Make sure to bring a towel and flip-flops if you're planning to take a shower. Also bring shampoo…read moreand soap, considering their version looks like it would contain sulfites. The bathrooms have a lot of toilet tissue on the floors and they have signs that ask them to be notified if it's not clean but I didn't have time to wait. I didn't take a shower because there wasn't a lot of space to put my stuff down in a clean area. The bathrooms are shared, but they do have a really great mirror to put on make up. Extremely cramped living quarters with very little space to put luggage down. They require you to buy a lock for $8.95 if you want to stow valuables and it's a big bulky lock, that's heavy and you probably don't want to buy (wish they would rent the locks because I have no other use for this bulky thing). The worst part is the stairs... It would be a great work out, except that it's super annoying when you have heavy luggage to carry upstairs multiple flights of floors. There is no elevator, there is no AC, you better arrive tired because it's pretty loud at night. This hostel is 3 stars imo but I gave them an extra star because their staff is super friendly, it's a good location, their breakfast is convenient (fresh bagels with fruits and vegetables), and Vancouver needs more budget-friendly options.

I went there today to check it out because we never know if the photos make justice to the actual…read moreplace, especially when the location is shady like it is in Ocean Beach. I'm a very calm, sweet and good looking young woman and I'm not going to be humble about it. There was no reason for that bald male receptionist to be that rude to me given all the sketchy ppl that usually go to Ocean Beach. If you're a nice female customer, I would look for a safer location, and would never put your safety at risk on that place. The customer that was there was looking at me like he wanted to apologize for the receptionist's rudeness. It was really bad. I understand that ppl are not allowed inside to see the place for safety issues, but there are way kinder ways of saying it to a potential future customer. I can't stand when people in low paid jobs act like they have power (small power) and decide to be rude to kind people like me, and they do that with a big and ugly gummy smile on their faces. It's so petty!

I am a lifetime member of Hostelling International and have stayed at many hostels across the U.S…read more and Canada. This was my first visit to Vancouver, so it only seemed natural to check out one of the HI locations. I only stayed a couple of nights, but had a pretty good experience overall. Here are some comments: 1. The best thing about my room was the great bed and comforter. Hands down, this may have been the best hostel comforter I've ever experienced, and everyone else who has stayed there knows exactly what I am talking about. 2. The four-bed room is ideal for travelers and I liked the in-room sink and lockers. It is super convenient with the bathrooms and showers down the hall. 3. The WiFi is HORRIBLE. The only place where the signal is strong is the reception area on the first floor. Otherwise, you are basically playing Russian roulette with the signal strength, and areas where it should be strong like the tables near the kitchen are actually weak. 4. I also understand that elevators are not always necessary, but the stairways from the 2nd floor up are small and really difficult if you have a suitcase or god forbid, more than one. 5. I was always gone early in the mornings so never took advantage of the free breakfast, but the kitchen area was well stocked and clean, and the large fridge made it easy to store your own food. 6. Lastly, this hostel is conveniently located near tons of good restaurants, clubs, and bars, but when it is full of drunk people, it's not so much fun if you are not the partying type ... or over 30.

Without a doubt this was one of the worst hostel experiences that I have ever had, if not the worst…read more(and I've stayed at a lot!). Positives: - elevator - price - staff was able to fix a situation -they along with their sister properties do run some cool activities which are either free or low cost (their saving grace IMO) Like many lodgings in central Vancouver, there are a ton of homeless people in front. Not taking away stars due to that since it's very common. Despite this I never felt unsafe outside since it's in a lively neighborhood anyway so you are never truly alone. Complaints? I was told ahead of time by their staff that their bedrooms have AC. Most of their bedrooms do not have AC, rather they will give you a tiny desk fan (so you are f***ed if you are the top bunk!). I was beyond pissed because I deliberately chose this hostel due to it stating that they have AC which is a must for me since I didn't have a humidifier with me, as well as it separating rooms by genders (a must for me since I want to change in my room and well, men are slobs and fart). I went down and said to please refund me if they cannot place me in a room with air circulation and that I would be finding new lodging. They did find me space, however I had to ask for a partial refund (instead of just getting it...) since I went from a 2 person dorm to a 4 person one. Their keys regularly stop working so for 1 night stay I think I had to change my key 3 times (if not more). I thought I was the problem until I saw that others had this issue on here and Tripadvisor as well. My experience gets better LOL.....At around 2AM the girl I met prior who shared the dorm with me screamed after seeing a plump, naked elderly, Frenchman in what I think was supposed to be her bed. This was a female only dorm. Naturally there was no one at the front desk, and no one answered the phone. My roommate (not sure how to word that) looked everywhere for any employee and found 1 somewhere. He had to escort the man to another room. I kind of felt bad for the French guy because he told me that he was there before me or the girl checked in which honestly might have been true. Afterward, my roommate and I laughed this off and I thanked her because I was fast asleep apparently when the guy came in (it was my first day in Vancouver and was a long day so I was out). I had the free breakfast in the morning which I thought would be similar to the free breakfasts in Europe. From what I can recall it was just toast, bagels with very little cream cheese left that people scrapped off from the dish (there was an attendant there too), juice, coffee, and I think apples. I'm not much of a breakfast person but thought it would be a bit more than that (they have a better selection in prisons). The kitchen wasn't the cleanest and there really isn't any cooking facilities aside from a refrigerator. I believe there was a microwave though. The hostel itself is very bare bones. Looks like a homeless shelter and there are few outlets to plug in things in your bedroom (I think mine had 2). The bathrooms were single bathrooms with a toilet and a shower and while I wouldn't say they were dirty, they weren't that clean. They also were gender neutral, so girls get used to seeing toilet seats not put down, and pubes on/around the toilet. Staff although nice, seemed to not know what they were doing...How do you mess up the genders in a dorm room meant for 4 people?!? Check in seemed to take awhile as well despite there often being at least 2 people at the front desk. After 1 night I stayed at the Hyatt LOL. Cannot recommend. You have been warned.

