To start, the sleeping arrangements were below average. The beds creaked incredibly loudly, even with the slightest movement, making it difficult to get a good night's rest. Additionally, the customer service was incredibly poor. I was double-charged--once on my card and again on my mother's card, which was only meant to be used for the initial deposit. When I raised this issue, I was told that the refund to her card was sufficient, which was extremely frustrating considering the refund I requested was for the seven nights I had canceled. When I called Robin (from the UK) to address this matter, he was hostile, refused to let me explain the situation, took offense to me calling him sir, and then abruptly hung up on me mid-sentence. I DO NOT recommend Planet Traveler! Instead, I suggest staying at the SameSun Hostel next door--the staff there were incredibly patient, kind, and helpful. Now, I am out approximately 200 CAD for a stay I never even had... read more

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Clean, safe, and great community! What can I say, plus free breakfast. Affordable and conveniently located in downtown Toronto, hub of hubs nearest Chinatown and all the public transit. Great staff! read more

The Planet Traveler - Kitchen - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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//5 stars for great crew I cannot say enough about this hostel. I've stayed in several hostels but Natasha is the queen. As soon as I entered I was greeted warmly by her and she had the very pleasant welcoming greeting and tour of the entire hostel. I can tell she enjoyed working there. She's a hard worker without a drop of dissatisfactions That being said, apart from the free breakfast, free towel and also great almost daily hostel events - it was one of the best hosted I've ever spent my time in. The boozy bingo (hosted by Natasha) was the best intro to my weekend. I met great people from around the world that I am still IG friends with. The dorms are small, not gonna lie - it felt cramped at certain points but I did not mind that because the goods out weighed the bad. They give you a locker outside the room (still behind a secured door) which keeps it quiet when packing to not do disturb the other mates. Plus you don't need a lock, they have a key to borrow. May I say the rooftop is the spot to be in? With great views and plenty of seating, it's the area to hangout and find friends. I cannot imagine anyone spending money to stay anywhere else other than this hostel. 100% recommend read more

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Amazing hostel. I stayed here on my mini excursion into Toronto and was impressed with the sheer awesomeness of the place. The hostel staff is awesome. The rooms are nice. The price is right. In usual hostel fashion, if you stay in The Planet Traveler, you have plenty of time to meet and get to know your hostel mates. And you can get to know them better through the various activities put on in the hostel, a definite win. Another great thing about The Planet Traveler is the location. It's so close to the lively part of Toronto. I definitely enjoyed my stay here and I know I would stay again for even more adventures. read more

Let me say first: the essentials are absolutely here. The hostel is very safe, very clean, and in a great location. These and some other things they excel at, and at the same time some things kept my experience for being great. No, it wasn't the dude who snores like a chainsaw (seriously). The hostel is very safe: without a key or being let in you're not getting into the building. Furthermore, you need a key to get into not only your room, but your floor. If your room is on the second floor, it'll work only on the second. The hostel is also very clean. I had absolutely no issues with anything being dirty or dusty. This goes for the common areas, and rooms. Speaking of: The common lounge has a lot of great amenities, including a TV, kitchen, computers, and just space to hang out. The staff here is terrific! They are all very friendly and sociable, and happy to offer suggestions or help. Location is great being on a tram stop (the rumble was neither felt not heard in the rooms unless you were specifically looking and listening for it). It is also stone's throw from the amazing Kensington Market with lots of great little stores, shops, bars, etc. but that is for another review. Location is also pretty centered, and fairly close to many other attractions. They do offer a continental breakfast, as well as kitchen, however I did not use these. There is also a rooftop patio and weekly events (BBQ, pub crawl, movie night, etc.) There are also some things which are brilliant ideas: when you enter your room, there is a small hall with the bathroom and lockers, and a door for the sleeping area. Awesome to be able to use the toilet and access my locker without waking anyone. Lockers are of a modest size, and have outlets inside! It would be nice if they had shelves (maybe like those people have in high school?). They're also very eco-friendly, but rooms are still climate controlled! 70-72 degrees is generally an agreeable temperature, and while I was a little warm, I like it cold when I sleep. Now the not so great: Rooms are extremely cramped, the area per person was among the smallest out of any hostel I've been to, including NYC. The beds aren't too comfy, and are extremely steamy! If you toss and turn, the light sleepers may wake! Also, the way the staircase to the top bunk are laid out, you might accidentally get into a strangers bunk. I think someone almost crawled onto my bed, though it was dark enough that I could very well be wrong. Speaking of darkness: the reading lights are quite bright. If the intent was to not disturb others, heh, they're bright enough to almost light up the room! And something I would not have thought of, but was mentioned by another: there is no staff between midnight and 7am, and no emergency contact number. If there's a burst pipe, someone does a Technicolor yawn on someone else's bed, broken heat in the middle of winter, a severe flight delay, etc., there's nothing that can be done. Solution: have a person on call: if card is lost have a fee to be let in. This is something especially important as the hostel grows. And as a very minor note: the shower head in my room was a bit funky (good volume, but low pressure). read more

