Joe & Flo's Olde Candelight Hostel

Joe & Flo's Olde Candelight Hostel is the closest hostel to Bourbon Street, only half a mile north of the Big Easy's most (in)famous strip. This quiet headquarters still provides friendly service, despite low prices. And they will pick you up or drop you off at Louis Armstrong Airport, provided you arrange the trip with them in advance, during business hours.

The Location

Joe & Flo's is also within a mile of Frenchman Street, where numerous establishments uphold New Orleans' reputation as a world food capital. Two short blocks east of the hostel is Lil Dizzy's Cafe, which runs a buffet brunch on Sundays that will make you plan a return later in the week.

Public transportation is not a strong suit of the French Quarter, but buses do run on Rampart Street. The five blocks separating the hostel from Rampart Street can be eerily quiet at night, since many of the houses are still unoccupied. Cabs are recommended, but you'll have to call them to you, as Robertson Street at the hostel's front steps doesn't get much night traffic. Try to get North of Bourbon Street before taking a cab back to your room, to save yourself the hours it takes to cross this street at night.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel has electronic padlocks for the front door and hallway, before you can access the rooms. The rooms have key locks and two dorm-style bunk beds (accommodating up to four, when full). Private lockers are available out in the hall, as are private rooms.

The rooms have cable TV, phone, a mini-fridge, and sweet life-giving air conditioning. The bathrooms are community, with a shower, toiletries, space to change, hooks, and towel rack. The attention to detail keeps it from seeming like bare bones accommodation, as the price implies.

Common Spaces

A back patio area with tables and chairs outside makes the hostel's no-smoking policy part of the accommodation, instead of a burdensome chore for smokers. The kitchen has everything a home would -- microwave, gas ranges and frying pans, full size fridge/freezer, oven, cups, dishes, utensils, sink, dish soap and sponges, even community spices. This allows long-term guests to procure and store ingredients, instead of buying tourist food for survival. With so many culinary gems close at hand, it's nice to not have to make dining decisions on an empty stomach or wallet.

If you need to read up on where the locals go, the front living room has dial-up internet, ample seating, and magazines. Or, just ask the staff -- they're friendly, local, and happy to bring you in the know.

Summary

Unlike the bottom-dollar simplicity of most hostels, the experience at Joe & Flo's is more like staying with a kind old aunt and uncle who have a large extended family, and love to host. The place wasn't too crowded (during our off-season stay in June), so we couldn't get a read on their regular clientele.

The only possible drawback is the location -- for the record, we walked back to the hostel each night without incident. We recommend cabs because the entire area is still rebuilding and people inexperienced in diverse neighborhoods wouldn't be at ease. We trust people far more than empty buildings and met a lot of nice folks in the area during the day. At night, you have the streets and your thoughts completely to yourself, so gauge that against the cost of a cab ride back from Bourbon Street.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2009