So I have to leave this review after how I was treated during Covid Marc was a life safer he really was but after I departed even after being. A model guest for months and I get it it was a while for a hostel but it was covid, anyway I had some life emergency's were I needed a place and was immediately denied because I'm now a local resident and I feel like there should be rules if you are a local resident depending on your situation. It's a great hostel for what it was obvs but what made me very upset was when Marc called me very annoying and used some profound launguage that i will not post on here to give him the benefit of the doubt to apologize. And if he doesn't I'll update this with the pictures from Airbnb and get the New's involved. I work customer service myself and have never experienced something as bad and rude as him so mark before you comment reach out to me cause I have photos which shows the truth read more

I honestly was going to give this place a better review since I did have a nice stay here and the place is clean, however, my friends and I felt really unsafe on our last night. There was this older unkempt man who seemed like a homeless person that stayed in our 16 bed co-ed room. We didn't know that he was a guest and he seemed to be wandering around the room by himself where the rest of the guests were sleeping. CREEPY! My friends went down to reception to state our concern, but the guy there was really dismissive. He did not say or do anything to reassure us that he was indeed a guest staying in our room and that there was no reason to feel unsafe. Thus, prompting the negative review from one of my friends. In the morning, the manager asked us to remove the review without first finding out what the issue was. We did tell him the situation, but he didn't understand that we had a problem with the staff for not taking any action. He kept trying to talk about the creepy guest instead. Would not recommend sorely for the staff who did nothing to help us feel safe. :( read more

Bed bugs. Terrible service. Too expensive. Lots of homeless people on the alley. Terrible experience. People out front, drunk, were intolerably loud and obnoxious. read more

Great hostel located in the Old City. The bed price per night is a bargain considering the central location. Plenty of sinks and showers for the morning rush. Linens are clean and plentiful. The hostel is in two buildings across a narrow alley from each other so it's very quiet at night. There are free ear plugs at the front desk in case you have a snorer in your room. The kitchens are well stocked with appliances and utensils. Free cereal and milk for breakfast on Friday Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to bring a lock for your stuff but if you forget, they are available for purchase in the vending machine. There's an awesome haunted spots tour. It will be the highlight of your stay with free beer afterward. If I ever come back to the great city of Philadelphia, I will definitely stay here again. read more

While initially I gave this hostel 3 stars, I am now reducing it to 1. The hostel's "president" Marc Desmarais via philly@applehostels.com apparently enjoys harassing reviewers who do not review to his liking. He has emailed me 4 times in the last 2 hours to badger me and argue that my review is wrong. Therefore, I will spread my review around like confetti. Enjoy! --------- Cons: No a/c in huge dorm room of 28 or so beds (only 1 oscillating fan), sometimes hot water in showers and sometimes ice cold water, lockers outside of dorm room, inner door code changes daily, no free breakfast Monday-Friday, no parking, no paper towels or hand dryers (only 1 communal towel that's been hanging there for who knows how long), no elevator, no water fountains (must use ice/tap water or buy), sad flat pillow on ok bed, entrance in an alley across from an abandoned vampire hideout looking building To get to the hostel from PHL I would NOT advise you follow their directions which include getting off at "Market East Station". One, there is no longer a "Market East Station". It was renamed "Jefferson Station" and that's what is announced. Two, the area surrounding Jefferson Station is kind of sketch. The walk was interesting to say the least. Fear not, the area around the hostel itself is pretty nice though the alley entrance across from the abandoned no tell hotel of the dead is kind of creepy. I learned after the fact that there is actually a closer station reached via the Market Frankfort-Line (MFL). It will drop you off like 2 blocks from the hostel (though it will cost you an additional $2.50). You connect to it underground at the Jefferson Station. As the Airport train to City Centre is apparently run by a different agency, there is no transfer available. You pay the Airport train $8 (cash only) and you pay the MFL $2.50 (or use a token which costs $1.80 and FYI are sold at the hostel as well). Note: Pretty much every train from the airport goes to City Centre. Ask the conductor to be sure. Ultimately, your fastest & cheapest option is the $10 shuttle van from the airport run by Lady Liberty Airport Shuttle. The decor of the hostel overall is cute (especially the sky themed light fixture covers in the female dorm). There is a dart board, tv common area, computer area, fully stocked full sized kitchen with communal fridge, washer/dryers etc. The female dorm is one giant dorm room with a partial divider wall. There were approximately 14 beds on my side and I assume at least as many on the other. The top bunks are very low so one can barely sit up on the bottom bunks. There are however, individual lights, usb outlets and plugs at each bunk. While there is a/c in the main rooms and restrooms (which were freezing by the way), there is no a/c inside of the dorm room (only 1 fan for 28 or so beds). Needless to say it grew quite stuffy. The rooms are completely away from the communal areas so there is no noise from them. However, with the massive dorm size, there is lots of noise from different people coming and going. There were partial curtains near each set of bunk beds; however, they did nothing to block light from the lower bunks. Male staff would enter the dorm room without notice/knocking to ask if anyone was in the restroom (I assume for cleaning). Still, this was a female dorm with beds completely visible from the entryway. As such, women would expect no male presence/to be able to wear whatever or change their clothing in the room whenever, so this was extremely inappropriate. read more