I've been to enough hostels to be able to tell the great from the OK from the not-so-great. This one is great. The staff really take pride in what they do, and they do all the little things well. They give you a tour when you arrive, and they keep everything in tip-top shape. That's increasingly rare these days. The common area isn't huge, but they make it work pretty well - the old phone booths give you a little privacy. The bathrooms are nice and the beds are comfortable enough. They put on plenty of social events without turning it into an obnoxious party hostel. And their rooftop bar is the crown jewel, with a fantastic view of the skyline. Definite recommend. read more

The beds were creaky, however, the staff and other guests were very friendly. The hostel was clean, had a large kitchen area, plenty of bathrooms, and a really nice rooftop lounge! read more

This is one of the best hostels I have ever lived! First of all, the dorms are very clean, I mean really clean, especially the bathroom! The staffs are also very friendly, but the one I met in the first day, he seemed like had a busy day! I don't blame him, cause working in a hostel is not an easy job! Free breakfast! read more

The Planet Traveler - The hostel near by a church, it gives you a sense of serenity! But you are probably scared to touch that pogo stick! - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Awesome hostel. My first time staying in one and I'm glad. Really set the bar. Very friendly and helpful staff! Free breakfast available in the AM! It's located in a nice area where you can walk and check out local spots. There is something to do each night if you don't know what to do. The rooms and bathrooms were very clean! The view from the rooftop is spectacular! Karaoke on Friday night is a great time! BYOB and meet new people and enjoy Ben the host! Price Clean Fun Safe I can't wait to visit and stay again! read more

The Planet Traveler - View from rooftop at planet traveler - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've stayed at a lot of hostels, all over the place, and this is by far the coolest and best hostel I've ever stayed at. Recently renovated, all the rooms are very clean and bright. I shared a private room with my mom and we had bunk beds with a full mattress on the bottom and twin on top. Two words: MEMORY FOAM. My back was in heaven. It was a bit noisy on the weekends, so bring earplugs. The bathroom could have been cleaner, but compared to other places I've stayed it was really nice overall. They are a green hostel, so let me explain what that means in this context. All their energy is self-generated and maintained. They use geothermal, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, and heat capture technologies for all their energy consumption and output. There are also no napkins or paper towels anywhere, just hand towels that are reused and washed. You can even go into their "boiler room" of sorts where the energy is sorted out across the building. Some perks: *Centrally located and close to awesome hangouts and bars. Right around the corner from Kensington. 10-15 min walk to the Subway and Chinatown. *Free breakfast every morning. Bananas, bagels (peanut butter, jam, or butter options), cereal. Don't try to store anything in either of their 2 fridges though; they're always packed! *Free BBQ for all guests at 7pm on Saturdays. By far the most fun aspect of your experience at Planet Traveler. If you're going to stay there, make sure your trip lasts through a Saturday night. I met so many awesome people and we all went out that night after the BBQ and partied together. *3 Mac computers downstairs in the lobby, free to use, and a flat screen TV. Some annoyances: *They only have 4 parking spaces and they charge $5 a day. Make sure you don't park anywhere else in that back alley or you will be towed! *Can't check in or use the downstairs lobby after midnight. *Check out is a bit of a hassle because you have to bring down all your linens and there's no elevator. Overall this place rules and I will definitely stay there again! read more

This place definitely set the bar high for hostels in Canada! Or anywhere else for that matter! I stayed at a a different hostel in Toronto first and thought it was pretty decent but the planet traveler out did it in more ways than one. Location: Right in between Chinatown, Kensington, and little Italy. A two min. walk to a 24 hour convenience store with an ATM. I brought a car to Toronto (silly mistake) and I was in luck, there are a couple overnight parking options and are walking distance from the hostel. Nightlife: it isn't true that you have to travel far for nightlife. Literally down the street, a 5-10 minute walk down Augusta street there's a fun, tasteful bar called Supermarket. Down Augusta even more are a couple more options! Rooms/atmosphere: very clean and modern! The staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is very "open". Most every person I came by was eager to know where I was from and what I'm doing in Toronto. At the other hostel I stayed at in toronto everybody seemed closed off... This place was the opposite! They have lockers in the rooms along with easy keys to use. The rooftop lounge is brilliant. I hope to come back in the summer time so that I can actually hangout outside the rooftop lounge before freezing my butt off! Also, at the beginning of my stay I was given a 10 minute tour of the whole hostel! I thought that was very professional and thorough of them to do so! This place made my time in Toronto so much better. I recommend it 110%. read more

