The Hostelz.com Review
Pirate Haus Inn & Hostel is a great choice for a stay in St. Augustine. Staff are friendly, the location is perfect, and pancakes with morning cheer written right into them are a wonderful touch!
The Location
The hostel is right in the heart of the historic section of St. Augustine -- down the stairs and out the front door, and you're in the heart of the city. One block down, you're on the main shopping/dining, car-free strip; one block in another direction, you're looking at the bridge that will take you to Anastasia Island; a couple blocks another way, and you're at one of the oldest forts in the country, the Pirate Museum, and more. There's lots to do and see in St. Augustine, and what you can't reach by foot from the hostel, you can certainly reach by bicycle, the bus, or one of the many tour buses/trolleys. Of course, there's also a hansom carriage ride!
Parking can feel a bit challenging at Pirate Haus -- there are a couple of spaces for those staying in private rooms only. Metered parking is available across the street and around the corner, but if you don't mind walking just a few blocks, skip the meters and head into the neighborhood behind the hostel and park on the street. It's easy and seems as safe as any street parking can be. If you're arriving by bike (or have a bike on your car) -- perfect, because St. Augustine is a great city for pedaling around. You can lock your bike outside the hostel (no rack, but a few posts that work just fine), or bring them up to your room -- some people did that while we were at the hostel, so we assume that's fine.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms are fine -- nothing stellar to write about, but nothing negative worthy of note either. Bathrooms are clean and well supplied with the basics like shampoo/soap. There's a bathroom in the hall as well as bathrooms in all but one of the dorm rooms.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is a good size, with room in the fridge and on the shelves to leave your things. People tend to congregate in the kitchen (don't they always?), especially early morning while hostelers eat pancakes that Conrad the owner or other staff has prepared. Having pancakes and coffee included in the overnight fee is great, and the smiley faces and little "good morning" notes on the flapjacks are a darn nice touch! In addition to the kitchen, there's a nice-sized living room, replete with large-screen television, toys, games, books, and a life-sized pirate!
Summary
The desire to make this hostel family-oriented is clear, as evidenced by the types of toys and games in the common room. In fact, the owner seems to have a want to have the place considered less a "hostel" and more an affordable, family B&B. But we're not sure why -- it's a hostel, and a rather nice one with very friendly staff, great location, and wonderful travelers passing through.
The Location
The hostel is right in the heart of the historic section of St. Augustine -- down the stairs and out the front door, and you're in the heart of the city. One block down, you're on the main shopping/dining, car-free strip; one block in another direction, you're looking at the bridge that will take you to Anastasia Island; a couple blocks another way, and you're at one of the oldest forts in the country, the Pirate Museum, and more. There's lots to do and see in St. Augustine, and what you can't reach by foot from the hostel, you can certainly reach by bicycle, the bus, or one of the many tour buses/trolleys. Of course, there's also a hansom carriage ride!
Parking can feel a bit challenging at Pirate Haus -- there are a couple of spaces for those staying in private rooms only. Metered parking is available across the street and around the corner, but if you don't mind walking just a few blocks, skip the meters and head into the neighborhood behind the hostel and park on the street. It's easy and seems as safe as any street parking can be. If you're arriving by bike (or have a bike on your car) -- perfect, because St. Augustine is a great city for pedaling around. You can lock your bike outside the hostel (no rack, but a few posts that work just fine), or bring them up to your room -- some people did that while we were at the hostel, so we assume that's fine.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms are fine -- nothing stellar to write about, but nothing negative worthy of note either. Bathrooms are clean and well supplied with the basics like shampoo/soap. There's a bathroom in the hall as well as bathrooms in all but one of the dorm rooms.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is a good size, with room in the fridge and on the shelves to leave your things. People tend to congregate in the kitchen (don't they always?), especially early morning while hostelers eat pancakes that Conrad the owner or other staff has prepared. Having pancakes and coffee included in the overnight fee is great, and the smiley faces and little "good morning" notes on the flapjacks are a darn nice touch! In addition to the kitchen, there's a nice-sized living room, replete with large-screen television, toys, games, books, and a life-sized pirate!
