I love these places; they're so important to have for travelers of modest means, especially in a place where "modest means" is a foreign language. The people were great; friendly and helpful. You have to expect for the price that the accommodations would be pretty spartan, and they are; tiny beds and rough linens lots of talking, snoring, floor creaking neighbors and all that, but I don't really care...I'm just there to lay my head, as is everyone else there. The location is better than you could even imagine: in an old coastal rescue station right by the water and down the street from the beach; fabulous.
A couple of things that could use improvement: the bathroom experience. You can't control everyone's actions, but my shower experience typically consisted of walking over a soaked floor and taking a cold shower with hand soap. Granted, next time I'll bring soap, but it wouldn't kill them to stock some there for purchase. Maybe seal the shower doors a bit better? And I don't know how you get *more* hot water, but it would just be a nice plus. Also, I'm thinking maybe there could be *some* lower age limit in the dorms. I was thankfully in the "old guys end" (like 21+), but I was a little caught off guard to wake up and find like...12-year-olds on the other end of the room, seemingly unsupervised. It's just a matter of behavior and habits. So maybe...18? 16? I don't know. At any rate, when I come back to Nantucket, I'll be staying here. read more