The Planet Traveler - The view from the rooftop bar Lounge...seriously so beautiful! - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Fantastic Hostel in Toronto Near the Vibrant Kensington Market Neighbourhood! I stayed at The Planet Traveler for three nights at the end of April 2016 as a solo female traveler and had an amazing experience there. The hostel is situated inside a restored historic building and it is extremely eco-friendly with modern yet simple decor. The hostel is centrally located in a FANTASTIC neighbourhood on College Street and is within short walking distance (5 minutes) from the quirky, vibrant and diverse Kensington Market and Chinatown neighbourhoods where you will find lots of unique shops and a variety of ethnic restaurants. The hostel is also very close to Little Italy. You can get from the hostel to Toronto's downtown core area by foot (20-25 minute walk) or via a quick 10-minute streetcar ride (the streetcar stop for downtown is only a 5 minute walk from the hostel). Public transport is abundant and easy to find and two subway stations are also situated nearby (Bathurst and Spadina). The staff that I interacted with during my stay at Planet Traveler were so friendly and helpful and they always appeared to be in positive moods. They were very knowledgeable about the city and its attractions and neighbourhoods and how to get around from place to place. I liked that I was provided with a detailed tour of the building upon my arrival, which was great. I stayed in the 6-bed female dorm and although it was a small room and a little tight for six people, it was incredibly clean, the metal bunk beds were new and sturdy, and the mattresses and pillows were super comfortable. My bed was pre-made when I checked in which was a nice touch, and towels were provided. Each bed had two power outlets and a reading lamp, which made charging my phone in the nighttime very convenient. There were individual metal lockers located in a separate foyer area before entering the dorm (locks were provided as well) and the dorm had its own ensuite washroom with a shower. It was great to have a washroom so close-by! The common areas in the basement of the hostel were really comfortable and cozy, with lots of couches and wooden tree stump stools and a flat screen TV. There were MAC computers for guests to use and the fully equipped kitchen was spacious and new. The complimentary breakfast was served from 7 AM to 1 PM and it was tasty and satisfying enough for me. It consisted of bananas, a wide assortment of cold cereals with milk, bagels with jam and butter and coffee and tea. There were a couple of wooden picnic tables for seating. The Wi-Fi connection was very fast and strong everywhere in the building, which was great. The rooftop patio was one of my favourite parts about this hostel. There was an indoor portion with seating and a self-serve bar area and an outdoor area with wooden tables, potted plants, and couches. I loved sitting on the rooftop in the early mornings and evenings while admiring the beautiful panoramic views of Toronto's downtown cityscape and skyscraper buildings along with the CN Tower. There were also great views of College Street and the Little Italy neighbourhood from the other side of the patio. During most evenings, the hostel staff organized group activities for all of the guests on the rooftop patio. I participated in the trivia night and it was so much fun and it provided me with the opportunity to meet some cool new friends as well. Other amenities that the hostel offers include: laundry room (with a washer and dryer for a small fee); bicycle rentals for a fee; free and secure luggage storage room; and free local calls. I especially loved the relaxed, casual and laid-back atmosphere at the hostel and the friendly, social and welcoming vibe. This is not a party hostel and I enjoyed the fact that I could get a good night's sleep. I have nothing negative to say about my stay here and would highly recommend this hostel to anyone who is traveling to Toronto, and especially for independent and budget travelers! I absolutely loved the Planet Traveler and it has been one of the best hostels that I have stayed in so far during my travels. read more

One of the best hostels I have stayed at! Hostel: Clean and modern. The lobby/common lounge is nice- MAC computers were available for public use. Seamless check-in. Rooms were clean and modern. Bathrooms were cleaned everyday. Complimentary breakfast. Staff was wonderful. Rooftop: Direct view of the CN Tower, and there was a complimentary hamburger dinner for all of the guests on the rooftop, which was wonderful. I spoke with the owner of the hostel (while he was grilling patties), and he was genuine and showed a lot of passion for hostels. I would only recommend this hostel to my closest friends and family. read more

I want to give Planet Traveller a bad review, because I had a particularly bad experience with them. The root of the problem is that Planet Traveler's front desk and front door closes at Midnight - and this isn't advertised anywhere that we could find. So when a bad string of traffic on I-79 and the QEW left us about 4 hours behind on our travel schedule we arrived to find the locked door, the phone number went straight to voicemail, and no 24-hour emergency contact. The worst part about this was since our phones didn't operate in Canada, we couldn't have even told them we were coming late if we wanted to - and since they only cater to non-toronto residents, I'm sure this is a common occurrence. We wound up entertaining ourselves the whole night, but it definitely wasn't our plan, and worst of all when we arrived utterly exhausted from our 10 hour drive and 6 hour tour-de-Toronto(After going to work at 5am), they still made us pay for the night that we couldn't utilize because they closed. No one was energized enough to fight them on it, and we already knew all of the other hostels were booked, so we gave in. How could this place recover from a story like that? It's clean, comfortable, modern, and friendly. At no point was the staff ever rude to us, the computers had free internet, and you could get free wifi in the bottom area. There was a full kitchen, with breakfast(bagels, jams, etc) served every morning until 1 and checkout isn't until noon. The bathroom was tastefully decorated, the shower was warm and well-pressurized. The rooms were modern, full of natural light, with comfortable beds and above all spotless. The doors were all controlled by RFID cards, so no awkward keys to carry around, and the parking was $5/day. To top it all off, the night we were actually there, they had a free BBQ on the roof and all guests were invited to attend - most stopping by after going to the liquor store around the corner. Beyond the rough experience, this place was a treat to stay at, and I would come back in a heartbeat, with better travel arrangements in place, or some email communication of a plan-b before booking. The area it is in is nice, very vibrant during the day and there is a streetcar right outside. Be sure to check out the roof, the views are stunning. To recap: Get there before midnight or you're screwed read more

