Washington International Student Center, Washington, DC

Kind of dumpy

Having stayed at lots of hostels, I can say that this one is particularly dingy and rundown. It's not as hyperbolically terrible as some reviewers suggest, but I also wouldn't stay here again. At least it's clean. Bunk beds are so low it's impossible to sit up even halfway in the bottom one. Rude, obnoxious employees. Toilet paper kept in common room instead of bathrooms. Weird place overall.

Very clean and good atmosphere

The hostel is managed with care. The location is very good and make sense to stay there. In fact I will be back.

Best option in DC

If you are looking to really enjoy your visit to DC this is the best option, from location to great staff, I have stayed there more than once and have no complaints.

It was fine

It was right on a strip of restaurants and bars. I still slept fine with no noise disturbance. I guess the hostel is high enough away from the street. The strip was nice; a good vibe, it's within walking distance of a bike rental kiosk, an open late CVS, and a park. Got on internet just fine, clean sheets, bathroom was fine. They provided complimentary cold breakfast, it was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when they had it out. 25$ per night.

Washington International Student Center is a great hostel if you're looking for a cheap place to stay in DC. It's also in the party district of Adams Morgan, so it's great for young, social travelers. It's not the most professional hostel and the building is old and not in the best condition, but it isn't the most expensive either. Also there is no elevator, though there are only two levels above the street level.

The Location

The hostel is literally on top of a bar -- if you're looking for a place to party and crash, this is the place in Washington, DC. There are heaps of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the surrounding area of Adams Morgan and U Street. The hostel is also close to all the things you need -- a supermarket, pharmacy, and coin laundry are all within walking distance. If you want to get to the National Mall/Smithsonian, there a few options -- the Circulator, the Metro subway, and the Metro bus are all relatively close to the hostel and take about twenty minutes to get to the sights.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The rooms are pretty tight, but there are so many great things to do close by, so you are hardly in them. The bunk beds are low, so you can't sit up straight on the lower one; in some rooms there are three high bunk beds. Most rooms have six to eight beds. There are door locks but no lockers in the room -- these are in the common area. The bathrooms are clean, with plenty of shelves and hooks for your things. They are just like a home bathroom (shower, toilet, and sink). There are only three, but there is not usually a wait.

Common Spaces

There is a common lounge area with TV, books, and computer with printer (which will cost you) and free Wi-Fi if you have a laptop. The check-in desk is here. Off the lounge is the kitchen, which has a stovetop, microwave, and fridge. There are plenty of utensils, plates, pots, and pans -- really everything you need to cook a decent meal. There is also a section of free/left-behind oils, sauces, and spices. It's a friendly hostel, though there are no organised bar crawls or tours -- however, the hostel is quite small and there is plenty on offer right downstairs. There is also free breakfast, which is just toast, orange juice, and coffee -- it's basic but it's also free!

Summary

Overall the hostel is good -- clean, cheap, and close to a variety of places and public transport. So if that's what you're after, we would definitely recommend it.

Great place!

had a ton of fun there. Staff were excellent and friendly. It's located a great neighborhood. Free breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi, linens, couldn't ask for more.

Had a ton of fun here

This hostel was great! the staff was really friendly and fun! The neighborhood was great. Lots of bars and restaurants. The accommodations were basic, but about what you'd expect out of a cheap hostel. There was a free breakfast and wifi and stuff like that. There were clean bathrooms, too. The downsides: It was hard to find and they need to invest in a sign. The rooms could use a paint job or something, too. But pretty minor complaints. I'd definitely stay again!

Not advisable

I stayed there just last week, and even if it's a cheap option, I'm pretty sure that I can find something much better for the same price or a little bit more than that. Actually, I think the price of this hostel does not match the quality -- it should be a lot cheaper! We stayed in a six bed room and I've been in other hostels before so I thought it was not going to be a problem, but it was. The room was tiny and the six beds are packed inside it. There is no room to put your bags or anything. The beds on top are so low that it's impossible to sit in the bed, unless you sit in the one on top. There were other three people in the room and one of them was apparently working in DC and brought a random person one night to spend the night in one of the free beds. Plus, the bathroom is tiny, dirty, and you don't have place to put your stuff. I felt uncomfortable all the time because the guy (who apparently is the owner) was so rude that it was impossible not to feel uncomfortable, therefore, you cannot even ask him how to go somewhere or in what place you can find something because he is not willing to help you. The lockers are so small, that I could hardly fit my computer inside it. The area is nice, but is very far away from all the things that you would like to visit in the city. Some of the restaurants around are nice but I don't think is worthy. I really don't recommend it!