The Hostelz.com Review
The first thing to note about The Ashland Hostel is that check-in is at 5 pm -- the door is locked and there is no one at the desk until then, so you can expect to wait on the porch until the clerk shows up, as we did.
The Location
In terms of location, it truly is a short walk from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival theatres. If your sole purpose in Ashland is to enjoy live theatre, you only need to park your car once. You can walk it for the duration of your stay. There are three parking spaces in the back, and no street parking in front of the hostel. Main Street, where the hostel is located, is the main path through town (aka State Highway 99.) If you drive in, as we did, there is ample street parking in the neighborhoods, but you will have to walk about a block. There is a convenience store very nearby, one block to the north. You enter the hostel with a coded lock.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are three floors and all are co-ed, though the rooms themselves are single sex. The rooms have bunk beds, and they are first come, first served. There are no lockers in the hostel. There is one bathroom/shower room in the basement, and one upstairs. If someone is showering, you cannot use the bathroom. There are two showers in this room, so if you are part of a group, two people can shower at once. There is a half-bath on the main floor. The shower has plenty of pressure and there is no issue with hot water. Towels and sheets are included with the bed.
Common Spaces
There is a large common area on the main floor, and another in the basement. There is also an adequate kitchen. On the days that we were there, there was plenty of space in the cupboards and refrigerator, along with a marking system and a donation area for the leftover food. The hostel allows all ages, so there are children and seniors staying there, in addition to the normal collegiate crowd.
Summary
Ashland is a wonderful town, and this nice old building is a pleasant place to visit.
The Location
In terms of location, it truly is a short walk from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival theatres. If your sole purpose in Ashland is to enjoy live theatre, you only need to park your car once. You can walk it for the duration of your stay. There are three parking spaces in the back, and no street parking in front of the hostel. Main Street, where the hostel is located, is the main path through town (aka State Highway 99.) If you drive in, as we did, there is ample street parking in the neighborhoods, but you will have to walk about a block. There is a convenience store very nearby, one block to the north. You enter the hostel with a coded lock.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are three floors and all are co-ed, though the rooms themselves are single sex. The rooms have bunk beds, and they are first come, first served. There are no lockers in the hostel. There is one bathroom/shower room in the basement, and one upstairs. If someone is showering, you cannot use the bathroom. There are two showers in this room, so if you are part of a group, two people can shower at once. There is a half-bath on the main floor. The shower has plenty of pressure and there is no issue with hot water. Towels and sheets are included with the bed.
Common Spaces
There is a large common area on the main floor, and another in the basement. There is also an adequate kitchen. On the days that we were there, there was plenty of space in the cupboards and refrigerator, along with a marking system and a donation area for the leftover food. The hostel allows all ages, so there are children and seniors staying there, in addition to the normal collegiate crowd.
Summary
Ashland is a wonderful town, and this nice old building is a pleasant place to visit.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2011
Their Description
The Ashland Hostel Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Very friendly owners! When I stayed here, I was one of a very few guests and the owners were incredibly friendly and treated me like family. The hostel is in a house and feels like a second home. Staff gave me maps to guide my hikes in nearby parks and tips about further travels. The one downside would be safety -- there were no lockers in the dorms so if I had had a roommate (which I was lucky enough not to have!) I may have resorted to carrying all my valuables with me on my trip. Otherwise, it's a great choice! Especially during the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (which is amazing!!). — captainwinter364 , Canada (2010-05-26) Very earthy! I stayed there this past weekend and thought the place was warm and inviting, And the front desk staff were very helpful! I will definitely stay again. — Anoymous , US (2009-05-29) Horrible! Stay Away! I have spent time in hostels all across the globe, and this was the worst experience I have ever had! The staff were clearly coming down off something, and I wouldn't leave any children within a certain proximity of the male staff members. I am not trying to be facetious with the last comment, but there honestly was an incident that occurred involving a hug that was questionable at best. What was even more amusing than anything was the fact that there was a notice stating that their utilities would be shut off in a few days on the front door so I am left wondering if this post will even be relevant to those who may interested in the facility in the future. — Shredded Wheat , United States (2009-03-26) Lovely Building, Friendly Competent Staff, Super Clean/All New Paint I had stayed here a couple years ago. This time I found the hostel to be super clean and well organized. There's a beautiful porch with a swing. It's a short walk to the center of Ashland, which has great little shops. This is extremely good value for any traveler. There are many sweet little rooms without bunk but even the bunk bed mattresses are comfortable. The bathroom was spotless. The linens have no strong smells or any fragrances. The computer is super fast. This is a must stop! The staff member we met was friendly and helpful and a hard worker -- painting, gardening, doing laundry. Lots of pride shown in the care of this place! — Vicki , US (2008-07-22) Great location, clean, smooth like clockwork this