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Hostels Guide > North America > Canada > Ontario > Ottawa Hostels > HI - Ottawa Jail Hostel

HI - Ottawa Jail Hostel

Ottawa

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Address	75 Nicholas Street, Ottawa Ontario, Canada Map
Price	Dormitory rooms $27-$32, Private rooms $79-$90.30 Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

This is a Hostelling International (HI) hostel. A membership card isn't required, but an extra fee will apply for non-members. You can get a membership card before your trip here.

Their Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
Gameroom
Lounge / Common space
BBQ
Food/Restaurant
TV
Movie Library/Rental
Book Collection/Exchange
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
Travel information provided
Free City Tours
Bike Rental
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Phones (public or in room)
Currency Exchange
Air Conditioning
Free Breakfast

The Hostelz.com Review

The HI - Ottawa Jail Hostel can be summed up in four words -- it's in a prison! The hostel's location in an old stone prison (where Canada's first -- and, thus far, only -- political assassin was executed) gives it a unique and slightly spooky feel. It also makes the hostel hard to miss -- not only is it right beside the Mackenzie King Bridge bus stop, it's also a giant stone structure that's easy to spot and is within walking distance of all the main attractions.

The hostel offers great packages that include sheets, internet time, meals, and museum passes. If you don't get the package, it's still worth shelling out a few dollars for all-you-can-eat breakfast (ask for chocolate chips in your pancakes!) or a few more for dinner. The rooms are clean and surprisingly cheery, considering their location, and there's a big common kitchen and eating area downstairs.

However, a hostel in a prison can't be expected to have the best amenities. The bathroom on our floor only has one toilet, which leads to serious lineups (the rooms each have a sink and a mirror so at least guests aren't all crammed into the bathroom to brush their teeth). The coin-operated, one-use lockers are a bit of a pain -- make sure you don't lock something up that you'll need that day, otherwise you'll be going through a lot of loonies! And the lack of air conditioning could be an issue in the hot summer months.

But overall, it's a fantastic place to stay. Be sure to go on one of the evening prison tours, complete with ghost stories!

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2006

Ratings & Comments

38 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Sylvain F, Canadian

October 2009

Well, good but I have seen better
Wireless internet access service not reliable, breakdown attends internet service. Clerk was a bit rude with me when I ask her to change bunk. I requested for a lower bunk and someone took my bed. The only one available was the upper one. I asked "Do you mind to give me back my bed?" and she said "Well, I have to!" Bunks are to change, too small and squeaky. Free walking Tour of Ottawa twice a week, very interesting.

Comment by Brendan, Canada

June 2009

Interesting
We only did the tour here, but it is definitely somewhere that I would consider staying for one night, as it does have a strange atmosphere to it. Those who are into seeing hosts would enjoy this, as I myself, did in fact see a ghost in a picture one of my friends took. It was very real, and very interesting. Something to look into if this is what you're into. It's also an interesting history lesson if you just wanted to know a little about the history of the jail.

Comment by P, Canada

March 2009

Good Fun
Drove for four hours from Toronto to get to Ottawa this past weekend (March 20-21). It was our first trip to Ottawa. I thought it would be a fun and interesting way to end the march break for my boys. It was! We got lost trying to find the hostel with all the one way streets in Ottawa, I was a bit frustrated with driving in the city. We got there just in time for the tour and a tour it was. The tour guide all dressed in black, I guess for added spookiness -- was very informative. The Jail itself was in great condition and is properly kept to maintain the historic roots. Overall it was a great weekend and one more place we can say, " been there, done that!"

