Mike Cucknell – Surrey UK

Very very cool – great staff!

Sue Kannenberg – Germany

Felt like home – spent 3 weeks in total!

Nelle van Schaik & Amanda v Hoorn – Netherlands

Good place to relax and unwind (thank you)

John, Celia & Cheryl – North London

Really good, friendly, homely, thanks guys!

Ben Chapman – Jersey

Great location, good atmosphere, heavy waves – will recommend

Chris Babb – Plymouth

Very informative on surf spots – everybody here cool!!

Patrick Rinker – Fallbrook California USA

OLDER COMMENTS FROM WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUT:

I am 100% sure that this is the coolest family in the world.  I found exactly what I needed – to step out of the hustle and bustle to the calm reality of the Palmboom Pad (Heidi, you are not included in that calm reality).  I will be back – sun, surf crayfish & Bluff dumpies are already taunting me.  If ever any of you have the chance to come to my part of the world (Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington DC or Alaska) you will be taken care of with the same intensity.
Love you guys
JOE LILLY – AMERICA

A thousand thank you’s would not be enough to cover the awesome hospitality, and kindness that you have shown to me over the last couple of months.  You have made Durban a place I would consider home, and you guys have become a second family.  I never forget the time I spent here. May all your dreams come true.  You all deserve the best things to come your way.  All the best, your Aussie son
ROSS MC INNES – AUSTRALIA

I am so grateful for this being our first stop because I think I would have been one thousand times more homesick if your family did not embrace me as they did.  I just had the best time and felt right at home. Lots of love
EMMA HANSFORD – AUSTRALIA

You people are magic!  Thanks for the laughs and homey hospitality.  I’ll be back to visit you again someday!  Keep your spirit alive.  Much love and great memories,
KIM CHAPMAN – CANADA

Thanks so much for the good times – such a hard place to leave.  Keep having fun.  Who knows maybe we’ll meet up again.  Rudy junior you may have cleaned me up on the pool table, but you don’t stand a chance on mine.  Heidi, my favourite little surfer girl, keep charging.  Tersia, SMOOTHIES enough said!!  Rudy Snr great paddling out with you & so many funny nights.  Lekker, one way, shot bru!! Haha Love
RHYS JAKICH – AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND

So nice to arrive somewhere as friendly and wonderful s this after a 14 hour journey – adopt me please! Love
LISA - SCOTLAND
Beautiful home, great hospitality – sorry we could only stay one night.  This is a home away from home.  So privileged to be your first Scots to stay. Love
LAYLA – SCOTLAND

Cheers for a lovely stay & complimenting my lekker eyelashes!
MANSOOR – SCOTLAND

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Wicked people, wicked place, wicked  beach – what more could a girl want….
CHERYL – NEW ZEALAND

Thanks for being so welcoming and making me feel at home.  You have an amazing place and family.  I look forward to coming back and spending more time in the Bluff.
CHARLIE – NEW ZEALAND

Wow! I want to stay here.  Mum & Dad thanks for looking after me and the girls.  I know I had a ball and I’m only sorry I couldn’t stay longer, but don’t worry, I’ll be back!!! Love the beach (the waters not cold) love the Bluff!!! Love the Palmbooms!!  Heidi you’re a star but stop cheating at pool (your rules suck girl!)  Rudy jnr stop hiding next time, come show your pretty face.  Tersia and Rudi : you guys are great .  Thanks for making our stay so warm and memorable, you’re always in my mind.   You guys are sweet as. Thanks a mil
JASMINE – NEW ZEALAND  “SWEET AS!”

We arrived here just by chance and soon realized it is the best place to stay in Durban, hey? Lacka, lacka, hey!  Great to meet all of you and when Rudy and Heidi are surf stars I can say I knew you, hey. 
KIMBALL & KIMBERLEY – SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA

Well we came here for 2 nights and ended up staying 6!  We have loved it here – the homely place and very welcoming and relaxing.  We didn’t really want to leave but Cape Town calls.  Thanks so much for all the love – and beer!  So nice to meet such a great family – very inspiring! Take care, love and pommy kisses
VANESSA & CARL – ENGLAND

