Joe & Flo's Olde Candelight Hostel

Most disgusting accomodation ever
I have never taken the time to write a review about a hostel/hotel, but my experience was so infuriating that I have to warn others! My husband and I checked in and checked out within eight hours. We did not even stay the night. The bathrooms were disgusting and my husband discovered that the sheets were filthy as we were getting ready for bed. It looked as though there were crumbs and dirt on the sheets. It was hard to miss. As soon as we saw that we decided to leave. In addition, we heard two prostitutes fighting mere inches from our window about who was the bigger "ho." The man who checked us in first gave us the key to someone else's room. We walked in and could have just stolen their belongings. Instead of putting up with these inconveniences, we chose to pay double to stay somewhere outside of New Orleans. It was that bad. Do not stay here!

This location does not have license and is operating illegally. It has not been reviewed or inspected for Fire and Life Safety Codes. It pays no taxes. Beware of illegal accommodations.

As a rough estimate, I have spent nine months of my life in different hostels during various travels. This hostel is the worst place I have ever stayed. It is also the only hostel I know to charge money for toilet paper. In addition, the toilets are absolutely disgusting and there is, of course, no soap. There are huge cockroaches in the dorms, the staff is unfriendly, and it is relatively expensive to stay there. All of the above-mentioned would not normally trigger me to give a hostel the lowest rating possible. What makes the difference in the present case, however, is the fact that the beds are infested with bedbugs. If you are not familiar with this terrible pest, I can tell you that a bedbug is an apple seed-size insect that resides in the mattress or elsewhere in the bed and feeds on the blood of humans sleping in the bed. There may be hundreds or even thousands living in and by a bed, depending on whether or not measures are taken to reduce or eradicate the population. By staying in an infested bed, you furthermore run the risk of bringing the insects home to your own place. Bedbugs are apparently a big problem in North America at the moment and may be found in cheap hostels as well as more expensive hotels. It is possible to have a professional exterminator eradicate a colony, but it requires both money and much effort. I seriously doubt that this hostel is willing to spend neither of the two to solve the problem. Thus, the bedbugs are likely to stay at the hostel for a very long time. I left the hostel two days earlier than expected after discovering the bedbugs. I tried to get some money back for the two days, which, of course, was a fruitless effort. But I gladly paid the $50 just to get away from there. Do not stay at this hostel!

I stayed in the hostel a few months ago for Mardi Gras, I thought it was very good value for money and clean enough. The neighborhood has a reputation for being scary but I thought it was one of the friendliest places I'd ever been to (I thought some other areas were worse, like certain places near the Garden District), and everyone greets you on the street with a "How you doin'?" It's just like being in a book, or even a video clip, since there seems to be music all around, especially during Mardi Gras.

Upon arrival at this hostel we were so close to turning around and finding somewhere else. It is in a dodgy black neighborhood, and everyone we spoke to throughout our 8-day stay in New Orleans said that this hostel was in a "dicey" area (two different people used that exact word!). Basically, it's dodgy and if you are going to stay here you absolutely have to have the money for a cab unless of course you are gifted in Kung-fu or some other defensive art. As for the hostel itself, the employees made us feel fairly welcome and were fairly friendly, but that's about it. The room was disgusting, and there was a dead cockroach in the corridor. The bathrooms were gross (men's and women's—I was with my girlfriend so I can verify that) and in general this hostel SUCKED. You have to pay for toilet paper (what the hell?!). We have been travelling the US for one and a half months staying in many different hostels. This was by FAR the worst (not to mention the only one that charged for a bit of bog-roll). Also the springs in the mattress stab you in the back, so this was also my most physically uncomfortable nights sleep. Luckily we had only booked 2 nights so we got up at 7 a.m. to get out ASAP and find somewhere else. Don't stay here. It is expensive for what it is. The hostel slogan is "Hotel Comfort at Hostel Prices." Emma cleverly pointed out that this is the wrong way around.

The area looks dangerous, with poor street parking and lots of street people hanging around. My husband and I were afraid to get out of the car even though it was daytime - we drove back down the interstate and stayed at a cheap Howard Johnson's ($40 per night instead of $50) instead. I have traveled all over the world and stayed in many hostels - this is the only time I have ever left one.

I just have to say for the price it's perfect. Cingy and Darren make you feel right at home. They are just great!!! Enjoy!!

I stayed here for 3 nights and was greeted very poorly. First, they had lost my booking and I had to pay more, then when we got to the room it was just not satisfactory, as it smelled of dampness (room 8). You have to pay for the lockers per night. In the morning, I asked about the booking, which they found after an hour of searching. I had 3 people around me: one was the day shift lady, one was the manager who complained that I disturbed him and kept repeatedly telling me how he's 35 and supporting his family, and some other guy who was able to help. One night we asked for some drinks--like a can of coke--and they sold them to us, then the next day we asked to buy some more, and we got told that we can't have drinks. All in all a very uncomfortable place; it's badly lit, and the showers and baths were disgusting. There's a lot of walking (in bad areas) involved to go anywhere; we even had to dodge prostitutes on the way home. However, the night life is good, and try the $6 buffet in the strip-club for lunch. It's good fun as long as you're away from the hostel.

Located in a neighborhood full of local, black people, this hostel is a modest walking distance from the French Quarter. We paid $50 for a private room that was over-priced by about a couple of bucks because of the missing TV remote, shared bathrooms, fees for toilet paper and towels, and a darkly-lit corridor leading to our room. We were there for three nights and I saw only one other person in the lounge, while my girlfriend saw another couple. It is not a hostel-like atmosphere, but more like a bed and breakfast. They have a cheaply-priced menu serving local, Cajun food all day. There is also an amazing restaurant a block down the street called Big Betty's. Highly recommended, that restaurant. The hostel: we recommend it as a place to see and experience the local vibe, but it is in no way a deal.