Friends Cottage Hostel – Downtown Reviews

Greetings & Thank you for your comment! : ) Just to clarify a few things in your review :) 1. Breakfast is DIY (self-service & includes Bananas, oatmeal, coffee & tea! : )We also sometimes have loaves of bread that you can toast in the toaster & we provide bottled waters outside the reception area door. : ) Feel free to buy your own food - we provide a large fridge for guests to store their groceries :) 2. There are tons of things to do around the hostel! We are just a 15 minute walk to downtown: Museum District, Aquarium, Theater District, In our neighborhood: Liberty Station (Bar / Pub with Food Truck) Dark Horse (bar pub) Beaver's Restaurant: Ribs, Chicken Fried NY strip! ) Beaver Balls for dessert, Sawyer Park (bar / pub). We're just 3 blocks from Washington Ave. a very popular street for bars & pubs! : ) Target Supermarket (15 minute walk) (New) Wal-Mart 25 minute walk, (New)Kroger Supermarket 25 minute walk & much more. 3. In all fairness, you checked in late (around midnight) & b/c you had an audition @ Rice University early the next morning you were in a rush to get there (understandable); however, you did not have time to go over the customized map that we offer all guests; so perhaps that's why you did not know about our fun area! : ) We have so many things to do! & here's a great source: http://houston.culturemap.com 4. The hostel has 1 Dorm with 6 beds & 5 private Rooms. 5. We exist in 4 Historic Cottages: Cottage 1 has 2 private rooms; Cottage 2 has a 6 bed dorm; Cottage 3 has 1 private room plus the reception / staff house; Cottage 4 has 2 private rooms. 6. We have room for 24 guests all together :) 7. Our Mission: Cooperation & Community Are Our Highest Values Here At Friends House Hostel. With those values in mind, Reciprocity is Crucial. Here Are Some Ways Guests Can Participate In Our Reciprocity Project: We Offer Coffee * Guests Donate Milk or Cream. We Offer A Bread Basket & Toaster * Guests Donate Bread, Butter or Jam. We Offer Tea * Guests Donate Sugar, Agave or Honey. We Offer Customized Maps With Friendly Hosts Giving Helpful Directions; In Return, * Guests Offer Help To Others. We Provide A Smoking Area * Guests Who Smoke Empty The Ash Trays. We Provide Free Wi-Fi & A Free Computer For Guests Use * Guests Ask Themselves What They Can Freely Offer. Perhaps share Your I-PAD*!* An Attitude of Gratitude is Paramount. What Will You Give Today? Here's Even More Information About Who We Are: ) We are a HOSTEL who cater to guests who enjoy a CO-OP living atmosphere. We expect you to do your part & contribute to the upkeep of the hostel which is how we keep guest prices low. ) We expect you to recycle your clean paper & plastic, compost your fruit & vegetable waste, plus conserve water & energy between 1pm-4pm. When you cook, we expect you to clean your dishes, pots & pans, as well as the stove top too. And even when you check out, we have a few final check-out duties that we give you @ check in to read over. We exist in the HISTORIC district, so if old homes turn you off you - even just a little bit, you might want to choose a different space to be hosted. Danny, a former electrical engineer & Leah, former high school English & Speech teacher enjoy teaching travelers how to make the most of their time & money while they're in Houston. Leah is a native Houstonian & knows many of the off-the-beaten-path hidden treasures! Danny teaches a FREE self-awareness class @ the hostel, & as a military intelligence officer in the Army, trust me he'll teach you some very COOL moves! Plus he LOVES to share his knowledge. Ask him about the C241*!* We're very close to Downtown Houston, just a 15 minute walk & 5 minute drive. You won't need a car because our hostel in very close to public transportation. We're Exist In An Excellent Location! We're Very Close to Amtrak, Greyhound & All Local Public Transportation Buses & Trains. Staying @ Friends House Hostel feels very similar to staying @ friends or family. The hostel looks just like a house; in fact, we are located in an early 20th century 4-Plex Cottage once occupied by early railroad workers. Our atmosphere is very informal & laid-back. We'll provide you with a personable & memorable experience while you share space with other domestic & international travelers from all over the whole wide world! * )♥☺ Most travelers find our neighborhood charming b/c of it's historic atmosphere & look. However, If you prefer new neighborhoods & new buildings, then you probably would not be happy @ our hostel. We exist in a protected historic district which means that some of the homes here look distressed b/c it's against the law to tear them down & build new homes, in order to preserve the historic integrity. Our 33-acre protected district contains the highest concentration of historic homes in Houston, many dating back to the late 19th century. The neighborhood has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. It's a unique place. Only 15 minutes walk to Downtown & 5 minutes to Washington ave, where new bars, restaurants & cafes are opening up what seems like every weekend. Washington Ave. is the most historic street in Houston that leads directly in to downtown. It's going through a revitalization & many of the older buildings are being re-purposed. All guests share kitchens & bathrooms. Yet, If you enjoy communal living then you would probably feel right @ home.☺ Many Thanks! : )