Clean. I mean, CLEAN clean. And private, cute, welcoming, friendly but not clingy, well-laid-out, colorful, just amazing --and did I mention CLEAN?? You can tell where my priorities lie concerning hostels, and intuit how often they have been disappointed; but at Apple Hostels in Philly they were surpassed far, far beyond any reasonable expectation. What a stellar place. This is the first hostel I've visited that offers "semi-private" rooms and "couples' dorms," both a great idea (the former is private save that you enter it through the couples' dorm --thus totally private for you, really, except that those nosy couples know when you enter and exit your hidey hole). I've never had such an unqualified positive hostel experience in my life. (And I've seen many many many, US, Europe, and Middle East.) I wish every place were like this. Go now! PROS, oh heavens the PROS: Sheets (fitted and flat, plus pillow case) and towels (big bath towels) are FREE, and smelled like fresh laundry. Good pillows; nice yet thin blankets, but the heat was on all the time so we were cozy; great signage about quiet hours etc.; FREE WI-FI oh yes; staff helped us choose a bus to get into the heart of Philly, and when we left recommended and then called the airport shuttle for us (use this! $10 a head makes it as cheap as train-plus-bus, but it's hugely easier and takes 10 minutes instead of an hour). Big dorms are considerately partitioned with a curtain for increased privacy. Rooms and bathrooms closed 11-2 every day for cleaning, and it shows. Activities (movie nights with FREE BEER; pub tours; wine&cheese movie nights) are offered, but don't interfere with those of us uninterested. Kitchen clean, spacious, fully stocked with tons of cooking tools, Ikea dishes, gas stove, microwave, two fridges, shelves for your food plus the tape and marker to label it (and also a "free" shelf, very practical and generous) FREE coffee and tea. Phones, phone card machine, bank of computers; mini-fridge in the semi-private room. Uber-comfy lounge, modern Ikea furniture. read more

Apple Hostels - Front entrance, on a wee side street. - Hostels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Love this place! I highly recommend staying here if you are out of state, a student or traveler. The staff is so friendly and amazing resources for what is going on in the area. The price is definitely perfect for the budget tourist. It is such a wonderful experience to meet people who are from all over the world. The neighborhood where the hostel is located is in a fun, young part of town, where there are lots of clubs and bars. Philly is an amazing place to stay. Everything is within reasonable walking distance. The history of the town from the Revolutionary War is something not to be missed! Apple hostels has so many amenities, it will blow your mind. They offer free breakfast on the weekends, many activities throughout the week from ghost tours, to wine and cheese, movies, lots of opportunities for beer. The facilities are cleaner than most 3 star hotels I have stayed at. If you get a chance, be sure to stop by here. I have been here twice and plan on coming back with friends, just so they can share in the experience of this great place. I have stayed at numerous hostels across the US, from Miami, to Texas and this place is definitely #1 in my book! read more

