Stayed in hostels before and only needed a cheap place to stay for a night. Grateful for this place because my usual spot was more than I could afford this time. The staff was friendly and helpful. Twenty seconds away from a streetcar. A lot of rules but I was only staying a night so I didn't take advantage of any of the amenities. Tea and coffee available as well as a fridge for you to out your things in w a provided label. I booked a down w 4 women's beds. It came with a bathroom which was nice and unexpected. The shower was separate from the toilet which is nice so no one has to wait to use one. The ac was loud but cold. No hangers or lockers but a table and foldable stand. Iron available at front desk, pool which guests have to pay to use and plenty of sitting areas to congregate. Calendar of events is posted along with rules of the place. Merch is sold in the lobby as well. Friendly and eclectic vibe. Quiet sleep. Heard no noise and there are restaurants nearby along with a Family Dollar. Safe neighborhood and it's cheaper to book on their website. You won't be charged y til you pay at the hotel. It's just a deposit. I'm a frequent woman traveler and would definitely stay there again. Only take away is that if you drop your stuff off before check in, you leave it in the living room so I'd bring a lock for your luggage so no one can ramble. Cool spot and the over 45 crowd. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this charming hostel. I stayed in a private Cajun room with shared bathrooms and showers that was decorated nicely with unique artwork. I relaxed at the pool area several days and played board games with other guests one night. All of their staff was very helpful and friendly. I had lots of fun interacting with the other guests. I highly recommend staying here if you are on a budget and enjoying mingling with others. You won't be disappointed. You can easily take public transportation very economical and/or Uber to anywhere you need to go. read more

If you are young and tight on money, this hostel is what you are look for. They have a nice pool, a kitchen and cheap breakfast and friendly staff and the people that stayed there were all nice, I made a lot of good friend there. It is also walking distance to the rail spot of you want to go to downtown. If you driving to New Orleans, there are street parking for your car that seems safe and it is close to India House Hostel. The rooms are nice and it is your typical hostel bed, the place is very colorful, very Boheme if you know what I mean. read more

Great hostel. No concerns. I had one of the private rooms with a shared bathroom, everything was clean. Courtyard area is nice.

We are in our 50s and this was our 1st time ever in a hostel. We had our private room and it was perfect! Close to the trolley - pool area - outdoor fridges - indoor fridges and TajMahal Cat! read more

India House Hostel - TajMahal Cat at India Hostel - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Great staff and room was clean , interesting mix of people. Close to trolley. Coffee and tea in living room always available

Wasn't sure going in what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised by this well kept hostel in New Orleans. Only half a block from the street car stop, this location provided ease of access to the French Quarter at a very reasonable price. Recommend getting the day pass options for easy on and off the street cars. We stayed in a private suite with two beds but they offer any number of sleeping options for groups to the single traveler at very reasonable prices. The community is the best part of staying at India House Hostel. Plenty of opportunities to meet new friends from all over the world or just retreat to a quiet area to have some alone time. They offer a communal kitchen and refrigerators to keep and prepare food and fresh coffee at all times in the lobby. The place really reflects the vibe of New Orleans while being clean and maintained. We really enjoyed our stay. There was adequate parking on premises if you are driving in. Will stay here again when in the Big Easy. read more

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India House was so charming. The staff was friendly, the rooms were clean and you are close to everything. Street parking is available without any issues. read more

This place is beautiful and friendly with a great relaxed vibe. The employees are friendly, they give you a tour of the property, always available if you need anything. The room was pleasant, I had a single room to myself, bed was decent and all was clean. Plenty of outdoor seating to hang, drink, work on laptop etc. kitchen was big and had all the basics to cook a meal. I'd stay here again for sure! read more

Clean beds, quiet, ac, heater in room, coffee, kitchen/fridge, unique patio area, wifi pretty good. Needs a few things to update...hangers for wet towels and bedside lamps I'm all rooms. Would definitely use it again, and I'm 69 years old. read more