Good: 1) Staff are nice and helpful…read more Bad: 1) No air conditioning, room was very stuffy at night 2) terrible location (although there is a great Persian restaurant called Cazba nearby) 3) 1 men's bathroom per floor, only 2 small sinks, VERY small and crowded with multiple guys in there, not all the toilets have hooks on the doors, and one of the 3 showers was not operational for 3 days 4) very expensive for what you get. Simultaneously the worst and most expensive hostel I've stayed at. But I hear high prices are true of Vancouver accommodations generally.

Definitely a great value for inexpensive lodging. It may not be for everyone, though, if you're not…read morecool with sharing a dorm style room (private rooms available for higher price, I think) with up to 3 people. The bunks were decent enough, but climbing above is sort of a pain. Bring your own lock if using a locker. Small lavatory in room, but might as well use the restroom down the hall which has better space for crap and can shower. Also, anyone who's anyone can stay here. I've seen young to *gasp* old senior nude men in the restroom doing whatever. I like the improved awareness for being green and conserving. Free towel use. Stuff there include: Self-serve kitchen TV/Theater room Games room Internet room Library room Organized events Rooftop patio 2 things that stuck out during my stay were value and culture (I heard french and german each day I was there)... the blackboard behind the counter with several different languages is awesome, too. Korean and Thai food within 1 block. More stuff not included in this review.

Overall, this hostel is pretty mid. I give this 3.5 stars, but rounded down. THERE IS A BAR…read moreDOWNSTAIRS AND THE MUSIC IS INSANELY, FLOOR RATTLING LOUD. (Do not forget your earplugs) The building is old. There are rodents. You can't have any food in the rooms. The beds are not very stable and you can feel every movement of the person you're sharing a bunk with. Rooms have very few outlets. The bathrooms are tiny. The hostel, however, has two insanely adorable cats. The staff is really kind and accommodating. My friend and I stayed here for Taylor Swift's final Eras weekend. We checked in and they gave us each little Swiftie goodie bags. When we checked out, they let us hang out in the lounge/kitchen area for an indefinite period of time. I even left the hostel and then came back after a failed attempt to get tickets. They let me in to hang out and livestream with my friend. Not sure I would actually stay here again for vacation because I'm old and need my comforts. But if I was in pinch, I wouldn't hesitate.

Our overall experience at this hostel was not bad but here are some details you should be mindful…read moreof: 1) Best location: probably can't find a hostel that can beat this location next to the waterfront. You have a train station to go downtown and a ferry to go north. There's also plenty of nice coffee shops nearby. They also have a sister bar next door that has happy hour after 9 pm with really cheap beer and drinks. This is the only reason this hostel has three stars from me. 2) Amenities: I don't necessarily care much for how fancy a hostel is as long as it's safe and clean. However this hostel made me realize how important bathrooms are. The showers are really tight so it was hard for me to put on my clothes, wash myself, and get in and out of the shower. This is a key reason why I wouldn't come back. There's two floors, and we were on the second floor. They were always cleaning the bathroom in the mornings so we couldn't use the second floor bathroom and everyone swarmed the first floor bathroom. Their floors and rooms are pretty old but that's not really a problem. What can be a problem is their top bucks don't have railings. In addition, there's no air conditioning and our room had a broken down fan, so summers can get pretty hot. They have laundry machines and you only need to pay for detergent. Ambience: this is a "party hostel" in the sense that there's a bar next door and the street is really busy and booming until early the next morning. I really liked the scene but if you don't or you're a light sleeper beware. Staff: everyone is really nice and accommodating. Miscellaneous: they have a cat named Oreo on the first floor so consider that if you are allergic.