Summary
The desire to make this hostel family-oriented is clear, as evidenced by the types of toys and games in the common room. In fact, the owner seems to have a want to have the place considered less a "hostel" and more an affordable, family B&B. But we're not sure why -- it's a hostel, and a rather nice one with very friendly staff, great location, and wonderful travelers passing through.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2011
Their Description
Pirate Haus Inn & Hostel Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great Place My husband and I were celebrating our 23rd anniversary on the cheap. We normally stay in the cookie cutter hotels, but were looking for a different experience. We definitely found it here. The rooms were clean, inexpensive, and whimsical. Conrad was incredibly helpful and told us all the good places to go. We had an amazing time. Can't wait to come back with our granddaughter. — Sara and Terry , USA (2011-03-23) Rednecks If you are not Anglo-Saxon, they refuse to rent you a room. The people who run the place are a bunch of racist rednecks. I did not even get a chance to stay there because they refused to rent me a bed because of my color. I am outraged that they can get away with this racist discrimination (yes, I know I am being repetitive but I am just so angry that this is going in 2011.) — Anon. , Somalia (2011-01-27) Always a wonderful place to stay! We have stayed at the Pirate Haus 3 times for 14 days each time and I cannot say enough about this wonderful place. The rooms are clean and the beds are awesome! The staff is always wonderful and Captain Conrad will make sure you have a great time on your vacation. Pirate Pancakes are always a big hit with the guest in the morning. We have met so many wonderful people staying here and love it every time. It is a wonderful location in the heart of downtown St. Augustine and half the price as all the other hotels in the area. It is a wonderful place for kids and adults and you will not be disappointed with your stay. After staying here it is hard to find any hostel in the US that compares to it. We will keep returning, it is a wonderful place! — Jackie , United States (2010-06-23) I definitely recommend it I stayed at the Pirate Haus for two nights in August 2007 whilst traveling the U.S. on my own. I had a pleasant stay thanks to the good bed, clean linen, nice staff with a cool Egyptian touch and, of course, thanks to the friendly french-speaking captain. — Camille , France (2007-10-05) Great Place to Stay I have stayed at this hostel twice, once with my children on spring break and once with our Girl Scout troop. Both visits were very pleasant. The kids had a blast and loved the pancakes made by Capt. Conrad (in the shape of our troop number no less). They saluted him with their special pirate salute every time they saw him. Staff is friendly and helpful and accommodations were neat and clean. The rooms are cute but nothing fancy, but the price is right. I have stayed in some real dumps (even in the land of Mickey-Orlando) and this facility was no such thing! I would come back over and over with no hesitation. The location can't be beat too. I highly recommend. — Kim , USA (2007-06-01) I was tickled to death when I happened upon the Pirate Haus and ran into the owner and his girlfriend, plus bumped into my old principal. Everyone was very conversive and enjoyed to be around. We played games, drank wine, and laughed. — Caleb Springer (2007-02-16) great location! you're right of the main historical drag and a block from A1A and the fort! its actually positioned right behind the hyatt hotel and mainly of the bed & breakfasts that cost an arm 'n' a leg (or a hook, matey!). Cap't Conrad is a great guy and will be a great host along with his First Mate Elaine. I cannot repeat enough how nice this hostel is and how it puts you right in the middle of the action. There are not many places where you can tumble out of a torch-lit tavern after spending hours of singing sea chanties and make your way back to your pirate hideout. Arghhhh! — eddie (2007-01-07) a great hostel! done up to suit the pirate style! the staff were great and good fun, and helped with the rest of our travels. there were a lot of kids in the hostel which wasn't great for us, but might be for others. free pancakes in the morning was good, apart from i put on a few pounds stayin here! bbq out on the deck which we took advantage of. rooms were very clean which lockers and padlocks! onsuite bathroom was nice and reasonably clean. quiet and pleasent location. loads to see in the area, and some pretty fun bars about five to ten minutes walk away! we were sad to leave this place! — Wilfred (2006-05-10) I have stayed in quite a lot of hostels and this hostel is in my top three.