I've got a problem: this was my first hostel experience, and I am utterly convinced that no other hostel will even manage to approach my experience here. For the price and experience, I'd easily take this place over any hotel in the area. The rooms are clean, everybody is incredibly friendly, and it's smack-dab in the middle of Toronto. They run events all the time, breakfast comes free, their lockers have power outlets (BRILLIANT!). I can gush more, but I won't bother. This place is overwhelmingly good in every single way I would judge a hostel. If you're a 20-something planning on staying in Toronto, book here. You won't regret it. Please be forewarned that the lobby closes at midnight, so checking in after is impossible. read more

So much to love about the hostel you forgive the shortcomings -Great location. Close to a super hip and trendy neighborhood (Kensington market), A fantastic China town with delicious eats all over, and public transportation right outside. Bixie (rental) bike stations right outside along with scooter rentals down the street, hostel will also rent you a bike for $20 for the day. Budget car rental one block away as well. -Everything for the most part is very clean. Place gets vacuumed everyday, along with bathrooms. Speaking of bathrooms, there are one in every room, along wjth a public on every floor, and 2 in each common area, very handy. - Young staff is really helpful and friendly. These aren't corporate trained machines like a hotel would have, they're travelers just like you who live, work, and play in the city of Toronto. Made it really easy to relax - beautiful spacious rooftop lounge with indoor and outdoor seatings and gorgeous views of the Toronto skyline. Plasma screen and bar with a fridge as well (although the bar is byob). On Saturday nights it's free BBQ night (burgers) and honestly rivals in atmosphere any one of torontos roof top bars, current and former residents mingle, eat, and drink the night away, had a great time on both of my stays here and think it's one of the best Percs of the hostel. They also show movies on a big projection screen on Mondays and serve free popcorn and honestly was also alot of fun. My only complaint would be to bring in more lounge chairs to sit and soak up some sun, could boost an already amazing feature to the next level. -Free breakfast. About 10 different cereals, banannas, bunch of different breads, bagels, jelly, and peanut butter and milk. They keep it constantly stocked and refreshed so even if you sleep in you'll have everything waiting for you. Loved how the staff came every few mins to make sure milk was full and everything was tidy. Great time to also mingle, check emails, etc. -free wifi but think this is the biggest shortcoming. It needs to handle the load of people they get. People coming from all over the world, looking for jobs, apartments, etc. Maybe looking to get a 5 min Skype Convo with someone from home, whatever. Wifi is just so painfully slow at peak hours, and the range makes it spotty in the rooms, which means you will always have to go downstairs to check emails, Facebook, etc. read more

This is by far one of the cleanest and most modern hostels I've ever stayed in. The front desk staff is helpful and friendly and there until midnight everyday. It is affordable, and if you have your car with you, there are 4 spots offered for the hostel at $8 per day, which is an amazing price for parking in Toronto! They have a great continental breakfast that is from 7 am - 1 pm, and they have a good spread of different breakfast items. There's a large fridge and stove top that is accessible to all guests for personal use. The lobby offers multiple and plentiful seating and table areas, and even two old school private phone booths you can use to have private conversations in. There is a community board with events in the hostel and around the city. They have plenty of maps, touristy tips, board games, and other reading material. There is a rooftop deck which offers amazing and beautiful views of downtown Toronto. A great photo op. There is plenty of patio seating, tables, and benches there as well. There is also an indoor bar, TV, and seating area on the upper deck as well. I love that they do community parties, outings, BBQ, and a lot of other fun things to get to know your neighbors. Hostels are an amazing place to meet people from all around the world. A couple of drawbacks: the rooms are super cramped and no AC. I know it's a hostel, but maybe reconfiguring room layouts would help maximize the space issues. The wifi only works in the lobby and upper deck, so you can't get any wifi in your room. They said they're working on expanding their network strength, but no definitive deadline for when that may be. It would be nice to sit in the comfort of your own space and privacy sometimes to get things done. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! I would definitely come back here. read more

