HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel Reviews

I went to this hostel for Ottawa race weekend. We got excellent service (got to come back after check out for showers, they had a special early breakfast for runners). you cannot beat the location, right in downtown and by byward market. The rooms are small (SMALL) and cramped. Since it used to be a jail, there are no windows in the room, so not much natural light or air. There is a club downstairs, and the techno dance music is SUPER LOUD, and plays all night. The beds also squeak A LOT.

In all, the hostel is in a good location, but people at the front desk were not really friendly, plus the bar was closed at a Thrusday night? Not to understand. Good experience to sleep for 1 night at a Jail.

I stayed in many hostels and this one was so far the worst. First the washroom on our level was discusting there was some ''liquide''' on the floor and the toilet didn't flush. Also, we paid more than expected. On the confirmation email it was indicated that there was 27$ left to pay but when i arrive (and it was the same thing for other persons i met there) we had to pay 37$. The staff was more or less friendly and answered to our questions with less words than possible.

Feeling the myth of a prior jail is a kind of experience. There are some tour to do to get a feeling about the old jail before. I would recommend this hostel to everybody (except freeking scared young women *diabolic smile*)

My single room, consisting of two former cells, was very simple: just one bed and one mirror. The shared bathroom for men was located across the floor. Compared with nearby Tim Horton's, my breakfast served between 8:30 and 10:30 was very simple: just bagels / toast and coffee / tea. Location is excellent: nearly all sights, restaurants and shopping facilities are within walking distance. It is a unique historical site and was worth to ignore the slightly excessive value-for-money-relation.

There is a night club in the basement: as I stayed there on a friday night, the music was extremely loud and there were people screaming outside right below the windows. I was only able to sleep from 3 to 6 am. I think this is INTOLERABLE to have people pay money to stay in a place where it is impossible to sleep before a reasonable hour. I was really angry.

Very nice place to stay... well located, the staff was very helpful and the building is just amazing!!!! I definitely recommend the crime & punishment tour at the hostel to know the former jail...

I love your hotel. The people there are pretty good.

Some interesting things: breakfast is quite poor, with few things. Bedroom: receives constant light from the hallway and background noises from the next door building. They obviously know the problem because they provide you with free earplugs upon request. The charge you for leaving your luggage after check in. This is not something specially bad, but it is an important detail because almost every hostel provides this for free. All in all, a place to stay one day and brag about the jail thing

Je me suis fait voler 60 $ dans ma chambre! En plus l'hôtel est vraiment très bruyant

Very good location, walkable to all sights in Ottawa. Very special to stay in an old jail, see the tour provided every evening to learn more about its history. Free breakfast was really worth to stand up. Bed was good, WiFi worked really well. It can be a bit loud at night, as the rooms are former cells and the doors are original, so the noise does not stay outside... The bar downstairs does not provide food, but drinks. At the parties there were mainly people from outside the hostel.

REALLY nice hostel, very clean, friendly staff. The brakfast with fresh croissant was a delitful surprise. Rooms were very spacious and incredibly clean. The only inconvinience was you could hear the noice made by the other guests of the hostel very early in th morning!

Overall it was very disappointing. don't stay here if you want to sleep, downstairs a bar can be heard throughout the entire hostel. ALL NIGHT

Double room very big and comfortable. It looks crapy but it's clean.

Its a very special Hostel where you can stay. You have a very good breakfast in the morning. When you like a spuki , specaial place than stay in the jail Hostel.

Overall experience was really nice, however 4th floor men´s shower did not have hot water

I saw pictures of rooms that looked fabulous and then I got an $88 hostel room for two people and it was this tiny jail cell with two sets of bunk beds, absolutely no room.I thought I was supposed to get a double room with a double bed for my boyfriend and I. This was the most expensive hostel I\'ve ever, ever stayed in, in the whole world. There were disgusting little bugs absolutely everywhere in the womens bathroom, all on the walls and the shower floor was incredibly slippery and slimy.

Great location! Cool ambiance! A little pricier than I would have liked by a few dollars, and the rooms were small, but I guess there's nothing you can do about that.

Staying in a jail was a great experience. For the first part of my stay I was in a private room which was actually a former cell (well actually 3 cells they had converted to a room). I would recommend it for to anyone as long as your not too claustraphophic. Following the cell I moved to a four bed dorm. The dorm room was great- lots of space with a double bed, lounge, table and chairs. It was like a mini appartment. I dont think all the dorms where like this though so ask for the Richard room!

Nice hostel, very well located. I shared a doubled bed private room with my girlfriend, the room was clean and the bed comfy but the blanket was a little small. Room was relativly silent, except for a fan i could hear from the outside. The breakfast was great! Fruits, coffee and tea, eggs, jam and toasts, cerals and milk and the best: croissants!! The only downside to me is the price, a little too high for a hostel, don't forget the taxes like i did!!