Cool vibes and quirky place to stay!!! GREAT SOCIAL PLACE! They have a pool and great common areas and even have scheduled drinking games and what every week so you get to meet new people! It's a perf pregame to make friends before y'all get on the trolley and go to Burbon st. together! Couches in the commons area are so comfy and the place is pretty big. They are opened 24/7 so there just constantly have people coming in n out of the place. Literally at the corner were you can pick up the canal st cable car to take it right into town and other places. Pretty cheap with so many interesting people (just like any other hostel) coming from all other the world! CHEAP AND FILLING AND YUM BREAKFAST AND DINNER AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ($5) Has a lot of storage for your food both pantry and refrigerator. Very accommodating in leaving the luggage around before and after the check in/out while you wait or explore. Could have a slightly thicker mattress, but you make it work and it's nothing too crazy. Idk why people don't get this but rule of thumb for ANY HOSTEL: bring some shower shoes or flipflops / don't be walking around barefoot! read more

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I have been staying in this hotel consistently when I visit the French quarter for many many years. Very consistent... homey , clean ,safe, nice place to stay. I highly highly recommend it !!! read more

How does this place have such good reviews? I've stayed in many a Hostel in my time and this place is sub-par. Why?: It's in the middle of bumf*ck and nothing is within walking distance except for a corner store and the excellent Echo's Pizza. I tried walking to get food that wasn't either of the aforementioned places and it was a straight gamble with my life, walking through unlit, shady side streets and having to cross roads full of speeding cars without a light or crosswalk in sight. New Orleans is not a pedestrian-friendly place. Speaking of friendly, the staff (with the exception of a lovely older woman) were straight-up unhelpful and cared more about smoking and drinking in the front porch area than doing their jobs. The front desk girl acted like she was having a root canal when she gave me my 30-second "tour". The beds were paper-thin and my pillows and blankets straight-up smelled nasty. No one cleans the rooms, even the private ones. I think someone else mentioned this but the place is a damn lawsuit waiting to happen with all the uneven concrete and places to trip in this place. Thus, if you care about this type of thing, this place is so not ADA-compliant. This one is not really the fault of the Hostel but I think the lazy, rude staff does set a tone and it's not a friendly one. I've never been to a hostel with such such unfriendly people before. People just straight up stare at you if you, shock, gasp, dare to say hello and smile. F-this place and this "city". I should have gone to San Diego (USA Hostels is the best) and had an amazing time instead of staying at this sh*thole. read more

This place has a great vibe. If you like old Victorian style houses, you will love this place. It's basic but clean and has everything you need. We rented one of the private rooms and were pleasantly surprised by the nicely updated bathroom. The hosts are very friendly and helpful. It's about a 45 minute walk down a nicely lit street to the French quarter. We felt totally safe walking home after a night of partying. read more

Oh India House, I wanted to love you! Your abundance of color and your close proximity to the Canal streetcar; you have so much potential. If we had dated India house it would have been a fling; your inconsistency with working stoves, hard to track down b'fast cooks, funky showers with lousy water pressure. It could have been such a lovely stay. Your blankets were paper thin, thankfully the room had a space heater. Oh, and the strange stain on the wall...was it bug guts...finger painting...explosions of a minute nature? I will never know. We had a fine time hanging out with all the other travelers. Our 7 days sleeping in your bed wasn't bad. The price was right for a private room. The bathrooms could use two cleanings a day, say an a.m. and p.m. version. The asian gal at the front desk was SUPER SWEET! I wish she had been emulated by any of the other staff! For $34 a night (two ppl, private room, shared bathroom) I'd do it again. read more

