Le Gîte du Plateau Mont-Royal

There is a really friendly atmosphere in Le Gîte du Plateau Mont-Royal, this small, bohemian-style hostel. The staff are welcoming, and the place feels homey. There are all sorts of sightseeing information and suggestions scribbled on the notice boards around the reception area.

Location

This hostel turns out to be in a pretty strategic location, located right on the corner of Hotel de ville Street and Sherbrooke -- it's just minutes away from the buzzing Latin Quarter. Generally the hostel is only a twenty-minute walk from major parts of the city such as Vieux-Montréal and the fantastic St. Catherine shopping street. The hostel is also a walkable distance from the central bus station, which is always handy. Parking may prove difficult on this busy road.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The bright, fun rooms are spacious and clean with a quirky, individual feel. All the useful furniture is provided for here -- a sink in each room, bedside lamps, huge luggage lockers, and a table and chairs. (You will be pushed to find another hostel has all these amenities). Only one fairly crucial thing is missing -- ladders for the top bunks! Double beds are available. The bathrooms are nice and clean but their locks are a bit dubious.

Common Spaces

The kitchen, dining area, reception, and living area all run into each other, which is not all too relaxing at times. The living room is positioned right next to the entrance -- it feels like more of a waiting room really. The kitchen is strictly open between 5 and 8 p.m., which will be a bit of an issue for the spontaneous travelers and also contributes to the hectic/busyness of the kitchen. There's also only one washing machine -- this is a major annoyance, as it never appears to be available. Despite this, the hostel has a really intimate, friendly vibe. The open layout means you're constantly exposed to other hostelers, which is great for those eager to make friends. The rigid kitchen hours actually can aid meetings too, as everyone cooks at the same time. The Internet is quite old fashioned -- it's coin-operated and not particularly fast.

Summary

The rooms couldn't be improved upon, but the rules could be loosened up a bit. However, not all hostels in Montreal offer the free breakfast, which is fairly good -- offering toast, spreads, tea, coffee, juice, and fruit. The lack of bar and strict rules will be a hindrance to partygoers but a blessing to the rest. It doesn't have the squeaky clean, polished look of some hostels but it's a great place.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2009