The Hostelz.com Review
Ottawa Backpackers Inn is just like a small-town hostel, except it's located in Canada's capital of Ottawa. The Backpackers Inn looks a little rundown from the outside with the old, warn couches on the porch, but don't let that fool you -- inside you'll find an environment that is lacking in the sterility of other hostels.
The living area is very comfy and you'd be forgiven for trading in the bunk bed for a soft lounge chair. The room is stocked with board games, books, DVDs, and a TV complete with cable. It's a good area to socialise and is a positive of the hostel. A word of warning if you're allergic to cats -- you might consider completely avoiding the downstairs area. The resident cat is known spend the night on the couch with guests and occasionally can be seen jumping across the dining room table. Apart from the cat hair, the hostel is generally clean, although some upstairs bathrooms are rather old and a little cramped (it is an old house after all).
Dorm rooms are coed or same sex depending on demand and consist of standard bunk beds. Heating is well controlled and there are dimmers on the lights in the dorm which is a great feature. Parking is available directly behind the hostel for $5 per night -- not a bad deal, considering you are minutes away from the canals and parliament house. There is also a twenty-four-hour food store and pizza shop located within easy walking distance, along with various clubs and bars. You will need a code to re-enter the hostel door and the shoes off rule applies.
Kitchen areas are clean (regardless of the fact you might find the cat eating leftovers!) and there is a noticeboard/events board which comes in handy. Internet is available at the combined reception and guest computer or available on wifi (both for free). Occasionally it's hard to find someone to check you in because there is no dedicated office, but just ask around and someone should point you in the right direction. The Ottawa Backpackers has a friendly and easygoing vibe -- if you fit this description, you'll more than likely enjoy yourself.
The living area is very comfy and you'd be forgiven for trading in the bunk bed for a soft lounge chair. The room is stocked with board games, books, DVDs, and a TV complete with cable. It's a good area to socialise and is a positive of the hostel. A word of warning if you're allergic to cats -- you might consider completely avoiding the downstairs area. The resident cat is known spend the night on the couch with guests and occasionally can be seen jumping across the dining room table. Apart from the cat hair, the hostel is generally clean, although some upstairs bathrooms are rather old and a little cramped (it is an old house after all).
Dorm rooms are coed or same sex depending on demand and consist of standard bunk beds. Heating is well controlled and there are dimmers on the lights in the dorm which is a great feature. Parking is available directly behind the hostel for $5 per night -- not a bad deal, considering you are minutes away from the canals and parliament house. There is also a twenty-four-hour food store and pizza shop located within easy walking distance, along with various clubs and bars. You will need a code to re-enter the hostel door and the shoes off rule applies.
Kitchen areas are clean (regardless of the fact you might find the cat eating leftovers!) and there is a noticeboard/events board which comes in handy. Internet is available at the combined reception and guest computer or available on wifi (both for free). Occasionally it's hard to find someone to check you in because there is no dedicated office, but just ask around and someone should point you in the right direction. The Ottawa Backpackers has a friendly and easygoing vibe -- if you fit this description, you'll more than likely enjoy yourself.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2007
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Ottawa Backpackers Inn Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
The best hostel I've visited Friendly staff and atmosphere. Tidy at all times. Excellent location. It has large common areas and is a good place to meet interesting people from around the globe. It has free lockers and a fully equipped kitchen. I haven't seen any hostel in North America, Europe, or Asia with such a friendly and cozy atmosphere. I could say the hostel is what i enjoyed the most from Ottawa. Totally recommended. — Roberto Franco , Mexico (2008-08-17) Good this place is cute and clean and the people are really nice, although occasionally hard to find (although a cell phone number is posted on the door if you really need to find them). parking is only $5/night right next to the hostel which is great. theres a really nice area with great views to walk around five minutes' walk from there. also i stayed in the private room in the basement which is so cute and has a TV and very accessible bathroom. great price too. — sandy , USA (2007-08-24) this is a really great place to stay. it is cosy. it is clean, especially the kitchen (this is really important!). the people are very friendly, very nice. — ara , germany (2007-05-02) The loveliest place I ever had the pleasure to stay and work. Martin makes sure his guests are happy, content, and makes his hostel their home for a rest. OBI is like a little house where you can relax your traveling feet and just enjoy your stress-free stay whilst enjoying Ottawa's many attractions. I can't wait to go back there some day soon. Ten outta ten and then some. The alternative is to go to jail. You