The Hostelz.com Review
Washington International Student Center is a great hostel if you're looking for a cheap place to stay in DC. It's also in the party district of Adams Morgan, so it's great for young, social travelers. It's not the most professional hostel and the building is old and not in the best condition, but it isn't the most expensive either. Also there is no elevator, though there are only two levels above the street level.
The Location
The hostel is literally on top of a bar -- if you're looking for a place to party and crash, this is the place in Washington, DC. There are heaps of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the surrounding area of Adams Morgan and U Street. The hostel is also close to all the things you need -- a supermarket, pharmacy, and coin laundry are all within walking distance. If you want to get to the National Mall/Smithsonian, there a few options -- the Circulator, the Metro subway, and the Metro bus are all relatively close to the hostel and take about twenty minutes to get to the sights.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are pretty tight, but there are so many great things to do close by, so you are hardly in them. The bunk beds are low, so you can't sit up straight on the lower one; in some rooms there are three high bunk beds. Most rooms have six to eight beds. There are door locks but no lockers in the room -- these are in the common area. The bathrooms are clean, with plenty of shelves and hooks for your things. They are just like a home bathroom (shower, toilet, and sink). There are only three, but there is not usually a wait.
Common Spaces
There is a common lounge area with TV, books, and computer with printer (which will cost you) and free Wi-Fi if you have a laptop. The check-in desk is here. Off the lounge is the kitchen, which has a stovetop, microwave, and fridge. There are plenty of utensils, plates, pots, and pans -- really everything you need to cook a decent meal. There is also a section of free/left-behind oils, sauces, and spices. It's a friendly hostel, though there are no organised bar crawls or tours -- however, the hostel is quite small and there is plenty on offer right downstairs. There is also free breakfast, which is just toast, orange juice, and coffee -- it's basic but it's also free!
Summary
Overall the hostel is good -- clean, cheap, and close to a variety of places and public transport. So if that's what you're after, we would definitely recommend it.
The Location
The hostel is literally on top of a bar -- if you're looking for a place to party and crash, this is the place in Washington, DC. There are heaps of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the surrounding area of Adams Morgan and U Street. The hostel is also close to all the things you need -- a supermarket, pharmacy, and coin laundry are all within walking distance. If you want to get to the National Mall/Smithsonian, there a few options -- the Circulator, the Metro subway, and the Metro bus are all relatively close to the hostel and take about twenty minutes to get to the sights.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are pretty tight, but there are so many great things to do close by, so you are hardly in them. The bunk beds are low, so you can't sit up straight on the lower one; in some rooms there are three high bunk beds. Most rooms have six to eight beds. There are door locks but no lockers in the room -- these are in the common area. The bathrooms are clean, with plenty of shelves and hooks for your things. They are just like a home bathroom (shower, toilet, and sink). There are only three, but there is not usually a wait.
Common Spaces
There is a common lounge area with TV, books, and computer with printer (which will cost you) and free Wi-Fi if you have a laptop. The check-in desk is here. Off the lounge is the kitchen, which has a stovetop, microwave, and fridge. There are plenty of utensils, plates, pots, and pans -- really everything you need to cook a decent meal. There is also a section of free/left-behind oils, sauces, and spices. It's a friendly hostel, though there are no organised bar crawls or tours -- however, the hostel is quite small and there is plenty on offer right downstairs. There is also free breakfast, which is just toast, orange juice, and coffee -- it's basic but it's also free!
