After reading other traveler's experiences, I felt compelled to share a review, which I seldom…read morewrite. I am a 40 year old female from the US. I have not stayed in a hostel in about 12 years, but I was looking for inexpensive accommodations to explore Vancouver. Prior to my late night arrival I was emailed detailed instructions on how to access the building and I had zero issues getting into my room. The rooms are small and warm. I stayed here in October, and it might be a bit uncomfortable in the summer. However, the rooms were clean, free of pests, and I did not experience any of the street noise that other travelers commented about. Some of the showers are icky, but if you shower on a different floor than your room, others are much cleaner. The building itself is quiet, and the other guests were respectful. I felt very safe inside the building. That being said, the neighborhood can be sketchy at night. There are drug addicts on the street after 10 PM. I live near Portland, OR which has a huge homeless population, so I did not feel too uneasy. It might be a good idea to take a taxi at night if you feel uncomfortable. My only complaints were the condition of the showers on my floor and that the bunkbeds were a bit short. I am 5'7". This is by far the cheapest and least sketchy place to stay in town for the price. A private room was around $60 USD per night for 2 people. There is not a "hostel vibe" that you experience in other properties as the common areas are very small and the cooking areas are in the hallways. However, if you are looking for a place to lay your head while you spend your time exploring and money on good food and entertainment, this is a good choice.

Squeak squeak squeak is all you hear on the lower bunk because…read moreThe bunk beds shake and make noise every time the person on top moves Cheap and affordable rooms, only $25 per night in a 4 bed dorm room Lots of European traveling in groups stay here Age range: around 20s to 40s, my roomates were in their 20s Internet was very spotty and disconnected often Restroom does not have a sink, have to go back to room to wash hands Historic building in downtown Vancouver, close to Granville SkyTrain station Originally built in early 1900's to accommodate railway and ocean-going travelers Showers and toilets are communal, two stalls per floor TV room downstairs had cable but the TV was 13" dorm sized Entrance is locked after 10pm, safe and secure location Located about 10 to 15 minutes from nightlife on Granville Street Conclusion: I'm a light sleeper that was assigned to the lower bunk. Due to the random person on top twisting and turning and shaking all night (smelled like weed and talked to himself), I could only sleep 45 minutes that night. I was only expecting to have a roof over my head and a pillow under my head for maybe 6 hours, but it didn't happen. Unless you are on an extreme budget, whip out an additional $10/night and stay at Hostelling International Vancouver Central instead. It's right in the middle of the entertainment area of downtown Vancouver, the beds are much more comfortable, and the facilities are a bit more modern.

Make sure to bring a towel and flip-flops if you're planning to take a shower. Also bring shampoo…read moreand soap, considering their version looks like it would contain sulfites. The bathrooms have a lot of toilet tissue on the floors and they have signs that ask them to be notified if it's not clean but I didn't have time to wait. I didn't take a shower because there wasn't a lot of space to put my stuff down in a clean area. The bathrooms are shared, but they do have a really great mirror to put on make up. Extremely cramped living quarters with very little space to put luggage down. They require you to buy a lock for $8.95 if you want to stow valuables and it's a big bulky lock, that's heavy and you probably don't want to buy (wish they would rent the locks because I have no other use for this bulky thing). The worst part is the stairs... It would be a great work out, except that it's super annoying when you have heavy luggage to carry upstairs multiple flights of floors. There is no elevator, there is no AC, you better arrive tired because it's pretty loud at night. This hostel is 3 stars imo but I gave them an extra star because their staff is super friendly, it's a good location, their breakfast is convenient (fresh bagels with fruits and vegetables), and Vancouver needs more budget-friendly options.

I went there today to check it out because we never know if the photos make justice to the actual…read moreplace, especially when the location is shady like it is in Ocean Beach. I'm a very calm, sweet and good looking young woman and I'm not going to be humble about it. There was no reason for that bald male receptionist to be that rude to me given all the sketchy ppl that usually go to Ocean Beach. If you're a nice female customer, I would look for a safer location, and would never put your safety at risk on that place. The customer that was there was looking at me like he wanted to apologize for the receptionist's rudeness. It was really bad. I understand that ppl are not allowed inside to see the place for safety issues, but there are way kinder ways of saying it to a potential future customer. I can't stand when people in low paid jobs act like they have power (small power) and decide to be rude to kind people like me, and they do that with a big and ugly gummy smile on their faces. It's so petty!