Recently, I stayed at the Apple Hostel in Philadelphia for 7 nights 01/18/14-01/25/14 (I originally reserved for 6 nights, but I called and added an extra day to make sure that I could see some sights in the city). I was working on the production team for a TV show. If you've ever worked on a television show or a film, then you know that it's LONG hours (16-18 hours/Day)! So when I would finally end the day, it was great that to be able to go to a place that took me only 10 minutes to get to (it's only three blocks from a nearby subway station, and the subway is pretty reliable). When I would reach the building, there was always a smile there waiting for me, something I hardly even get where I live (New York City)! Normally, at that time of night, I would talk to a receptionist named Gregory (I think that was his name, he had a full beard). Just to speak to someone who was willing to listen to me was just the thing I needed before I headed off to bed and wake up in 4 hours. The second thing I enjoyed about Apple Hostel was the cleanliness and security there. Before I left for Philly, I mentioned to many people that I would be staying at a hostel. Many said that it was unsafe and dirty. While I can't speak for others, I can say that, without a doubt, this one is the polar opposite from the rumors. I had brought a package of surface towelettes (wet naps) with me to the hostel, but at the end of my stay, I gave them to the receptionist Clarissa (who was also sweet and gave a great walking tour) since I never used them. In addition, the only time I felt that something was amiss was when I couldn't find my keys or my wallet Friday morning, but I soon realized this was my own fault. The third thing I enjoyed about my stay was the social atmosphere. Although I spent most of my time in Philadelphia working, I was able to enjoy some of the events that the hostel offered (the Haunted Walking Tour, the Pub Crawl, and the Wine & Cheese Event). Through this, I was able to achieve one of my goals for staying there; meeting international travelers. Now, being that I work in film, I have the opportunity to meet others from different parts of the country and beyond, but it's usually in a professional manner. Here, I could be informal with others who represented Australia, Holland, Slovenia, Malaysia, and Italy! It was a wonderful experience! In short, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. The price for a night is very cheap, and the intimate service and the atmosphere that I experienced here are almost invaluable. read more

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The location is excellent and so is the cost to stay here. You could not get a better location to visit historic Philadelphia. I stayed in the old, seen better days, West Wing of this hostel with 50 stair steps to climb before getting to my room (32 of them very narrow). It can be a workout and makes maneuvering luggage to be very difficult. They should warn you on their website in advance. I made a reservation over 2 months in advance and it was slightly fouled up. Most of the desk staff seem unconcerned and indifferent. The weekend breakfast is meager, not worth waking up for. Wednesday's Free Pasta Night is just that...cheap ass pasta (with sauce) and nothing else. Pasta needs ground meat or meatballs to make it a complete meal or don't bother. The kitchen is up to date and has everything one needs to cook a meal. There is free coffee and tea 24/7. Lastly, I encountered the owner of this hostel and found him to be rude, nasty and standoffish. Wrong attitude for the hospitality business. read more

Oh, you're not sure if you want to stay in a hostel? Thinking of staying in one of Philly's less convenient and drastically more expensive hotels? I urge you, think again. This is a hostel in all the positive senses, and not at all in the negative ones. It was extremely clean and well managed, the staff is great (particularly one guy at the front desk who's name I forget but who's kindness I won't), and it has plenty of amenities and space. I stayed in the women's dorm and had the best night's sleep of my two week trip on the East Coast. Lights go off automatically at 11 and everyone was quiet and respectful (I should note though that I stayed on a Tuesday night, so this may be different on a weekend). The hostel is located in the heart of old city and is walking distance to many landmarks. It is also a block and a half from the subway station and numerous bus lines to take you wherever else you'd like to go. The guy at the front even let me borrow an umbrella on my trip out to Monk's Cafe (which I HIGHLY recommend if you like good beer and fries!). Hands down, this is the best hostel I've stayed at. Apple Philly, you rock! read more

I was looking for a cheap place in Philly and found this hostel. My trip was at the last minute so I ended up calling them for reservations when I was already at the airport. I was planning on staying for two nights (Friday and Saturday). The person I spoke to on the phone told me I will be staying in the "girls room" on Friday night then the "couples room" for Saturday night. I was fine with that. My bus from New York arrived at around 11:30 and I ended walking to the hostel. As previous reviews have mentioned, the entrance was in an alley, but I feel safe anyway. I was greeted by the staff and they decided to let me stay in the couples room during my two night stay. The beds and the bathrooms were clean, and the kitchen was well-equipped. The also have different activities every night, such as tours, pasta night and movie night (sometimes includes beer!!!.) However... there is a club in front of the hostel, so it does get pretty loud until early morning. Also, the stairs. The couples room and semi-private rooms are at the very top of the building, so keep this in mind when packing. I look forward to staying here again. read more