To my favourite family
Thank you all so much for making my final week in South Africa the most memorable.  It was a perfect end to a perfect holiday.  Rudy Snr I’ll definitely be back for another curry.  Tersia, you have taken the title as “Mum” – thanx so much for everything.  Rudy jnr and Heidi I’ll be back for another paintball challenge.  Love, hugs and kisses
REBECCA (BEAVER) – NEW ZEALAND

We were told this is the best place to stay in Durban – it was even better than that!  Thanks guys – a home away from home.  Juicy kisses to all
SHARON AVERILL – NEW ZEALAND

Thanks so much for your hospitality.  You give a good example of the South African kindness.  It was my pleasure to meet you.
MARK WEITZ – SAN DIEGO CA

Thank you for your hospitality (we felt like in home) – for your kindness; for your friendship.  We feel lucky, we found you and we feel happy, we meet you.  Wishing you the best in your lives, and your backpackers place, I hope we keep in touch.
Good waves
See you soon
MARINA & COCA - ARGENTINA

Thanks for making our last days in South Africa lekker.  This is one of the best backpackers and you have a primo location here.  This has been a home away from home and will definitely be back.  Hope your first experience with Kiwis in your hostel has been a good one and you have picked up a few of our sayings.
Thanks for everything.
STEVEN BYFORD –  WHAKATANE NEW ZEALAND “SWEET AS BRO!”

Thanks for making the end of the trip one of the best parts.  The hospitality here has been awesome, a home away from home for sure.  We will spread the word about Ansteys Backpackers. Will see you all again soon.
ROB MOON – OHOPE BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND “GO THE ROCKETS!”

It’s been a great pleasure to meet you guys.  We had a great time and would love to stay but….
Thanks for everything.  Bunch of hugs and kisses
THE 4 SWISS GIRLS

Thank you for the hospitality and I’m happy to meet all beautifull family.  I think this will be most backpacker in the world “word of honour”. I would love to live in South Africa, but always be remembered as magic place.
FROM ITALY THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD TIMES!!! ARRIVEDERCI!!
DENIS – ITALY

Thanks for your great hospitality.  I could run away with your two wonderful children, they are wonderful, fun loving kids.  Pity we couldn’t stay longer, but alas….
GER FROM IRELAND

Have we only been here a night – it seems like months!!! We certainly made the most of our short time with you.  Good luck with your future plans for this fine home.  Stay as cool as ye are.  Heidi, remember me as the “stick trick chick” from de country wit de funny accents!”.  Thanks a million for a great stay.  I’m truly stoked!
ANNEMARIE O’ROURKE-UP KERRY, IRELAND

We’re coming to do the Comrades and we did it.  Maybe because this is such a lovely place to be! We met a lot of comrades here, especially Tersia and Rudy!  They were like Father and Mother!
We’ll come back, sure!
UWE WEBER – GERMANY

This years Comrades was much harder than my first one in 1993.  So it was good to have a place for relaxing, such a nice place at yours.  You’re very friendly! Thanks Tersia and Rudy
JORG VOLLMER, GERMANY

Thank you very much your attention and assistance.  You are a very nice family and I spent a very good time in Ansteys Beach Backpackers.  I hope see you next year!  Keep in touch
PEDRO SOARES MARTINS – PORTUGAL

What a family!  Thank you for a great stay.
STUART – ENGLAND

We had this place recommended by Rob with whom we spend some excellent days.  Our expectations were met and more.  You’ve been so kind and caring.  A few days turned into a week and we will miss you all.  We will tell our parents how much you did for us and it will be much appreciated.  Thank you for your hospitality, patience and friendliness.  We are sorry to leave South Africa this way but be sure that we’ve had some excellent times here.
Tersia : everything about you is “Dufter godt”  Rudy : you have made our stay here “lekker”
NIELS & HELLE – AALBORG DENMARK

We only wish that we could have stayed longer.  Tersia was such a wonderful hostess and Heidi was a lovely hostess as well.  We are sorry that we did not get to meet the “Rudy’s” but that just means we have to come back and visit again!  Good luck with the business – we know that it will be a smashing success!
JILL & MATT HUNT – NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA

This is by far the best hostel I’ve been in.  Both the location & the people are great.  It really does feel like  you’re at home.  I will return.
JOSE GARCIA – OXNARD CALIFORNIA

This place is wonderful.  It’s my dream to have a place like this someday – thank you for making us feel so welcome.  Best of luck!
ELIZABETH WEIDLING – KANSAS