Sin City Hostel

Sin City Hostel is located just north of the Strip at 1208 South Las Vegas Boulevard. When trying to find the hostel if you drive/walk/bus and reach East Charleston Boulevard, you've gone too far. Sin City is approximately one kilometer north of the Stratosphere if headed north on South Las Vegas Boulevard. It is on your left side, and there's a small neon sign that says "Hostel." It is a two-story building, and looks like a motel in outward appearance.

There is sufficient free parking for your car at the hostel. There is also a convenient bus stop by the hostel that runs from downtown Las Vegas through the Strip twenty-four hours a day. The location of Sin City gets you off the bustle of the Strip for a quaint night's rest, but you'll have to bank on taking the bus to and from the hostel. We found that walking the Strip is doable, but after a long day/night, walking the extra distance to the hostel is daunting.

The hostel staff is friendly and the place is clean and cozy. There is a main reception area, a roomy kitchen that is tidy and stink-free with a microwave, fridge, sink, storage shelves, and hot water and hot coffee. Breakfast is served every morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and it usually consists of white toast, peanut butter and jelly, and tea or coffee. Of course you can bring your own food and use the communal kitchen to prepare what you wish (as we did -- we found it works out well). Bear in mind that the kitchen and lounge rooms close after a certain hour -- we found ourselves back at the hostel at 5 a.m. (two hours before they open the kitchen) and unable to access our food in the fridge!

Next to the kitchen there is a TV room with a billiard table. Most of the travelers hang out there in the mornings as they eat breakfast. And for the outdoor folks, there is a basketball hoop next to the hostel, at the end of the parking lot, along with a BBQ and some old lawn furniture.

The rooms in the hostel are pleasant and comfortable. We had a six-person co-ed dorm room. They are set up with bunk beds and linens are provided. A heater is in each room, which makes it nice and toasty on cold winter nights. The bathroom is shared among the six dormmates and two others in a private room. Unfortunately, to reach the private room, you must go through the dorm room first, which can prove to be an annoyance to the light sleepers in the dorm room. We found we were so tired from the day, the traffic didn't bother us, and we were sleeping next to the door! Finally, each door room has six metal lockers, so if you bring your own lock you can safely and securely store your belongings in the room. And there's a fully refundable deposit for each key (included in this fee is also the use of linens).

All in all, Sin City Hostel is a great accommodation, but if you're traveling with a group, you're better off booking a hotel room if a cheap night's accommodation is what you're looking for. Sin City is great for the lone or partnered traveler, but not stellar for groups.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
December 2006