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Halifax Backpacker's Hostel Details
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Halifax Backpacker's Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Beautiful I stayed at both hostels in Halifax, and Backpackers was by far the best. Actually, it was the best experience at a hostel I've ever had. In truth, it was home, and I can't say enough about the wonder people and staff that I met there. The hostel offers everything you need for a great price in the best part of town. A real place for real people. — Jeff Brankley , Canada (2012-02-29) Exactly as advertised The place is ideal unless you really want to stick to the mainstream. It's inexpensive, but has everything you need (central location, clean bathroom and hot shower, good bed, good heating, wifi, computers) plus loads of touristic (or other) info and a cafe (daytime only) where you can buy a beer or nice inexpensive food (with veggie options). You also have at your disposal the stuff forgotten by other travelers (if you need a hair dryer or washing powder, just help yourself). They will also make arrangements if you can not make it within the reception hours. — Anonymous , Belgian in Canada (2011-04-23) The place is really dirty and loud the people there really smells bad, it is really dirty and small and loud. but I have to say the manager is a super guy, he was so kind to me and my parents, even moved his car for us when it was pouring rain out there and gave me good tips on newfoundland. he is the only good thing about this place, the rest is just crap. — Daisy , USA (2009-10-08) Crap yard! This place is very dirty, the bath towels smell awful (I think they only put them in the dryer and if washed, they use no soap for sure), kitchen is really a mess. the floors are dirty. Other roommates do not respect people when you're sleeping, big noises, slam doors, talk loud. I stayed six nights, and on the fourth night, they gave my bed to someone else. Very bad management and disorganized. One night, the girl had to sleep on the dirty floor. Also, no A/C in rooms -- god it was hot in there. Anyway, guys, if you have extra money, go to a real hotel. this place of nightmares is over for me. — Peter , Canada (2009-08-19) Funky, Friendly, and Fantastic I have been traveling in hostels for over a year now and this is without a doubt one of the best I've been in. Sure, sometimes people snore in a dorm room and you might have to put up with some dishes in the sink every once in a while but show me a hostel where that doesn't happen! The place is the best value for money in town, the staff are amazing, and you never feel like you're just a job to them. The internet is free, the cafe is amazingly handy (great pad thai), and it's the perfect size -- big enough for a great cross-section of people while small enough not to feel like you're lost in a crowd of random travelers. If you're in Halifax, it's the only place to stay. — Millie , Australia (2008-10-23) Good value and so laid back I spent a week at the hostel in September this year when my cash flow stopped flowing. Long time since I last stayed in a hostel and at forty it did occur to me that it might be a trying experience. Need not have worried though as the place and the people were so laid back that I just slipped into the way of things there. Free internet was a huge bonus and although there was little space in the dorms, they were clean with plenty of towels and linen provided. The place is very well run with pleasant and knowledgeable staff. Neighbourhood looks a bit rundown but has real sense of community. So many people stopped to chat. — BRONYA , UK (2008-10-22) 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. — zealflyer , Canada (2008-09-21) 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. — John , canada, ontario (2007-11-27) 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. — jenn brown (2006-10-12) 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!! — Phil (Oz) (2006-08-15) 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. — JR (2006-07-13) 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. — Ed (2006-06-08) 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. — traveled canada (2006-05-08) 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. — Lilli (2004-12-15) 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! — Aussie Brendon (2004-12-03)