This was my first stay with a hostel. I felt extremely safe throughout my stay. There are also so many free activities to meet other people and have a great time! Everything was clean and the people working were really nice. I will definitely do it again! read more

Apple Hostels - Free tours! And free wifi! - Hostels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Literally the cutest place everrrr! Cutest little street! AWESOME staff. They've thought of everything! Down to the free breathe right strips! Little fans in each bunk. Everything being labeled in the kitchen. So convenient. So affordable. Felt super safe with codes to get into our dorm area! We didn't realize they turn the lights off at 11pm, went out and came back to a dark dorm with bed lamps that had been turned on for us! So thoughtful! Great location. Parking garage seconds away. So happy with my stay. Will be the first of many. I'll never stay anywhere else in Philly again. EVER! read more

Apple Hostels - Hostels Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Apple Hostel is super cute!! I love it!!! The people that work there are really nice and extreemly helpful to those that have many questions(me). I wanted to stay here longer simply because they were so nice. The common areas are well kept and are nicely furnished. You kind of feel like you're at a local college dorm, just haning out and whatnot. They have a living room with a TV that has tons of movies and cable. You can go down to the kitchen and make yourself some food, they have some vending machines down in that area too. They also have an area to play board games as well as another area where you can play Wii. Oh! And they have on-site laundry facitilities too!! And they organize little events each night, like wine and cheese Tuesday, or pub crawl Thursday. The rooms are split up like so: ladies dorm, mens dorm, couples dorm, private rooms. Me and my buddy stayed in the couples dorm, total bunkbeds everywhere :) Even in the private room I guess theres bunkbeds. The beds aren't the most comfortable, but they're clean. The hostels are located in Old City, so if you want to hit the historical aspects, you're in luck. Also, it's close enough to Camden, so you can get across the river into New Jersey and check out the Adventure Aquarium. I would highly recommend trying this place out! You do have to be tolerant of sleeping around other people- more so, you need to be able to sleep through them getting up super early in case you are a late riser like myself. You'll be able to talk to a lot of cool different people that are traveling through, get a lot of fun stories :) read more

My first time staying at a hostel! It was about $40 dollars for a thursday night and they had free booze when I came in because thursday night was their pub crawl night. Super safe with pass codes on the doors and the staff could not be nicer! I stayed in the girls only dorm there were probably about 8 or 9 bunk beds in there so fit about 20 people. Free cereal and oatmeal on Friday Saturday and Sunday mornings not much but really appreciated. I had an interview friday morning and slept pretty well, they also give out free ear plugs. Overall everything was clean and accommodating, best bang for you buck. I'll definitely stay again if I find myself in the area. OH also about 3 mins from a subway station and great cheesesteak around the corner. read more

I recently stayed here from 20th - 22nd November, 2015. I would recommend anyone to stay here. The location is perfect, walking distance from pretty much everything. The staff is super-friendly and helpful. The hostel is clean and they have some kind of activity going in the evening everyday (Ghost Tour + Beer and Wine & Cheese for the 2 nights I stayed here) . I gave it 4 stars just because I thought being a hostel, it could be more cheaper. And also the mattress could be changed, coz mine made a lot of noise even if I moved a little and that made me very conscious especially if I came in late and all the other people were sleeping, haha!!! Would definitely stay here if I ever visited Philadelphia again!!! read more

Very clean facilities, right near some great bars and sights! Perfect walking distance to hit up pretty much any of the drinking and eating spots. If not it's a cheap Uber ride away. Staff was very friendly, and offered up different events each night of the week to do with fellow bunk mates. People in general are quiet during the night. read more

My boyfriend and I had an excellent time here! It is located in an ideal area for exploring the old city. The staff was friendly and enjoyable, especially Shaniya! We stayed in a private room and it was clean and sizable. They also organized tours and events for their customers. Would definitely recommend! read more

