The Hostelz.com Review
This hostel is a three-level building that somewhat resembles a budget hotel. The white facade, red awnings, and white/red sign all make it easy to spot, even in the middle of a blizzard.
The Location
The location is great, just two blocks from Rue Ste Catherine and Rene Levesque, and only 500 metres from a metro station. If you arrive by train, it's walking distance or a $5 cab ride (which is preferable if it's snowing).
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are adequate with sheets and towels provided. At the time of this review there was a problem with bedbugs, with a few people ending up with bites. The rooms are small, but have enough space for your things, and all have a small bathroom (shower, toilet). Lockers are in the rooms (provide your own lock), or if you need a larger one there are automatic lockers in the basement near the internet room. Private rooms consist of a bunk bed (double bed on bottom, single on top), a small locker, shower, and toilet. The shower looked like it needed a decent scrub, but overall the rooms are clean and hospitable. The key cards do tend to stop working (one of the staff told me it can react with the cards in your wallet) which is a common complaint of HI Hostels card system.
Common Spaces
The common areas consist of the main entrance, internet room, and a bar/cafe. The internet costs $3 per hour, but the computers are not up to date in terms of software. The bar/cafe is located in the basement and doesn't have much ambiance - it's set up with small chairs and tables with a pool table in the centre. It's not the most inviting because of the level of light and the individualised nature of the seating. A few couches in there would have made it a little more relaxed. At 'Happy Hour' there was only 3-4 people in there for most of the night. Occasionally groups get going in there, but only if you literally sit and wait for people to show up. The cafe is also the location to be if you want food, with a continental breakfast (two pastries, cereal, and juice) for about $6.50, served complete with a roll of cling film if you want to take anything with you. You can also order a couple of other things direct off the menu, and dinner is available as well.
The hostel was getting a spruce up when we were there (March '08) with new carpets and paint. We only saw a bit of it coming in, but it did perk the place up a bit.
Summary
Like most HI Hostels it has the blackboard with activities, mostly what's happening around Montreal, rather than activities organised by the hostel. A great outing was to an NHL hockey game - again although a 'group' didn't depart from the hostel, the line of seats they had were all hostel people, so you got to know people at the game.
This is a great hostel if you are planning not to spend to much time relying on the hostel to entertain you. It is definitely what you make of it. Groups who are able to take over common areas and make it more lively would love it, and single travellers looking to have a bit of a quiet time would enjoy it also.
For people visiting Montreal for a few days, it's location can't be beat and all things considered, it's clean and safe. The staff are incredibly helpful and pleasant - fantastically knowledgeable about the area and what you can do. It's not bad going for the price. Basically, it's a good hostel that with a few minor changes, could be great!
The Location
The location is great, just two blocks from Rue Ste Catherine and Rene Levesque, and only 500 metres from a metro station. If you arrive by train, it's walking distance or a $5 cab ride (which is preferable if it's snowing).
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are adequate with sheets and towels provided. At the time of this review there was a problem with bedbugs, with a few people ending up with bites. The rooms are small, but have enough space for your things, and all have a small bathroom (shower, toilet). Lockers are in the rooms (provide your own lock), or if you need a larger one there are automatic lockers in the basement near the internet room. Private rooms consist of a bunk bed (double bed on bottom, single on top), a small locker, shower, and toilet. The shower looked like it needed a decent scrub, but overall the rooms are clean and hospitable. The key cards do tend to stop working (one of the staff told me it can react with the cards in your wallet) which is a common complaint of HI Hostels card system.
Common Spaces
The common areas consist of the main entrance, internet room, and a bar/cafe. The internet costs $3 per hour, but the computers are not up to date in terms of software. The bar/cafe is located in the basement and doesn't have much ambiance - it's set up with small chairs and tables with a pool table in the centre. It's not the most inviting because of the level of light and the individualised nature of the seating. A few couches in there would have made it a little more relaxed. At 'Happy Hour' there was only 3-4 people in there for most of the night. Occasionally groups get going in there, but only if you literally sit and wait for people to show up. The cafe is also the location to be if you want food, with a continental breakfast (two pastries, cereal, and juice) for about $6.50, served complete with a roll of cling film if you want to take anything with you. You can also order a couple of other things direct off the menu, and dinner is available as well.
The hostel was getting a spruce up when we were there (March '08) with new carpets and paint. We only saw a bit of it coming in, but it did perk the place up a bit.
Summary
Like most HI Hostels it has the blackboard with activities, mostly what's happening around Montreal, rather than activities organised by the hostel. A great outing was to an NHL hockey game - again although a 'group' didn't depart from the hostel, the line of seats they had were all hostel people, so you got to know people at the game.