don't want to go to jail, do you? — Robin O'Farrell (2007-01-30) I spent one night here in '06. It's very chill and laid back. It seems pretty safe, I left my backpack in the closet and it was as I left it when I got back that night. Oh -- and the price is right too! The only problem is the area it's in. Don't walk alone at night, especially if you're a girl. Some guy tried to pick me up as a prostitute and then followed me slowly in his car. Other than that, I will definitely stay there if I ever find myself in Ottawa again. — Kiersty (2007-01-26) OBI was without doubt the best hostel I stayed at during my travels of North America and Europe. I lived in the hostel for two months -- a situation that can be pretty challenging, and possibly awful depending on the hostel. But my stay in Ottawa was great fun, and full of many fond memories. I met some amazing people at that hostel, including the staff, and there is something about that house that brings together people from different cultures and different backgrounds. It has a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and I really felt like 'part of the family' during my stay. I definitely recommend it! — Mel Chantry (2006-10-27) I thought this was a great hostel for the price. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere was extremely relaxed. Parking is available (five dollars a night) and only cash is accepted as payment. The location was good -- near a supermarket (the kitchen was well-equipped), and within walking distance to the major areas of Ottawa (also close to bars, restaurants, etc.). The hostel is surrounded by other houses, and the area seemed pretty quiet. The hostel itself and the showers were clean enough and there was no curfew (there's a code to open the front door after midnt). There's a very large living room area where people hang out, as well as a backyard deck, and the front porch is filled with couches/chairs. I thought it was easy enough to meet people, because there was so much communal space. Although a lot of people seemed to be more long-term residents, having been there for weeks or months. The only downsides to the hostel were that the lockers weren't large enough to fit our big backpacks, and our stay turned out to be pretty noisy. We were in the "semi-private" room downstairs (the dorm rooms were upstairs) which I think was just as noisy as staying in a large dorm room. Of course, when you're staying in a hostel room with like ten other people, you really can't be all that surprised that things are noisy. Anyway, I would still recommend this hostel, it's a great place to chill and has a wonderful laid-back vibe, and the people are really very nice. — PG (2006-07-29) Very friendly staff. Great location in Ottawa. Good rooms. Free lockers.
Well equipped kitchen. Definitely one of the best hostels in Canada. — Ed Atkinson (2006-06-08) I stayed there for four nights. It was so glad to be there. All the staff are "really" kind and friendly. Maybe that makes customers who stay there friendly as well. If you want to stay clean, tidy and in an air-conditioned, quiet room, I don't recommend it. But the location is also good. It's close to a 24-hour super market (it's so convenient), a liquor store (they have good stock), Parliament, the famous canal, a shopping center, etc. Also some bikes are available for free. Thank you so much to everyone I met there. — Taka (2005-07-22) I stayed here for a few weeks in Sep 2003 and got to know the owners well. If you like laid-back this is for you. Most people touring and travelling fit this category. However if you need absolute order this is not for you. In fact go to a hotel. If you want to chill and meet like-minded people you'll find Marty doesn't let anyone in who'll bring disrespect to his hostel. This is known as THE best place to be in Ottawa when travelling. Enjoy! — Stuart (2005-07-04) The staff were great and the location was fantastic!!! But the noise meant I had a terrible sleep. The curtains dividing the beds meant little privacy. The private room did have a TV and a bathroom close by, but I thought the bathroom could have been cleaner. Bring slippers. — Anonymous (2004-11-25) The inn is located in an older house and the rooms/dorms are in the basement. When I arrived at the house, the inn was filled with mainly male travelers in their 20s lounging around everywhere in their socks. There is a strict no-shoes policy, so everyone has to leave their shoes at the front door.
The semi-private rooms are just as they are advertised: semi-private. There are no doors, but rather a curtain that closes off the various "rooms" from each other. In each there is a comfortable double bed. The dorms can provide much more tight living arrangements, and can be co-ed, or all-male/all-female, depending on the visitors.
Overall the staff is very friendly and the price is really very good. It is also relatively clean. But, this hostel may not be for everyone, especially if you are not keen on staying in a dark basement, sharing only two showers with all the people, or spending a night in a busy and sometimes quite noisy house. — Matt (2004-09-10) Fantastic hostel. It has good, friendly staff who make you feel at home straight away! There are lovely, comfy sofas out on the front porch to watch the world go by, and free tea and coffee all day. What more could you ask for?! — Anna (2004-08-22) Super location and very friendly and helpful staff. The common room is comfortable with good TV reception. The rooms and bathrooms are very clean. I had a great stay here! — DaveUK (2004-05-04)