Hostelz.com Hostels Reviews


Find hostels in:

Hostelz.com - "Reviews of All Hostels Worldwide"

Hostels Guide > North America > USA > Alaska > Anchorage Hostels > Anchorage International Hostel - Downtown

Anchorage International Hostel - Downtown

Anchorage (Downtown), Alaska, USA

8 of 11

Hostels in Anchorage

Address	700 H Street, Anchorage (Downtown) Map
Price	20.00 per night for dorm and 55.00 per night for private

Location/Contact

Details

Their Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
Lounge / Common space
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer

The Hostelz.com Review

It is an easy walk to the hostel from the bus stop or a short taxi from the train station. The local free maps, make it easy to show you how to get to the right stree. The location of this hostel is great, however, that is about the only postive. This hostel lost is lustre a long-time ago and it doesn't take long to work out that its Hostel International membership has long since expired.

While some staff may let you leave your bags at the hostel during the midday curfew, other more temperamental staff may not. The curfew also creates other problems in the morning, as if you need to leave before 8am, you can not access the kitchen or any food you have stored in there. Another semi-common problem with the curfew is you may have people trying to climb in your window in the wee hours as they can't get into their room.

The dorm rooms aren't very clean, there are no lockers and no locks on the doors. Some rooms do not even have a door knob. There are usually 3-4 bunk beds to each room. If you do stay here, make sure you bring your own clean linen. It is also quite common for the toilets to be blocked.

Anchorage International Hostel also rents out rooms to couples, in a small house nearby. This house is more secure with all rooms having locks. The house has a clean toilet, kitchen, lounge and no curfew. The rooms are small and if you have a room up the steep stairs, you may hit your head on the roof if you are over 5 foot 6. Overall, the location was great but the hostel was very grotty, annoying with its curfews and there are other hostels in Anchorage with better reputations. If you do have to stay here, the house is a better option though they won't let you check in till after the midday curfew.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review

Your Comments

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

Comment by Mary, USA

April 2008

Worked well for me
I've stayed here three times, and while it's far from my favorite hostel, I sure wouldn't deter someone from considering staying here. I found the bedroom adequate, plenty of storage space in well stocked kitchen, most of all you can't beat the location for getting around. The main transit station is a block away. My one gripe is that they lock the women's floor, so any time you want to go to your room during accessible hours, you have to get one of the employees to go up and unlock the outer door. This was a pain in the butt, and one time took me quite awhile to find an employee. As I understand it, the guys floor doesn't have to do this. So I find that sexist, though some would say they're trying to keep us safe.

Comment by Experienced Traveler

December 2006

Stayed here on my first ever trip to Alaska in August 2006. The best thing going for this hostel is the downtown location. Otherwise the place is noisy as grand central station due to the tour buses all night picking up and dropping folks at the big hotel next door. The sanitation trucks are next, waking one up at 3 or 4 in the morning. Then the birds get in on the act about 5 screeching and hollering the rest of the time. The staff was ok -- sometimes helpful, sometimes not. The lockout time is a big turnoff. The way they have it set up you only get to be in the place for a few hours. Also the lack of security leaves a lot to be desired. Now that I know my way around I will choose a different place next time.

Comment by Pod

September 2006

Stayed in this hostel twice while passing through Anchorage. The first time in a private room in the separate house, which was clean, tidy, and ok. The second time in a private room in the hostel -- not ok. The place was filthy and stank. The bathroom had no lock on the door, and was putrid. Very creepy atmosphere, I did not feel safe at all.

Comment by Agnes

August 2006

Even if no longer affiliated with HI -- this hostel does have curfew at one a.m. and lockout from nine a.m. to 5 p.m. -- arriving at 6:45 p.m. the staff was already on break. No blanket provided if not requested. Tiny dorm -- I stayed in six-bed female dorm with no space for luggage and four lockers for six beds. Showers cannot be used after 11 p.m. but nothing is told about the early morning birds. If you go out for smoke in the middle of the night, jetlagged as I was, better block the door with your pack of cigarettes or you will be out until 7 a.m. Found it really ugly and the common room remains empty even if hostel fully booked Only stay there if you have to -- like it is a pick up spot for the Alaska Direct Bus and the Alaska Shuttle. unless that -- find another one!

Comment by Floridasun

April 2006

I stayed at this hostel for three nights during my three-week visit to Alaska in the summer of '04. I chose to stay there because of the location, within walking distance to bus terminal and train station and all the shops and restaurants nearby.The price was not too bad, about $21 per night. But it lacks of security of the property. I saw some homeless people actually took afternoon nap in my room and left before others came back. There was no lock so everyone from the street could easily get in and do whatever they want. I probably will look for other places to stay if I return to Alaska.

Comment by Inasuitcase

February 2004

I haven't stayed at this hostel BUT I am a flight attendant who has visited it during a layover. (I tend to do that to get a feel for the place and to know if I want to return). This place is not a hostel I want to return to, unless absolutely necessary. It's located in downtown Anchorage, which is all it has going for it... location. The staff has never been helpful during any of my visits (I stop in for information or to pick up brochures.), if they are there at all. Also, the security is questionable. Anchorage has a lot of homeless and questionable-looking people wandering its streets.

Comment by nlc

June 2003

The best thing about this hostel is the location and transit connections: it's in downtown Anchorage, only a few blocks from the train station, and the Parks Highway Express buses to Fairbanks and Denali stop right outside the door. If you're in Anchorage for a night and moving on in the morning, this place is a godsend. However, it's also got a long lockout, thin walls, an institutional atmosphere, and unhelpful staff. Furthermore, the guests are locked OUT of the kitchen and common rooms at night (don't leave food in the kitchen if you plan to take an early bus out), while the dormitories, which are accessible by a separate outside staircase, aren't locked at all. This, of course, raises questions about whether the security arrangements are there to protect the guests or to protect the hostel FROM the guests. If you plan to stay in Anchorage for a few days, you'll probably be happier at one of the other hostels (e.g. the Spenard, which is nicer AND cheaper).

Have you visited this hostel? Post your comments here.

8 of 11

Hostels in Anchorage

Exclusive Photos Taken by the Hostelz.com Reviewer

Hostelz.com is the only hostel guide with complete information and reviews on all youth hostels and backpackers worldwide.

About Hostelz.com - Contact Hostelz.com - Add a New Hostel - Group Bookings
Copyright © 2008 Hostelz.com