Canadiana Backpackers Inn

I cannot believe it!
Looks can be deceiving! They have bedbugs in the hostel! Bedsheets, washrooms, and rooms in general looked and smelled very clean when we first arrived. I spent first night at the hostel and had very good sleep on what seemed extremely comfortable bed. Before I went to bed the second night I noticed millions of blood drops of different sizes on my sheets. It was too late at night to look for the hostel staff so I found myself new clean sheets to sleep on. In the morning I stormed to the frond desk yelling and screaming that I was given filthy sheets. The girl at the front desk informed me that it was my blood and found my panic unreasonable. I complained about having itching and burning skin and asked for direction to the pharmacy, where I spent about $60 for pills and a lotion to just keep me functioning and not going crazy from pain. (later I found out that the blood drops were really mine, caused by deep bedbugs bites.) Freaking out and not knowing what is wrong with me I moved out the same day. My bed was replaced but six of my roommates still stayed in the room. I could not settle trying to find out what's wrong with me -- I was guessing that it was bedbugs. I went back to the hostel to return my key and to leave my phone number in case they find out what it was to let me know immediately. I talked to one of the employees at the hostel concerned about the bugs, and how surprised I was when I was informed that they have had big trouble with those bugs before, but they just can't fully get rid of them because they live in drywall. The rest of my field trip to Toronto was ruined. I looked very ugly, and was not able to do what I was supposed to do. Straight from the airport I headed to see my family doctor -- she took me ahead of nine people in line and made an emergency appointment for me to see the specialist tomorrow. So I'm about to find out what I got myself into after staying in that hostel. My doctor did not even let me place my belongings on a chair in the office, she said the bugs might be too small to see, and they jump. If you are staying in the hostel and are not getting any irritations or mosquito-like bites it does not mean that you were not affected or your clothing and bags are not full of the bugs. If you think you may be at risk, talk to the hostel workers or owners -- they know what to do.

Good hostel -- would stay at again if in Toronto
canadiana is a good, clean hostel. bathrooms are all very nice and clean. beds not the comfiest but they're clean. if you are traveling alone like i was you can meet people if you are outgoing enough but you aren't likely to be approached and befriended unless you are single girl who rates at least an eight out of ten on an attractiveness scale. the staff are friendly enough -- remember, this is a hostel, not four star hotel, so if the staff isn't always the most courteous (one time i was at the desk to ask a simple question and the attendant's greeting to me was "ok, what's your problem?") -- i think we need to accept this is just part of the hostel culture and not necessarily a black mark against canadiana. perhaps the best reason to stay at canadiana is its prime location in the entertainment district. especially if you are in the eighteen to twenty-two, club-going age group you will love canadiana's proximity to toronto's hottest clubs. lots of girls in crazy short skirts -- big star!

Awesome
So much fun, fantastic staff, clean, centrally located, and a great vibe. Staff were helpful, fun (without being overbearing), and the set up is great for meeting friends. It's more international than most in Canada/U.S., which is so much fun. The best hostel I've stayed in so far! I can't recommend it any more than that.

Quite nice
Attended in February 2007. The hostel is well located, the staff is nice, the hostel is clean and quiet. We tried the private rooms and there's nothing awful to say. Breakfast -- pancakes for free. Have to be fast to get some but nice.

Good
this place was really nice. the breakfast is great although you really need to be there right on time or they could run out. the atmosphere is great and the people all seemed really nice. the kitchen is open almost all the time and they have tons of bowls and cooking utensils that you can use. the internet is hard to find available but it's fast and free two hours a day as well.

The hostel on the whole is pretty good. Comfy beds and good kitchen/location. But my stay was tainted by a creepy little guy that works behind the desk and wears blue contacts! He was rude, unhelpful, and cheated me out of my deposit and my last nights stay!

Well, not so cheap, when I arrived they had lost my reservation. Bathrooms are a little bit dirty. The people who work there some are very nice people and others are very rude. I remember two girls that were very rude. It's open twenty-four/seven, that's very good though and it's really well situated (just beside all the nightclubs, so you don't need a taxi to come back). The rooms are very clean and it's got nice rooms.

I loved this hostel! It was the first place I stayed on my trip, and I felt right at home. Sharing a room with the long-termers was a little overwhelming at first (they all knew each other), but they weren't at all cliquey and were very willing to make friends. In the end it felt like one big family -- they looked out for me and were great at recommending things I might not have discovered otherwise. The pancakes are great and the common rooms are a good space for hanging out and meeting people. I stayed here two weeks and actually cried when I left. Honestly, this place is lovely.

Cozy and friendly. Met some great people here. A good mix of travelers and people staying long term makes the hostel have a bit of a family feel. Huge kitchen to cook in, very clean, and the staff was ready to help. I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else.

My stay at the Canadiana was memorable. There was a tall blonde lady working in the office who seemed completely stressed and tried to give me sh*t but I wasn't ready for taking any. She had no idea how to deal with people.

Some friends and I stayed here one weekend in 2004. We loved it. Rooms were spacious and clean. Cozy atmosphere and good pancakes. We plan to stay there again next time we're in Toronto.

Anyone who gives this place less than 5 stars is obviously more used to the Hilton than hostels! Great location, easy walking distance to local attractions and some nice but unobtrusive nightlife nearby. The staff who were there in August 2005 were all really friendly and helpful. Lots of activities if you want to sign up but by far the most appealing activity to me and my travelling buddy was the fantastic decked area out the back where there was always someone to sit and have a drink and a chat with. Decent size rooms, solid bunks, clean bathrooms, big kitchen, loads of communal space and fantastic people ... again, who couldn't rate this place 5 Star!?!

Bedbugs got me there, and the staff didn't seem to care. They didn't help me avoid transporting them to my house. Other people also were bitten. I was very disappointed with this, as this hostel claims to be the best. Everything else was fine...But I'm itchy!

I stayed at Canadiana Backpackers during the week of 9/11 (In 2001). While I was there, I met a few people from Germany, Australia, etc. First day I was there, I was accidentally given a key to an all women's room. Luckily, the error was resolved and I was pleased with the results. However, the beds were a little hard.

I stayed here. Liked it. But two of the staff were very rude and irresponsible. I did not know who to complain to. It would help if the owners of the premises post a board above the reception, clearly giving their phone numbers and whom to contact in case of complaint. This in itself will act as a deterrent and make the staff behave properly. Except for these two people this hostel deserves a five star rating.