---
title: "The Jack Backpackers vs Wanna Stay?: which hotel is better?"
description: "The Jack Backpackers or Wanna Stay? in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-jack-backpackers-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-cairns/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

# The Jack Backpackers vs Wanna Stay?

Both are in Cairns, 160 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★ · Cairns City
## [The Jack Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-jack-backpackers-cairns/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.3 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 8.3

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

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2202898/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · Cairns City
## [Wanna Stay?](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/wanna-stay-cairns/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.8 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 8.5

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

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2307648/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Too close to call

Each hotel leads in 1 category. Your priorities decide. 160 m apart.

### Choose The Jack Backpackers if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (8.3 / 7.8)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 36 / 14)

### Choose Wanna Stay? if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 14 / 36)

### Why is The Jack Backpackers better than Wanna Stay??

1.  Higher guest rating (8.3 vs 7.8) (+0.5)
2.  Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h)

### Why is Wanna Stay? better than The Jack Backpackers?

1.  More guest reviews (140 vs 22), so the rating is more reliable (×6.4)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | The Jack Backpackers | Wanna Stay? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.3  (+0.5) | 7.8 |
| Location | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| Public transport | 8.9 | 9.5  (+0.6) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.3  (+0.4) | 7.9 |
| Guest rating | 8.3  (+0.5) | 7.8 |
| Number of reviews | 22 | 140  (+118) |
| Google rating | – | 4.4/5 |
| Google reviews | – | 121 |
| Rank in Cairns | bottom 39%  (+23%) | bottom 16% |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| Distance to Cairns City centre | 270 m | 250 m |
| To public transport | 350 m | 240 m  (−110 m) |
| To the airport | 5.8 km | 5.7 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 |
| To the nearest food shop | 40 m  (−110 m) | 150 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 15 | 16 |
| Sights within 1 km | 12 | 12 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★ | – |
| Rooms | 36 | 14 |
| Floors | 1 | 2 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2025  (+2y) | 2023 |
| Listed amenities | – | 10 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 11:00  (+1h) | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | – | ✓ |
| Breakfast | – | ✓ |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | – | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Business trips | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

160 m apart

The Jack Backpackers: city centre: 2.0 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 350 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.8 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km.

Wanna Stay?: city centre: 1.9 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 240 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.7 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)

## The Jack Backpackers or Wanna Stay?: common questions

### Which is better, The Jack Backpackers or Wanna Stay??

They are evenly matched. The Jack Backpackers is stronger in guest rating; Wanna Stay? is stronger in public transport.

### Which is cheaper, The Jack Backpackers or Wanna Stay??

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

### How far apart are The Jack Backpackers and Wanna Stay??

The two hotels are 160 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/the-jack-backpackers-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-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/