Friendly staff. Great for the value. For someone like myself who is on a budget, this place is a great find. It has everything you need without the expensive price tag. It has a relaxed and nice atmosphere for the easy going folks. They even have patios to enjoy the fall weather. Free wifi, breakfast and coffee and lounging area. Clean. Great to catch sleep and make new friends if you're interested. Also has computer room and recommendations for local eateries. read more

I love the house and its temporary residents. The house is very clean and well kept. Like other reviewers pointed out, there's a no shoe policy - shoes go in the hallway, between two doors that have a number code. Also, kudos for the free pancakes every morning! The main livingroom has an awesomely comfortable sofa, perfect for lounging around and relaxing. They have a patio in the back as well as a third floor rooftop patio. They do a sunday bbq as well! I stayed in an underground co-ed room, and I found everyone very friendly and respectful. Except the manager. Or I should say, they aren't very flexible and understanding in difficult circumstances. By a stroke of good luck, I didn't have to spend my night at Baltimore airport as I originally planned. I got a ride to Duo housing.. but the problem is, I've now arrived too early at 5am in the morning. I had a reservation for later that night, and they told me I couldn't be let in the house at all until 3pm, or that I could do a "soft" check in but not have a bed around 7am. But before then, I should leave. Wat. So I explain to them that I have to get to work by 9am. That it is my 1st time in DC, that I don't particularly know anyone in DC, and that I'm just one girl traveling by herself. Do they really expected me to sit out in the dark for two hours before 7am? They begrudgingly let me into the shoe-filled lobby. I sat there on their dinky lobby chair next to the atm, ready to wait out the 2 hours with the company of shoes. Comes 5:30am and I am nodding off - the employee comes out and taps me on my shoulder: "Manager says you can't sleep 'cause it's as if we are hosting you"... WHAT ELSE DO YOU SUPPOSE I SHOULD DO AT 5AM. Want me to build you a shoe-castle?? Okay I didn't actually say that. But by this time I'm pretty fed up that I have NOT even seen the manager once (wtf, hiding behind the poor employee so the manager can play nice later?). At the urge & many recommendations of the rather sweet employee, I eventually take off and go realize my forced tourism of the monuments and memorials at the ungoldly hour of 6am. Watched the sunrise with good ole Abe Lincoln. Anyways, got off topic. I eventually did my "soft" check-in around 7 am. I took a shower, got some free pancakes, locked a few of my items that I wouldn't need at work (oh, bring your own lock btw), and left for work running on 2 hours of crappy airplane sleep. When I returned around 6pm from work, the *actual* manager checked me in and gave me a quick house tour. "Hey I saw you this morning, I'm the manager". I suppose he tried to be friendly or whatever. But I was like no thank-you gimme my bed okay i dont like you go away. Suffice to say that I didn't enjoy my check-in experience at all. But honestly, for the price, the house amenities, the location and all the fascinatingly friendly 20-30something travelers, I would return. Just make sure to arrive after 7am or to be completely safe - 3pm. read more

Definitely a good place to stay. Staff is helpful and will recommend good places to you for food and nightlife. I met some people that I can now call friends at this hostel. It also isn't far from the national mall--walking distance. read more

Traveling to DC was my first solo trip. This was my first time staying in a hostel. I really enjoyed that it's near all the main attractions. I wasn't sure of the no shoe policy at first, but I got use to it after day 1. The hostelmates usually stayed to themselves, I felt like I had to try really hard to get people to speak back...haha. I didn't join in the pancake breakfast, because it was way too early for me. The staff are really firm with the rules. The atmospher is really cozy and friendly. It makes you feel like you're away at college. The bunk beds and community showers. Each bed is its own little suite in a way. Overall the experience was amazing. I'm glad this place was my first hostel experience. I paid around $80 for 3 days, and that's not including the amazing people you'll meet. Also, this place blends into the neighborhood. Nice hot shower, clean toliets, safe, and secure. You won't even feel like you're sleeping in a room of 12 strangers. read more

Duo Housing - 12 bunk beds, private bathroom. - Hostels Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wow, my first hostel experience and I have been spoiled. The staff was friendly and personable and just the atmosphere that was at this place was simply stunning. From playing cards for hours on end to going out and experiencing the D.C. night life, Duo Housing definitely made this trip one to remember. read more

The management here is the rudest and most disrespectful people I have ever encountered. They charged me for a stay that I already paid for and have showed receipt for. When I called about the charge they said they would issue a refund. I never received confirmation for the refund. I called back two days later and they said I had to prove I was charged. I emailed my bank statement and never received refund. The person at front desk was very rude. Would never attempt to stay here again. Very rude people, take your money elsewhere. Many nice and affordable hostels in DC, not Duo Housing. read more