This is a great hostel if you are planning not to spend to much time relying on the hostel to entertain you. It is definitely what you make of it. Groups who are able to take over common areas and make it more lively would love it, and single travellers looking to have a bit of a quiet time would enjoy it also.
For people visiting Montreal for a few days, it's location can't be beat and all things considered, it's clean and safe. The staff are incredibly helpful and pleasant - fantastically knowledgeable about the area and what you can do. It's not bad going for the price. Basically, it's a good hostel that with a few minor changes, could be great!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2008
Their Description
HI - Montreal Youth Hostel DetailsFree Amenities
Breakfast Bedsheets TowelsOther Features
Air Conditioning Bar Credit Card Payments Currency Exchange Food/Restaurant Gameroom Hot Showers Concierge / Info Desk Guest Kitchen Laundry Lounge Area Pool Table TVDetails
Checkout: 11:00 (11 AM)
Curfew: No Curfew
Open Dates: All Year
Reception Hours: always open
Map Location/ContactHow is HI - Montreal Youth Hostel rated on other websites?
HI - Montreal Youth Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Amazing place For my first trip to Canada me and 3 friends stayed here for four nights and it was a great experience! It was very clean and the staff was helpful to any questions that we had about the city. The location was amazing because it was only a block from Ste Catherine and really close to the Metro, so getting around the city was easy. The people that we met and the friends we made were wonderful, a place where the "spirit of hosteling" united people and where everyone came together for a good time. — Monica, USA (2011-08-11) Great experience i had never been to canada and i had never been to a hostel. my best friend and i stayed there for four nights, and we loved it! it is only a block away from the lucien-allier metro station! the staff were very helpful (and good-looking!) and they provided activities to do, as well as guidebooks in the lobby. i recommend doing the bike tour, which is very leisurely and costs $20. the bar tour was super fun! you go to three or four bars but you can stay at one if you want to. the drinking age is eighteen and you must tip the bartenders, but they are usually very pleasant. my room had three bunk beds and a bathroom and locker. you must bring your own lock. the restaurant there has good food and is decently priced. however, only one person makes the food and they charge 10% for american money. there is a pool table, $1 per game, and a kitchen where you can store/prepare your own food. they serve beer as well. i would recommend this hostel! — toni, MD, USA (2008-07-28) A great hostel After staying in five hostels in Canada, I can say that this was the best one -- great location, good-looking interior, clean rooms, private showers in private rooms, internet is available in the rooms. The staff is absolutely nice. On Mondays they have a bike tour, you can rent a bike at a lower price than usual and keep it for the whole day. Would be great if they served breakfasts for free. If you want to buy breakfast, you have to wait in the line for ten or so minutes and then wait while the guy is making it for you. There is only one guy who is serving breakfasts, that's why it takes a lot of time and it's better to go to some other place. Would stay there again. — ket (2008-06-08) Too expensive, no lockers! i was a little bit disappointed. relatively expensive for what you get -- big rooms (2x6 people), no lockers in the room, shower was broken (no hot water). i moved after 1 night. — Timon (21, Switzerland), Switzerland (2007-12-17) Great stuff and staff good location, well located, in centre bell (five minutes by foot). was a very special experience you could really make nowhere else on earth. friendly people all around, international guests every day. nice bars and restaurants and stores around, good bus and subway system -- what a fascinating city! thanks to hi - hostel montréal, i hope to come back sometime, then without lumbago! — Thomas, Germany (2007-10-15) This was the first hostel I ever stayed at, and I thought "you get what you pay for." Had a private room. It was clean, maybe a Little run down for the price, but still a good experience. It was busy, with lots of people coming and going (in may) -- I had a little trouble checking in, but the staff were nice enough, though they didn't fall over each other to help us. Overall, good but we've stayed in way nicer places. — Kirb, Canada (2007-05-16) I visited the hostel with three friends for a week it was a blast! We stayed there for the last week of December of 2006 to January the second. We were celebrating the New Year. The hostel rooms are clean and the kitchen's great. Don't have second thoughts on the hostel -- it was lots of fun and we are all going back and with way more people this time. — Mark , Orillia,Ontario (2007-04-10) one of the best hostels ive ever stayed in, and ive traveled most of canada over the last year. this hostel provides some of the best opportunities to socialise and meet people, some of which i still remain friends with today, the staff run great events and activities e.g. pub crawls, city walking tours etc. the rooms have air conditioning, which is a must in montreal in the summer. great city location, rooms feel very secure, and its a respectful atmosphere. the only downside is the price but hey its worth it (i went for two nights and ended up staying nine). with HI membership it's around twenty-nine dollars and thirty-five cents CAD -- maybe a bit steep for the skint backpackers out there, but worth the odd nite just to make some friends. — Sociable but expensive, highly recommended (2006-07-25)