The Planet Traveler - Night time view from the roof deck! - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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When we travel to Toronto we stay at hostels. I was with my twenty year old daughter and this time we stayed at The Planet Traveler which is located on College right next to Kensington Market. Planet Traveler is a "green" facility, I believe it is the only green hostel in North America. It is very clean and modern. We had a private room with a shared bathroom. The beds were very comfortable. I had three complaints about the room; there was no table, shelf or desk to put your bags on, no trash can and the wifi was hit or miss. In the common areas the wifi worked great! We had to put our suitcases on the floor and it was pretty messy after a day or two. You can not beat the price or accommodations. Our room was about 80.00 per night (including tax), it was on the public transportation line so there was no need to have a car. The common spaces were very comfortable, The view from the rooftop is lounge is incredible. The kitchen was well-stocked and looked awesome! Breakfast was served from 7 to 1! I can not count how many times I have missed out on a breakfast while traveling because I did not want to get out of bed. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I spoke with Anthony, the owner several times and I could tell that it is his goal to meet the needs of all his guests. Most of the guests were college aged kids but there were a few of us that had been around the sun a few more times. I did not feel out of place. I highly recommend Planet Traveler. read more

I loved the location next to Kensington Market (great neighborhood for diverse food and shops), and I felt very safe here as well. The building seems updated with nice bathrooms, a gorgeous rooftop terrace, and fun nightly activities to meet fellow boarders. My only issue with the facility was the tiny size of the room itself. It is one of the smallest hostel rooms I have stayed in. The mattresses were also not as comfortable (and were loud when moving on the mattress) as other hostels where I have boarded. I did not see an elevator nor was I informed of one, but there are several floors, so be prepared to carry your luggage (as I did). The staff is very friendly though I had a hard time getting some local activity suggestions and info on public transportation (which is complicated in Toronto). No bad attitudes here! I met some awesome people here which made the stay ideal. The 6-bed women's dorm was about $33 CAD/night which is a great price for the area and cleanliness. read more

Whaaaaaaaaaat. The Planet Traveler is by far the one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in. Where do I even begin? Friendly staff with great recommendations on things to do, brand new mac computers in the commons, bagel/cereal/banana breakfast until 1 PM (I repeat, breakfast until one. o'clock. in the afternoon.), telephone booths with free local calls, laundry facilities, plenty of space for people to hang out, a rooftop deck/bar area with an amazing view, lockers that come with keys and OUTLETS in the lockers (ah yes, charge, my darling computer, while I safely put you away..), pristine en suite bathrooms, EXTREMELY comfortable beds that are already made (some hostel require that you make the beds), AND that's not even the best part of it: It's a green hostel too! They have all reusable energy. You can look up all the details on their website. This hostel provides very complete set of amenities, ultra clean and comfortable, and is allthewhile affordable. 30 dollars a night is a STEAL for what you get here. How is it possible that so many wonderful things have been crammed into one building? I'm perplexed at how but oh so happy. There is absolutely no other hostel anyone should have any business checking out other than the Planet Traveler. read more

Great hostel - clean, perfect location, breakfast every morning, and rooftop deck with an amazing view. The private rooms are small but plenty of space if you keep your bags under the beds, the bathrooms are clean, and we always were able to use the shower without conflicts with other guests in the wing occupying the space. There is a laundry room for $2 per wash and $2 per dry, a place to store your luggage after you check out so you can still walk around the city and come back for your bags later. The common room is open from 7am - 12a, [& there's free popcorn!], microwaves and fridges for any leftovers while you're visiting to store and reheat later. The person at reception will print any tickets or boarding passes that you need, and there are computers for use as well. Overall, a very positive experience. read more

The Planet Traveler is *almost* a model hostel: very nice and clean facilities, a basic breakfast to start the day (available until 1pm!), an orderly kitchen, free phone (local calls) and computer usage, plus fantastic social spaces. The private room we rented was as one would expect a hostel room to be; a rather small room with moderately uncomfortable bunk beds (double bed on bottom, twin on top). Could have been improved by having a cubby, closet, desk and/or a trash can. Internet did not have a strong enough signal to work in the room. The bathroom was shared amongst 4 rooms (up to 12 people, I think), which was worrisome, but was never much of a problem during our stay, except for the tiny trash can in the bathroom being the only one in the area for up to 12 people. Shower was decent. The main problem I have with The Planet Traveler is related to communication and accessibility of staff. I made my reservation by phone, which was fine. I received my confirmation via email, and it was missing one day of parking. I emailed back to ask about the parking and to make sure I could have a spot for the entire duration of my stay. Received no reply. Called a couple of times on the afternoon of our arrival - no answer. No opportunity to leave a voicemail; there was an automated message saying it had not been set up. Hrm, had me wondering if we even had a place to stay! Never got through by phone, so just showed up and hoped for the best....Rang the doorbell, waited, rang again...and again...and again...ended up having to knock on the window which luckily is in view of the front desk. A staff member promptly ran up and let me in, and told me the doorbell didn't always work... Staff interaction was great when they are available. After midnight (in addition to various times during the day, apparently), there is no one on duty, and no number to call in case of an emergency. I think that for such a large building (often full of young partying people), there should at least be a direct line to reach a manager. I would have been really upset by this if the bathroom flooded, my magnetic key stopped working or if someone was vomiting in my dorm bed. Not having staff after midnight also opens up the doors for guests to bring whomever they want inside. Nevertheless, I would probably stay here again with fingers crossed that all goes well. read more