Comment by Adi, Canada

March 2009

Bring earplugs
I visited in spring -- most people were still in school, and while the weather was warm it wasn't hot or muggy (which is typical of Ottawa in the summer). The hostel was fairly empty at the time, except for a big group of boy scouts who kept to themselves and had a curfew. Even though it was empty, the hostel was very noisy. It's not the fault of the other guests, who were very obliging when asked to quiet down in the wee hours of the morning, but because of the hostel's construction -- it's all concrete and stone. Every floor is a gigantic echo chamber. Things might be better if you're on the non-prison side, but most of the rooms are in the cells. The staff were helpful and friendly, but didn't really go out of their way to make you feel welcome. That was alright for me, since I was only there for a short time and know the city decently well, but it might be more difficult for others. The food in the servery was uninspiring. The portions were large and filling, but it wasn't a five-star restaurant. However, the Byward Market is just across the street. There's bakeries, cafes, bars, night clubs, and lots of quirky little shops. It's in a great location, too -- just down the stairs from a bus stop, across the street from a mall, only a couple of blocks from all the museums and parks and Parliament buildings. Overall, it's a great hostel. But if you're even a moderately light sleeper, think twice, since you won't be able to enjoy the city without any sleep.

Comment by TN, Canada

December 2008

Friendly, but can be a little noisy.
An interesting experience! I stayed in a twin cell room with a friend. Very, very clean. Everything was well-maintained and taken care of. The floors were clean, the rooms were clean, the beds were clean, and I was highly satisfied. The kitchen was organized and had everything I needed. People were quite respectful and washed their dishes accordingly and cleaned up their own messes. The TV and games room was clean and comfortable. There were five couches to sit on, so there was lots of room. Watch out if there's hockey on TV! You might not have a say in the programming if there is. The couches in the room were also clean and there was a bathroom to the side, which was nice. The staff were friendly and helpful, and showed us where some good places to shop and eat were. It was warm, which was good, since I went in the winter. Well-heated so you didn't get a chill. This may be minor, but the pillows are very thick. I'd advise using a towel and a pair of pants or something else as a pillow, as the one they had made my neck sore. Also, the cells are not completely closed. They cover most of it, but there are bars left in place, so light comes in if you do not turn off the lights in the hall when you sleep, and you can hear people walking in the hall, snoring next to you, and even people shoveling snow outside. If everyone is quiet and respectful, it's not too bad. On two different nights, I did have to tell some people to quiet down, since noise travels very, very well in the floor.

Comment by Bonnie, Canada

July 2008

Interesting experience!
I have never stayed in a hostel before, but this is pretty much what I would have imagined it would be. I had read the comments about it being stuffy ahead of time, so we brought fans with us and that worked well. The girls on the desk were very helpful and polite. My friend and I stayed two nights there with our four boys in the twin cells on level six. The traffic was a bit noisy for a light sleeper such as myself (bring a louder fan for white noise), but it didn't bother my friend at all. The guy selling coffee at breakfast was also courteous. Also, the Crime and Punishment tour was excellent!

Comment by ket

June 2008

Unique
The hostel is quite weird. If you like to sleep in a cell, then it's ok. Because it used to be a jail, and it still looks like a jail, it is not cozy and comfortable. The rooms are dark and cold. You can buy breakfast there, but I would say it is quite expensive and not good. Internet is not available in the rooms, it works only in the lounges, but there is not many power outlets there, so it's better to charge your laptop in your room.

Comment by Jenna, USA

April 2008

Great Experience! Exciting and Fun!
this is a very old jail house not the marriott! If you want to be comfy go somewhere else! However if you like history and adventure I recommend this hostel! Very cool place to stay and haunted! The tour was awesome and the staff were great!

Comment by Angele , canada

March 2008

Sweet
this is the coolest hostel ever. well so far anyways. you actually sleep in a cell. how much cooler does it get.

Comment by HankO, USA

August 2007

Two thumbs down -- way down!
The only way my night in Ottawa would have been any worse, would have been if I had been mugged. I probably lost three dress sizes in sweat that night. In the room there were a few loud, white things that looked like fans, but didn't act like fans. The shower, too, looked like a shower, but didn't act like a shower. Water barely dripped from the shower head. If you enjoy really hot, really loud nights with really small beds to "sleep" in, and don't need to shower, this place is for you. If you want to experience this jail house, I recommend the 7 p.m. tour.