India House Hostel - One of the painted pillars on the front porch. - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I love staying in a really good hostel and on the surface India House is one of the best that I have ever stayed in, However all of the the things that work to rank it as one of the best hostels in the USA can also work against it. The pool, the grounds, the bandstand, and the party atmosphere can make for a miserable stay if you plan on getting any sleep which you will need if you want to see any of New Orleans' classic sights. Again, this place is kitschy cool with retro/hippie furnishings. The pool and the grounds are very inviting and this hostel offers a nightly meal at a fantastic price. It is all wonderful and one gets the sense that India House is a destination in itself, but then again therein lies the problem. A lot of backpackers never seem to leave!!! On my stay the grounds were always filled with people drinking and laughing throughout the day and night. I was staying in the dorm room which made sleep impossible. I really couldn't understand why the guest of India House came to New Orleans at all. Look, my backpacker pals, New Orleans has some of the best bars in the world. Please get out there and see them. Trust me hanging out all day and night drinking cheap wine at The India House is not cool..actually, it is kinda sad and pathetic. However, if it sounds like I am trashing this hostel, I'm really not. I like the concept and the staff was super friendly. I think it would have been better if I had been able to get into one of the private rooms instead of the men's dorm room. These accommodations were right next to the pool and stuffy, hot. This combination, coupled with drunken guys stumbling in and out all night long made for a horrible night's sleep. Of course, my favorite moment was when some Don Juan proceeded to sneak some Tulane Tart into the bunk above me. Now, believe it or not, this is not the first time this happened to me (once in Switzerland, twice in Spain...must be like a mile-high club thing); however, the conversation is always the same: Tart: I don't know if we should be doing this? Don Juan: It will be ok..everyone's asleep (I wish)..Here let me help you up. Tart: There's not a lot of room up here Don Juan: It will be ok, Babe (obviously forgot her name) I promise. [Sounds kissing, grouping,,well you get the idea. fill in your own blanks] Stopping the canoodling, The Tart cries breathlessly: I don't know if we should be doing this. I mean I never do anything like this! (yes, I am sure that is true..please) I mean, you won't respect me. Don Juan: I promise I will, Babe. I promise...[back to our regularly scheduled programming] Respect you! Respect you! I think..Yeah, I am sure the 20+ guys in the dorm all respect you.....ugh. Well,at least things were over quick. Good one, Don Juan. read more

Really friendly Swiss guy manning the front desk while we stayed there. We rolled in at around 1 or 2 am and he was ready to give us directions and recommendations on where to go. I booked rooms for three of us through Hostelworld for only $18 a night. There's also a $5 deposit for the key, but obviously you get that back if you don't lose the little thing. Your nightly fee comes with sheets, a pillow, and a thin blanket thing. I brought my own pillow, which was probably a good call. You won't need the blanket since the rooms can get pretty warm. Eight bunk beds to a room if you go for the cheapest rooms. I didn't get a chance to see the nicer private rooms, but whatever. You came here for a place to crash after a night on Bourbon. Breakfast in the morning seems like a good deal, as does the $5 cajun dinner they were serving. Showers and bathroom areas were super clean and there was never a wait for any of the facilities. Nice little area outside to hang out for a bit. All I can complain about is that I got a shit ton of mosquito bites, but I get that whenever the buggers are around. read more

*solid 3.5 star to be precise* I took a solo trip via Megabus to New Orleans a few weeks ago for my 30th birthday, and I intentionally waited to book my accommodations until I was en route, I guess just for the thrill. It wasn't exactly the smartest move on my part b/c what was available on Thursday when I first looked, was all booked up by the time I was fixin' to lock up a bed. India house was the only option left at that point. For $17 in a 16 bed co-ed room, you can't go wrong. That's music to a budget traveller's ears. India House is far from Downtown and the French Quarter, but to be fair it is very easy access to and from by using the street car right on Canal St. It'll take about 20 minutes to get to Bourbon St. The hostel itself I hear is world famous. It's been around for quite some time - you can see from the age of the property and all of the pictures stapled on the walls from the 70's. Character is one thing this place does not lack. The amenities are great. Spacious living and movie room, three or so fridges in the kitchen with a separate area for cooking, fridges out back designated strictly for alcohol, a big above-ground pool, common showers and toilets, plenty of space for outdoor seating to eat and mingle with other travellers out back, and there is cook on site for dinner and breakfast for the budget friendly. Not bad at all. The things that turned me off about India House is the distance from the city center and pest control. While I was in the kitchen after a late night out, I saw quite a few cockroaches going about there business. It wasn't a trashy place in the physical sense, but it didn't feel clean either. All things considered, I would stay here again only if all of the other hostels weren't available to me. It wouldn't be my first choice. Don't travel without ear plugs!!! -Bean read more

