Hostelz.com Hostels Reviews
EnglishFrançaisEspañolItalianoDeutsch
Find hostels in:

Sin City Hostel

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

2 of 4
Online Booking
• Secure Instant Booking • Guaranteed Reservation •
Arrival Date:   Nights:  People: 
Address
1208 Las Vegas Blvd., South, Las Vegas   Map
Price
17.50-19.50 except New years eve is 2 night minimum at $35.00 Check Current Prices by Date Here
Location/Contact
Details
Their Description

Features

  • Free Breakfast
  • Kitchen
  • 24 Hour Free Hot Showers
  • Pool Table
  • Air Conditioning
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Lounge / Common space
  • Travel information provided
  • Lockers
  • Gameroom
  • Phones (public or in room)
  • BBQ
 
The Hostelz.com Review
Sin City Hostel is located just north of the Strip at 1208 South Las Vegas Boulevard. When trying to find the hostel if you drive/walk/bus and reach East Charleston Boulevard, you've gone too far. Sin City is approximately one kilometer north of the Stratosphere if headed north on South Las Vegas Boulevard. It is on your left side, and there's a small neon sign that says "Hostel." It is a two-story building, and looks like a motel in outward appearance.

There is sufficient free parking for your car at the hostel. There is also a convenient bus stop by the hostel that runs from downtown Las Vegas through the Strip twenty-four hours a day. The location of Sin City gets you off the bustle of the Strip for a quaint night's rest, but you'll have to bank on taking the bus to and from the hostel. We found that walking the Strip is doable, but after a long day/night, walking the extra distance to the hostel is daunting.

The hostel staff is friendly and the place is clean and cozy. There is a main reception area, a roomy kitchen that is tidy and stink-free with a microwave, fridge, sink, storage shelves, and hot water and hot coffee. Breakfast is served every morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and it usually consists of white toast, peanut butter and jelly, and tea or coffee. Of course you can bring your own food and use the communal kitchen to prepare what you wish (as we did -- we found it works out well). Bear in mind that the kitchen and lounge rooms close after a certain hour -- we found ourselves back at the hostel at 5 a.m. (two hours before they open the kitchen) and unable to access our food in the fridge!

Next to the kitchen there is a TV room with a billiard table. Most of the travelers hang out there in the mornings as they eat breakfast. And for the outdoor folks, there is a basketball hoop next to the hostel, at the end of the parking lot, along with a BBQ and some old lawn furniture.

The rooms in the hostel are pleasant and comfortable. We had a six-person co-ed dorm room. They are set up with bunk beds and linens are provided. A heater is in each room, which makes it nice and toasty on cold winter nights. The bathroom is shared among the six dormmates and two others in a private room. Unfortunately, to reach the private room, you must go through the dorm room first, which can prove to be an annoyance to the light sleepers in the dorm room. We found we were so tired from the day, the traffic didn't bother us, and we were sleeping next to the door! Finally, each door room has six metal lockers, so if you bring your own lock you can safely and securely store your belongings in the room. And there's a fully refundable deposit for each key (included in this fee is also the use of linens).

All in all, Sin City Hostel is a great accommodation, but if you're traveling with a group, you're better off booking a hotel room if a cheap night's accommodation is what you're looking for. Sin City is great for the lone or partnered traveler, but not stellar for groups.