Summary
Overall the hostel is good -- clean, cheap, and close to a variety of places and public transport. So if that's what you're after, we would definitely recommend it.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2011
Their Description
Washington International Student Center Details
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Washington International Student Center Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great place! had a ton of fun there. Staff were excellent and friendly. It's located a great neighborhood. Free breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, linens, couldn't ask for more. — James , UK (2011-02-27) Had a ton of fun here This hostel was great! the staff was really friendly and fun! The neighborhood was great. Lots of bars and restaurants. The accommodations were basic, but about what you'd expect out of a cheap hostel. There was a free breakfast and wifi and stuff like that. There were clean bathrooms, too. The downsides: It was hard to find and they need to invest in a sign. The rooms could use a paint job or something, too. But pretty minor complaints. I'd definitely stay again! — Jill , America (2011-02-25) Not advisable I stayed there just last week, and even if it's a cheap option, I'm pretty sure that I can find something much better for the same price or a little bit more than that. Actually, I think the price of this hostel does not match the quality -- it should be a lot cheaper! We stayed in a six bed room and I've been in other hostels before so I thought it was not going to be a problem, but it was. The room was tiny and the six beds are packed inside it. There is no room to put your bags or anything. The beds on top are so low that it's impossible to sit in the bed, unless you sit in the one on top. There were other three people in the room and one of them was apparently working in DC and brought a random person one night to spend the night in one of the free beds. Plus, the bathroom is tiny, dirty, and you don't have place to put your stuff. I felt uncomfortable all the time because the guy (who apparently is the owner) was so rude that it was impossible not to feel uncomfortable, therefore, you cannot even ask him how to go somewhere or in what place you can find something because he is not willing to help you. The lockers are so small, that I could hardly fit my computer inside it. The area is nice, but is very far away from all the things that you would like to visit in the city. Some of the restaurants around are nice but I don't think is worthy. I really don't recommend it! — Patricia , Venezuela (2010-01-16) It shocks at first sight When I read the other ratings I thought people were overreacting, or maybe that they could be too picky, It really is an awful place to stay. The only advantages it has is the price and the proximity to the center of D.C. It's difficult to find, there's a huge stairway to carry your bags up, and the hostel is scattered throughout the building. The guy from the reception is awfully stupid and rude. The place seems really old, but at least is clean. They provide "lockers" which are the size of a purse and a "well furnished" kitchen. If you are able to find any clean silverware in it you are lucky. The breakfast is complimentary and a joke. I didn't have any problems with my belongings, but I didn't find it a safe place to let my things while I was sight-seeing. Despite all of these I managed to have a god time in D.C. — Luiz Andrade , Brazil (2009-04-26) Perfect for Students I think most of the complaints on here are over exaggerated. Obviously this is a hostel and not a hotel so don't come with expectations of it being like a hotel. If that's what you want, go pay for one. That's not to say that this place isn't clean or friendly -- it definitely is better than college dorms. The pictures of the bathrooms are outdated. I was just in DC this weekend for the Powershift convention, and it seems like they've upgraded the showers, sinks, and toilets in their bathrooms. Also, there is only one room that has the triple stacked bunk beds, all other rooms have normal bunk beds. It is in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, pretty much the party neighborhood of metro DC. So needless to say if you don't want to be in such an area, don't book this place. If this is indeed what you are looking for, this place is perfect. There are so many places to eat too, and it's all pretty good! The nightlife goes on until well after 3 a.m. Not too far from the metro station. Met very many interesting people. Would stay here again. — Crystal , New Mexico, USA (2009-03-03) Terrible All comments about the horrible nature of this hostel are true. Adams Morgan has cheap bars and interesting food places, but it is absolutely not worth it to stay at this place. Between the midwestern hick with handwriting like six-year-old and the mental capacity of someone even younger, and the arrogant jerk, it is hard to get even toilet paper, which, inexplicably, is kept in the common room, never in the bathroom. The bedsheets were so old the elastic in the fitted ones was nonexistent. The mattresses were so worn they felt as though they had been used by a thousand and one dirty hookers. The rooms were so crowded it must be in violation of some sort of planning rule. This place is a disgrace, no internet hostel sites should advertise it. Please do not repeat my mistake. — Cgfester , Australia (2009-01-11) Very nice people but don't