Upon arrival, was initially put off by the no shoe policy. But instantly appreciated it because of the cleanliness and the welcoming common area with the endless amount of channels on the TV. Did not care for an overtly flirtatious and argumentative, 19 year old employee, who hit on every female who walked in. His attempts at hospitality quickly crossed the line of professionalism. Lack of paper towels and trash cans in bathrooms was inconvenient. Also, couldn't eat anywhere except for the hot and smelly kitchen. Regardless of the previously mentioned employee, the manager and other employees were friendly and welcoming. Nightly group outings were a fun way to meet new people from all over! read more

Had a bad experience here some time ago. It started when I heard yelling b/w a guest and the head of staff. I walked down from my room to see what was going on. The next day the same staffmember, who appeared to be of Eastern European or Albanian descent, walks by and makes a rude comment to me. When I looked up I see that he's staring me down. I ignored the provocation, but was amazed that he was trying to pick another fight. I'm giving them 2 stars b/c the rest of the staff was decent and stays out of your way (and the price is fair), but it takes one aggressive asshole to make you think twice about staying here. read more

Omg. Do not stay here. When my 3 friends and I first walked in, it smelled a little funky, but I remained hopeful because it looked so clean otherwise. When we went downstairs to drop off our luggage, the stench was so overwhelming that I was gagging. We thought it was cat piss at first, but after not seeing any cats and reading more recent reviews, it appears that the hostel has a rat infestation. Toward the end of the day, we returned to the hostel and ultimately decided not to stay there. I kindly asked for a refund, even if it was partial, due to the stench. The worker acted like he was shocked and in disbelief when I mentioned the smell, but they obviously knew because it reeked of rat piss and lysol. A few days later when I emailed to kindly request a refund, they refused stating that it was my decision not to stay and they could have put us in a different room (originally were told it was sold out because of the Women's March/Inauguration). Duo Housing never acknowledged the stench or rat problem and instead blamed me for not wanting to stay there. read more

staying at this hostel was one of the best decisions I've ever made. do yourself a favor and stay here. trust me. read more

I'd say this is definitely the best hostel in DC. Very nice atmosphere. AZ is the main supervisor/staff member and he looks like a backup dancer for Beyonce at the Billboard Music Awards. But the guy is actually incredible, and he speaks 5 languages and makes you feel welcome the moment you step inside the door. Nino is another staff member and he will give you the Smartcard out of his wallet, so that you don't have to buy your own to use the Metro during your short stay in DC. He is also an incredibly talented and renowned architect who will be leaving soon to make his mark out in SF. Kaitlyn is the sweetest girl from Tennesee you will ever meet. But all of the staff goes out of their way to make sure you have a great time in DC. If you want hospitality, forget the Sheraton and stay at Duo. read more

I wish I could give this Hostel 0 stars. It's so GROSS and the staff are MEAN and TERRIBLE. I guess they are paying people to leave positive reviews. Everyone I've spoken to while staying there hated their lives. First night there I woke up at 3am to some nasty, drunk girl in my bed, grinding her butt on my stuff. I screamed and almost threw up. She wouldn't get out of my bed. Finally, a staff member came over and escorted her to her right room....half an hour later. Now most of you guys might think that's hot...well I'm gay and it was not hot. It would be like if a dude crawled into your bed and was grinding his hairy butt on your stuff. It's not ok. The bathrooms are DISGUSTING and not cleaned maybe once a day, but when you have 16 people using one or two bathrooms they get disgusting real quick. You have to take your shoes off and the SMELL is so horrible. Remember high school locker rooms? Yeah, it's like that with a touch of Febreze. There is definitely not enough bathrooms for the number of people staying. I mean 16 people to 2 bathrooms? Wtf? My fav thing was the MOUND OF HAIR in the shower drains....adds a special touch. When I spoke to two different staff about the "bed intruder" incident, they literally didn't even say sorry. They laughed and IGNORED me. Great customer service right there . When I was checking out, all of a sudden the manager was all sweet and asking me to leave a positive review. Ummmmm, yeah no, I won't lie for you. The public needs to know about this hell hole. So for my conclusion, I would like you to know that I am well traveled and have stayed in many hostels. All of them have actually been great. This one on the hand, is like a CRACK-HOUSE without the crack. read more

My experience at Duo Housing was amazing! The hostel is clean and is located in a safe area. The house is fully equipped with kitchen and all the amenities possible (perfect Wifi, TVs, a small terrace). But the best part is AZ, the manager. He really takes care of the guests, he brought us out to party and he was also able to handle my friend (who probably drank a little bit too much) perfectly. Great job AZ! read more

GREAT stay. The place is very cozy and and wide open. Great setup for socializing, with a home like atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. When they aren't busy with checking people in/out, they socialize in the common area with the guests and make you feel very welcome. Very clean- bathrooms, showers, and rooms. They have extra blankets if you're cold blooded, which is great. They also provide towels- fresh and clean. The pancake breakfast is a very nice touch. A great time to sit around the table in the morning and meet other fascinating people from around the world and country. Right before I left yesterday, I misplaced my cellphone and wallet case. The staff were so helpful and actually searched the house for it. They found it for me! Such a huge relief and so nice of them to help. I give it top rating! read more

Great location (downtown D.C. Central to many neighborhoods.) nice & well kept. No hot water though.