I was pleased with everything pertaining to my one night stay. For the affordability factor, it is…read moreworth the distance. Located a long way from downtown Vancouver. The cleaning crew is terrifically efficient. I can admit, the host was pleasantly courteous. I would recommend this place to anyone. I was able find it easily, by taking public transportation.

My friend and I booked VBG based on the good reviews on Hostelworld.com. The closest Skytrain stop…read moreis Metrotown and VBG is just a few blocks from the mall. We arrived in Vancouver on a light drizzly afternoon, and as directed, called the number so that we could ensure that someone would meet us to take us to our room. For more than 2 hours, my phone calls and emails went unanswered and I finally decided we would just walk to the address provided and figure it out from there. We walked thru a suburban neighborhood and a man raking his leaves pointed us in the right direction, which was a good sign that this place had been used by other travelers. The Guesthouse was just a regular house down the street. Upon walking inside, we heard complaints of the lockers having no locks and the dryer being broken, according to other backpackers. As it turned out, VBG is actually a variety of different properties owned by one person, who was in Taiwan at the time. The phone number provided belonged to the owner and that is why there was no answer. Meanwhile, staff members helped us check in, pay, and then walked with us about half a mile to another apartment, about 10 minutes (walking) from the MetroTown Station. Our apartment was clean and we claimed a room with 2 beds. We were given keys for our apartment and room, fresh linens, and then rationed 1 roll of toilet paper each, to use for a week. Anything after that, we were told, we'd have to purchase for ourselves. Check out was easy, just undo the linens and leave the keys behind. All in all, decent value for what we paid, (~$25/bed/night). We had about 5 housemates to share with, but there were no problems whatsoever. VBG was a good, quiet place to stay, if you don't mind being farther away from the city. Note: From the Metrotown skytrain station, it takes about 10-15 minutes to get to the City center. Don't stay here if you're looking to party. This Guesthouse is more suited for those who want a homey place to stay. In fact, 3 of the housemates were staying here (long term) while job-searching. My only complaint is that they should have provided better service to respond when we were calling the number they provided. If we'd waited for someone to call back, who knows how long we would have waited outside the BG Urban Cafe...

Gayle and I spent 5 nights at this WorldMark through the generosity of her Sister (and her husband)…read morewho are members. Our Condo was well located in Downtown Vancouver, and easily walkable to Stanley Park, the West End, Gas Town, and places in-between. The Condo also had a nice view of the skyline and a nice living room to relax and take it all in. The unit was also clean and well appointed. There were a few "negatives": 1. The pool and gym require a walk over to the nearby Sheraton. We also found that with Uber, it's best to go over to Sheraton for pickup and drop off as the algorithm can't seem to comprehend 1080 Hornby Street. 2. Even with AC within this hot Vancouver week, the Condo was stuffy and required multiple fans to help with overall comfort. 3. This Condo had no balcony or other outdoor hangout option, other than finding a local park.

We arrived and didn't know where to access the main door. It's just a few steps to the right of the…read moremain doors and there are a few steps to drag our suitcase inside. It was a quick check in and we were early but a room was ready. There are a few snacks for purchase, water refill, and tourist brochures. We headed down the ramp and towards the two elevators. For all the floors in the buildings, the elevators were pretty quick. We made our way to the 23rd floor to our apartment style hotel that we would be staying at for the next 5 nights. We entered and there was a washer and dryer, and a large closet that had the broom and a fan. I think the safe was also in the closet. The kitchen space was great to have a full sized fridge, stove, coffee maker, and lots of pots and pans and utensils. This was very convenient as we went to get groceries for breakfast every day. The seating area had a tv, and counter place for when we ate. It wasn't big and there was no dining table but it was sufficient. There was also a temperature control in this space. Both bedrooms were spacious with one having large windows with great views of downtown. The other room had a small window. There were 2 bathrooms, and one that was in the area of the smaller bedroom. The other bathroom was spacious. There's a parkade and it's secure requiring the room key to enter and exit, and also enter the elevator. We didn't have an issue to find a parking space during our stay. During our stay, they were were accommodating when we requested more coffee, paper towels, and laundry pods. The only complaints I have were that it could get noisy from all the sirens in the night, and that our bedroom could get cold at night. Otherwise, everything about this place was great! There's a games room with a ping pong table, pool table, and many books. The location was also great and convenient to be downtown.

