Southern Alberta Hostelling Association Reviews

A really nice place, great facilities and staff.
Looking forward to seeing you all again Thank you

Perfect space, fast movement, they got this colective kitchen what is perfect to just cook and get food saving money as a traveler/cook.
My experience, my work program did made the reservation for me and was not complications. We had great service and access to downtown and transportation to the bus station. The place design also amazing, I remember having good sleep on those beds...this hostel is a reason to get me back to explore those beautiful views in Alberta.

One of the nicest hostels around. Recently renovated inside and out. Friendly staff, too.

The location of the hostel is great, the atmosphere is rather quiet and the service is ok. Deductions, because there is a lot of noise in the rooms and very bad air.

Good hostel and amenities, not much going for atmosphere though

No AC and bad wifi.

The room only had a standing fan which wasn't much help on a hot night. I thought I'd get more for $81; granted, this was during the stampede. The wifi requires you to log in occasionally. The staff were nice and the kitchen was pretty decent.

Overall good experience. Free breakfast. But I wasn't impressed with them jacking up the prices during stampede week.

Newly renovated, helpful staff, convenient location, decent prices.

It's quite centrally located, clean and really up to Hostel International standard. My only complain is the power plug, it's not enough and it's loose. When your roommate accidentally touch it and you ended up not plug in is annoying especially you rely on Google maps to get around the city

Very good service, cozy to sleep in shared rooms. Good events such as TacoTuesday etc. Good facilities for washing clothes, relaxation, cooking etc.

I stayed here a looong time ago, 2006 to be exact. I have no idea if things have changed, but back then this area was one of the worst in Calgary, with some of the cheapest beds, and management let ANYONE stay there.

There was a slightly cool backpacker vibe, sometimes, but the multitudes of local homeless/druggies and newly arrived migrants from Africa and Middle East kinda took away from that. There were so many weirdos and creeps, and the sterile, characterless rooms certainly made this place my worst stay in Canada for sure.

Apparently, there were even people recently released from prison and mental asylums who'd come here to stay in dorms with backpackers....ive stayed in probably over 200 hostels globally and this was THE worst one, by far. A lot of terrible, terrible things happened here....I am not joking, the people staying here...you may as well be in jail..at least thatd be free and there's security!!!!

Horrible, awful memories that I don't want to describe and mean, arrogant staff that would force you to keep changing rooms with other creeps so they didn't have to click a mouse button twice to move beds around.

Has it changed???

Service is good. Only an extractor fan in the room that day and night stands and makes a lot of noise.

Peaceful and well-located hostel in the center of the city. There is an urban train station nearby. Very friendly staff and great kitchen with good space. The rooms are spacious but the uncomfortable beds. There are large lockers in the rooms.

Had a really great view facing the whole downtown area.

Great location near downtown Calgary. Very clean and good service.

Clean, quiet, great staff, and excellent location right downtown.

Pro .... location, good internet, kitchen, nice staff
Contra .... very small rooms, 2 sockets for six people, loud, I hate these little reading lamps (you can not tinker sensible to the bed)

Very up-to-date facility except, as many have noted, for the lack of AC power at each bunk although the front desk will charge your device for you. Excellent location, cheap rental city bikes for cruising along the scenic and wild Bow river, which runs through downtown.

One of my favourite hostels hands down. Everything is on point - comfortable beds, secure rooms and storage, 24 hour reception, kitchen decked out with everything you need, free breakfast, awesome hang out areas, big backyard, free parking and bikes. The staff are absolutely amazing and have gone above and beyond to help me as I set myself up in Canada after relocating from Australia. So much kindness and knowledge at this hostel. I will recommend HI Calgary to other travellers and friends and will be back!!

Staff is super friendly and helpful. Unfortunately their breakfast is awful

An average HI Hostel. Clean facilities and rooms and very friendly staff. The free breakfast is quite good.

