HI - Calgary City Center Hostel

The HI - Calgary City Center is packed full of amenities and isn't a hostel where you'll be crammed into a room watching TV with every other guest. On the second floor there is a quiet room for reading and browsing the internet (which is free if you have wireless, and moderately priced if you don't). The first floor has a lounge/TV area along with a retro Pac-Man arcade game, there is also a reception area with lounges and various local brochures. In the basement you'll find a massive big screen TV with comfy lounges, a pool table, dart board, and a few arcade games.

HI Calgary has everything you'd except from a large metropolitan hostel and it's a refreshing change to not have to pay a deposit for every item you pick up (towel, keys). The kitchen is massive with industrial-sized appliances and there is ample room to prepare food. Bathrooms consist of individual combined change rooms/shower cubicles and are generally clean.

Rooms are sufficient with six comfortable beds in every dorm. The storage areas seem a little impractical -- there are large trunks to store backpacks and not enough to accommodate everyone. This leads you to stack your belongs on top of a trunk and possibly have someone remove your gear while they are trying to unlock theirs. It's not a big issue, but it can get a little annoying if you have a large amount of gear that doesn't fit under the bed.

The big possible downside with the hostel is the location. Opposite the hostel is a park frequented by homeless people and you'll see needle bins on several street posts. It's not a dangerous area but you could get hassled by vagrants if you're walking downtown. Don't let this deter you from staying at the hostel, but be aware that these problems exist. Also a hassle is the two-hour parking limit during business hours outside the hostel (there is no private parking area). You can park for free from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. but otherwise expect to pay a deposit/fee for a permit from the hostel.

Don't let the negatives put you off from staying at the HI Calgary. The amenities are first class and it's obvious the management know how to run a HI hostel. All the staff are exceedingly friendly and eager to share their knowledge of Calgary.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2007