Unbeknown to me I stayed the full yearly allowance of 2 weeks... & from day 1 I knew this was my 2nd home. Yes really, a home from home where the entire staff (Kristy to name just one...) made you feel welcome and went out of their way to make you feel comfortable. All other guests I have met during my stay were great... All helped along by the hostels evening (almost nightly) functions from cheese & wine nights to pasta nights, to beer & movie nights.... The hostel was clean... the dorms were clean... the bathrooms were clean (24/7) Respect... Would I recommend this hostel...? What do you think... Thank you!!! read more

Apple Hostels has got it down to the details. Motion detecting night lights, kitchen utensils, earplugs, towels, sheets, lockers, vending machines (with toothbrushes/paste and ponchos, too?!)... really, just about everything. Free pasta dinner/beer once a week and cereal on the weekends. I wish I could have stayed longer to take advantage of all they had to offer and see more of Philadelphia in general, but they did top off a great one night! This was my first hostel experience, so I was a little nervous from all the horror stories I've heard from friends. Like Ethan said, this is definitely going to be setting the bar high for future expeditions. read more

Wow, it's nice to know there are legit, non-crappy in the US too. Is this as amazing as a German hostel, no, but it's pretty good. Clean, colorful, hip, social. The location is ideal for hostel-type customers, right smack in OLD city (i hate the terminal "e"...olde city....erghghgh) in walking distances of nightlife, food, sights, etc. Rooms and bathrooms are pretty clean. The receptionists were nice, helpful and knowledgable. One thing to know though is that this place is directly across from this club and you can hear the music thumping till pretty late, so if you feel like falling asleep before 1am on a weekend night, you might have some trouble. read more

Apple Hostels was clean, the staff was friendly and the other guests were respectful and fun. There is something social planned every evening and there are things to do if you are hanging out at the hostel (Wii, TV, foosball, guitar, computers, etc). I stayed in a 16 person male dorm and it was comfortable and safe. The location was great; just a few blocks from all the attractions and near many restaurants and bars. All in all, a cheap, safe, clean and fun place to stay in Philly! read more

I've stayed here many times and really like it. The staff is awesome. Other guests tend to be lovely as well. There's always stuff going on, the location is great, and the price is unbeatable. It's also really clean, from the dorms to the bathroom/shower facilities to the well-appointed kitchen . Sure, the bunk beds aren't the most luxurious thing I've ever slept on, but most nights I don't have a problem drifting off and staying asleep. Other nights it's more difficult, like last week when I was startled out of a NyQuil coma by a group of British girls shining their crazy flashlights all over the place and screeching like monkeys at their friend, "GeTUP, you bitch! Get up, we're going out!" (Insert Grumpy Cat GTFO meme here.) Nights like this are very few and far between, but they do happen so it's best to be prepared: 1. Bring an eye mask! Although the overhead lights go off at 11, each bed has it's own reading light that's quite bright, especially if your neighbor's is shining at your face while you're trying to sleep. 2. Take advantage of the free earplugs they offer at the front desk. I don't know how some people rationalize talking on their phones at 3 am in bed instead of going down to one of the common areas, but it happens. Every time I've been woken up, I have not been following this advice. Do as I say (not as I do) and you'll be just fine. Also, the female dorm (which is the only room I've ever stayed in so I'm not sure about the other ones) is often on the warm side, so it's best to leave the flannel pjs at home. read more

A top notch hostel ! Clean, newly renovated building, spacious lounge area, pool table, kitchen, bathroom. I stayed in one of their private rooms which was wonderful - with a large comfortable bed, small table and TV, it was very quiet. The staff are really terrific. Friendly and knowledgeable. I left my jacket there the morning I left, and they mailed it to me in CA the following day. Highly recommended hostel ! read more

This is a solid hostel choice and I'll definitely be staying again. The location is fantastic--you're close to lots of cool shops and historical sites. Generally feels safe (I walked 10 blocks at night by myself no real worries), though the entrance is in an ally which spooked me a bit. My first hostel experience was in Austin and was awesome, so the bar was set pretty high. This dorm was 20 girls (note: if you have sensitivities to perfume, beware) but the bathroom attached only had three sinks/mirrors. People were generally courteous but not overly friendly like my last hostel experience. The club across the street produced plenty of noise but the hostel did offer free earplugs (other places charge for them). Overall, it's a great deal. It's not perfect, but you're paying less than $40! read more