Stayed in July, was asked to be in a female room and was given a male room. Staff doesn't understand numbers in computers and absolutely incompetent and lack of training. Everyone is lying. Overpriced.

i got to give my head a shake in these 5 star review and speak up because i laugh hardly at this. i stay at this hostel and the wicked hostel in Calgary so SAVE YOURSELF and don't stay here. i stay for weeks and when the flood happen they never replied to me on when to take back my luggages which were saved. the reason i laugh to these 5 stars review is because when I stay there I was applying for a job here and the boss kept teasing me only if i leave a review. he personally ask to leave a review 5 stars and in which the dude (boss) wrote the review himself and leave me feeling used! you can find this review still on hostelbookers. i told him i write it myself and he told me to log in and did it himself compliment their breakfast and wifi. this creep also use to be touching with his female employee particularly a girl i believe name Beth or something. the behaviour here seriously concern me! i couldn't even hold myself back when I saw that this a 3.8 rating. don't stay at this hole... theyre breakfast items ive seen thrown in a closet space uncover and unrefrigerates and my chum can say to this all too. biggest regret was spending hundreds to stay here while I find work. apparently to apply leaving a positive made up review necessary lol. peace

Friendly staff and a good rate. Just hope that your roommates are considerate!

Very good hostel! The location is amazing, near train stations, restaurants and attractions. Staff friendly. The bedrooms is large and comfortable. Needs include more power outlets inside bedrooms. I recommend this hostel!

Friendly staff, comfortable beds, good showers, nice place but the location albeit central ish has a lot of junkies and homeless around.

Nice atmosphere, probably the cleanest hostel I've stayed at!

Neat little hostel in the heart of Calgary.
The rooms are clean and the beds were pleasantly comfortable, the walls are thin so you can hear noises outside the room and people walking out on the street can peek in, if the blinds are up.
The location is fantastic and they offer on-site parking for a very cheap daily rate.
The common area bathrooms and showers are fairly clean and the shower heads have decent water pressure. The common areas are quiet and the wifi speed is pretty solid. The kitchen area was kept organized and accessible and there s plenty of fridge space to store food.
The staff were quite friendly and attentive to requests. Overall, quite a good deal for the price paid and would very likely come back to stay here in the future.

Very good value for money and very well located. Rooms a bit small by cons.

This is a hostel it's a good place for somewhere cheap to stay and meet different people from around the world. I stay here when ever I come to Calgary. The train is like a block up the road it's close to everything downtown with the train right there you can go all over town. It's great if you are just staying to go to the airport or the bus station it's only$2.75 to go to the airport and the same going to the bus station. In the hostel itself, there's a big kitchen if you want to cook and save on going out every nite. There are outside areas that you can use in the summer months. The staff are always friendly and helpful. You get free wifi. Free breakfast and free tea and coffee (the tea and coffee is free all day) there is reading rooms and a TV room too. They clean the rooms every day, the beds are comfortable. Some of the pillows need replacing, but if you are a traveler you will have one any way. They have private rooms as well as dorm rooms. your stuff it safe they have lockers in every room so you can lock your stuff. All the bedding is there, including a blanket. In all the times I've stayed here the bathrooms have always been clean. I hope enjoy your stay as much as I do. And no I don't work here. I live in medicine hat.

Staff and building was great. Including parking was appreciated. Forgot about the free breakfast but it was plentiful and good! Whole the bathroom wasn't exactly dirty, it could use a more thorough cleaning

Loved the staff. The living arrangements are worth the price. Very friendly community. Very keen on helping saving the envenvironment. 5 out of 5 stars. Recommended better than the luxurious hotels.

The staff is very friendly and although I never know what to expect with hostels (it's part of the fun haha) this is a very welcoming one. The room I stayed in was clean and warm, the breakfast is decent although I wish it would run until 10. The higiene facilities are on spot and the common areas are comfortable. The kitchen is definitely well equipped and clean. And very well located (center of the city).
If I had to criticize something, it'd be that I wish the common areas would close a little later. Overall a great hostel :)

I love the fact that it's very accessible to the train station

Cheaper but great service. Also, the location is nice. I was visiting Calgary because of my US visa interview and I stayed there for one night. It's only 5/6 minutes walking distance from US consulate.
If you stay at a dorm room then your experience will partly depend on the people you'll be staying with.
They have a big kitchen and dining room where you can prepare and store your own foods. Moreover, there is free breakfast!
Other amenities include tv room, computer room, and laundry room.
I will definitely stay here if I visit Calgary again.