India House Hostel - Bitchin' kitchen. - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Come as a stranger leave with friends. Best hotel mistake I ever had. I took a trip to The Big Easy. Upon arrival the hotel overbooked my room due to a big event in the city all the hotels were full. I ended up finding this place on hostel world.com and was not disappointed. I've traveled around the US, Canada and Internationally and this was by far the best hostel I have experienced yet. The people I met combined with the overall welcoming and relaxed atmosphere made this short trip to New Orleans last fall one of the best solo trips I've ever been on. The prices are very low, the service is great. Don't be discouraged by the location as the street cars in canal street can get you to all the attractions in short order. I'd recommend paying for a shuttle from the airport as Uber can be more expensive but check when you land. read more

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Saying that I had a blast at india House would be an understatement. This place is probably one of the most genuine places to visit when in New Orleans. The staff makes this unique experience worth a go, they have thorough communication skills and work with people from all over the world. Bailey, Dan and Nate (who broke his own record and ate 53 oysters, which was fun to watch) were somewhat our guides around Bourbon and Frenchmen street but towards the end of the trip they felt more like legit friends. Wyatt was like the gate keeper around the house, he was really resourceful at handling any concerns I had which made the entire property feel like New Orleans culture at its finest. Side note: It's not like a fancy hotel but feels more like Louisiana than many of them. Plus, that's not what New Orleans is about, it's more so about the lifestyle than the esthetics of it all. Come here with an open mind and you might leave with more then what you came here for. read more

Nice affordable place to stay. People gather by the pool and eating area. Nice living room with cable TV and plenty of outlets around. Across my two stays, I never had my food taken from the communal fridges which is better than I can say for most hostels. They serve breakfast and dinner for a fee. Mixed results... Dorms are spacious, there are overflow bathrooms and showers in the courtyard if it is busy which I haven't experienced. Most importantly the AC works... Super cute house cat Tash sleeps all day, waking up at night for a prowl... Plenty of free around the clock street parking. A block away from street car to the French Quarter. read more

I stayed at India House in 2010 and 2015. Both times have been awesome. I stayed in a private room both times. It's affordable, the staff are helpful, always someone to chat with and the atmosphere is very chill. Buy a six pack, share it and socialize or you'll probably miss out. Some things to note: towels cost $5, there's free coffee 24/7, vending machines, kitchen use, swimming pool, the building is old, shared refrigerator, and old, majestic cat that roams around. Some things that can be improved: the heating didn't work the first night, but once I mentioned it, it was corrected. Mattresses and sheets sort of sucked, but keep in mind that the hostel is cheap so don't sweat it too much. read more

India House Hostel - Revisited India House. Five years and indoor common area is still the same. Very nice. - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great atmosphere! Beautiful and artistic! Friendly guests! Near the French Quarter! This place is the ultimate hostel experience. From late night heat-n-eat fare to colorful communal areas, this hostel is exactly what I was looking for. This is an longstanding establishment and is showcases the art and awesomenicity that is New Orleans... Expect old facilities as part of the vintage charm. My buddy and I opted for the large mixed dorm and got exactly what we wanted: a room full of strangers. ***TIP*** Check in early to get good choice of beds. Electricity was temperamental throughout the place so look for the beds near working power outlets!! My one complaint would be about the guy who was manning the grill outside during my stay. I think he might have been in a bad mood or something; but he did not make guests feel welcome. Fix that. Next time I'm through NoLa I am headed straight to the India House! Kristofer's Suggestion of the Day: Bring a book for the Book Exchange!! read more