My go to hostel in Philadelphia that always helps me in last minutes. The first time I booked this hostel was for my mother for my graduation ceremony. It happened that I couldn't find any hotel in Philadelphia that had open room for the day she arrived from airport when I was looking through entire city. There was one near airport that you need a car for okay transportation with suit case that she carried with. First I had to little concern about her who did not speak English and probably older compare to other travelers. In fact we could book their private room she was quite happy with her stay there for a night. ( I could book hotel for least of the days) Second time was this thanksgiving holiday which this time I booked for myself. This time I also needed booking in last minutes for 27th night. Because it was only for me and wanted a place I can crash in at very late night if I didn't stay awake all night to catch up with friends. This hostel has friendly front staffs and generally the common areas are clean. The bed is clean, they provide each guest clean beddings and bath towel. The bathroom is spacey. Their Kitchen has almost every essential tools, oven and free coffee and tea and hot cocoa all day. Free Wi-Fi and free use of computers in 1st floor. They usually have free dinner and drinks at night at their kitchen, and free breakfast or coupon for nearby cafe and restaurants that serve good cheap breakfasts as well. Their dorm space is separated for male and female and for couples. I don't expect making friends at hostel but you could totally make new friends there as they are all friendly and wanting to talk especially people who book the dorm room. If I am not staying at friend's place, this is the best way to stay night for me as I am not tourist who wants to enjoy high end hotel stay experience. This is probably only option in my mind in Philadelphia I will actually pay for a place to stay for last minutes plans. I love the fact that it is located in Old City. read more

Very clean, neat, and safe. They change the door code everyday and each floor where the dorms are has their own door code. I felt extremely safe here. The place is all IKEA-ed out which is cute. I really, really liked the fact that each bed had its own reading light and the dorm lights could only be turned on by the staff. I have stayed at other hostels where people drunkenly stumble in and turn on the lights thus waking everyone up. Rude! If you stay in the couples dorm or the semi-private dorm, beware of the 4 flights of stairs! It was quite the workout. It is in a perfect location and close to public transit. They had cool activities planned every night if you are into that (I am not) and the kitchen was nice too. They also give you ear plugs which is nice to block out the noise from the club that is across the street. read more

We booked this hostel for two nights. We got there and the staff are very kind and helpful. The location is also very convenient. So our first impression was perfect. Then we got upstairs to our room, and I saw something on the floor and initially tought it was a big bug, my friend who entered after me saw it again passing betwen two beds, and this time we could clearly see it was a small mouse. We went downstairs and asked to change rooms, they quickly moved us to the other room, but after a few minutes standing there we figured out we would not be able to sleep there knowing there after seeing the small rat in the room just next to ours. Besides everything, the room and all other facilities were very clean and nice. The location is great. And the staff were very comprehensive and tried many other solutions for us to stay. read more

I am not a fan. The staff wasn't very accomidating. The shower had no water pressure and the place was pretty dirty. The food in the refrigerator was old and nasty smelling. There is no way I would reccomend this place or stay there again. read more

Wonderful place to stay! I am a solo traveler and stayed in a four bed room, and there were lockers in the room (which was perfect, as I didn't have to carry my stuff around). The hostel is pretty clean, and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful- they were super helpful in helping navigate the hostel and Philadelphia in general. I stayed on a Saturday night and there was free wine and cheese at 8:00, and you can't get much better than that! They have a calendar of free events throughout the week- other nights had free karaoke, ghost tours, etc. I wish I could have stayed the week! There was free cereal in the morning, as well as free coffee all day. I had a bit of difficulty finding the location to begin with- it's down an alley. Look for the green Trip Advisor flag hanging off the door. At less than $50 a night in a perfect location in Philadelphia, I think this is money well spent, especially given that hotels in Philadelphia are incredibly expensive. read more

