The Hostelz.com Review
Atlanta International Hostel is conveniently located on the North-East MARTA line direct from the Airport -- stop at North Avenue. Exit the station at the back of the train (when coming from the airport) go onto North Avenue, turn left walk four blocks down to Myrtle Street, make another left -- the hostel is on the right hand side at the corner of Myrtle Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue NE.
The hostel is a charming, Victorian-style house on three floors. Coed or single-sex dorms are four to ten beds, some with ensuite bathroom. The antique bathtubs/showers might sometimes be missing hot water!
TV lounge and pool game areas are pretty large, as is the fourteen-seat guest table and the covered patio, but the kitchen is really small in comparison. There is a microwave in the dining area as well and some guests might not be cooking but only reheating prepared food.
This is not an official backpacker hostel and this is what makes the place very enjoyable. There are some antiques and memorabilia all over the stairs and common areas, giving the place a lot of charm. There is a covered balcony on the second floor and lockers are available on first and second floor corridors.
Check in is available until midnight and the friendly staff there will do all they can to be more than helpful. Give them a try and eventually extend your stay (even if the traffic can be sometimes noisy) -- this place really has a great central location, a character-filled house, and a place to make new friends. We will definitely be back if landing in Atlanta again.
The hostel is a charming, Victorian-style house on three floors. Coed or single-sex dorms are four to ten beds, some with ensuite bathroom. The antique bathtubs/showers might sometimes be missing hot water!
TV lounge and pool game areas are pretty large, as is the fourteen-seat guest table and the covered patio, but the kitchen is really small in comparison. There is a microwave in the dining area as well and some guests might not be cooking but only reheating prepared food.
This is not an official backpacker hostel and this is what makes the place very enjoyable. There are some antiques and memorabilia all over the stairs and common areas, giving the place a lot of charm. There is a covered balcony on the second floor and lockers are available on first and second floor corridors.
Check in is available until midnight and the friendly staff there will do all they can to be more than helpful. Give them a try and eventually extend your stay (even if the traffic can be sometimes noisy) -- this place really has a great central location, a character-filled house, and a place to make new friends. We will definitely be back if landing in Atlanta again.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2007
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Atlanta International Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Loved it The house is beautiful, very well kept, nice clean bathrooms, great area, safe house. Staff were great, especially Susie, she made me so welcome, she made me feel like I belonged, almost like family, she is very caring and very pleasing. I would recommend this place to anyone, you must go here just to meet Susie. Good customer service thrives in this place. Thanks atlanta hostel and thanks Susie for making my stay a good one! — James Lewison , Germany (2010-10-21) Great Service I stayed there this weekend, it was an unbelievable experience. I found it to be very welcoming. There was a British lady there by the name of Suzie, she made me most welcome. (unbelievable service) She walked me to my room, showed me around, even went as far as making my bed. I would definitely stay there again. I had better service there, than any hotel I had ever been to. Thank you Suzie for making my stay a pleasant one. — Anonymous , US (2010-08-16) Good place antique stuff. staff is friendly and attentive. has great internet. lots of people milling about to talk to. they take care of you. beautiful house. — Michael , usa (2010-04-15) Terrible This hostel was the worst hostel I have ever stayed in. I was booked for two nights but only spent one due to how disgusting the conditions were. The whole place smelled of urine and mildew, there were piles of "recyclables" on the first floor, the bathrooms should be (and probably are) illegal as they are not suitable even for dogs and the sheets given to me were only the top sheet and a blanket. the bottom sheet and pillowcase were already there, though I never saw anyone changing them. When I wanted a refund for my unstayed upcoming night I said the place was filthy and the guy at the desk was shocked and told me if i thought that way I should have come told them and then blamed the conditions on a new cleaning girl though it seemed like nothing had been cleaned in years. I said it wouldnt have made a difference, the place was a lost cause. The travelers were fine, but the management and people working were rude if present. Oh, and the neighborhood was not great; I was warned not to leave anything in my car. And I felt nickled and dimed there with a deposit or fee for pretty