It is cheap, good beds, more than enough space for luggage, late arrival no problem, in the middle of the beautiful St. Augustine, roof terrace, nice staff, the hostel is small enough to feel like home, good breakfast. burning pics on a cd (just $4) and much more. Come and see yourself. — adrianus (2006-05-08) First time at a hostel (had along wife and 4 children). And I was pleasantly surprised; the Capt and First Mate are super and the hostel was what we hoped for and more. And what could be better than "Pirate Pancakes"? ARGHHH!!! Right in the heart of historic downtown St. Augustine. VERY NICE. This hostel was cleaner than many high-priced hotels we had stayed in on our vacation. My one concern prior to going there was cleanliness, as my wife is a chemo patient with a weakened immune system, and yet again, the Pirate Haus was super clean, much cleaner than hotels we had stayed in.
Capt. Conrad and 1st Mate Elaine are super tour guides as well, pointing us to the best places in town. — Ned (2005-12-15) I stayed at the Pirate Haus July 12-13 and I have to say that it is one of the best, if not the best, hostel I stayed at while going on a six-week cross-country trip of the States. It is surprising a place like this exists where it does because the South usually lacks adequate accommodations in terms of hostels. I was shocked that this place didn't have bedbugs, a dilapidated kitchen, or locals who treated the place as home, like a majority of hostels I visited down South. Quite on the contrary, the place is clean, well maintained, has a modern kitchen with fridge, oven, and barbecue, as well as a lounge room with Internet and TV. The owner, who is a very cool guy who dresses up like a pirate, takes care of you. I was going down to the alligator farm and told him about it and he gives me this coupon for twenty-five percent off. Who does that? Moreover, you have his girlfriend who makes pancakes for you in the morning. Very artistic girl. I kid you not when I tell you that see made me a pancake with the design of a skull and cross-bones.
Can I go on more about this place? Yes, I think I can. There are no transient long-termers who kill the social atmosphere. If you spend a Tuesday or Wednesday at the Pirate Haus, it will be great times because they have drinking specials at the local bars. I spent a Wednesday night with the owner, a Dutch couple, and a couple of other hostelers at the tavern, just throwing some back and having a blast.
Since I have had so much experience with hostels in the US, I've developed my own rating system based on six points. Each hostel is given three points to start with. I take a point away if there is no working kitchen, or I actually see some bedbugs, or even notice long-termers who treat the place like a homeless shelter. On the other hand, I give a point if the staff are friendly, the location is great, or there is a social atmosphere where you can meet people.
Pirate Haus Hostel: Rating — Six Points
Kitchen [+]: A gourmet chef would love a kitchen like this.
Bedbugs [+]: NONE and the beds are actual mattresses
Long-termers [+]: I encountered none
Location [+]: Located right in the midst of the tourist areas, the Pirate Haus is easily within walking distance to many of the main attractions in St. Augustine. Plus, the beach is no more than a ten-minute car ride.
Staff [+]: Definitely what makes this hostel great.
Social Atmosphere [+]: Great for the single traveler as well as the family. — Rucifier (2005-08-21) This is a great place to stay. Comfortable, clean, informative and friendly. Very near everything in the Historic downtown of St. Augustine. If you like pancakes, Conrad makes them the pirate way, with a smile and a patch on them. Thank you Pirate Haus. — Debra (2005-08-02) I stayed a second time in June, and it was even better. Like I said, folks, stay here. — Christine (2005-06-20) Stayed here for two nights in May 2005. The location of this place cannot be beat. We stayed in room 1 and met some very nice people from France and England. If I were in St. Augustine again I would stay there. — M. Spivey (2005-06-02) We had a wonderful time in the hostel and St. Augustine and we will definitely go there again! Beautiful place, very nice people and great atmosphere! — Lula & Moritz (2005-04-11)