Best Hostel Ever. Would come here again. With my whole family. Would send my kids here for college. Would retire here so I could die among friends. read more

Really clean and moderately comfortable. My first experience in a hostel, and very positive. In particular, there are a lot of young guys and girls, and the atmosphere is really friendly and welcoming. read more

This hostel is a real nice one. The staff is nice and helpful, the wifi is good. And the location! I know everyone says, but the location matters the matters the most. Right around the corner from Kensingtonmarket. Badly, there is a fire station right around the corner, but that shall be no problem. The community areas are nice and clean and I like them. And: Public transportation is right in front of the door. The coolest thing they have to offer is a rooftop bar and patio. They've got solar panels on the roof, so I think they're pretty green. read more

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This was my first time staying in a hostel, and it was a truly pleasant surprise. It was less like a hotel, and less like what I expected from a no-frills hostel, and more like staying at a funky, modern commune. It's even committed to green principles! Yes, it was stairs instead of a mirrored elevator, and it was a shared dorm room instead of a private suite, but it was also lockers with chargers built in so you could charge your stuff without worrying about it, board games to play with new friends, and a rooftop bar where you could bring your own alcohol and hang out enjoying the view. Staff are all very friendly and happy to chat with you if they're not busy. I had a million questions. Then we went upstairs to enjoy that bar, which was great. That led to something of a slow morning the next day. Imagine how thrilled we were to see a help-yourself style breakfast was available till 1in the afternoon! Life saver! It was much more stylish and modern than I was expecting, service and facilities were great, and I'll happily stay there again when I'm back in Toronto. read more

Great hostel: nice staff, absolutely clean and tidy, free breakfast, next to Kensington Market read more

The Planet Traveler - View from rooftop - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The staff was very unfriendly. When I got there, the counter girl was chatting with a man there. I have waited them for over 10 minutes. And there are other people coming and waiting there after I got it. It was so crowded at that time. So I try to ask if I can get a room first. And then the girl just got really mad at me. I have said sorry to her already and I did stand there to wait them. And I know from their conversation that they are just chatting and the girl is not working, and so I try to ask if she can help me. But then the girl was really mad and not helpful. And then she asked me to pay for the full rent during my stay which is not stated in my reservation. And I don't have the cash with me at that time. I told her that I am really tired. And if I can leave my stuff in my room, I would immediately to go get cash for her. But she refused me and insist me to get around to get the money for her. At the end, I got the money and return and pay. She took the money and then want to take me to the room immediately. I asked her for receipt but she told me there's NONE there!!! WHAT! You took the money and then not giving me proof! Then you can kick me out anytime you like! It's only after I insist on getting one there she gave me the receipt. Before I came, I emailed them to ask them for hairdryer. The reply was really nice and said that they do have hairdryer there. The truth is, well, yes, they do get it but there's one and only one there. So when I try to borrow it, the girl was very unwilling to lend it to me. And the manner is really bad! I am fine to bring one myself if you don't want to. But it's only because the office reply me they got one that I decided not to take it. You can write that you have limited supply and prefer people to bring their own in the email. It's not being friendly before I paid and then unhelpful after I paid! read more

Amazing hostel, everything was perfect! Good location, very good ambiance, staff was helpful and gave us great advice on where to eat and go out. Saturday night BBQ is an an excellent way to meet other backpackers and was very fun. Plus the hostel is eco-friendly and offers breakfast until 1PM, this place is a perfect base camp to visit Toronto read more

Planet Traveler surpassed my expectations and I am looking forward to staying here again if I am ever in Toronto. The staff are very friendly and everyone I met on the trip were very pleasant. The hostel is filled with young travelers and you get to meet many different types of people. I stayed in a 6-bedroom dorm and I was very pleased with the beds and the lockers that were provided. The beds are super comfortable but they are squeaky so that may bother some people if you are a light sleeper. The bathroom was very clean and there is wifi available throughout the building and there are multiple outlets in the room if you need to charge your phone. There are outlets provided as well in the lockers if you don't feel comfortable leaving your electronics charging out. Towels, blankets and sheets were provided. The only thing I would note is that when you are checking out, make sure to take these and bring them to the front desk. Breakfast was provided every morning and there was a myriad of cereals to choose from. There was also enough bread, bagels and jams as well. I never felt like I had to wake up super early to beat the rush of people in the kitchen since the staff always kept the food well stocked. The only thing the hostel asks is that if you use any dishes, glasses etc. that you wash them and put them back. My friend and I even made a few PB&J sandwiches from breakfast and put them in ziploc bags before we headed out for the day so we wouldn't have to buy lunch.There is also an awesome rooftop with a bar, where you can leave your own alcohol. It also gives a great view of the city. Overall, for my first hostel experience, I am extremely satisfied. The cost was cheap and parking is only $8 per day (if you need parking, be sure to email Planet Traveler after you get your confirmation from booking and let them know. They will update the confirmation for you with a new price). The hostel is extremely clean as well and it is conveniently located near University of Toronto, Kensington Market and Chinatown. A lot of places are walkable from the hostel as well such as the CN Tower. read more