Awesome place, It was like home. The staff are so knowledgeble and helpful, they happily gave answers to all my questions and concerns assuring me to express any concern I had. Million thanks to Angelo for a wonderful service he rendered to me.....Brother God bless you. I will recommend Hi Calgary City Hostel to any one coming to Calgary.

THANKS

Convenient location, love the parks nearby. Been here every time I visit Calgary!

I have been here a few times now. Courteous service, great location. Nice to have access to a kitchen if you like that sort of thing. The lower and upper levels are much nicer than the main level which could use a bit of paint and is starting to show signs of wear. The parking lot could have been maintained better this time around. Otherwise, clean rooms close to all that the downtown has to offer. Easy to catch the train as well.

Visiting HI-Calgary was my first hostel experience and it was a great stay. Very clean and the staff were very polite. The location is also perfect. Walked to the Calgary Tower and back.

This hotel is well run, it is clean, disinfecting stations everywhere, wearing a mask is compulsory in the common areas. Large kitchen with all the necessary equipment (no need to go through reception for cutlery). Super cool staff, great music and great advice on food options. In the Room of Lights, sockets and lockers to store your belongings. The whole is clean. I am satisfied with my stay ^^

Very good place. Nice atmosphere and well educated staff. Room super clean and the internet works super well. Good location, near the train station.

Directions to the hostel from the airport were easy to follow and there were multiple options to chose from. Staff were friendly and the hostel clean. My stay was very brief but I would be very happy to stay there again. From the little I saw the location was very convenient.

Cosy, secure with lockers, clean shared kitchen and bathrooms. Everything is tidy and well ordered. Parking spaces slightly lacking even though the hostel wasn't full, but aplenty of roadside spaces free to park in the evening and early morning hours of 6 pm-9 am

I stayed at HI Hostel Calgary for probably a week and really enjoyed my time here. The staff including the boss we're friendly and helpful at all times. They printed documents, scanned documents and help me with different things as well. The hostel itself is very clean. Showere are with good pressure and hot, and the relax areas are good to meet other travelers.

I would definitely stay there again. 5/5*

Super friendly and friendly hostel, offering entertainment, very clean place and close to the downtown!

Good facility, very close to downtown, helpful staff. I wish they had a paid breakfast option, or served better continental breakfast but that's my only real complaint.

Good hostel, lots to do, a bit expensive though, some staff members a bit snobby too. Overall good experience

Super nice staff, like in every HI Canada. Bathroom has unfortunately come down a bit, very small rooms. Kitchen is large and very bright, which is good. Solid city hostel

The staff is friendly and helpful. Location very good, close to the train and bus stop. Also very close to the central library. Breakfast is ok. Free cofee and tea always available. The lockers are big, you need to bring your own lock. Also you can ask for a towel at the front desk and is for free. The matress is not the best, but makes the work. Every bed has a light. The kitchen is big and clean.

The hostel overall is clean and comfortable. The rooms are quite cold and despite turning up the thermostat the temperature did not change. There is only one extension lead per room which is unfortunate when you are on the opposite end and need to charge your phone but also set an alarm. My room was located beside the bathrooms (208) and I can honestly say the noises coming from fellow lodgers were worrying. The entire night I was awoken by people hocking, like seriously in the morning I was worried I d find a lung in the sink it was disgusting to listen to. In the morning I also closed the doors to the washroom to hopefully prevent this affecting other guests stay. The breakfast was okay although the coffee was more like yellow water.
In terms of guest dynamics most people during my stay were around the 40-65 age range which is cool but it was more of an early night vibe.

