The Hostelz.com Review
The Prescott International Hotel and Hostel is a well equipped hostel with a nice (out of town) location. The hostel is a converted historic hotel, and is reasonably clean and fairly well maintained.
It's located in a nice working class suburb called Everett. To get to downtown Boston you have to take a 15 minute bus ride to the subway stop, then take a subway train into town. It may take as much as an hour to get to or from downtown when you add in the wait time for the bus and train. They offer free pickup from the train station when you first arrive, but only during the summer. If you go out at night and you stay out past about 1 AM you'll need to catch a taxi back (about $15). There's a grocery store, bank, a few restaurants, and post office just down the road from the hostel, as well as a bus stop.
The dorm rooms have bunk beds and linen is provided. There is a required $5 key deposit that must be paid in cash. The ensuite bathrooms are small but pretty nice, but some are missing a soap dispenser and they don't have a place to put your clothes.
You can meet people in the TV lounge/bar area, which has a huge TV and comfy seats. It also has a very nice large front porch with tables and chairs. The atmosphere in the hostel potentially quite social and there are usually young backpackers around. But they do allow long term guests and there may be a number of elderly people, even in the dorm rooms, so it may not quite have the atmosphere you would want at a youth hostel. Internet access is free for 20 minutes but relatively slow.
The owner of the hostel (Wayne) is very friendly. The other man who works there seemed to be very friendly, almost overly friendly, but he also has a short fuse and he'll quickly turn angry if you end up on his bad side (don't even think about bringing up any suggestions, issues, or complaints -- he doesn't want to hear about guests' concerns). The hostel does not accept travelers checks, and does not give out change, so be prepared when you get there. Credit cards are accepted.
Overall it's a nice place to relax away from the city after a day of exploring Boston.
It's located in a nice working class suburb called Everett. To get to downtown Boston you have to take a 15 minute bus ride to the subway stop, then take a subway train into town. It may take as much as an hour to get to or from downtown when you add in the wait time for the bus and train. They offer free pickup from the train station when you first arrive, but only during the summer. If you go out at night and you stay out past about 1 AM you'll need to catch a taxi back (about $15). There's a grocery store, bank, a few restaurants, and post office just down the road from the hostel, as well as a bus stop.
The dorm rooms have bunk beds and linen is provided. There is a required $5 key deposit that must be paid in cash. The ensuite bathrooms are small but pretty nice, but some are missing a soap dispenser and they don't have a place to put your clothes.
You can meet people in the TV lounge/bar area, which has a huge TV and comfy seats. It also has a very nice large front porch with tables and chairs. The atmosphere in the hostel potentially quite social and there are usually young backpackers around. But they do allow long term guests and there may be a number of elderly people, even in the dorm rooms, so it may not quite have the atmosphere you would want at a youth hostel. Internet access is free for 20 minutes but relatively slow.
The owner of the hostel (Wayne) is very friendly. The other man who works there seemed to be very friendly, almost overly friendly, but he also has a short fuse and he'll quickly turn angry if you end up on his bad side (don't even think about bringing up any suggestions, issues, or complaints -- he doesn't want to hear about guests' concerns). The hostel does not accept travelers checks, and does not give out change, so be prepared when you get there. Credit cards are accepted.
Overall it's a nice place to relax away from the city after a day of exploring Boston.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2005
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Prescott International Hotel & Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Brilliant really great, nice polite staff, good services. — hju , england (2009-03-13) Very friendly but with bedbugs I stayed there for five nights in october 2007, took a single room. The only bad thing is that I discovered three bedbugs in my bed after the fourth night. The staff was nice, cleaned my room, and said they checked these were not bedbugs, but when i checked more on internet, I am almost sure these were bedbugs. The location is not bad -- quite easy to get to center, stuff nice, room not luxurious but comfortable and not loud at night. I recommend this place, but I think it is fair to write I have some suspicions there are bedbugs in room nr.15. — aga , Poland (2007-10-27) One of the nicest hostels we have visited. this is the only place to go in Boston. staff were friendly and couldn't help us enough. we will be back. — Steph , British (2007-05-09) I have stayed at numerous hostels around the world and never had such a bad experience. First off, the hostel isn't even in Boston. it's way out in a suburb, and it's a $20 cab ride downtown (not so fun when the subway is closed). When we arrived, they shipped us to hostel #2 to our surprise. I expect that when i book a hostel, i'd actually be staying there, not somewhere else. when we complained about this, the receptionist told us that next time we may want to do research, because it's the busiest weekend all year (not my problem). They could have told us that on the phone when