-- 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 Ed James, USA
December 2007
Too close for Comfort
Ok, there are only two hostels in Vegas, and I've been to both of them. The only reason I went was to hang out with travelers. For we all know, a hotel for two, Sunday though Friday (in Las Vegas) is cheaper than a hostel, and much more comfortable. So Sin City was cold and unfriendly and the staff just didn't want to be there, know what I mean. I actually felt sorry for them. They were all being taken advantage of by the" generous owner" who uses slave labor (travelers) to run the damn place. The common area was too small and it closed way too early. I've stayed in homeless shelters that were more accommodating (for free)!
Comment by Clint, Australia
December 2007
Good stuff
This is a great, fun hostel. Nice helpful staff. Good facilities (Pool table and free coffee!). Cheap limo tours and BBQs. On the strip and just a short bus ride from all the action. But just a couple of problems I had with the place so you don't make the same mistakes -- firstly, for some reason there isn't twenty-four-hour check-in at this hostel (It is vegas isn't it?) so don't expect to be let in at 4 o'clock in the morning like I, and someone else who arrived ten minutes after me, did. Secondly, the private rooms aren't exactly private as they are rooms inside the regular dorms and are quite small and you have to share the bathroom. Take a look at one to see if it suits you before paying. Thirdly, no wireless internet. And the internet in the foyer is $1 for every ten minutes! Kind of like a penny slot machine but without the chance of winning your cash back. Apart from all that this is one of the best hostels I've been in.
Comment by Ed, Australia
December 2007
Bedbugs and no one cared!
I stayed at this hostel early November. I was booked in for three nights. The hostel although mentioning it was on the strip, was not. No big issue there are regular buses and the accommodation is cheap and there were some cool people staying there so all good. On the second night out I started to notice a number of bites all over my body and my friend thought it might be scabies or something -- I was getting super itchy and more were appearing. I drunk myself into a stupor and stayed another night on the same bed as I had no where else to go. When I awoke the next day I had welts and bites all over my arms, hands, lower legs, lower back, neck, and forehead. I went to the chemist over the road and they asked where I was staying. I told them and they say they see this all the time! I did not know what bedbugs were but after looking them up on the net I realised that some of the bugs I had seen on the wall were in fact bedbugs (although they are supposed to hide in mattresses, cracks). I asked to be refunded for the night I was not staying as a minimum but this was not an option. The guy behind the front counter did not even seem to care. It look me a number of hours to find another place to stay. Luckily for me I had a friend in L.A. where I was headed the next day and could hide for a week. There were some bugs in my clothes and bag and everything had to be washed. In short I had a worse than usual reaction to bedbugs but it took me just over three weeks (and antibiotics and steroid cream) to get rid of all the welts. It pretty much ruined my American holiday. The weather was warm but I was dressed from head to toe as I looked a sight and was constantly itching and uncomfortable. I realise these things happen but the reaction from the hostel staff was less than reassuring that it will not happen again. Do not let this happen to you.
Comment by james, uk
September 2007
Pretty decent hostel
decent enough location on the strip, with easy access to the twenty-four-hour deuce bus which takes you up and down the strip. The limo tour is good but the club they take you to at the end isnt the best! If you're staying in vegas through the week and there is a few people then it's cheaper and better to get one of the hotels.
Comment by drew moule, scotland
June 2007
Well run
Sin city hostel is one of the most cool places to live in the world. For a start you are in a fully air conditioned building with free breakfast and BBQ on a friday night. all the trips you can think of are well catered for and the building is well run by a very competent manager. The desert is a mysterious place and i felt like someone in a cowboy movie. Just go!
Comment by JK
March 2007
yes, the hostel is not on the nicest part of the strip, but the bus stop for the Deuce is right in front of the building going downtown or south to the main part of the strip. I would think, the area is as save as any other area in a big city, where there's not too much traffic on the street, so some street wisdom will keep you save and sound. The rooms are basic but clean and much cleaner than in lots of other U.S. hostels, the semi-private rooms are accessible through the dorms and share their bathrooms, guys/ladies/mixed dorms (depending on when you book) are available. Las Vegas isn't about hanging out at a hostel anyway, more just for sleeping there, right? But even hanging out there is nice, extremely nice and helpful staff, who took security quite seriously, fast internet for 1$/ten minutes. And other fun people are around (as usually in hostels) who you can team up with as a lonesome traveling woman. Breakfast is basic but good. Right across the street is a cuban restaurant, where I had the first great cuban food in the U.S. (as cubans don't have a kitchen which would suit a french taste anyway, this is at least really original, including the telenovelas) and a wonderful wedding chapel (great amusement to watch people actually getting married there). Sin City hostel perfectly suits the needs of this city -- a cheap place to sleep quietly after the visual overflow of the strip, great base camp for canyon and desert tours. So if you have complaints, seriously, save some money and move into a hotel for just $150 more.
