PROS: Cheap for the area. Good location near train station (to access airport), downtown, Gastown bars and restaurants, etc. Helpful staff. They seem to quite security-conscious, which is good. Free brekkie muffins were good. If you’re not fussy and looking for a party hostel, this is probably good, with the popular (line-up around the corner towards the weekend) Malone’s bar below.
CONS: There was a seriously off-putting notice about keeping clothes off the floor, as they’ve had bed bugs. Bathrooms were worn and semi-clean. Staircase smelt of wee. Three flights of stairs, no lift. Women’s bathrooms were on a different floor. There was no separate dressing space in the communal showers, which was uncomfortable with people going back and forth, even leaving the door open, and even jammed open by the cleaner (who was nowhere to be seen at the time). Getting warm water was like trying to find a distant, and maybe extinct, AM station. Our private room was tiny, drab, and shabby - olden jail cell style - although probably clean. Only ventilation option was the small window - which meant listening to sweet sounds of karaoke till wee hours of the morning, then construction work from 7am onwards. Or the lengthy confessionals of the people gathering for smoke and beer on the fire escape near our room. Now, some of the things can be expected if choosing to stay at a hostel at this price, however we stayed at much nicer - and cheaper - hostels in BC later.