A good clean hostel, well located. The be were super comfy and I loved the lockers which are big enough to store a suitcase.
Breakfast is included and there's plenty of variety, which I really appreciated.
The communal areas were clean and the staff friendly.
I didn't want to walk to the hostel while it was dark and as a solo female traveller, I would recommend avoiding the walk if dark to others.
Overall, a great place to stay!

I have stayed in different hostels in the country and I must say this hostel is definitely creme de la creme of hostels. I stayed here on and off on multiple occasions for short and longer periods of time.
They finished renovating the place a few months ago. They got rid of the dull gloomy exterior looks and the place now looks trendy and rather sexy. They replaced all the carpet and windows and many walls got a fresh coat of paint.
They also have a really nice tv-rooms with a big flat screen tv equipped with comfortable seats and a pool table and computers for your convenience.
The staff is extremely accommodating and they will go out of their way to make your stay as pleasant as possible. They have free maps of the city at reception and they will not hesitate to assist or make suggestions as to where to eat or how to get to a specific place.
They regularly organize different activities whether offer delicious home-made lemonades around Christmas time or burger or Spaghetti nights when the weather warms up.
Last but not least, they offer complimentary breakfast which includes different types of juices, coffee, tea, cereals, butter and jam, waffles, pancakes and fresh fruits. Seriously, what more do you want?

Stopped in to buy a Wilderness Pass. Staff did some investigating for me, turns out they are now digital passes purchased over the phone, with counter staff facilitating my transaction. I was really pleased with the grest assistance. Lounge was spotless, very welcoming. Just minutes walk from centre of Calgary.

The price is about 36 per night, the hot water in the bath is hot enough, the room is warm, breakfast is included, especially the tea bags of their homes are very good, the kitchen is also ready to use, and there are very many passengers and backpackers who need to save money. help. The traffic is also very convenient. Go out and turn right across the road to have the c-train city hall station. recommend

The hostel is located in a very good area, in the middle of Downtown. If you want to visit the Stampede Calgary is about 10 minutes walk. Rooms and bathrooms clean. Rooms for 6 people and bathrooms are communal outside the room.

Clean and cozy facilities. Fast check in, friendly staff. Free parking is available.

I can't talk enough about the location, it's fantastic. The staff and front desk are amazing. If you get scared easy I don't suggest to go any hostel. You are sleeping with strangers!. I think it was totally acceptable to me since I don't mind a little bit of noise when sleeping. Hint: you can get pair of earplugs from the reception, might fix the noise problem!. I checked in quite late around midnight and it was okay.

Enjoyed my stay at the hostel. Very friendly staff cecelia and Asian looking male sorry forgot his name. Very clean and organised and a perfect place for the price

New, modern, clean and pretty cosy. Also in a convenient location (right next to downtown)

Stopped in to get a Hl membership. Even handing the clerk my picture I'd, he made a couple of spelling errors in my name. Also didn't get my e-mail right either.

I was really please that they were able to check me in early. The breakfast was delicious but I wish it would be longer hour. The hostel was really clean and the staff very helpful. I met a lot a great people at the BBQ activity. The wifi was fast but in the peak hours it was a little bit slow but they have free computer for those guests who does not have a laptop. The location is two blocks away from downtown and 5 min walk to the airport express bus. Thanks for the great stay, I would recommend this hostel.

Good location and breakfast, always clean (even when everyone tracks in snow), with friendly staff that can supply local recommendations for activities and food

Clean and modern hostel in downtown Calgary. Great location and friendly, helpful staff. Was really quiet when I stayed so only had another girl sharing my dorm which was great!

Love the place.. Love the staff... The ambience is great

Fantastic hostel in a very convenient place. Recently been refurbished and looking fantastic.

Includes breakfast for the stays. Reasonable price for the travel budget and making new friends during travelling.

Superb Hostel in the center of Calgary. Free parking behind the hotel, breakfast included.

Nice hostel. Well maintained and friendly staff. The free continental breakfast was a really nice bonus.

It was not for me. Everything noisy wood creaking. Light coming from outside buses, trams. Beds were small. In hotel Alma now and really nice.