I am a lifetime member of Hostelling International and have stayed at many hostels across the U.S…read more and Canada. This was my first visit to Vancouver, so it only seemed natural to check out one of the HI locations. I only stayed a couple of nights, but had a pretty good experience overall. Here are some comments: 1. The best thing about my room was the great bed and comforter. Hands down, this may have been the best hostel comforter I've ever experienced, and everyone else who has stayed there knows exactly what I am talking about. 2. The four-bed room is ideal for travelers and I liked the in-room sink and lockers. It is super convenient with the bathrooms and showers down the hall. 3. The WiFi is HORRIBLE. The only place where the signal is strong is the reception area on the first floor. Otherwise, you are basically playing Russian roulette with the signal strength, and areas where it should be strong like the tables near the kitchen are actually weak. 4. I also understand that elevators are not always necessary, but the stairways from the 2nd floor up are small and really difficult if you have a suitcase or god forbid, more than one. 5. I was always gone early in the mornings so never took advantage of the free breakfast, but the kitchen area was well stocked and clean, and the large fridge made it easy to store your own food. 6. Lastly, this hostel is conveniently located near tons of good restaurants, clubs, and bars, but when it is full of drunk people, it's not so much fun if you are not the partying type ... or over 30.

Hostelling International (HI) has a solid reputation in the hostel industry. I was a fan of several…read moreHI hostels in the US, so I recently booked HI again, this time in downtown Vancouver for one night. It is directly across the street from the SameSun Backpacker Lodge. Both hostels are popular amongst travelers because of their desirable location - in close proximity to Granville Street's nightlife district, Robson Street's shopping area, and only a 2 mile drive to Stanley Park. The nearest SkyTrain station is only a 5 minute walk away. A week prior to arrival, I reserved a two bed dorm on hostelworld.com, but when I checked in late at night, the confused receptionist assigned me to a four bed dorm. Their reservation system appeared to be useless and disorganized. It was probably first come first serve and my "reserved" two bed room was already taken. Bad impression, but at least the four bed room is a bit cheaper ($37 vs. $45). There were four co-ed floors of bedrooms. I was fortunate to be assigned to the least noisy region - fourth floor facing away from Granville Street. My room was equipped with an individual locker, sink, closet for storage, and 2 sets of bunk beds. You can turn on the A/C but it is extremely noisy. The ambiance was basic like a motel or dorm room, but most important to me, the bed was more comfortable than the one at St. Clair Hostel. I was able to sleep for 7 hours interrupted. One interesting aspect is that restroom access requires a keycard to be swiped before entering, just like a dorm. The shower inside was clean and functional. WIFI is fair, not good enough for a Facetime call but OK for checking email. The WIFI password is ridiculously long. HI-Vancouver Central is a hostel that I would recommend for anyone staying in Vancouver on a budget, and is simply looking for a comfortable night of sleep plus a place to shower. Why stay at a hotel and pay over $100 per night when you'll be traveling and sightseeing most of the day? Book this hostel instead, and save your money to spend on food or souvenirs in Vancouver. If you're young and into the nightlife scene, the hostel is only 1 to 2 blocks away from dozens of popular clubs and bars.

Good: 1) Staff are nice and helpful…read more Bad: 1) No air conditioning, room was very stuffy at night 2) terrible location (although there is a great Persian restaurant called Cazba nearby) 3) 1 men's bathroom per floor, only 2 small sinks, VERY small and crowded with multiple guys in there, not all the toilets have hooks on the doors, and one of the 3 showers was not operational for 3 days 4) very expensive for what you get. Simultaneously the worst and most expensive hostel I've stayed at. But I hear high prices are true of Vancouver accommodations generally.

Definitely a great value for inexpensive lodging. It may not be for everyone, though, if you're not…read morecool with sharing a dorm style room (private rooms available for higher price, I think) with up to 3 people. The bunks were decent enough, but climbing above is sort of a pain. Bring your own lock if using a locker. Small lavatory in room, but might as well use the restroom down the hall which has better space for crap and can shower. Also, anyone who's anyone can stay here. I've seen young to *gasp* old senior nude men in the restroom doing whatever. I like the improved awareness for being green and conserving. Free towel use. Stuff there include: Self-serve kitchen TV/Theater room Games room Internet room Library room Organized events Rooftop patio 2 things that stuck out during my stay were value and culture (I heard french and german each day I was there)... the blackboard behind the counter with several different languages is awesome, too. Korean and Thai food within 1 block. More stuff not included in this review.