I absolutely love this place!! If anyone is around downtown Toronto and needs a place to stay... Come here!!! This place is so nice. It's a hostel and it totally feels like a college dorm setting. My friend is going to a make up school here so we decided to stay here. Apparently Canadian residents cannot stay here. Only people from out of the country or a different providence in Canada. So everyone here is from some really cool and interesting places. So they have bunk beds here and they have a room where you share with 5 people including yourself, or you can get a private room- but it's a little more expensive. But seriously the price here is definitely so much better than getting a hotel. And you meet lots of new people if you feel like being social. They have a roof top by the way... And the view is just absolutely beautiful and amazing. I can't even begin to explain. This place is right in the middle of downtown so you can see everything and you are right in the middle of everything. They have so many different places to eat and cute little stores/shops. The staff and people are really friendly here. They have a kitchen area downstairs where you can cook and also a refrigerator. They also have a laundry room. The security is upscale here. You have to have a card key to get into anything so you feel super safe. Also each room has their own bathroom so it's nice. And also a bathroom in the hallway. This place is absolutely clean as well. They keep this place so clean. And the bedsheets, pillow cover, and towels are cleaned every morning. Oh they also do provide you with a towel. Also people leave toiletries behind so they keep them downstairs in case you forget yours! So it's really nice. Also they do have a main room downstairs with a tv and several Mac computers for your leisure. And they also have wifi here.... But it's not that great... It goes in and out, I think because a lot of people are using it. But I loved my stay here and I can't wait to come back!!! read more

Had a really comfy stay. Each room has private bathroom and the top common area has perfect view! Great staff, good breakfast and extremely clean! read more

This place is definitely worth checking out. Brand new, very clean, well located, and very friendly. It just recently opened, so they are still working out the kinks, but it's a hostel with heart. You no longer need to sacrifice personal hygiene to save a few bucks: the hostel is beautiful and comfortable. Plus, it's got a fantastic roof-top patio, great view of downtown TO, and you can check out the roof-top solar panels. I often make the trip up to Toronto from Ottawa, and I'll be booking with the Planet Traveler at my next stop. read more

The Planet Traveler - Hostels Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The 6 bed dorm was pretty small, even for a hostel, but the accommodations were amazing! Activities for guests every single night and the staff is very helpful and kind! They offer free breakfast (every type of bagel, cereal, and bananas til 1pm!), tea, coffee, rice, and popcorn. I had so much fun and am so glad I stayed here. read more

Planet Traveler was my first hostel experience, and would pleasantly go back again. The location is a bit far if you're coming in from greyhound etc, especially if you have luggage. We decided to walk, but I would suggest taking transit. However, the location gives you the ability to access many parts of the area's sights such as Kensington Market, China Town, University of Toronto and a short train ride to Eaton Centre. I chose a mix dorm for myself and my boyfriend, we both decided one getting a a bed per person. I believe the total come out to $29 USD per night, which is quite a steal that included breakfast and free wifi with three apple computers in the lobby (Although, the wifi wasn't good. They certainly need to work on that). Sheets, towels and pillowcases were complimentary as well as breakfast that included coffee, bagels, toast, cereal and bananas. When I thought of mixed dorm, I thought of... Co-ed, except when I arrived, I was the only female in the room which made me feel quite uncomfortable and made sure that my boyfriend slept at the same time with me. Only once did I go to bed earlier. On the second night, I decided to use the bath towels that were given to us and use them as barriers between the people sleeping on either sides of me. I had no problems storing my belongings, as they offer lockers within the dorms that is separate from the sleeping area in which you may access by portable key. I thought this was quite nice since, as aforementioned, this was my first hostel experience. I got a feeling that the majority of the people staying at this hostel did rent out beds for months at a time and lived there for a bit. It gave off a bit of a clique-y vibe, but definitely a demographic for crowds between the ages of 23-30. Overall, I enjoyed the stay, however one of the cons is that 90% of the area is closed past 9 pm, so be prepared to walk at least 7-10 blocks to find nightlife. read more