much everything. Overall I would never recommend this place to anyone unless in dire straights. — S. Murray , USA (2009-05-28) Sucked no heat ruined my stay. demanded three-night refund. staff bitchy. manager not to be found. — robert kozlina , american (2009-01-29) I gave it three stars because there were pros and cons. I was here in September of this year. I thought the downstairs common area was nice. There were couches around the television area and the glassed in porch and there was a long table where people could sit and eat together. The women's dorm -- unfortunately the shower in there was kind of old and disgusting. It could use a renovation. The guy who worked at the desk in the morning that lives on the top floor wasn't really friendly/welcoming, but then there was an older man who worked at night who was nice. He seemed professional and responsible and there was a surveillance camera watching people come in and out, so I wasn't worried about safety. The panhandlers are kind of uncomfortable to deal with, but I just gave them a firm no and then they went away. So basically, the hostel rooms/bathrooms are a bit rundown and it's kind of expensive ($25 per night for a hostel bed) but the atmosphere downstairs is friendly and the staff seems to keep a good eye on what's going on. I didn't see a mean little guy who banned people from the kitchen, so I guess they made him leave! — Wendy , American (2008-11-16) Decent It was four blocks from the MARTA bus and rail lines which was incredibly convenient. There was the best Cuban restaurant across the street (try their mango smoothies). It's located in a historic district which is really nice to take a stroll around. I arrived early and there was a nice young man who let me and my mother in to put our luggage away. For starters, the building used to be a brothel in the eighties. Then the owners tried to start a bed-and-breakfast, but in the nineties they made it a hostel. It was a rather old building and a lot of the furniture was outdated. The showers were really gross, old, and weird. Luckily I was just there for one day so I didn't take one there. There was a really weird, small guy who seemed to be a long term resident of the hostel who felt that he had the right to not allow anyone into the kitchen when he was cooking even when I asked him if I could get a glass of water for my mother and actually lied to me and said that there were no glasses that I could use. He also kept changing the channel to really weird sci-fi movies and fox news. The women's room on the second floor was terrible. The bunk beds were not comfortable and some of them were children's sized bunk beds and one didn't even have a ladder to get to the top! There was a table that took up the middle of the room and you couldn't move it because the legs were unstable. It was a fire hazard because people at the back of the room wouldn't be able to run to the door but would have to go around this huge circular table. They should just get rid of it. You also have to pay for billiards. The service was really friendly and the location was great but the actual building wasn't that great. — Jessica , Brazil (2008-03-30) fantastic! we went there with my boyfriend at the last minute and we enjoyed the place so much that we decided to stay another night! the area is really convenient, five minutes walking from the first underground station (which is just three stations from downtown). the staff was just amazing! without asking anything back the girl at the reception has been really nice to us. we had a lovely room, lot better than what you could except from a hostel in most countries. it was just perfect as an hostel and i would recommend it to everybody who wants to travel and like contact with people! — galatee , france/austria (2007-04-09) The best thing I can say is it does have lots of character -- a big old house with landings on each floor, wood floors, high ceilings, windows with some character. Unfortunately, you have to pay a price for this "character," which in this case means the house is very rundown, dirty, and smelly. It smells like a litter box downstairs. The common room is spacious and the big balcony is nice on the upstairs rooms, but the location is very noisy and lots of "characters" (I got panhandled -- the long sob story kind -- the worst kind -- on my way from the half block from where I parked to the hostel!). The bed I had (in a private room) was very uncomfortable and squeaky, and the traffic from the busy street outside kept me up all night. Also, the bed had only one comforter and it was a cold night. I was never told how to operate heat or if there were extra blankets, so I stayed cold all night. The bathrooms were fairly nasty. I wasn't tempted to even experience the showers -- had a feeling they'd be none too pleasant. I guess I was expecting too much, but since my private room totaled out to close to $70, I thought it would be a little nicer. The people I met were nice enough I guess, but nobody was very interested in conversation. Can't blame the management for that, but the community feeling is a reason I stay at hostels rather than hotels. "Breakfast