---
title: "Little Drifter Cairns vs The Espy Hostel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Pick Little Drifter Cairns. It leads in 1 of 3 categories. Little Drifter Cairns or The Espy Hostel in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/little-drifter-cairns-cairns-vs-the-espy-hostel-cairns/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

# Little Drifter Cairns vs The Espy Hostel

Both are in Cairns, 250 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hostel · Cairns City
## [Little Drifter Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/little-drifter-cairns-cairns/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.6 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 8.6

- **Score by category:** 1 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1781430/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · Cairns City
## [The Espy Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-espy-hostel-cairns/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.7 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 8.3

- **Score by category:** 0 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2196851/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Little Drifter Cairns

It leads in 1 of 3 categories. 250 m apart.

### Choose Little Drifter Cairns if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (8.6 / 8.7)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 54 / 1)

### Choose The Espy Hostel if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 1 / 54)

### Why is Little Drifter Cairns better than The Espy Hostel?

1.  More guest reviews (809 vs 15), so the rating is more reliable (×54)
2.  A larger hotel with more facilities (54 vs 1 rooms) (×54.0)

### Why is The Espy Hostel better than Little Drifter Cairns?

1.  A smaller, more intimate hotel (1 vs 54 rooms) (−53)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Little Drifter Cairns | The Espy Hostel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| Location | 8.6 | 8.3 |
| Public transport | 9.8  (+1.1) | 8.7 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.6  (+0.2) | 8.4 |
| Guest rating | 8.6 | 8.7  (+0.1) |
| Number of reviews | 809  (+794) | 15 |
| Google rating | – | 4.1/5 |
| Google reviews | – | 189 |
| Rank in Cairns | top 30%  (+16%) | top 46% |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.6  (+0.3) | 8.3 |
| Distance to Cairns City centre | 370 m  (−170 m) | 540 m |
| To public transport | 190 m  (−200 m) | 390 m |
| To the airport | 5.6 km | 5.4 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 |
| Sights within 1 km | 12 | 12 |
| Rooms & building |
| Rooms | 54 | 1 |
| Floors | 2 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2025 | – |
| Listed amenities | 4 | 10  (+6) |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Swimming pool | – | ✓ |
| Beachfront | – | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | – | ✓ |
| In-room safe | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Business trips | – | ✓ |

## Location

250 m apart

Little Drifter Cairns: city centre: 1.9 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 190 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.6 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km.

The Espy Hostel: city centre: 1.8 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 390 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.4 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Cairns

[Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather)

## Little Drifter Cairns or The Espy Hostel: common questions

### Which is better, Little Drifter Cairns or The Espy Hostel?

Little Drifter Cairns leads in 1 of 3 categories, including public transport.

### Which is cheaper, Little Drifter Cairns or The Espy Hostel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Little Drifter Cairns is closer: 370 m from the centre, against 540 m for The Espy Hostel.

### How far apart are Little Drifter Cairns and The Espy Hostel?

The two hotels are 250 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/little-drifter-cairns-cairns-vs-the-espy-hostel-cairns/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/