Comment by Wendy
February 2007
Don't go here if you're a woman traveling alone. Or better yet, I wouldn't recommend going here at all. If you walk out to the streets, there's homeless and drunk people everywhere. I felt extremely unsafe walking from the hostel for half an hour to the strip (where the casino's are). Even though the hostel has surveillance cameras, it did not make me feel safer. The rooms are not in the hostel itself, but are attached to it, leaving every room to be located right on the outside roadside. Opening windows during the night was out of the question with all the bums walking around. The hostel was also not very clean, and the mattresses very saggy, plus the beds were at least thirty years old. I've stayed in lots of hostels but this is one of the worst ones.
Comment by Mary and Simon
January 2007
This is a nice enough hostel as it is clean and the location is not bad. The rooms are quite basic and you can often get a room as cheap on the strip midweek. However the kitchen means that you can save money and there is breakfast included. Our complaint would be the layout of the rooms, as you have to walk through a dorm to get to the private room and people in the dorm using the shared bathroom kept waking us in the night. Overall though it's a good hostel.
Comment by James
November 2006
Stayed here one night with a friend in November 16, 2006. Had a semi-private room. Mattress was very comfortable. Very clean place with a modern bathroom. Small kitchen, but it is a small hostel. Staff were fine and guests were friendly. Free onsite parking. I have seen lots of dodgy hostels traveling through Australia and New Zealand. This one was quite nice. I would stay here again.
Comment by greenvelvet
October 2006
I stayed in this hostel for one night at the end of a five-week trip round the west coast, and i'm sorry to say that it was one of the most disappointing hostels we stayed at. After reading the reviews on here, I expected a lot more but the hostel itself was quite small and very basic, also it's not in the greatest of areas. walking on the strip itself is fine but I wouldn't have fancied walking around here after dark! The room we had was a private one -- two beds and not much else. And we had to walk through a dorm full of people to get to it! For a few extra dollars you can stay in a hotel actually on the strip and get a lot more for your money!
Comment by Peter (N.I)
September 2006
This hostel was great. Close to the strip (and the bus stop right outside the door). Damus, the manager, is really sound and friendly. Each room can be accessed from outside, as the hostel is in a motel format. There is a great atmosphere and the staff are approachable. There is a television room and (dodgy) free pool table. The kitchen is a bit small, but I would recommend this hostel for people looking to enjoy the Vegas party scene (you can drink outside the hostel not inside).
Comment by Canadian traveler
July 2006
Stayed here in January 2006 with my boyfriend. It was very motelesque, each dorm has a separate entrance from the outside. The kitchen closes at night, steps away from the bus-stop. Located in between the main strip and downtown. It's nice, cheap, decent location, break is good, but get there early or it's gone. Tip -- ask for a semi-private room -- same price, better room. This room is en-suite in the dorm, but you have your own key to the room. You however share the bathroom. Although when we were there, there was no one staying in the dorm so we had all of it to ourselves!
Comment by Syd
July 2006
Had a great time in this hostel in late June '06. Was there for only two nights but it was all fun!! The rooms are tidy and comfortable. Bus Stop for the strip is just outside and the 7-11 is nearby to get the beers!! The staff is friendly and helpful. Met a great bunch of people from around the world and enjoyed my stay to the utmost! Will stay here again without a doubt!
Comment by daniel h
May 2006
Rooms a little basic but who cares? Really other than that everything here is awesome. Exactly what a hostel should be like. Great staff, close to bus loop, good kitchen/eating area, good common room, free breakfast, good price. Can't complain at all. Come stay here if you are in Las Vegas for sure.
Comment by Jack
June 2005
I cannot say enough good things about this hostel. I traveled for 5 hours to spend another night at the Sin City and I ended up staying a week. If my Visa had allowed it I would have stayed longer. All the staff there are WICKED (inside joke). Ok, they're great. Jean, Brandon, Gabbi, Julie and Seth will make you feel right at home. The lodgings are simple, but for less than US$20 a night you can't expect too much. The staff organize activities on several nights of the week but being Vegas there is always plenty to do on your own. The Sunday night barbecue is a must-attend event, free burgers and all you can drink "Jungle Juice" makes for a great night in. Take a trip down the Strip in a Hummerzine on a Friday. It will be the best value limo ride you ever get — unless you're a high roller and if so what the hell are you doing looking at hostelz.com? Maybe I was just lucky but the fellow travelers I met were great, easy to get along with and keen to meet and interact with other guests. There were of course a couple of strange ones but you get that everywhere and Sin City had less than many places I've stayed. If you are travelling the US and were not planning on visiting Vegas I urge you to come and stay at least a night or two at the Sin City and see what I'm raving about — you won't regret it.
Have you visited this hostel? Post your comments here.

2 of 4
Exclusive Photos Taken by the Hostelz.com Reviewer
Additional Photos

Hostelz.com Poll
Which do you use for opinions when choosing a hostel?
Comments from Hostelz.com Users (the ones with star ratings)
Hostelz.com's own Exclusive Reviews
Both
Not sure / don't understand
Other:

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