I reserved online. Went there, paid for parking went inside exhausted and ready to pass out. The lady at the front was so rude. She asked for id and then rudely twirpped this is for international people only! I was so exhausted and thought I already had a place to stay. She wouldn't let me stay and didn't care when I said you guys should have posted online that it was for international people only! I had to go and find another place to stay at 930 at night. Thanks for nothing! read more

Didn't come in Monday night and when I walked in Tuesday afternoon they had packed my stuff and told me they had canceled my stay. - I had booked and payed to the Friday and not sure where the law stands on this in USA so I would caution any of you only do negative reviews after you have left as they get quite upset and may just kick you out. Worst personable service ever in a hostel yet (been back packing 12 years)! read more

Stayed here back in August - it was my first hostel experience, and I was a bit apprehensive initially. Overall, I really enjoyed it. They have cool events with free food and drinks. I really wasn't expecting much, maybe a small beer per person, but they put out giant bottles of alcohol and mixers haha. They also have lots of games and an environment that's conducive to easily making new friends! The location is amazing, very near public transportation and steps away from multiple bars, restaurants, and attractions. The only downsides are that there were way more beds in the dorms than the website indicates (although the layout is such that the room wasn't super crowded or noisy, plus the partial curtain on the bed offers a bit of privacy) - and the lock on the door to the upper floor with the female dorms was broken for part of my stay. read more

My friends and I (group of 5 girls) stayed at Apple Hostels for 2 nights, Friday night to Sunday morning. Things were going well the first night, the only complaint I initially had was the beds were extremely squeaky. On Saturday night around midnight, we were changing in our co-ed dorm when a heavy set male individual walked in by himself. As the hostel website stated that only male accompanied by women are allowed to stay in the co-ed dorms, we were concerned that this solo man did not belong. Our concerns were amplified when the man walked further inside the room, looked around, and walked back out. We decided to speak to the staff (Max) downstairs about our concerns. He completely dismissed us and said that 30 people had checked in last night so he's probably a new guest. Keep in mind, there are only 16 beds in the room and it still doesn't alleviate our concern. We said that his behavior was odd and the staff's response was that the guy was probably checking in and some guests don't check in properly. WHAT?! My friend then left an honest review for the hostel and of course, they then decided to take our concerns seriously...the next morning. Instead of asking us what the issue was, the first thing the owner said to us was that he wanted us to take down our review. Great customer service. When we explained our concerns, he deflected our questions and focused on explaining who the man was. There were no apologies and he said our "opinion" was unfortunate. We got fed up and decided to just walk away from the situation. Just a few pointers for the owner: if your website states that men can only stay if they are accompanied by a woman, you should stick to that because our safety is important. Also, if you want someone to change their review, it might be best to apologize and not add fuel to the fire. read more

Edit.. the owner(?) of the hostel tried to ask me to take down this review, without apologizing for his staff member's behavior, or asking how they could have made the situation better for my friends and me. Poor business practice; they only care about their reputation and themselves, and not about the guests. Full review below: A creepy random old guy walked into our dorm (the coed room), walked around, then walked back out. Went downstairs to complain about this, as it did not appear that this person was a guest of the hostel (he looked and smelled like he was a straight up homeless person). The guy at the front desk (Max) did not seem to care or believe that this happened. He did not seem to care that we felt unsafe in our rooms, if some random person was able to just walk in, and did not try to alleviate our concerns. Wouldn't recommend. Uncaring staff, dismissive of our concerns about the safety, rude owner, who also dismissed my friends and my concerns. Rather, he only cared about the review, and not about how we were feeling.. what a terrible way to run a hostel, where you try to provide a safe environment for all guests. Additionally, this solo guest was a male in the co-ed dorm, which according to their website, "Only men and women who are traveling together can stay in the Coed dorm room." Guess they only care about lining their pockets and not about the safety of their guests. Although the location is nice (near the historical buildings), it's basically in an alleyway, which seems super shady. Free "breakfast" on weekends (which is cereal and instant oatmeal). Only coffee and tea, no water... they want you to buy their water from their vending machine (again, lining their own pockets). Beds are super squeaky and noisy. Decor seems a bit out-dated. No age limit on the guests of the hostel. read more