Comment by CK, Canada

August 2007

Fun, interesting, and a great experience
We stayed here one night at the end of June 2007 and enjoyed the experience. I took lots of photos and got tons of great shots with ghostly orbs and spirit energy in them. The other ghostly experience was when I first opened up the room -- it smelled of old smoke even though there was no fireplace. My spouse did not smell it and within seconds it was gone. I later found out that sometimes smelling old smoke is a sign of spirit/ghost energy -- it is left behind if they make a quick escape and leave the area. We splurged and stayed in the Warden's suite. Way too expensive for what you get. Maybe if you have a large family, or are sharing with a bunch of friends it would be ok, but it was more expensive than a nice hotel and was a little dirty, dusty, and rundown. We are going to go back and stay a second time so that we can go ghost hunting again but are going to stay in a private room instead and see if that is better. If you love the idea of staying in a haunted jail, immersing yourself in history, and ghost hunting, then this is for you. It's also a great location that can't be beat. The staff was pretty nice and helpful, although there were a few times that there was conflicting information or they were a little unsure of the answers.

Comment by Tim, Canada

August 2007

Great location, clean, and neat history
Stayed here one night in July 2007. The location is great, Parliament hill is about a ten-minute walk. The Rideau is nearby and most of the other attractions are within walking distance. The hostel itself was interesting and has some history that goes along with it. The rooms and bathrooms were clean albeit a little sterile and plain, but considering the hostel is in an actual jail, that is kind of a given. Security was great. Staff was helpful. There is parking just to the right of the hostel (I think it cost a few extra dollars upon check-in). Considering the temperatures outside (low 30s celsius), I found the jail cells to be quite comfortable to sleep in.

Comment by Tony, UK

July 2007

Lousy
Worst of the hostels I have stayed so far in Canada. Stuffy, no ventilation, beds are quite squeaky (need replacement). Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., one of the only the two male toilets is out of toilet paper, one of the woman staff has been rude to some of the mates who stayed at this place. Bathrooms and toilets are bad. Breakfast for 5 dollars has a box of cereal, milk, bread, and jam. sure, jail hostel sounds exotic, but 80% of the people I have met over last three days have dissatisfaction about the hostel or the service.

Comment by Vermont Traveler, USA

March 2007

This hostel is a hoot! It is something anyone with adventure in their soul should experience at least once. I loved being able to stay in an authentic jail cell, complete with all the trappings. Despite the antiquity, everything was clean, orderly, convenient, and fun. The staff was helpful, friendly, and competent, and even helped me with some difficult directions I needed. Free internet service was greatly appreciated. The location is superb, and I appreciate the availability of parking for my car, although it was an unpleasant surprise to find out that there is an extra $5 charge for parking. The hostel is just a couple of hundred feet from a major transit stop that has buses going to all parts of the city. The only way in which I felt out of place was that there were no other middle aged people staying there at the time I came. Most of the hostelers seemed very young. Most hostels I stay in have a fair percentage of middle aged and older people. I would definitely return here any time I travel to Ottawa.

Comment by Dmitri

March 2007

I booked three nights at the hostel while I was staying in the HI-hostel in Toronto. I prepaid 10% and got a paper with a booking password that supposedly guaranteed my stay. When I arrived, I had to wait as nobody from the staff was at the front desk, as well as many other people. After some time a girl came. She looked at my reservation paper and said that she is not competent in this and so I have to pay full amount, disregarding of the fact that I made the prepayment. When I asked other questions, she told that she doesn't know anything and I should either follow her directions or should go. When I told her that I have no place to stay and have to stay here at least for one night, she told that she doesn't care, I am free to go back to Toronto and ask them all questions I have. There were several people in the line after me so I just took my bags and left. Fortunately, I easily found accommodation in another hostel, otherwise, I'd have to freeze on the street because it was below zero that evening. I would not recommend anybody to go to this place whatsoever.

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