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My first hostel experience and I want to give it five stars, but I just can't. I love the vibe here. Fun people, customers and staff both. But the property isn't being kept up great, which is a problem that compounds over time. The concrete in the front of the property and in the courtyard is broken and uneven. And with all the drunk patrons, I'm surprised that there aren't more broken faces. The step down from the courtyard restrooms is way too high. There are roaches so large you would tempted to call them scarabs in the courtyard (that's partly just because this is New Orleans and roaches are a problem when you live below sea level. Still, icky). But my biggest issue is that there seems to be a problem with the cold water. In the courtyard showers, you get 10, 15 seconds of cool water before it turns scalding hot. In the bathroom between the living room and kitchen, you get maybe 30 seconds. And to all of that I say, Lighten up. You're staying in a hostel. Embrace the chaos. Besides the great vibe, it has a great location. The streetcar stop is at the emd of the block. One way gors to the cemeteries, one way goes to the French Quarter. $3 for an all day pass. Can't beat that with a stick. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about the area. There's egg sandwiches for brunch time and dinner at 6 in the courtyard. There's an activity every night. And people just hang out and chill in the courtyard or the porch. It is a very laid back place. And a cat. There's a cat. I've really enjoyed my stay. read more

India House Hostel - VooDoo room - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The gf & I loved this hostel. One of my favorites, by far. Amazing look and feel to the place. Competitive prices (but not necessarily the best I've seen by any means). One of my Yelp profile pics was taken in front of a mural inside this place. I guess someone painted this huge astrology artwork on one of the walls... this is just one example of the cool looks this place has to offer. They also offer a pool, big kitchen, outdoor seating/hang out areas, etc. An awesome & fun..... Backpacker's paradise!!!!! read more

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India House Hostel is an amazing, magical place to stay, with many people from all over the world to meet. The staff are accommodating, friendly, and helpful. I stayed in a private room with my partner and we had our own private bathroom. It was clean, and more space than we needed. Loved the shower. Communal kitchen with plenty of workspace and the tools one needs to prepare a good meal. If you find yourself weary from the day's events, you can purchase vegetarian/vegan meals for 6 USD that are enough to feed two hungry people. Communal refrigerators outside provide ample space to place your beverages, adult and non, and the ethos of respect means you needn't bother labelling your beers. There are open mic nights, a swimming pool, communal showers and bathrooms, plenty of place to sit inside and out, and just overall a great space to be. I have stayed in hostels in Philly, DC, Helsinki, and Belgrade and this one is my favorite (tied with Black Cat in Belgrade, if you should find yourself there, though the accommodations at IHH are much more ample). read more

Pros: Quirky, artsy vibe, lots to look at. Sometimes a friendly group of folks to meet and chat with in common areas. Neighborhood is somewhat close to French Quarter, and is interesting to walk around and explore something off the beaten path. Dorm room was reasonably clean. Most staff were kind and welcoming. Totally fun for partying! Cons: Shared spaces, including kitchen, bathrooms, and common areas were often unacceptably dirty. Dirty dishes piled, kitchen too crowded to use. Some rugs were very old and filthy. There are not enough bathrooms in the main house area, for example upstairs there are 4-5 dorm rooms, and 1 bathroom. Long waits, unless you wanted to walk downstairs and outside. Taking a shower was pretty gross. The first shower I tried had no temperature control, and water pools/floods. There are many broken facilities around the grounds-- house is beautiful, but has not been maintained properly and in need of major renovations. The power went out twice, and wifi went out for a bit as well. Staff has inefficient way of checking guests in-- took each individual guest on a long tour, causing the wait to be very long even when we arrived at 10pm, tired and just wanting to lay down. Staff also often acted unprofessionally or were absent from desk. The place has an overall college frat-house vibe. While great when we wanted to party, was impossible to get much sleep at all. We weren't trying to get to bed early, it is NOLA after all, but even when we got home late, we could not sleep as doors were slamming every few minutes, until around 5am each night. People were also yelling consistently throughout the night, in areas very near where others were sleeping. Some say you get what you pay for, but I have stayed at dozens of hostels at this price point which were clean, reasonably quiet, and more comfortable. read more

I met my husband here So obviously it's one of my favorite places in the whole universe. Truly a magical little gem of a place.

