your hostels in Vancouver
HostelworldDo you want to book your hostel online?
Check out Hostelworld.com
Cheap, friendly, good access
I stayed for a few days and had a safe to store my stuff while out. It's close to the bus stations and downtown. The manager was always willing to help and the local staff as well. Good place for cheap price!
Old, rundown, basic, cheap.
It has good wifi in lobby, elevator and is close to greyhound bus and millenium line train station. It's not a real backpacker place. More locals looking for a cheap place to live. I find it too expensive for what it is. No cutlery or any of that in the "kitchen." Few showers. Just good for a place to sleep, not much more.
Cheap and Nasty
just sell sleep like what is on their logo, "We sell sleep."
The friendly place
The onsite manager was extremely friendly and helpful with suggestions and directions. It is amazingly close to Amtrak & light rail. Bedroom was clean and airy, kitchen very basic but ok.
Your worst case scenario
If you are looking for a very cheap and quite dirty place then this is the place for. The staff and most of the people living in here look homeless or possibly have made these places their home. The bar next door is definitely not what you would expect for a hostel bar as barely any students are there, and they are mostly filled with homeless looking people. I would say if you really couldn't find anything else in the city then pick this place, otherwise I am sure there are much better options out there.
C&N Backpackers Hostel Vancouver - 1038 Main Street is no frills but is one of the cheapest options in Vancouver and is clean and comfortable.
The Location
The old Ivanhoe Hotel, now known as C&N Backpackers Hostel Vancouver, is located right across the road from the main bus station and train station and only a five-minute walk from Chinatown. If you want to get to the heart of downtown Vancouver, you can take the skytrain for a small cost or take a walk down along the river for half an hour to forty-five minutes and that will put you in the thick of it.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The old hotel is set up as five floors. Each floor has dorm rooms and private rooms on the level as well as a male- and female-separate bathroom. The dorm rooms are single sex and if you are a female they give you a key to allow you access to the female-only bathrooms. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The dorm rooms are spacious and comfortable and you will find a television, fridge, and sink in some of the rooms. The beds have good quality linen and mattresses for a good night's rest.
Common Spaces
On each floor you will also find a kitchenette that you can use for cooking. Utensils and pots and pans have to be collected from the front desk for use and returned when you are finished. There are also laundry facilities on some of the levels that you can use for a fee as well. Wi-Fi can be used in the lobby area only and they have tables and chairs with lots of power outlets so that you can sit comfortably while you check your emails. Also right next door is the Ivanhoe Pub, and you can go in there for a beverage or to relax and it is only a short stumble home.
Summary
While this hostel does not have the most social atmosphere, the staff that work here are super accommodating, friendly, and full of knowledge about the local area and the events going on around Vancouver. They can also help you out with a map if you need one and have a goodies collection of snack and tinned food items for purchase at a decent price behind the counter. If traveling by train or on the Greyhound, this is the best and most accessible hostel that you will find in downtown Vancouver. It's a great place to stay!
Don't stay there!
I stayed in a private room together with my boyfriend for just one night (luckily) in early September 2012. The whole hostel smells just as described -- smoke, weed, alcohol, dust -- and my sneakers stuck on the floor as it was so filthy and disgusting. It was noisy all the time and people yelled at each other several time even during the night. We woke up at 3am cause an obviously drunk and aggressive guy tried to get access to the rooms on our floor. He successfully managed to wake up the guy next door who sounded deeply stoned and they rampaged for about an hour -- nobody seemed to care. We felt absolutely uncomfortable and hurried to the washrooms, whenever we had to go there (not to mention that they were filthy and disgusting). So I would absolutely not recommend to stay there, especially not for girls.
DON'T STAY THERE!!!
The hostel is a house for homeless people!!! The spend their day in the bar next to the house and then sleep in the "hostel". I was afraid to go to the showers because there were so many creapy (addicts) people around!!! Especially as a girl, you really should not stay there! even if you are a group of boys you shouldnt! DONT GO THERE!!!!
Address: 1038 Main Street, Downtown, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Bike Rental
City Tours
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Parking
24 Hour Security
Bar
Cable TV
Concierge/Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Elevator/Lift
Evening Entertainment
Food/Restaurant
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Karaoke
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Videogames
Wheelchair Accessible
Checkout: 12:00 (12 Noon)
Curfew: No Curfew
Lockout: No
Maximum Stay: Unlimited
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Open Dates: All Year
Reception Hours: 24 Hours
Size: Very Large (100+ beds)
Get access to exclusive hostel content
Have you stayed at this accommodation? Help your Hostelz Community by leaving a detailed review.
Create your free account to keep track of your hostel portfolio.
Did not find the hostel you are looking for?
See all 12 hostels in Vancouver