included" meant coffee and one wrapped package of muffins handed to me by the indifferent clerk, who then retreated back into the office. All in all, it was a rather unpleasant experience. Too bad. — Lia (2006-11-08) I stayed here two nights, this hostel was relatively clean though not the cleanest, it was very comfortable and sociable. A lot of rooms and beds means lots of people to meet. It had a good kitchen, and pool table it was also near transport, making it easy to get to places. Atlanta has a lot of homeless people who give a solid and polished performance, but a firm no will get them on their way. Thankfully they do not hang round the hostel. The staff were also very friendly and even took part in the games or outings if they had a chance. I recommend staying here. As I had a great time. — English Traveller (2006-10-29) I like the place a lot. It was very cosy, simple, and spacious. It has this charm that fails lots of backpackers. It is not for people looking for high standing (beds and bathrooms were old). It the area there were lots of homeless people but I didn't feel in danger at all (though I am a girl). — France (2006-10-11) I really like the hostel. Inside you will see the whole twentieth century in furniture. They take a siesta but when I rang, somebody of the staff opened the door and I could leave my luggage. Outside of the room, there is a big terrace with a hangmat and a good view. The dorm is big but enough space for my backpack. I did not show up one night of the two nights I reserved because my plans changed. I was not charged for that night although I did not call! — adrianus (2006-05-09) Well it is allmost half a year back from now but i can remember that it was realy great to stay there, I was there around June or July for a while, and I have nothing but good memories about the hostel. Everyone was nice, always friendly people around and great service, besides that it is a hostel not a hotel or a motel. From the place you can go to lots of places like Piemont Park and CNN wont be to far if by bus or marta. If someone would ask me where to stay when they are in Atlanta, then I would send them there for sure. — Alberto (Dutch) (2006-03-28) ok
why are some people rating this hostel 2 stars
if not for hating
i should say
am a young boy looking for adventure
this is my first time doing things myself
first time in the states
i came to this hostel
i felt at home
i loved every single thing
the wonderful staffs - Ben, Joseph and the rest of them
clean
FAMILY like
This hostel is the best
I would rate it 100 stars if I could
Safety wise ..... This hostel is very very safe and trusted
I love it....
I would advise anyone to be there if they need anywhere to stay in Atlanta
Christmas was FUN
Thanx to wonderful hostel mates
Love you all — Bolanle Owode-Oyelaja (2005-12-25) I am surprised at some of the negative comments this hostel has received as I just stayed here in late November and would rate it as one of the best I have stayed at. It seems there were some misunderstandings on the guests part or they dealt with problem staff who are no longer there as the current staff were helpfull, especially the girl who works in the evening and the older, southern gentleman who owns the hostel.
For the person who complained about being charged more, well, state tax will be added to the posted rate. You will pay $22.62. Another dollar will be added if you take a sleepsack sheet. If you dont, you still get a cover sheet for the bed and blankets.If you are checking out early like I did, get your depostits back the previous night and just leave your parking pass on the desk. I had no trouble with this with the current staff.
The hostel is located in a residential area of Midtown, but on the main street. Just across the street is the famous Mary Macs southern restaurant that has photos of celebrities and politicians that have visited. There is a nice condo place across the street and just west of the hostel. Peachtree street is just 4 blocks away and the famous Fox Theatre. Since I was here in Nov., I came across very few beggers
or street people as you might in the summer. I didnt find this area to be dangerous as some have stated and had no problem waling to the Marta. Atlanta may be different from where many of us may be from and you will find these beggers in many places around Atl but the area is alright for Atl standards.
The hostel has its dorm rooms upstairs and some have some reasonable space between beds for your stuff compared to some hostels I have been to. Also, a few of the bathrooms are large and not cramped aswell. While not spotless, the hostel is clean and the showers are not cold. Maybe they will be if you get up late and are the 20th person to try to have a shower. The tv area has several couches and a large dining table. The only problem some may have is a very small kitchen with 1 stove that could get cramped if several are trying to cook at once.
There were several people staying here whether travelling through ATL or visiting for conferences but I didnt hear anyone complain about the place. Overall, one of the better hostels I have been to. — A recent visitor (2005-12-13)