This review is probably more like a 3.5 , but I don't know, I'm kind of torn. My husband and I just spent three nights at India House and all said, it's definitely a place we would return to. It's a place where you can meet lots of new people and honestly, from the minute you arrive, just really feel at home. I especially enjoyed the patio and pool area. On our first morning, there was a girl sitting outside playing music and it was very nice to lounge in the sun and chat with fellow travelers while sipping my coffee and listening to someone play a harp. Haha. That doesn't even sound real. Plus, they cook breakfast and dinner outside on the patio, so there's always a delicious smell wafting around the place. It's really very pleasant and relaxing. Until you try to sleep. I actually had no problem with people out on the patio until five AM drinking and partying. We brought earplugs, so that wasn't too big a deal. (This is really a must if you expect to sleep). Next time I would bring my own pillow and an eye mask, as well. We opted for the least expensive option and staying in a dorm for $20 a night. I know a lot of reviewers are saying how cheap this is, but I've stayed in $12 hostels with beds that didn't feel like cardboard. Seriously, I may as well have been sleeping on the floor. The pillows were almost nonexistent and the bunkbeds are the flimsy kind that shake and squeak with every single movement. Also, while I didn't mind the people outside partying, I was a little surprised at the fact that one night two people checked in at 2:30 AM and reception brought them to the room and turned on the lights to show them around. India house is walkable to the quarter (took us about 30 min to get down to the river) or if you're lazy, you can take a trolly for just $1.25 (you need exact but the front desk will break larger bills for you) which will also take about 30 min. All in all, the hostel actually grew on me with each night we stayed, but just be aware if you plan to visit that it's not the most comfortable and it's certainly not quiet. The private rooms might be an option for us next time, but still, at $40 a person for two people, you actually can find B&Bs in the French Quarter for not too much more. We'd only be staying there to meet new people and maybe pet that fat, fluffy cat that hangs out in the living room read more

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I stayed in the India House about two years ago during my school's "spring break." I had a few days in NOLA and wanted to really get the most out of it. While all I could really afford was a hostel in the first place, when I came across the India House I quickly lost any interest in staying elsewhere. It's a huge, Victorian (I'm assuming), mansion that has been taken over with art and travelers and amazingness. There is art everywhere, literally on the walls. It's very bohemian. The staff are wonderful. My friend and I stayed in one night just drinking and talking to them. They're friendly and frank. Also, the no curfew/open 24 hours thing is great. I'd definitely recommend getting a room inside the house. I was quite pleased with my accommodations, but my friend who stayed in one of the outside buildings was unimpressed, if still satisfied. There is a lot to do, both at the house and out. They definitely work to keep people informed of things to do in the area. I remember they had a screening in their very cool courtyard one night of Blue Velvet while I was there. Now, it is a hostel, so if you're expecting maid service and spotless areas, you will be disappointed. However, I found everything to be satisfyingly clean, including the bathrooms, which I rarely experienced a wait for. Have a look around their site, if for no other reason than to see some of the photos of the place. It really is amazing. read more

India House Hostel - A sign they had inside. - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This place was nice until I got bacterial pink eye from sleeping on the provided linens. I reported the issue to management and they could have gave a rats a** about my issue. When I reported to one manager and literally showed her my eye she said " you must have had a reaction to the soap we use". She gave me a new pillow from a package and took me to get a clean pillowcase from the housekeeper that was currently unloading them from the dryer. Butttt as she is unloading them she is putting the clean linens on a piece of cardboard in the middle of the dirty floor! That infuriated me so much. I had the pleasure of going to the urgent care and spending 40 dollars to see a doctor plus had to spend 75$ on prescription eye drops because my infection was so bad! Even after expressing my poor experience and telling them about my trip to the urgent care I was denied a refund and was only given 5$ for returning the linens and key. I'm absolutely disgusted and now have to go back home with a bacterial infection in my eye. read more

