After reading other traveler's experiences, I felt compelled to share a review, which I seldom write. 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. read more

Squeak squeak squeak is all you hear on the lower bunk because The 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. read more

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Honestly, this place was amazing. For a moment, I considered what it would be like to live here seeing how awesome my experience was but who am I kidding, I'm not moving to Canada. As for a short stay I'd have to say... First and foremost, I cannot get over the location of this place. It is SO CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. The hostel is only a couple blocks away from Granville Street and a few blocks away from Gastown. Everything is so accessible, from coffee shops and restaurants, to shopping centers and parking. The entrance is kind of hard to find (as the single doorway is tucked in between two shops) but once you walk through the door and up the staircase, you'll know you're there from the nautical theme that adorns its walls and bedrooms. The bedroom, bathroom and hallways were clean and well-kept. A towel was provided for each guest and guests had access to free wifi but connection was often spotty. Our concierge was friendly and helpful upon arrival - he gave us great food recommendations and engaged in small talk whenever we ran into him. The only knock I have is the noise level. It seemed like construction was running at all hours of the evening but there is nothing to be done on the hostel's end. If you're a light sleeper, I would suggest bringing ear plugs or headphones because the sound of trucks can get pretty loud. Also, if your room faces Richards Street, your room will get a lot of sun which means quite a bit of heat. I personally don't mind if my room is a little warm but that's something to note if you prefer cooler temps. I only paid $35 a night which is so ridiculously cheap. I would take staying in this hostel any night over a 5-star hotel that costs several hundred a night. If I ever find myself in Downtown Vancouver again, I'll be sure to book my stay here! TIP: If you have a car and need somewhere to park, I would actually suggest parking in the garage adjacent to the hostel. It's the cheapest garage around ($11.50 max during the day, $6.50 overnight, $18 for day and overnight) and parking in downtown is crazy expensive. While the hostel suggests a garage on Dunsmuir due to previous incidents where guests had their cars broken into, I think that can happen anywhere. Just remove all belongings and consistently check up on your car. (We did that and it was fine.) Also, download and use the EasyPark Parking app. It saves you a trip to the parking garage and allows you to pay/renew parking while you're still lying in bed. ---- Boyfriend here. Shoutout to Alison for writing such a helpful and comprehensive review! This was my first time staying at a hostel and it surpassed all the expectations I had going into it. The entire building was very clean - even the bathrooms! Each floor has two toilets, two shower stalls, and a communal sink that had dishes and dish soap to use at your own leisure. Furthermore, there was a refrigerator, toaster, and microwave for residents to use at the end of our hallway! If you forget something at home, don't worry because there is a convenience store located just a couple doors down! As Alison said, the location is absolutely amazing and in my opinion you are getting waaaay more than you are paying for. Would highly recommend! read more

St Clair Hotel-Hostel - Bedroom with double bed. Small bedside wardrobe. Not pictured: small sink with mirror above it. - Hostels Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Aidan the manager was extremely helpful and kind throughout our short stay as well as Simon and the rest of the crew. The place has tons of potential. Excellent location in the heart of Vancouver. Stayed in a simple private room. Price does reflect what you get. Hot and recently tiled showers. Some bed frame upgrades would reduce noise, and a little renovation to the main floor would open up the common room a bit, and new doors would help keep the place quieter ( we could hear people in the rooms nextdoor) Shared bathrooms and showers per floor. Complementary tea and coffee in the morning is great! Also sad we missed the weekly potluck on friday :/ Hope to see u guys again! Cheers read more

I think 3 stars pretty much sums up St. Clair. Not sure what the "hotel" portion is because what we experienced was 100% hostel. First the positives: Great location, walkable distance to Granville Street, cheap parking in the building, reasonable price for a shared room, provides bedding. Negatives: I don't know what their policy is on smoking but the whole building reeked of pot the whole time we were there. I'm not one to let this bother me if it's just a whiff here and there but this hit you right when you walked in in the evening and was still a problem in the morning. Not pleasant. There were two restroom stalls on each floor. On our floor one stalls was out of order so we had to go to another floor to use the restroom if someone was taking a long time in one stall. Showers were okay, no separate kitchen. The front desk people were nice though. They have wi-fi but it was spotty. I'm not sure I would recommend this hostel but it was okay for what it was I guess. I was just irked by the pot smell. They really should find some way to prevent that from being an issue. read more

