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 was overall very happy with my stay here of 3 nights! Pleasantly surprised to have Nespresso…read moremachine in my room and in the lobby. They gave complimentary slippers & umbrellas too for the stay. My room was simple, modern and up to date, cozy and everything worked well. Bed was comfy with a good amount of pillows. I went for private bathroom & it was still affordable, very happy with this hotel, even the location was perfect...just far away enough from the ghetto areas but close to everything like transportation wise. The front desk service was nice and friendly( I only wished they didn't say the room numbers out loud during check in). And they answered all questions happily.

YWCA Hotel, Vancouver, BC. June, 2025. Our Alaskan cruise was returning early on a Sunday, but our…read morereturn flight to the US wasn't until Monday night at 11 pm -- so my husband and I needed a place to stay in Vancouver for one night. Hotels in Vancouver are crazy expensive. Even hotels with low quality ratings and those far from downtown had nightly rates far in excess of US$200, plus taxes. We found that the YWCA Hotel, about a mile from the cruise terminal, had availability for the night that we needed. They have 220 rooms on 12 floors. We booked a private double room with a SHARED BATHROOM. The room with shower and toilet was shared with one other room. There was a good mechanism to ensure that the locks to the two rooms locked while the bathroom was in use. We paid the equivalent of US$216 and some change for the room, after taxes. There was much to like about the hotel. *the hotel is a social enterprise wherein all proceeds go directly to support social services such as housing, a community kitchen, and youth programs. *There are numerous communal areas that we didn't use, including guest kitchens, lounge areas, a fitness zone, laundry, and a rooftop patio. *it has accessibility features including a ramp into the front lobby and elevators. *Free Nespresso coffee and tea bags are available in the lobby during certain hours. *there is complimentary luggage storage before/after guests' stays. *the hotel is in a safe and walkable neighborhood, close to the BC Place Stadium and shopping/restaurants. *the hotel has security measures in place, including the need to use a keycard for elevator use and front door access at night. *limited parking is available for a fee; public transportation is also nearby. *check-in was easy, and we were allowed to access our room before the check-in time. We also were allowed to stay one hour beyond the check-out time. *staff were friendly. *our room was basic and clean, and met all of our needs. It had a double bed with firm mattress, air conditioning, vanity with sink, hair dryer, mini-fridge, LCD TV, work desk, and free WiFI. There were many windows so it was light and bright. However, *as mentioned, Vancouver is a very expensive city for hotels. At the price point that we paid, we would have gotten a much nicer room in other international cities -- most likely with private bath and potentially with breakfast (which was not provided by the YMCA). *Sharing of the bathroom was okay, but not ideal. We shared with two noisy women who left some of their personal belongings (clothes) in the shared bathroom. (The lock mechanisms did work well). Finally, a few practical notes. *you can reserve your room directly on the hotel's website, which offers discounts for seniors (60+) or Y members. *men are welcome to stay. *you do not need to be a member of the YWCA or YMCA to stay. *no dorm-style rooms are available. *no pets are allowed.

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.

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.

Location is ideal, price is right and staff are friendly. They don't take debit and there's no…read morecoffee / hot water in the room so if you want morning breakfast, you have to go to one of the cafes or restaurants very close to the hotel. It's currently (Mar.2025) being renovated but the rooms are comfy and spacious. This hotel is NOT accessible-friendly at all. Maybe after renovations are done, there might be an elevator, but for now it's steps and corridors that are unable for a wheelchair user to navigate. Have stayed here multiple times over the decades so I will continue to do so, but this time upon arrival there was a surprise in the sofa bed pullout. A glass pipe. Hahah oh well, previous patron had some fun. Other than that the room was clean and safe. Wifi is FAST. Bathroom has been renovated. Bed is comfy. TV has typical stations to watch. Mini fridge is sufficient.

I'm so impressed. Honestly, my expectations were low but I had a really good stay here. I'm an…read moreAirbnber at heart, but every now and again I'll pop into a hotel when I feel that it's necessary. In this case, the Barclay Hotel was so damn convenient that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stay here. First of all, the price for the location is very reasonable. It's located right off Robson Street amongst all of the fancy hotels, restaurants, and shopping. This is prime time baby. Prime. Time. Now, don't get me wrong; this hotel ain't fancy by any means. But it's clean, comfortable, and convenient. The 3 c's that I will always live for when it comes to accommodations. It's an older hotel so I feel like this is why it's such a bargain when compared to the other newer hotels nearby. But, don't let the age of this hotel fool you; it's a great deal. The only rooms that were available during the time that I booked were two queens. When I arrived, the front staff was very kind and helpful. There are no elevators in this hotel so keep this in mind if you have heavy luggage. I'm generally a light packer, so this didn't affect me much. The room was large, bright, and clean. It had a small sofa, work desk, mini fridge and TV (I never watched anything on it). The bathroom was a nice size and also very clean. My room had a nice view of Robson street. Housekeeping was great and cleaned my room thoroughly everyday. The heater is old school radiator style, so it took a bit of time for the room to warm up but it definitely kept it warm. I barely saw anyone in the lobby and didn't hear any other guests while I was there. Not sure about the parking situation since I took public transit while I visited, but the fact that I was able to walk to most places was wonderful. The train and bus are within a few minutes walk. So many eateries that are literally right next door and across the street. The convenience is what truly did it for me, and I felt completely safe staying here. I would definitely stay here again during a future trip to Vancouver. You cannot beat the incredible value and prime location.

We stayed here for 3 nights in a private family room for 4 of us, and overall, it was a good stay…read more On the plus side, it was a great location right in Friday Harbor, liked the common room w/ pool table, games, TVs and community kitchen. Cons: only one key for a room that slept 6, no closets, dressers or shelves; we had a sitting room, but if you turned lights on, they were also on in the bedroom; the bunks were fairly rickety, and every time my daughter above me rolled over, the bed shook and I woke up. I also misunderstood that we had a private toilet, shower, but all rooms share community bathrooms. Not super cheap for a hostel ($250/night for our room), but on an island w/ extremely limited, was nice to have a place to stay!

The two of us stayed at the hostel in late June 2022. It was VERY expensive for a hostel, but…read moreheck--it's summer--and we were glad to have a place to stay that night. The only room we could get was one with two bunkbeds, with a very slim double on the bottom of one. That's the one we used. No one else shared the room. The showers down the hall were hot, and one of them had a hair dryer. Later I found that the very large and nice kitchen / lounge / pool ball area also had additional, larger bathrooms. It would have been nice for Manager Min to show that to us when we checked in, but on the other hand, he clearly had a lot of responsibilities. Next time we'll ask for a little tour! :) As another reviewer noted, patrons were polite and quiet. Min was helpful at all times, as was the young woman whose name I didn't catch but who filled in for him at times. She provided us with additional bath towels at no cost.

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.

My favourite place to stay in Vancouver. Clean, quaint and convenient, with discounted overnight…read moreparking next door, as well as a discount on the excellent restaurant on site. Walking distance from all things amazing in downtown Vancouver. Friendly staff and a continental breakfast. Everything you need is right here in this historic hotel.

We had a bad experience staying at this hotel. There was no toilet or bathroom in the room, no TV,…read morethe bed was too small for two people, and breakfast only had coffee and nothing else. The hotel had a terrible smell of old clothes and we were very dissatisfied. The price for the hotel is not low at all; they charged us $404 per night.