I wrote a review of this on my blog complete with super cool awesome pictures by moi. Please feel free to check the detailed review there. I may echo a few of my points here. I do a bit of travel writing and review hotels and hostels, so I wanted to give a note on this one (is it weird for a local to review a hostel? It was kind of fun!) Here's the link to my review with pictures: http://nearafar.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/planet-traveler-hostel-review/ VIBE Located on College, just past Augusta on the brink of Kesington Market, this is one of the best locations and stays in the city. Don't think for a second that this hostel is a bunch of eighteen year olds having sex in a dorm room. It's not. Many of the travelers here are in their twenties and thirties; many from Europe (Germany, France, Switzerland); Japan and Oz. Though I did meet a lovely Canadian here as well. When you look around the lobby, it's a bit of a Mac Nation in there. Everyone is on their lap top. That said, that's true for most cafes and common areas in the world. The people here I struck conversation with were really great and I felt like if I stayed longer, I could have made a few friends. And that is the goal of owner Anthony Arts (who really did such a kick ass job on creating the hostel travelers wanted). As I said on my blog, the cut outs of Canadiana on the walls are reminiscient of an ipod ad; the benches and couch really do bring people together and the top deck patio offers one of the BEST views of the CN Tower in the city. Who would have thunk?! Plus, free popcorn! FREE POPCORN! Bestill my heart. I won't repeat the information on the previous comments (they're pretty slam dunk minus the midnight reports...not sure about that). SLEEP I had a private room and it's a STEAL at $80 a night. For the amenities and the social aspect, this trumps a three star hotel room. Plus, you're right in Kensington Market, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in the city. The private room areas are sectioned into pods. So for instance, I will open the door and there are four other separate rooms to go into. They all share one bathroom. And I will add that the cleanliness of the hostel is impeccable. I saw the staff clean the bathroom twice in one day. Plus, the staff share all duties (from front desk to clean up). An annoyance is that you have to bring down all of your linens upon check out, which may cause for a repeat trip. It's not fun if you're four flights up. THE BEDS: the private room does have a bunk bed - one bigger double bed on the bottom and a twin sized bed on the top. You can get free wi-fi in the room (though because of use, it was spotty around the peak time of 6-8 p.m.). There are three outlets as well (rejoice!). The beds are uber comfortable and clean; I really did spend a lot of time in the room which was refreshing after a long weekend trip. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POINTS I really like how this hostel is keeping up with the times. Anthony ensures that the hostel is kept up to its environmentally friendly standards. As stated on their website, the hostel has geothermal heat transfer, photovoltaic electricity, waste water heat reclamation and solar thermal hot water. There are solar panels on the roof of the hostel as well. What does it all mean? It means that the warm water in your shower is from the sun and that LED lighting throughout the whole hostel is run on the same amount of energy that it takes to run a hairdryer. And if you're having a party, it's all about the glass cups (no plastic here please). Pretty cool stuff! OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK The one hostel in Toronto that every traveler on the planet needs to know about. This one is definitely at the top of his game. read more

This is by far the best hostel I have stayed in. The staff is super friendly, the hostel is super clean and it's very safe. They have a great kitchen, free breakfast every morning and an awesome rooftop you can see downtown Toronto from. The rooms are clean. I shared a female only suite. There are lockers in every room which come with a key, outlets on every bed and a bathroom in each room. I definitely recommend staying here if you're in Toronto! read more

Free breakfast, rooftop terrace (with occasional parties), regular hostel events, next to Kenzington Market and a cheap coin wash laundromat, fast wifi, amazing hostel. read more

Me and a friend shared a private room at PT last October and had an amazing time. It was our first time in Toronto and found PT on Hostel World where it has great reviews. Now I can see why. The staff, location, rooms and atmosphere are all wonderful and lends itself so well to ingratiating you into the city. The staff seem to be made up of ex-guests and are largely international so there's a great community vibe. The facilities are great too with a large, clean and creative common area and kitchen. The team put on loads of events and get togethers so there're always opportunities to make friends and be busy. The location is easy to find and as the city is so walkable, you're never far from anywhere. Good nightlife and restaurant options too, I very much recommend the nearby Mothers Dumplings for dinner and Aunties and Uncles (try their grilled cheese) for brunch. Major bonus points for the free bagels and Saturday night BBQ. My only wish is for a lift but otherwise 5* easily! Take me back! read more

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Planet Traveler was a pleasant place to stay. One warning: be prepared to walk up (multiple) flights of stairs (which can be very tedious after a day of walking around). The staff, when available, was friendly and happy to answer any questions. Common areas were clean, and offered computers, TV, board games, books, and more. They host events such as movie night. Bed rooms were strictly that, with no tables/shelves. Each had a locker room and bathroom associated with it. Breakfast was offered from 7/8am to 1pm every day. The age range of patrons was diverse. Most people stuck to themselves, and respected others. There were the occasional few that were rowdy/made it difficult to sleep at night by repeatedly slamming doors/lockers. My biggest complaints: Customer Service and temperatures. Common areas/sleeping quarters were very warm. Temperatures in the rooms were set on a timer and could not be adjusted. 77 Degrees Fahrenheit is not a comfortable sleeping temperature. If they didn't close the rooftop at midnight, people would probably sleep outside to escape the heat/nightly sweat-fest. Customer Service was rough in some cases. Upon arrival the doors were locked. My boyfriend and I rang the doorbell several times and no one answered. We got lunch, and returned an hour later. Again we rang the doorbell, knocked, and we called the office - no one answered. Eventually we got in because someone ran down the stairs. We then proceeded to wait at the front desk for someone to show up. As long as you don't need anything, this place is great. Even checking out was a longer process than necessary as the desk was empty. As noted, they do not give receipts and do not expect help between midnight and 7 or 8am. read more