Traveling the States by myself, I was extremely keen to stay in places that made me feel safe and welcome. Apple Hostels did just that. The staff were absolutely lovely, the place was extremely well decorated, very safe and in a great location. I really could not have asked for more. read more

Surly staff, sketchy location, mediocre hostel. I've stayed at Apple Hostel three times in the past few years*, and the staff seemed more unfriendly than most hostels I've stayed in. Hostel itself is centrally located, but sketchy and on an alley that smells like urine. There are two common areas, one with loud TV and the other with loud music from 7 am until midnight. They charge the same as the hostels in real cities like San Francisco, Manhattan, and DC, but provide a hostel that is not as nice as the one in Baltimore. Most recently, I made a four-day reservation for this hostel three months ahead of time. The day of my scheduled arrival, I emailed to tell them that I might be coming one day later than I said and to ask a question about parking. They missed the first part, so they canceled my reservation when I came one day later than I said I would. If you stay here, make sure to speak very slowly and make sure they understand, because if they don't understand you and they make a mistake, you're paying for their mistake, and they'll blame you for it. And they even charged me for the first day even though they couldn't find a bed for most of the rest of my reservation (just one of the remaining three days). P.S. When I posted the above review to another site, they sent 4 paragraphs of insults to my personal email account. The issue at hand is irrelevant. Do they gain anything by writing a note to a customer filled with personal criticism? Choice excerpts: "Are you seriously this delusional? A liar? Or are you just an incredibly mean-spirited person? ....You obviously just don't want to take responsibility for your own mistakes. When someone such as yourself posts reviews that are so obviously false, it only serves to make yourself look like a buffoon. To think I felt sorry for you for being so stupid. Thanks for making me realize that you're just an ass who doesn't deserve anyone's pity. For the sake of anyone who has to live with you or deal with you in the slightest way, I hope you grow up. The world doesn't revolve around you. (Oh, I typed this very slowly so that you would understand it. Hope it worked!) Best regards, President, Apple Hostels of Philadelphia" *HI Booking number for stay 1/16/08-1/18/08: 2091538829. Booking number for stay 11/7/09-11/11/09: 11077 Can't find third booking number. read more

Friendly staff. Very adorable. Located in a convenient location -- close to center of the city with Market street being just a one minute walk away, but also private enough to have a sense of calm. The MFL line is also less than a block away! Loved the amenities. Lights off at 11PM, ensuring that I got a good nights sleep. Events at night - free movie & beer night while I was there. Free tea and coffee in the kitchen. Provides shampoo/body wash/bed sheets/the works. Only downfall is that it is a little bit on the pricier side for a hostel. read more

Stayed for a night. Excellent location, 3 blocks away from the Independence Mall and about 15 minute walk to the Market East. One thing I do want to mention is that the hostel is in an alley which may not be the safest for a single girl walking at night even though it's just 300 feet into the alley. The hostel is very welcoming though, main lounge decorated in green and large lounging area. They were having a movie/wine/cheese night when I came which was perfect! 4 desktops for use and free wifi. Connectivity is not the best.. dropped a few times. I was in the female room which is a large room with at least 25 bunk beds. There are 4 shower stalls and 4 toilets on that floor. The lights go off at 11pm but you can turn on your little light. In term of cleaniness, I do not feel like it is very clean or at least the front desk person made me feel that way. He was picking among the sheets in the bucket and finally he said "this one looks better.. no stain, here you go." Questionable huh? read more

I had never been in a hostel before and I think at this point I may be too old to stay in one. I stopped by Apple hostel to visit a friend on the way to a movie last friday and was really impressed by how clean and inviting the space was. It actually looks like a really modern artist type space. Plenty of computers for travelers to use, and a huge clean kitchen to cook if you are so inclined to do so. Friday night was movie night and a Belgian couple had chose National Treasure. The first one. My friend told me that I look like the sidekick from national treasure one time and it kind of bummed me out, but it made me think of having national treasure themed tours of philadelphia kind of like the duck tours but instead of those annoying quackers, everyone would get the glasses that help you see the clue to find the national treasure. If you are an angel investor, feel free to contact me about this lucrative venture. Anyway, if I was able to stay at hostel I would stay at this one. read more