India House Hostel - See the difference. I'm not just being dramatic - Hostels Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I stayed in a private room in April. The room was $60, but i split it with my friend so it was a great value. This place was amazing. The atmosphere is really chill. It was very clean, which was a little surprising to be perfectly honest lol. Some drawbacks: there's no tv in the private rooms, which is understandable. They have one huge flat screen in the outside area. It had full cable so that was really nice. I ate my dinner while watching Hey Arnold and Chopped. Another drawback: no heat in my room. It was chilly in the morning. I saw some negative reviews from people who stayed in winter. Be mindful of what time of year you're staying here! Conversely, I'm sure there's no AC during the summer either. I stayed in an airbnb for the first 6 days of my trip. The airbnb didn't have any channels on tv and no free wifi. And no pool. India House has all of that. Plus, you can meet people from all over the world here. It seemed like every other person staying here was from Europe (I'm American). I wish I stayed here the whole time. Next time I'm in NOLA I will definitely be staying here. read more

First time staying in a Hostel for me but it was much better than I expected! My boyfriend and I got a private room with a private bathroom and everything was pretty clean and provided given it being a Hostel and cheap prices! Every one of the workers were helpful and kind. Location was great to grab the street car. We also walked to local beer garden, brunch, and city park. Definitely felt like a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment. Would stay here again. read more

If you want plush mattresses, excellent maid service, and a great view, this would not be your place. There is definitely a "hippie" vibe going on... interesting, certainly. Whether you like hippies or not, our private room (two beds, private bathroom) proved to be a gem: 1. The AC worked. After walking around downtown New Orleans in the summer heat, you want your room to have functioning AC. 2. It was clean. That said, I have no clue what the shared dorm rooms look like. There were a lot of foreign people walking around and talking in adorable accents, but as to their cleanliness, I cannot say. It's also New Orleans so I imagine a fair number of people come home drunk. The thought of sharing a room with vomiting strangers just... didn't appeal to me... Keep in mind: 1. The private room (and possibly other rooms?) come with a bed and bedding. Upon reading yelp reviews, we brought our own towels (luckily) but I think you can rent some for a small fee. 2. There is wi-fi throughout the hippie commune (what our cab driver fondly called India House) and there is a public computer for use. 15 minutes for $1. 3. There is a "public breakfast" that you may partake in for $5 - $6, but it's New Orleans - get out there and eat fattening, delicious food. 4. To get in and out of the French Quarter (where Bourbon Street is), you will take the Canal Streetcar, a stop which is right around the corner of the hostel. It's great during the day, but at night, it is an absolute nightmare. Terribly inefficient. We stood around for 40 minutes - following schedules? Forget it. Canal St is packed during the night, with standstill traffic and hordes of people going to and from Bourbon St. Great if you want to get your grind on, not so great if you want to get home speedily. 5. There is no curfew and the front desk is open 24 hrs in case you need to call someone for help. Safe travels! read more

Overall my experience was decent. The room was clean and most of the staff was helpful and friendly. However, when I arrived after 12 hours of driving on Friday evening to check in, I had luggage in both of my hands and asked a young man (AJ, who was working the front desk), sitting on the porch to open the door for me. He took offense that I didnt say please when I asked him. He then proceeded to give me the rudest reception I have ever received. Practically threw my passport back at me when he was done with it. Tossed the credit card payment device in my general direction when it was time to pay. Gave me a short, curt tour and then refused to shake my hand when I find out what was wrong after he showed me to my room. Again, an overall decent experience, my reception really left a bad taste in my mouth. :/ read more

I forgot I was going to be staying in NOLA one night longer than my friends, I was broke as hell, and this place saved me from having to spend a ton on a hotel room or stay up all night until my flight the next morning. The owners are very friendly and helpful, the house is funky, old, artsy, clean, and comfy. Many bathrooms (very clean, stocked), cool common area where I felt comfortable chillin, reading, watching tv, listening to music. I wish I was there longer to check out the backyard/pool area, but from what I saw, it looked excellent! Hippie/artsy/European backpacker vibe... I felt okay leaving my bag (sans valuables) in my dorm, but there are lockers (and locks for sale in vending machine). The girls sharing my room were friendly, respectful, and interesting to talk to. People staying for more than a night or two seemed to hang out/go out together. Overall chill, positive atmosphere. Good music playing all the time. Didn't try the food, but it smelled soo good! There is a $5 linen deposit. Safe neighborhood, right by a canal streetcar stop, never felt unsafe or more uneasy than in I would have in Brooklyn. I caught the E2 airport bus a few blocks west the next morning with no problem. Cheapest 24 hrs I've spent on the road in awhile! Highly recommended, mad props!! read more