After reading other traveler's experiences, I felt compelled to share a review, which I seldom…read morewrite. I am a 40 year old female from the US. I have not stayed in a hostel in about 12 years, but I was looking for inexpensive accommodations to explore Vancouver. Prior to my late night arrival I was emailed detailed instructions on how to access the building and I had zero issues getting into my room. The rooms are small and warm. I stayed here in October, and it might be a bit uncomfortable in the summer. However, the rooms were clean, free of pests, and I did not experience any of the street noise that other travelers commented about. Some of the showers are icky, but if you shower on a different floor than your room, others are much cleaner. The building itself is quiet, and the other guests were respectful. I felt very safe inside the building. That being said, the neighborhood can be sketchy at night. There are drug addicts on the street after 10 PM. I live near Portland, OR which has a huge homeless population, so I did not feel too uneasy. It might be a good idea to take a taxi at night if you feel uncomfortable. My only complaints were the condition of the showers on my floor and that the bunkbeds were a bit short. I am 5'7". This is by far the cheapest and least sketchy place to stay in town for the price. A private room was around $60 USD per night for 2 people. There is not a "hostel vibe" that you experience in other properties as the common areas are very small and the cooking areas are in the hallways. However, if you are looking for a place to lay your head while you spend your time exploring and money on good food and entertainment, this is a good choice.

Squeak squeak squeak is all you hear on the lower bunk because…read moreThe bunk beds shake and make noise every time the person on top moves Cheap and affordable rooms, only $25 per night in a 4 bed dorm room Lots of European traveling in groups stay here Age range: around 20s to 40s, my roomates were in their 20s Internet was very spotty and disconnected often Restroom does not have a sink, have to go back to room to wash hands Historic building in downtown Vancouver, close to Granville SkyTrain station Originally built in early 1900's to accommodate railway and ocean-going travelers Showers and toilets are communal, two stalls per floor TV room downstairs had cable but the TV was 13" dorm sized Entrance is locked after 10pm, safe and secure location Located about 10 to 15 minutes from nightlife on Granville Street Conclusion: I'm a light sleeper that was assigned to the lower bunk. Due to the random person on top twisting and turning and shaking all night (smelled like weed and talked to himself), I could only sleep 45 minutes that night. I was only expecting to have a roof over my head and a pillow under my head for maybe 6 hours, but it didn't happen. Unless you are on an extreme budget, whip out an additional $10/night and stay at Hostelling International Vancouver Central instead. It's right in the middle of the entertainment area of downtown Vancouver, the beds are much more comfortable, and the facilities are a bit more modern.

The surrounding neighborhood is nice and the staff is attentive however, overall, I cannot…read morerecommend staying here. For $58 including parking, the facilities are really subpar. It is noisy, and this has to be probably the least accessible hostel I've ever stayed at. I understand this is a historic building and modifications can't be made to the building, but this is just me sharing for other disabled travelers. Moreover the night that I stayed unfortunately had a large high school group who were extremely noisy . If I could do it all over, I would've stayed somewhere further out and paid a lot less. There were Airbnb in the $40-$60 range that were 30-90 minute drive from Vancouver ....closer to Vancouver some listings were in the $80 range, which is what I would have recommended instead of staying here . You're almost paying the same price just to stay here however you have a lot less privacy amongst other unpleasant attributes about this property and hostels in general. . Lastly, this is probably the third or fourth HI property that I've stayed at and my least favorite. To compare the very first one I stayed that was in my hometown in Santa Monica, which is actually cheaper than this place however, the facilities are infinitely better . Make it make sense.

check in quick was and easy, then I went out back and gave $5 to someone and then a guy named Steve…read moremade me a hamburger. I wanted to touch his large beard but he said no Private room we had was cozy, other guests were quiet and respectful so we had no problem going to sleep and staying to sleep Good beach access to we loved walking around the area

Oppenheimer Lodge is a Vancouver City operated building suited for the 50+ demographic. The rooms…read moreare for single occupancy with a half-bathroom, shared showers down the hall, plus a kitchenette that has cupboards, a full sink, and a full stove with oven. Self-contained with a large window and a very good secure lock on the door. It is very clean and very quiet, which is great for our age group. There are rules, as with any dwelling, but we are also respected by the staff that occupy the office 24/7. There is great communications with management which posts info flyers daily. Finally, this is not a hotel or a hostel, it's single rooms for single adults. Thanks for reading this because I really enjoy my little home in this building.

I used to stay here in 2007 when I first started working in Vancouver. I would bring my own lamp so…read moreit was not to bright in my room as they have overhead lighting. In those days you would have to go downstairs to use the lodge computer but looks like they have wifi now. Prices were good and sheets were always clean. I have fond memories of Pender Lodge.

Neighbourhood is not great, the room was dingy, the help was creepy, the kitchen looked like none…read moreof the appliances would work and if there were shower facilities i couldn't find them. Stay elsewhere.