Odd. This apartment building complex, turned, furnished apartments that rent by the day, week or…read moremonth has seen better days. The lift, and I call it a lift because its not a modern elevator is a bit frightening. If the previous user doesn't close the elevator properly then you'll never be able to call that elevator to your floor. We needed a place to stay due while our place was being restored due to a fire and grateful for the hosts friendliness and essentric manner this place is not for you if you want a restful nights sleep. I'm a heavy sleeper and the commuter Skytrain who's charging by ever few minutes from about 530am to past midnight allowed me a bare few hours sleep in the comfortable bed. Arundel Manor is basic and has all the amenities one needs for a short stay. Built around 1912, this is not a sound proof building. The wifi is spotty, I would suggest a unit closer to the router, We were on the top floor so it was difficult to remain connected for long period of time. You can open the kitchen window light shaft to allow wifi to trickle in your unit but we had our pets with us and adraid they may sneak out to their demise. Our hosts even contacted their internet provider who said they gave them faster Internet but its made no difference to us in speed or being dropped. Another Yelper referred this place as a B&B, it's most definately not a B&B today.The elevator is often used as a storage locker. So it was quite fit that on the last week (when we gave the owner/manager notice, she wanted 1 weeks notice after we continually advised the wifi didn't work and the gas leak in our unit made our unit non functional) that we found mouse droppings in our kitchen cutlery drawer. At the time I stayed there the rate was $120/night or $490/week or $1600/month PLUS 12% HST. In comparison, the Courtyard Marriott Downtown was $123/night including full hot breakfast. So if you don't mind the noise and nuances of a very old building, and an owner that is only intersted in getting you checked in and taking your money and not following up with issues, this is the place for you. Dont forget to bring your VHS tapes, our room had a tube TV and VCR! Classic!

This is a rather interesting place, that my traveling partners and I happened upon entirely through…read morea double booking done by Priceline.com. We had booked a house that was a bit away, but after the charming British couple arrived to sort out how Priceline could have billed us without a room available, they offered us accommodation at this hotel. It was a bit of a surprise as one of them actually drove us from the rental house to the hotel. This hotel is not something that you'd expect. While it's clean, it's not a modern building, the furniture and many of the fixtures are vintage to 1912. Clawfoot bathtubs have been patched, single-paned windows have painted-over locking mechanisms and no screens, no air conditioning to let you close the windows against the sounds of the freight trains nearby or the Sky Train that is literally next to the building. Water pressure and temperature varies, the elevator is an ancient thing with manual operating doors that don't automatically open or close (therefore if the previous user doesn't take care to close them, the elevator stays at the last floor indefinitely, and the elevator can arrive at your floor but be summoned away before you get a chance to open the door). However, if you want to be in an incredibly convenient location in a true hotel suite (living/dining room, separate large bedroom with king-sized bed, full kitchen with a full complement of cookware, and a cabinet in the dining area with a full tea set - did I mention the owners were English?) this is an amazing find. It is literally a block from the Sky Train station, shopping (including grocery stores) and restaurants are all around, as well as the river front boardwalk to explore.

A newly renovated condo style hotel in the heart of the bustling, lively Davie Village/Sunset…read moreBeach/St. Paul's Hospital neighborhood. Self serve style. Clean, well appointed King one bedroom suite, with a gracious, kind staff. Felt like a wee home in the city when visiting St.Paul's Hospital daily, for a week with my Mom. The Secured parking alleviated the stress of finding parking. 10th floor corner unit had a glorious view. Will stay again in a heartbeat! Full Stars!

So the hotel has got everything going for it: location, clean and comfortable rooms with all…read moreamenities, hot breakfast included, everything is top notch. But, placards at the reception and in the rooms, their language leave you with impression that Nurse Ratched from "One Flew of The Cuckoo's Nest" is running the place. I understand that there are guests that don't behave and don't follow the rules, but this kind of wording is over the line and makes guests feel uncomfortable, so I'm taking one star off just for that. This is not how a hospitality business should communicate with customers.