we called. Hostel #2 was ugly, hospital-like, and extremely noisy. I slept a total of two hours. they charged us $40 when the site states $30. when asked about this, he replied, "well, why didn't you book online?" -- I said, "cause i saw a phone number and decided to call in instead." He told me that was my problem, and that i should book online next time. the staff was extremely rude and patronizing. we asked for a refund for our second night and found someplace else to stay. — Renee (2006-11-20) The only good thing about the hostel was that it was relatively clean. The location was terrible the ad i saw said it was three subway stops from downtown which is true. however it is then a fifteen-minute bus ride after you get off the subway. There's no kitchen and there was some old guy who seems to live downstairs there screaming racist and homophobic comments at the TV all day. if they got rid of him, the TV room would be quite pleasant but he seems to be there all day ruining the atmosphere. — Brian Sep 2006 (2006-09-17) We got shipped off to the Hostel #2 and i can only agree about the ex- hospital atmosphere. the area was decidedly 'sketchy' to put it politely. the rooms were horrible, and the bathrooms even more so -- especially where the people in the room next door could access your room via the shared bathroom. The people hanging around outside offering to help you with your bags and who appeared to know the staff were clearly on drugs. Wouldnt recommend for those who particularly value their lives. — Traveller (2006-08-25) a very friendly hostel! the staff were great and made you feel at home! the rooms were ok, a nice size, very airy and ours had an on suite (four-bed male). although there were a bit old and tattered, it didnt bother us much. the free internet was great, with three good computers. the tv is huge! however when we were there a few locals came in most nights and were completely waisted and acting like idiots, and a girl we met said they were hitting on her making her feel very uncomfortable. also i need to point out that there is no kitchen! on a good point the club bar next door is great for cheap beer and free pool/darts... all very friendly as well. the location isnt that great, you need to walk-bus then tube it to get to boston centre! no laundry machines either. overall a good place to stay though, and we had fun! — Wilfred (2006-05-10) Friendly Staff with assertiveness of staff who deal with travellers, we were fine with that. It takes one hour to get back from Downtown at night. Public transport (bus) is slow and irregular. We took a $10 cab ride from the T Station. Listening to people go to the bathroom through the thin walls was the worst experience. Stay here if you are desperate for cheap accommodation, as thats what it is! — SC (2006-05-09) I stayed at Prescott for five days. The place is really worthy the price. It was nice and the people at the reception are really nice. At one incident a woman gave me her mobile phone so that I could make a private call. This is courtesy I had never exprienced. I am looking forward to visit this hostel next time I visit Boston. I didn't book the hostel in advance but I only gave them a call on my way. — Katerega (2006-03-18) the worst hostel i ve been during one year around the world !!!
rude stuff...they made overbooking to my room and gave 5 keys for 5 people in the room of four and didnt even apologize!!!
not a refund and its not the end.they have horoble slippery matresses who make noise as well.
kitchen? forget it!!! there is not such a thing,even if they say so.
location? nightmare.they promised to take you from the metro station.
but,in my case ,they didnt come.
if you want to suffer,just go there.its not deserve even one star!!! — eyal (2005-12-12) I was here on Tuesday the 23rd. They sent me to Prescott No. 2 and it was horrible. It is a former hospital building, with the same facilities. It smells like a hospital, looks like a hospital and was depressing, like in a hospital. It's noisy and unfriendly. — Michael E. (2005-08-24) I stayed here in July 2005. I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's cheap, clean, and the staff are friendly. My room was small, a bit crowded, with only one overhead light (no individual reading lights). The mattresses were pretty uncomfortable. There was also no kitchen, only a small microwave. The location isn't convenient, as noted. I think you'd be better off staying at Hostelling International. If homey, friendly, and quiet is more important, go with Prescott. — Lala Stone (2005-07-24) The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. As far as hostels go this is one of the best I've stayed in for its cleanliness and ease of access. The free shuttle run by the owner is a fantastic bonus for getting to/from the hostel and seeing Boston and its sights. — Anonymous (2005-05-09) I have nothing but the highest regard for The Prescott and its staff. If you get to know them by first name, and treat them with respect, they will go above and beyond the call of duty to make your stay comfortable. The decor is funky and the guests and staff are fun people to hang out with on the front porch or the downstairs lounge, which by the way is luxurious. I recommend this hostel to anyone wanting to experience real Boston "character" without skimping too much on comfort. — Doug Y (2005-05-02) Highly recommended! Staff are knowledgeable and very nice; they will gladly provide a free shuttle to and from the hostel within reason. I cannot stress enough how nice they are! The hostel itself is kept very clean and neat, just a great place to rest for the night after lots of walking through Boston. — Brian (2005-05-02)