Online booking is not offered for this Hostel. Contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Please see Banff National Park for other available Banff National Park hostels and accommodations.
Please see Banff National Park for other available Banff National Park hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
SameSun Backpacker Lodge - Banff is an independent hostel (not an HI member) near the downtown of Banff.
The Location
You reach the centre of Banff within few minutes by feet or bus. The hostel is next to a Shell petrol station. A Safeway supermarket is within walking distance. The hostel is built around a court, with access to the rooms from a staircase outside the three-floor buildings.
Rooms and Bathrooms
You can choose from different types of dorms (private rooms, four- to six-bed dorms, eight- to ten-bed dorms), each with private washrooms. Free linen, towels, and pancake breakfast are included. Internet is also available, but only one computer did work (and they charge to use it). There is a twenty-four-hour reception with friendly staff. The kitchen is in the main building downstairs with several microwaves, stoves, and sinks. The hostel could be cleaner. The rooms should be renovated -- they have old furniture (the chair has been broken, wardrobe too). The heating in our room didn't work, so it was freezing cold.
The beds and mattresses are old too, but even so, the hostel is in a good location to have fun. Every night, another event is organized by the staff of the hostel -- a BBQ in the court of the hostel or less expensive drinks in a nearby pub. Ski/snowboards aren't allowed in the rooms for security reasons (in case of fire), but they've got lockers there.
Free pancake breakfast means you have to prepare breakfast on your own -- you will get some pancake wheat and syrup and then you'll have to prepare it on your own. People doing it for the first time can be very funny to watch. Free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate are included.
Summary
If you'd like to have a funny stay and a central location, then it's your hostel.
The Location
You reach the centre of Banff within few minutes by feet or bus. The hostel is next to a Shell petrol station. A Safeway supermarket is within walking distance. The hostel is built around a court, with access to the rooms from a staircase outside the three-floor buildings.
Rooms and Bathrooms
You can choose from different types of dorms (private rooms, four- to six-bed dorms, eight- to ten-bed dorms), each with private washrooms. Free linen, towels, and pancake breakfast are included. Internet is also available, but only one computer did work (and they charge to use it). There is a twenty-four-hour reception with friendly staff. The kitchen is in the main building downstairs with several microwaves, stoves, and sinks. The hostel could be cleaner. The rooms should be renovated -- they have old furniture (the chair has been broken, wardrobe too). The heating in our room didn't work, so it was freezing cold.
The beds and mattresses are old too, but even so, the hostel is in a good location to have fun. Every night, another event is organized by the staff of the hostel -- a BBQ in the court of the hostel or less expensive drinks in a nearby pub. Ski/snowboards aren't allowed in the rooms for security reasons (in case of fire), but they've got lockers there.
Free pancake breakfast means you have to prepare breakfast on your own -- you will get some pancake wheat and syrup and then you'll have to prepare it on your own. People doing it for the first time can be very funny to watch. Free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate are included.
Summary
If you'd like to have a funny stay and a central location, then it's your hostel.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2008
Their Description
SameSun Backpacker Lodge - Banff Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 449 Banff Avenue, Banff National Park (Banff Town), Alberta, Canada |
| Location | |
| Website | www.samesun.com |
| Telephone | +1 (403) 762-5521 / +1 (888) 844-7875 |
| Fax | +1 (403) 762-0385 |
How is SameSun Backpacker Lodge - Banff rated on other websites?
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SameSun Backpacker Lodge - Banff Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Worst place I ever stayed The dorm I stayed in was unheated (yes a mountain area hostel without any heating, even when its -15'C outside!), very noisy (poor insulation and creaky pipework), a small filthy crowded kitchen, poor internet service, lots of silly byzantine rules to follow, unhelpful staff, and forget about having a shower. I didn't even know about the free breakfast till I read other reviews, mustn't have missed much, stay else where or camp and save some money! — Dylan , Ireland (2009-10-24) Filth and Squalor anyone? Staff are friendly working travelers, but lazy. filthy rooms, especially the bathroom. Bed springs sticking out of mattress. Harassed by drunk girl (non-guest) at 3:30 a.m. stumbling into our room, and insulting us for wanting to sleep. we managed to get one nights refund. I've stayed at better, cleaner hostels in third-world countries. Avoid this dump.
. — Chris , Canada (2009-03-03) Bum central Stayed here for eleven days while I was boarding. I expected to be able to go to the hot tub after a hard day on the slopes but instead they've taken it away and put in a TV room. Everyone in the hostel is basically an Australian traveler who have not got off their arse to move on. The rooms are dirty -- our bathroom was not cleaned in all eleven days. The front desk staff are miserable and the events they organise were pretty unimaginative. I wouldn't recommend this if you're a hosteler who has seen how good some hostels are, as you'll be immensely disappointed. — Lee , Wales (2008-01-30) Crap This place is great if you don't mind minimal cleaning, stuff going missing, insane rules that no one tells you about, blood appearing on your towel randomly, crap beds, and you don't need a key because you can get in through the windows. And all for $35 a night, bargain! If you do stay here check out asap. Would never go back again. — Sion & Helen , Cymru (2007-06-22) Didn't meet any backpackers, just the overflow from hotel staff dorms. Pancake breakfast was a shock -- the powder and the syrup. Wanted to leave but could only get a partial refund. Noise in the courtyard at night was easily heard from my room.
The room was not particularly clean -- just crowded. Bunk beds very wobbly. Flood in the basement/kitchen entrance was left over Easter weekend. Night desk staff seemed stoned. $5 burger night was good and the lobby was kept clean. — Steve Jeffery , Canada (2007-04-20) I stayed here for one night on the way to Lake Louise. It was clean and the people were friendly. But it was huge! If you are looking for a quaint, quiet, small hostel, this isn't the place. With lots of people and partying going on there's a lot to entertain you and a good chance to meet people. Bring some cooking spray if you want to make use of their free pancakes! — Stephanie (2006-06-08) -Pretty good party scene
-Free breakfest (pancakes), but you have to make it yourself which sucks if your lazy, lol.
-Not very clean
-Awesome location.
Basicaly it's a sweet party hostel that is pretty digusting. — YA (2005-12-14) Since SameSun has taken over, much renovation has been done. The atmosphere was very friendly. There is a keg party held each Saturday night. Great place to stay! — Bart (2004-07-03) This hostel provided me and my travelling buddy with great nights out and a wicked time overall. — Alice (2004-05-01) This place was cleaner than the one in Vancouver. The atmosphere was a very drugged out but respectful one. I found the place moderately clean. — Anonymous (2004-01-14) My fiance and I stayed at the Global Village last year and I had a great time! The staff are friendly and the rooms are clean. The location was perfect too! — Melissa (2003-10-16)