hostel worked great for me. i was on a solo voyage. the hostel was within walking distance of most of what i wanted to do/see in ashland. the house was clean, staff great. i enjoyed the camaraderie of other travelers and loved being able to have my own food and kitchen privileges. it's an old house with its own warmth and charm. — robin , usa (2008-01-11) Control Freaks, Bad Vibes, Strange Customs Although the place provides what it assumes as a "hostel" giving a bunk, and a place to wash up a bit, This place wasn't very comfortable at all. I stayed here once, and the people working at the "front desk" weren't very accommodating. I had to wait around for quite a while by the front door before I was served. Basically young people who are most likely doped up are (or were) working there for low wages, because that is how they acted. It was very hot and steamy in this place, and not very well ventilated. The guys sleep in a subterranean basement type of place. The common rooms are right above this sleeping area. Therefore I could hear some weird guy playing guitar and singing at the top of his lungs well into the early morning hours. I'm sure he was the font desk help, because no one did anything, and he did as he pleased. I'm the type of person to observe things keenly and report on them later, rather than try and rectify things in the moment. It was strange that the girls and guys were separated exclusively from upstairs to downstairs, and the kitchen wasn't very inviting. I didn't like the vibes of this place at all. Made my gut hurt. Don't stay here unless you have to. Get a cheap hotel down the street. Not much of a price difference, and you get your own room. I've stayed in many different hostels and community houses all throughout the country, and this one has been the most uptight, and lacking in grace. — Z. Ableman C. , USA (2007-12-12) My daughter was traveling with her boyfriend looking at the different community colleges in southern Oregon, camping, and spending nights in their van. They broke up and she has needed a place to stay until she can find a place to rent, since she plans to attend college in September and doesn't want the expense of coming home to Utah. After spending two nights at this hostel (July 23 and 24, 2006), she had cash in hand to pay for one week in advance. However, she was informed that a woman who is a permanent resident at the hostel decided she didn't like my daughter. This woman told the management that either my daughter had to leave or she would. Hence, my daughter was kicked out. My daughter didn't know who this woman was and asked why this woman was having a problem with her and that she would do whatever it took to rectify any misunderstanding -- totally baffled. But, they told her she was no longer welcome. I just got off the phone with my daughter, and needless to say, I am very upset. I plan to report this hostel to the Better Business Bureau if this is something that they will consider. — Wanda (2006-07-26) Terrible experience, not a place for families! Warning -- Ashland is hot in the summer and if your room faces the main road you can choose between baking all night with the windows closed, or listening to the trucks and other traffic all night long. Or if one of the windows is nailed shut, you don't really get the choice at all. I made my reservation several months in advance for a family room, and was given no information about the room, I think it would have been helpful for them to let me know that I might have a room with the above conditions. When I arrived in July with two young children, we spent the entire first night unable to sleep, due to the heat and the noise. The person working at the desk was very unhelpful, and the owner even less so, and insulting as well. She started lecturing me "you obviously haven't had experience staying in hostels, this is what they are like." Actually, I've stayed at many hostels, from Canada to Mexico, and have never has an unpleasant experince as I did at Ashland. She absolutely refused any type of adjustment or compensation -- basically her attitude was, I got your money in advance so you can put up with what we have or leave, but I keep your money either way. Since I wanted to enjoy the rest of our vacation, and two hot and tired kids greatly decreases the chance of that, I found another place to stay, forfeiting the rest of my deposit at this Hostile (sic). — anon (2006-04-24) Stayed here twice while visiting the OSF and it was great. Absolutely loved it! — Scott (2006-03-26) Cool Beans! I only stayed here one night but I wouldn't mind if I had to stay more. Staff were nice enough, and the dorms were nice, as was the house. It felt like a home, nice and secure. I had a great sleep, too. — Guy Incognito (2005-02-07) This place is really great. I visited in autumn 2001; I think it was just after the whole Shakespeare thing. After having had a weird time in San Francisco, this Ashland hostel was an oasis, if you will. The staff are really friendly, but not overbearing; it's clean, well priced and appointed. Ashland itself is also a great place, which I hope to return to one day. — Nathan (2004-10-15) This hostel has a bad vibration! There are rules for everything! And there is this bald guy who is just waiting to kick somebody out. He keeps the kitchen so immaculately clean that no one dares to cook, not to mention that all chairs in the dining room are piled up in the corner. I couldn't see my girlfriend because men are not allowed upstairs. And the bathroom downstairs cannot be locked, so you would be taking a s--- and somebody would be standing two feet away from you!! Can you believe this? Some hostels make you feel at home; this hostel makes you wish you had never left home! — Anonymous (2004-09-24) Ashland is an absolutely fabulous place to visit with Lithia Park and river rafting. The hostel is very comfortable and two blocks from downtown. Staff are friendly and helpful and the place is very clean. As was stated above, it is the only alternative to a $250 a night B&B's scene. The hostel is nestled next to beautiful victorian B&B's. — Marie (2004-06-07) One of my favorite hostels. Great location. The only place to stay in Ashland that's affordable. — Nicole Teddleman (2003-07-14) Nice place, nice people, great location. Very clean. — Evan (2003-06-05)