A lot can be said for being able to stay downtown on a budget, but the low price costs a bit of comfort during your stay. Still, if you are traveling on a budget, its worth a stay at the St. Clair; just don't expect much above the minimum when it costs so little per night. My wife and I stayed here for five nights and got pretty much what we expected -- a roof over our heads and a place to wash up. The room was small, but big enough to keep our stuff and get some sleep. The amenities in the room included a sink, mirror, heater, drawer and hanging closet. Notice anything missing? That's right, no shower or toilet in the room. Each floor shared two showers and toilets. This was a hassle at times, but it makes sense that communal showers and toilets would save money. Still, if the idea of having to get dressed and walk down the hall to shower or use the restroom bothers you, don't stay here. Really though, its not too bad once you get used to it. And, even though the room wasn't spectacular, it didn't really matter since we spent the majority of our time out in the city anyway. Other things to note are the communal fridge, microwave, dishes, television and laundry machine. The decor was in no way classy or hotel-ish, but I did enjoy its hole-in-the-wall vibe. In fact, its easy to pass right by the entrance without even noticing the place is there! Also, the location in the heart of downtown Vancouver is a huge plus for those without the money or means of transit other than hoofing it. The hostel is within just a few blocks of pretty much anything you need, including grocery stores, public transit and lots of shopping. If you are looking to save some money while traveling and are not picky about where you stay, give this place a go. It can really be a great value for its location and low price per night. read more

I stayed here for 5 nights and had a very positive experience overall. Here's the rundown: PROS: * Amazing location (bus and metro nearby, 5-10 minute walk to Gastown) * Friendly staff (Carmen is super-knowledgeable and helpful) * Affordable rates * Guests are quiet and respectful CONS: * The two of us were in a private double and it got quite hot and stuffy * Our room had a flock of pigeons outside that made quite a bit of noise (though this actually became a pretty funny running joke!) Overall, great value, location and people. I'd definitely stay here again! read more

This place is the worst hostel I've ever stayed in. I have traveled quite a bit and have stayed in hostels in Europe, Canada and the U.S. I know that it's by no means a "luxury" experience. But with that said, there are some standards to maintain, even for the cheapest nightly rate. One of those is general cleanliness. This place is the most filthy hostel I've ever stepped foot in. There was BLACK MOLD all through the showers and dirty dishes lined up in all the hallways. When I got to my bed, it wasn't even made. I could tell that no one even bothered to change the sheets in preparation for my arrival. I could literally feel my skin crawl when I laid down in bed. The beds are so hard and creaky that they make this loud sound every time you switch position in your sleep, meaning no one gets a good night's rest. Also the staff was generally not helpful at all. When I went up to the front desk to ask a question, the attendant said, "you know you have to change rooms tomorrow, right?" No...I was not aware and I'm pretty sure he should have let me know when he checked me in. I stayed one night and then promptly checked into the HI Central on Granville St. where my experience was much more pleasant. read more

This place is PHENOMENAL. Easily the most clean, friendly, and overall COOL hostel I've ever stayed in. The location is right downtown within a couple blocks of Granville Street and Powell Street. Could walk down to the docks if you'd like to as well. Only down side is there is no hostel specific parking, but there is some relatively well maintained and inexpensive options within walking distance. Overall amazing experience! Except it's terrible. So don't come here. Because I want to be able to get a room. So in conclusion. It's terrible. And don't take my room. read more

You get what you pay for. Our room was a double bed right by the from desk. On the noisy side with everyone going up the stairs, people ringing the door bell and traffic from the street. Overall okay with that (it is an older building...what do you expect?). What I did have an issue with is how disgusting the showers were. Nasty mold growth at the base of the shower, pipes above that condensate and drip on you, and black mold on the walls. Why is it hard to clean a shower? Bring shower shoes for sure. Also our bed was just a bottom sheet and some nasty comforters. A number of hairs on the covers (and some other spots that i will not go into detail on) - makes me wonder when they were washed last. On the positive side: The staff was very nice and quick-to the point. Our flight was at the end of the day and they allowed us to store our bags in the office until we were ready to head to the airport. Free wi-fi which helped us plan our days. Laundry room with very limited hours, but if you need to wash clothes the option was nice. We couldn't afford a nicer hotel in this area and this wasn't horrible....so it is what it is. read more

I loved my stay at the St.Claire Hotel/Hostel. It's really a hostel, they just still call it a hotel, so if you want your own shower or bathroom, look elsewhere, but they do have private rooms. The location couldn't be better, it's right in the middle of everything, not to mention the price is great. I will certainly be staying here next time I visit Vancouver! read more

