Halifax Backpacker's Hostel

Pretty much a craphole
Really not much to recommend this place. I'm all for cheap and cheerful but this place is dirty and uncomfortable. The little restaurant at the front has decent ambiance but the food is nothing special. The staff were nice and the internet was free. These really were the best things about the place.

Bleh
My friend and I stayed in one of the bunks. So my opinion might be biased, but it certainly was a cheap experience! ($20 is very cheap but still). We arrived around 10 at night, and arrived on gottigen street, which really is a crummy part of halifax, i never want to go there again if i dont have to. We had to go down this alley to the side door, where there were people smoking and they let us in, although i couldn't really tell if they were the hostel staff or not at first. The inside of the place has a bit of charm, the stairs were really different. We went in and arrived to a room full of other bunks, with people on them. I have never been to a hostel before except in a private room, but i did feel like I was intruding on something. My friend and i brushed our teeth and i climbed onto the top bunk above someone, and she took one below someone else. The bed creaked so loudly. It felt like i was sleeping on springs covered in sheets and a bit of fluff. But I did notice a sharp pain throughout the night. I slept maybe ten minutes. I dont know, but I was kept awake by at first one person snoring. Then the girl below me started! And then someone else came in a bit later climbed above my friend and he started too. I look out the window and there is some rundown deck and a bit of police car noise. We exchange looks for a bit, whisper around 3 in the morning to check if each other is a awake. Basically I get up around 6. I wander around, I found us some towels. I check out the kitchen, which i thought was pretty neat. We had showers. We wandered downstairs and there was a choice of organic/tea/sandwichy things. This was a pretty good thing, and same with the free internet. Mostly I suspect this is a place for people who enjoy partying. Because when I told of our experience, the person was really very understanding and apologetic. She said we should have said something. Also the guy who brought us in at night seemed nice also. My friend, who is a local nova scotian, recommended it. I was going for less expensive. My mistake i guess.

I loved staying at the Backpacker's hostel in Halifax. We stayed for about a week and I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was very welcoming and open, the people were amazing, and so were the samosas that the second hand bookstore/cafe sold! Conditionwise, the place isn't a hotel, so don't expect everything to be in mint condition, but I was impressed with the cleanliness and how friendly everyone was. The location was great (close to everything) and I really did feel safe. Thanksgiving dinner there with everyone is a very fond memory for me too. Stay here is you can, you'll meet great folks and definitely get your moneys worth with the pretty low rates.

Stayed here May '06, alone, four nights. Brilliant. Quoting someone, "atmosphere makes all the difference" -- ever heard of "backpacker culture"? This place defines it -- no way you could stay here without meeting a heap of wonderful people (whether in the cafe downstairs or in the kitchen/common-room upstairs). wonderful cosy place that really makes you feel at home. I loved it! Staff were incredible (all six I spoke to, and the three I drank with). Location has "a reputation" but I certainly had no issues during my stay (nor did any other guests). Speaking of location -- right near downtown, supermarket round the corner, microbrewery down the road, regular bus service (for the lazy). Yes, there's some repairs that wouldn't hurt -- but everything works as it's meant to and you're not booking the Hilton so get over it! One of the best hostels I encountered travelling through Canada and Europe. Just remember the atmosphere!!

I don't feel this hostel deserves such a high rating. The people are nice and helpful and the internet is free, and that's about all that's worth mentioning. Hostel is in a run-down part of the city, the interior is falling apart, literally. Broken tile in the bathroom, hooks falling off walls, and faucet handles coming undone in shower. This could be a diamond in the rough if they would put some effort into making the place a little nicer. Location is near to downtown, though, and I never felt unsafe here. I would love to come back in a few years to see the place renovated and updated. It's got a lot of potential.

This is a good hostel! Staff are superb and the rooms are fine. Good computers with free internet and an interesting location in one of the lower income areas of the city. I liked it.

I stayed at this hostel a couple months back and loved it so much that my work was going to put me up in a hotel with everything paid for for a night because there was a problem with my semi-permanent residence there. And I turned to down cause this place is a lot better. Friendly staff, great people staying there, and the best atmosphere you'll find.

This place has a great atmosphere — the owners, David and Michelle, are lovely. I stayed here for about three weeks in total, on and off while looking for a place over the summer. The Friday summer barbecues and common room area, which has no TV, made up for the iffy shower system (use the upstairs bathroom). ;-) It's a good place to meet people and see the "real" Canada. The hostel is in a dodgy part of town, but I walked around there at night without problems, by myself. The beds are comfy enough and the cafe (Alterego, a part of the hostel) food is priced pretty well and surprisingly tasty. The staff are pretty helpful on the whole.

I did not spend long at this hostel but I loved it. The rooms were a bit small but they were okay. The staff were fantastic! Even though they were booked full, they found space for me in my time of need. They have big hearts. They knew so much about Nova Scotia and helped me plan my whole trip. They have a coffee shop downstairs with amazing artwork painted on the walls. The coffee and sandwiches are cheap and taste so good! The surrounding area seems a little daunting, but it's actually quite interesting and safe. Expect to spend some time sitting out in front of the coffee shop drinking coffee and chatting to the many interesting locals. This hostel attracts a friendly bunch of people. Within hours of arriving, I had met everyone in the hostel and was enjoying an awesome BBQ feast, with delicious mussels and beer because one kind guy decided to shout the whole hostel. That's the kind of beautiful people that this place attracts! This place is great!

Hey, atmosphere makes all the difference in the world, and the people who run this place are the best :) The amenities are humble, but complete, and it's clean. What more could anyone need?