It's clean, it's cheap for the area, and it's reasonably nice. The staff are friendly, and there's coffee and pancakes in the morning, which is a plus. I'd stay here again. read more

This is my first time traveling by myself and my first time living in a hostel. Definitely out of my expectation. The staff here are nice and friendly. The whole hostel is warm. clean, nice. They even have free pancake in the morning! read more

This place is disgusting! Do not stay here! It smells like pee the moment you walk in and gets even worse once you get into the bedrooms. I've never smelt anything so strong and vile in my life. My friends and I thought it was a cat but they clearly have a rat problem that they are refusing to address. In addition, half the bathrooms were clogged with feces. When we returned later in the night to pick up our stuff because we could not stay there with the smell, they clearly tried to mask the smell with chemicals. The entire place now smelt like piss and Lysol - great combo. We asked if we could get a refund and the manager said they no and that they were sold out and acted like there was no smell, so we left. No way we were going to sleep in this smell and the sound of rats running and fighting in the walls. When wrote to them and hostel world after this awful experience, neither addressed the rodent problem in this place, just that we didn't cancel in time. HELLO YOU HAVE A RAT PROBLEM. You would think it would be a clean place and they would want to take of this considering they're so adamant about no shoes on in the hostel - not the case. We plan on calling the health department. read more

I love Duo Housing! The staff are really nice and I see them cleaning day and night. The Sunday BBQ is the best. The environment is really welcoming and I made a lot of international friends the last time I stayed at Duo. read more

I had my worst experience in hostels with Duo Housing. I made a reservation for 3 nights, starting at March 19, checking-out March 22 until 11am. Due to the fact that I arrived one day later, they changed my reservation, starting at March 20 and checking-out at the same time. Saturday morning (3/21) I left the Hostel to visit the city. When I came back, at night, another person was in my bed. I went to the reception and asked the guy to solve this problem. He said to me that inside the system I was supposed to check out March 21. I showed him my reservation, prooving that I was supposed to leave just in the next day. He said to me that he could do nothing because the hostel was already full, and the best he could do was to find another hostel to me. I did not accept this condititon because I could not expend more money with housing in my trip. I tried to explain that was not my fault, but it did not work. Tired of this situation, I left the hostel and came to the airport to wait almost one day until my flight. read more

First time at a hostel. What a great idea. this place has a great vibe and everyone who was staying there was very nice and friendly. they also have pancakes and coffee in the morning. cant beat this deal for the price read more

I've stayed in a lot of European hostels, and this felt a lot like one. When you get in, they have you take your shoes off in an outside room, so as to not get the house dirty, and then come though to the other side through a door with a keycode, then sit down on a couch while they explain the rules and policies and get you checked in. The guy manning the front desk was very chill. He seemed a little busy and preoccupied, but there were a lot of people coming and going. Our booking got messed up, and my friend and I were put in different rooms, but he went out of his way to fix that without my even asking him to. He also kept checking in every time he saw us later to make sure we were ok. The hostel itself is cute and charming. I loved the decor. We stayed in a co-ed dorm, and it was a little hard to sleep. People came in late, but for the most part everyone was quiet and considerate. The room we stayed in was right next to 11th St, and you could hear everything going on outside. Some of the doors to the downstairs slam, and the staircases creak, but mostly I think it was just that room that was the noisiest. The bed itself was super comfy, and they actually rig extension cords so that every bunk (even the top ones) have outlets (I loved that part). The have an outdoor deck on the top floor - this was our favorite part. They also have two kitchens if you want to cook. They have a big TV with Netflix and Wii on the bottom floor, and go out at night as a group to local bars. All in all, it seemed like a really fun place to hang out and meet people if we had had time. It felt super secure - it's a good neighborhood, but it is DC, so there's always people hanging around you'd rather not meet. But there are two doors with pass codes to get though to get into the hostel. Oh yeah, and pancake breakfasts =D read more

Very good place to stay for both people looking for a place to live permanently and/or job. Its in a location accessible to everything, so if your in town for temporary rental or permanent its close by everything. Walking, biking, or public transit works well. During the stay lots of people have stayed here, so far I think there was only one or two nights where all the bunks were not taken. I have never had a problem getting a shower or using the bathroom, however they do have them all over the hostel. They also have free pancakes, coffee, and tea in the A.M. Everyone seems friendly, no drama, and very laid back atmosphere. The rooms do get a lil warm at times, or chilly but they have more/less blankets for that. I would highly recommend this for a place to stay. If your trying to avoid spending alot of money on hotels in D.C, and if you cant eat @ all of the top restaurants in D.C, than this is the place for you. They have pots/pans and utensils for cooking, however I would only recommend/making cooking time brief, unless you are cooking for a large amount of people. Reservations went smooth, no problems booking room, no problems with money charges, very simple and straight forward. They have computers. Just remember not to eat in rooms. They are big on keeping everything clean read more