It really feels more like a hostel than a hotel, but that's fine. There are private rooms and they're reasonably sized and very cheap. (And clean, of course.) The staff was great. Very friendly and very helpful whenever we needed anything. I'm pretty sure the owner lives in the room next door to the one we were staying in and he was very nice whenever we saw him in the hallway or whatever. There are internet terminals, books, a microwave and kettle, and free wi-fi. The showers and bathrooms are shared. The showers are in their own little private rooms, and so are the toilets, but I could never shake the feeling that someone could hear me poop if they were out in the hall while I was in there. Also, there are no sinks in the bathroom, so you can't wash your hands until you get back to your room, so that's kind of awkward. If you're just looking for a cheap, comfortable place to stay with a great location, no hassle and no frills, this is the place to go. If you're looking for the traditional hotel experience with pillow mints and room service, though, definitely look elsewhere. The St. Clair is what it is. A cheap place to stay that doesn't punish you for not having a lot of money. read more

The St. Clair hotel is a solid choice for anyone traveling on a budget and looking for a clean and safe hostel/hotel in downtown Vancouver. The location is great as it is a few blocks from major streets (Granville and Robson) and is in a relatively safe part of downtown with a locked entrance after 10 PM. The hotel is made of private rooms that are clean and come with a sink; the rooms are small though and tough for more than 2 people. The beds were just okay. Each room shares a communal toilet and shower. The showers were clean with hot water and the toilets were fine as well. There is a common kitchen area with a microwave, toaster, fridge along with free wi-fi and an open reading area. There is a nautical theme throughout the hotel, which is kind of cool. The staff was helpful and somewhat friendly; I had a billing problem when I first arrived and they were able to fix any problems without issue. However, the front desk is empty after 10 PM or so and you are on your own for the night. All in all, this is definetly a budget hotel. You get what you pay for, which is a clean, small, affordable place to stay in downtown Vancouver. read more

I paid over $290 for 2 nights but I had no clue it included bed bugs. Horrible do not stay there

When I first entered this place I thought I was quite lucky to find a spot that was near almost everything in Vancouver. The day started out quite nice. I checked in and then went outside to walk around. I came back to my room and went out to the balcony to hang out and smoke a little. I went to sleep after everyone did, which was around 2am. In the morning I wake up and go take a shower. Later I checked to see what time it was and noticed it being past 10am, so I go to the front desk to pay for another day. The lady in the front desk stared, as I walked up and told her I wanted to pay for another room. Then she shot back with, Your to old for this place. Then I mentioned how staying in this place was great, and then this unleashed a river of anger from her mouth. She didn't even ask why I was saying the place was great, she just got angry and said that I should get out for being to old. She didn't let me explain how staying in this hostel brought back childhood memories, but I don't think she would have cared. She thought I was there to look at young girls. What strange attendant. Don't go there if you know any better. Maybe it was a bad day and I got the brunt of it, maybe the place isn't bad. At least for the whole time I was there, except for the last hour I thought the place was cool. I guess I was wrong. read more

Someone walked into my friends single bed room and stole her wallet and left a Spanish book ? Also she said the rooms are dusty, and too small. The staff said that they have cameras but only record at night and have a "live staff" watching during the day. Obviously not if they couldn't help find the thief that stole her wallet. read more

I loved staying at St. Clair. Very nice people, light rooms, everything was clean. Also it's located in the City center which is absolutely great especially for this price. I liked that they also offered a small breakfast. I have to say tho that I have slept in more comfortable beds. But anyways I had a good time staying at St. Clair's. read more

Hey, for about $45 US a night what do you expect? We stayed here (wife, son (8) and I). A bit Bohemian, but a treat nonetheless. If you are a true traveller that merely needs a secure place to sleep and spends the entire day out enjoying such a wonderful city, then this place is perfect. I will stay here again if in YVR. (BTW: average age of people staying here was over 30 and regular folks, not bums. A sign of the economic times) read more

we had a great night at the st. clair hotel. perfect spot to explore vancouver and super inexpensive to boot. rooms are pretty small, but plenty comfortable. the folks at the desk were very nice. would definitely recommend it to budget conscious travelers. read more

Stayed here for one night and it was unbearably hot, which made it difficult to sleep. Light sleepers beware of the bird noise that seems to be constant in the morning and beware of the extremely squeaky beds! The Wi-fi worked only 1/2 the time and this was extremely inconvenient since I was out of country and could only use my phone while connected to wi-fi. One great aspect of the hostel is the location and it allowed me to stay on budget for my trip but I will most likely never stay here again. read more