expect too much The area the hostel is located at is amazing. It's hip, it's cool -- bars, pubs, and great people. But it's kind of far from the subway station. The people working there are very nice! The rooms are tiny. We hated the three-floored Bunk beds. If you have no expectations you will not get disappointed. It's ok for two or three Nights, but if you want to stay longer -- go somewhere else! They only have two bathrooms. It gets crowded in the morning. If you bring your own laptop you can use internet for free. — Cemile and Jan , Germany (2009-01-07) Steer clear of this place! This hostel is simply crap, disappointing on all fronts. The staff were unfriendly, unhelpful, and downright rude to other guests. Triple bunk beds were crammed into tiny rooms with very little space for luggage, and only tiny lockers were available for rent. The bathroom was clean but there was probably one bathroom between thirty people, the kitchen was gross, the breakfast was bad, there was no tourist information at all. The whole vibe of the place was bad, probably because everyone was bummed out at having to stay at such a hole. Avoid this place at all costs! — Mel , New Zealand (2007-10-01) Couldn't be any worse!!! I first satyed at this "hostel" about 2 years ago. Back then it was in Adams Morgan, and very centrally located. It was terrible: filthy and disgusting dont begin to do it justice. I didnt think t could be worse. Then they had a fire and closed. When I saw they had re-opened, I thought maybe they rehabbed the place and updated (cleaned) it. Well, it has moved to another location. It is NOT centrally located, unless youre looking for drugs, a prostitute or are looking to be a crime statistic. The staff is TERRIBLE! Unfriendly and unwilling to do ANYTING for you. I wish I could leave ZERO STARS, but it isn't an option. TRAVELERS BEWARE!!! STAY AWAY!!! — P2Z , New Zealand (2007-08-05) Absolutely Awful. I would give this place zero stars if that were an option. The website hasn't been updated, so when I arrived I'm glad I thought to call and discover that it had moved from a really central neighborhood to a very questionable part of town that is far from everything. The staff were incredibly rude, they charged me for a night that I didn't stay and then wouldn't refund my money, and it's not just the males there who don't help small, baggage-laden females lug their stuff up the two flights of steep concrete stairs. I finally ended up leaving mid-stay and finding another place because I just couldn't stand the staff and filthy shower any longer. It was filthy, nothing worked, and the internet kiosk hardly works and is a total ripoff. The staff treat you like you are either a criminal or, if you're really fortunate, just an inconvenience. Charging $23 a night for this place is audacious beyond belief. They did let me stay, despite being an American. I just had to show a student ID. Really, this place is only an option if it's either the International Student Center or the street, though. It's awful, awful, awful. And, if you do choose to sleep on the street, you definitely won't be alone in this neighborhood. — Appalled American , USA (2007-06-20) if there was an option of zero stars, then i would give this place a big fat zero! my friend and i arrived to find we were in the ghett. the windows next door were busted and boarded up. after being let inside by the scary man (we didn't know if we were at the right place due to no signage) we had to lug our heavy bags up a million flights of stairs (i love the way male americans don't offer to help young females with hard tasks). the room itself was scary, the bathroom even more scary. we decided we couldn't stay there because the guy would murder us in our sleep, or even worse, lock us up forever. instead we spent the afternoon walking around dc looking for somewhere safer to stay. when we returned to get our stuff and leave our keys we snuck out so the man couldn't stop us. — lou (2007-01-18) The bar/restaurant below this place caught on fire last year -- enough to keep the business closed for over a year now. The overcrowded rooms above it had no clue there was a fire due to lack of a fire system. The rooms hold about nine people and shouldn't have more than four at most. Its truly a fire hazard due to lack of alerting systems, overcrowded rooms, and lack of exit points. Not safe and not updated. — Blah (2006-12-31) This hostel is disgusting! We had to drive around in a taxi for 2 hours trying to find the place because there was not a single sign on the building. The staff were rude and the place was filthy! Tiny rooms had three high bunk beds crammed in with no room for any luggage. We did not stay even one night but were forced to pay even though it was disgusting! We found a hotel in town for only $5 more per night -- well worth it! — Suzy (2006-03-07) I called them a couple of hours before heading out to this hostel, from the airport, to make sure they had space. Everything seemed ok. After lugging my bags for the 20-minute hike from the Metro, I was told they don't accept Americans, only international visitors with passports. Why didn't they tell me this on the phone??? They are m*****f****** bigots. — Ron (2005-10-08) Awesome place. I was there years ago, during September 11. It was a bit weird but they took care of most of the people who were stuck there. I stayed there eight days and enjoyed it big time. The French dude working there was cool! Cheers. — Ben (2005-09-11)