Greetings & Thank you for your comment! : ) 1. The hostel has 1 Dorm with 6 beds & 5 private Rooms. 2. We exist in 4 Historic Cottages: Cottage 1 has 2 private rooms; Cottage 2 has a 6 bed dorm; Cottage 3 has 1 private room plus the reception / staff house; Cottage 4 has 2 private rooms. 3. We can accommodate up to 18 guests at one time :) 4. Our Mission: Cooperation & Community Are Our Highest Values Here At Friends House Hostel. With those values in mind, Reciprocity is Crucial. Here Are Some Ways Guests Can Participate In Our Reciprocity Project: We Offer Coffee * Guests Donate Milk or Cream. We Offer A Bread Basket & Toaster * Guests Donate Bread, Butter or Jam. We Offer Tea * Guests Donate Sugar, Agave or Honey. We Offer Customized Maps With Friendly Hosts Giving Helpful Directions; In Return, * Guests Offer Help To Others. We Provide A Smoking Area * Guests Who Smoke Empty The Ash Trays. We Provide Free Wi-Fi & A Free Computer For Guests Use * Guests Ask Themselves What They Can Freely Offer. Perhaps share Your I-PAD*!* An Attitude of Gratitude is Paramount. What Will You Give Today? Here's Even More Information About Who We Are: ) We are a HOSTEL who cater to guests who enjoy a CO-OP living atmosphere. We expect you to do your part & contribute to the upkeep of the hostel which is how we keep guest prices low. ) We expect you to recycle your clean paper & plastic, compost your fruit & vegetable waste, plus conserve water & energy between 1pm-4pm. When you cook, we expect you to clean your dishes, pots & pans, as well as the stove top too. And even when you check out, we have a few final check-out duties that we give you @ check in to read over. We exist in the HISTORIC district, so if old homes turn you off you - even just a little bit, you might want to choose a different space to be hosted. Danny, a former electrical engineer & Leah, former high school English & Speech teacher enjoy teaching travelers how to make the most of their time & money while they're in Houston. Leah is a native Houstonian & knows many of the off-the-beaten-path hidden treasures! Danny teaches a FREE self-awareness class @ the hostel, & as a military intelligence officer in the Army, trust me he'll teach you some very COOL moves! Plus he LOVES to share his knowledge. Ask him about the C241*!* We're very close to Downtown Houston, just a 15 minute walk & 5 minute drive. You won't need a car because our hostel in very close to public transportation. We're Exist In An Excellent Location! We're Very Close to Amtrak, Greyhound & All Local Public Transportation Buses & Trains. Staying @ Friends House Hostel feels very similar to staying @ friends or family. The hostel looks just like a house; in fact, we are located in an early 20th century 4-Plex Cottage once occupied by early railroad workers. Our atmosphere is very informal & laid-back. We'll provide you with a personable & memorable experience while you share space with other domestic & international travelers from all over the whole wide world! * )♥☺ Most travelers find our neighborhood charming b/c of it's historic atmosphere & look. However, If you prefer new neighborhoods & new buildings, then you probably would not be happy @ our hostel. We exist in a protected historic district which means that some of the homes here look distressed b/c it's against the law to tear them down & build new homes, in order to preserve the historic integrity. Our 33-acre protected district contains the highest concentration of historic homes in Houston, many dating back to the late 19th century. The neighborhood has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. It's a unique place. Only 15 minutes walk to Downtown & 5 minutes to Washington ave, where new bars, restaurants & cafes are opening up what seems like every weekend. Washington Ave. is the most historic street in Houston that leads directly in to downtown. It's going through a revitalization & many of the older buildings are being re-purposed. All guests share kitchens & bathrooms. Yet, If you enjoy communal living then you would probably feel right @ home.☺

Thank you for your comment: ) "Negatives: Only one bathroom for everyone, bit of an odd smell (litterbox? old laundry?) in the bunk bed room." Cottage #2: The 6 Bed Dorm has 1 bathroom Cottage #1: Private Room shares a bath with 1 other guest Cottage 3: Private Room shares a bath with 2 other guests Cottage 4: 2 Private Rooms share a bath (up to 4 guests share a bath) Sometimes guests have dirty clothes in the dorm. Feel free to open a window or let staff know, we'll spray some freshner. *We sweep & mop the dorms everyday: ) Cheers! : )

When you check in very late, you may not get the standard check in overview which includes a very thorough map "class" (so to speak) Please remeber that Houdton is the 4th largest city in the US, BUT it's situated in the South which means we are enormous in terms of Space! : ) That's why it's important to properly check in so you can receive good information about how to move about the city- arts that dense, parts that are not. Leah has a resevoir of info. you just needed to ask. ) You checked in very late, and when staff was availalbe you were already out & about. We didn't see you much unfortunately. And when we were in the office, you did not make yourself available. Danny & Leah are super friendly & apprachable. Ask for tips b/c Houston is a city that if you really want to know where the must see places exist, you need to ask. Also try this website: www.houston.culturemap.com Click "quirky attractions"