Little Drifter North Melbourne — Hotel in Melbourne

Stephan: The Nightwatcher, The Polyglot, The Mustachioed Legend of The Village ||Stephan isn’t just a receptionist—he’s a permanent fixture of The Village Hostel. Some say he was here before the hostel even existed. Others claim he transcended into furniture years ago and now exists in a liminal state between man and myth. But one thing is certain: The Village wouldn’t be The Village without Stephan.||The Eternal Night Guardian|While mere mortals sleep, Stephan reigns over the night. Whether it’s checking in a dazed traveler at 3 AM or dealing with a guest who’s had one too many beers and lost their key for the third time, Stephan handles it all with the calm, composed energy of a Dutch philosopher who’s seen it all before. Midnight crisis? He’s got it covered. Existential crisis? He’ll answer you in three languages and somehow make you feel better about it.||Speaking of languages, Stephan is a polyglot powerhouse—Dutch, French, German, English, and probably a few ancient dialects no one’s heard of. Guests often experience mild confusion when they arrive, expecting to fumble through English, only for Stephan to effortlessly switch into their native tongue like some kind of linguistic wizard. You thought you were about to have an awkward, broken conversation? Nope—Stephan is already responding fluently, making you question if he’s secretly lived in your home country all along. ||The Hostel’s Human Furniture|Stephan doesn’t just live at the hostel. He is part of it. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the couches have molded around his presence, as if they’ve given up trying to be separate from him. He has an uncanny ability to materialize in the common area at any given time, lounging like a king on his throne. No matter the hour, if you need something, just turn around—there’s a high chance Stephan is already there, sipping coffee and subtly raising an eyebrow in amusement.||The Mustache That Commands Respect. |We cannot discuss Stephan without acknowledging the mustache. It is not just a mustache—it is a masterpiece. Perfectly groomed, a symbol of authority and refined European charm, it’s the kind of mustache that makes you want to trust him with your deepest secrets. If The Village ever needed a new logo, it should just be an outline of Stephan’s glorious facial hair.||A True Village Icon|Stephan is more than a receptionist. He’s a guardian of the night, a linguistic virtuoso, a semi-sentient piece of hostel décor, and the proud owner of the most distinguished mustache this side of the equator.||Whether you’re a weary traveler in need of assistance, a lost soul looking for wisdom, or just someone who appreciates the comforting presence of a man who has truly mastered the art of existing in a hostel, Stephan is your guy. ||14/10. Would trust him with my luggage, my life, and...

Some people do night shifts. Jim embodies them. He’s the unofficial mayor of the reception desk after sunset - the man who guards the door, protects the peace, and somehow keeps the whole hostel from turning into a techno rave at 2am.

Jim isn’t just a guy. Jim is an energy. A barefoot-philosopher kind of energy. You don’t meet Jim - you encounter him encountering you. The front desk is his dojo, the street his perimeter, and the noise past 10pm? His sworn enemy.

No flashlight. No clipboard. Just sheer presence and the kind of unshakeable serenity that makes drunk guests feel like they’re interrupting a TED Talk on transcendence.

Jim isn’t your average staff member, this man drinks only distilled water. Not for health reasons, but for purity. He believes in soul evolution, galactic citizenship, and probably has a 5-year plan that ends with him leading an eco-conscious, noise-free commune on a hilltop somewhere in Portugal. And honestly? I’d join.

Even when he’s not on the clock, he’s on. Just chilling by the desk, absorbing the hostel energy like a sentient Himalayan salt lamp. Always smiling. Always watching. Is he paid for this? No. Does he care? Also no. He has something better to do? Er... no. He doesn’t party, he doesn’t wander, he doesn’t chase distraction: he’s locked in!

Dutch by birth, legend by choice, this man operates on a frequency most of us can only aspire to reach. He doesn’t live at the hostel, he is woven into its fabric.

You’ll find him greeting guests with a giant smile, even when he technically shouldn't because that’s just who he is! But the second someone starts howling at the moon or testing the decibel limit outside the entrance - BOOM - Jim’s all business. No yelling, no drama, just a calm, firm “Guys, time to go,” delivered with the authority of someone who could run a nation but humbly chooses to keep this corner of the world in order instead.

Spiritual but grounded. Friendly but sharp. Calm but unshakable.

Jim is what happens when self-awareness meets night...

Taís 2.0: Brazilian Brilliance in Human Form There are receptionists, and then there is Taís—a once-in-a-generation phenomenon disguised as a mortal working the front desk. If hostels had royalty, she’d be Her Highness Queen Taís of The Village, ruling the realm with grace, humor, and a slightly mischievous sparkle in her eye.

Stepping into the lobby and seeing Taís is like walking into a warm tropical breeze—one that speaks perfect English, organizes your booking with lightning speed, and makes you laugh before you’ve even dropped your backpack. She doesn’t just check you in. She checks in with your soul.

Need help? She’s already solved the problem. Need directions? She’ll give you a map, a backup map, three food recommendations, and a hug if you look lost. Need a pick-me-up? Her smile is more energizing than five espressos and a samba parade.

But don’t let her sunny charm fool you. This woman is a beast. A powerhouse. A walking Brazilian thunderstorm of charisma and competence.

She knows the hostel better than the walls do. She is everywhere, all at once—answering phones, cracking jokes, fixing problems before they exist, and still somehow finding time to make everyone feel like they matter.

Also, can we talk about the vibe? Taís doesn’t have a vibe. She is the vibe. You don’t stay at The Village Hostel—you enter the Taís dimension, where everything feels a little more magical, a little more alive, and a whole lot more fabulous.

Rumors say that once you meet her, your standards for human interaction are permanently raised. Some guests check out and spend years wandering the earth, trying to find someone with even 1/10th of her energy. They never succeed.

14/10. Would cancel my flight just to ask her what she thinks about the weather. 20/10. Would nominate her for president of Earth. Infinity/10. She’s not just part of the hostel. She is the reason you’ll never...