HI - Austin Hostel

Located two miles from downtown and on the waterfront of town lake, Austin Hostel can be a place for anyone who wants to go party in the clubs on Sixth street or relax on the lake. It is less than a fifteen minute city bus ride from the major things to do in the city such as taking in the live music scene on Sixth Street, swimming in the Barton Springs natural pool, watching the Mexican bat going for hunt at the Congress St. Bridge, walking around the University of Texas or visiting Artistic neighborhood in South Congress (SoCo). One simply can rent a bike or a Canoe from the hostel and explore the city that way.

The hostel itself is non-profit and operates by the board of directors. It is not easily located in major bus road so most of the visitors with no car or taxi have to walk for a short distance to get there. The hostel has thirty-nine beds and most of them are used by males. Each room is occupied by average of fourteen beds (earplugs are recommended and are sold in the hostel). The beds are comfortable and don't make much noise.

Austin is known primarily for it's live music and nightlife, but this hostel isn't very conducive to visitors who want to stay out late to enjoy it. They go around and try to wake people up at 10 AM. And by 11 AM the bathrooms and rooms are closed, so you wanted to sleep in you have a very limited amount of time to get up and take a shower and go about your business, and frequently guests are forced out before they're ready. There isn't any reason they couldn't move back their cleaning schedule by an hour or so to fix this problem.

The bathrooms and showers are a downside of this hostel. The bathrooms are tight and the showers are divided into four sections by shower curtains with little privacy. The flow of the water is poor (with an "efficient" showerhead that puts out mostly air) with no temperature control and not placed high enough for someone tall.

The kitchen is usually clean and usable. Tea and coffee are provided if one wants to make them. Most days some local stores donate their bread to the hostel guests.

The common area is large and has a high ceiling with fans and nice couches to rest on. There is a guitar and piano for guests to use. There is also a friendly cat who is the long-time resident of the place who doesn't pay for his bed (cat allergy sufferers beware). There is also a TV room upstairs for people to watch TV or videos.

There are locker rooms, internet access and free wireless, and laundry facilities are one dollar wash/seventy-five cents dry with detergent for sale. There is also a phone for incoming or outgoing calls.

You can leave your luggage if you are checking out and come back after five to pick them up. There is no one from office from eleven to five but there is always someone staying over night for emergencies. Overall this hostel has a lot to offer to anyone from a traveler to someone hanging around to check out the great city of Austin.

-- Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com