For anyone familiar with Euro-hosteling, this place will be pleasantly familiar. - Clean sheets and communal bathroom - Teeming with Aussies and Brits - Friendly staff, cheap food, affordable rooms - Filled with insane amounts of sticky teen and early 20's sexual tension - The crusty old backpacker in the corner read more

Great vibe and fun staff! Stayed here for a night during a layover flight and enjoyed it. Nice rooms and awesome layout

It takes a particular type of person to be able to really, really, REALLY enjoy staying at backpackers hostels while traveling - I am one of those people. As when I am on vacation I tend to travel by myself, I find that the best way to get to know a new city (besides Yelp, of course) is to stay at a hostel and make friends with the long-termer guests - who will then show you all the cool things to do in that town. This is exactly what the India House is awesome for. The staff and owners of the India House are great ambassadors to the city of New Orleans -- they always know someone who knows someone who knows someone that can get you into (for free or very cheap) the coolest, hippest happenings in the city. Not to mention there is usually a party, BBQ or some sort of pool shenanigans going on at the Hostel its self - making you reticent to actually leave on some days. It is a typical dorm-style hostel, with some private rooms... it's loud and somewhat dingy (because it is a hostel)... the bathrooms are always crowded. There is an awesome breakfast to be purchased each morning - so much food that your eyes will cross... and, the hostel staff often hosts dinners, etc. where you pay $5-$10 and get a huge portion of homemade Southern cooking... the YUM. So - if you're not hung up on privacy or spotless hotel conditions - I would recommend this hostel as a great way to get to know New Orleans... Full disclosure: I worked and lived at this hostel for one year almost a decade ago. Though, I have stayed there many, many times in subsequent years. The hostel has changed ownership since I worked there - so I have no affiliation with the current owners. It is still my favorite place to stay in NOLA. read more

This place makes me feel like it's the 90'S all over again. In a really good way. Like, I'm hopeful for tomorrow and I'm also enjoying the decay of what is today. Part hippie commune, part the international backpacker hub. Come down here, have a beer, or two, or twelve. No judgments. It's not a modern hostel. It's certainly no backpacker's paradise with outlets, lockers and lights at every turn. It can run a little cold or warm temperature wise. But it's the charmingly worn around the edges kind of home that makes you real comfortable. Pet the hostel cat, make some new friends. It will be good for you. I promise. Linens provided. Towels 5 bucks. Bike rentals available. Some words on the amenities bit: There's one shower/bathroom for every floor(and some out back outside of the main house). Which I imagine for a long stay could get annoying (there's some waiting involved sometimes). But, yanno, take your showers at the end of your drunkeness at the end of the night. You'll be alright. Also, bring a booklight if you're going to want to read at night outside of common areas. Since at least in my dorm there was only one big overhead light for the whole room. It's right near a streetcar stop on Canal for going down to the French Quarter. But, if you want to walk it's only about 20 minute to the FQ. Most days I walked everywhere with no problems. In the opposite direction (Canal to Carrollton) it's about 8-9 blocks to a supermarket, Walgreens, Angelo Brocato's gelato, a Theo's pizza location, Mandina's bbq (just go), etc. There are fridges in the hostel for alcohol and food (dif for each). A decently sized kitchen too. Coffee available in the kitchen during the day. Ate the hostel breakfast too two mornings. And it was pretty damn good. Staff was super nice too! Thanks for everything India House! And all the neat people I met there. Shoot me an email or find me on facebook or something when y'all are in NYC! I lurve you! read more