Victoria Hostel  | Capital Area |  | Victoria |  |
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Address http://www.hihostels.bc.ca/mainvictoria.htm 516 Yates St. Victoria, BC V8W 1K8 1-888-883-0099 |
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From the corner of Douglas and Yates walk west down Yates street (Yates is one way downtown - walk in the same direction as traffic flows). Cross Government Street and keep walking. The hostel is on your right just before you reach Wharf Street which is the next intersection and signals the end of Yates.
Description:
Victoria’s Hostelling International Hostel is bright and airy--pretty amazing considering that the building that houses it was built in 1882 as a warehouse. Hostelling International Canada (HI-Canada) restored the brick warehouse in 1991 and garnered an Ivy Award from HI-Canada in 1992-1993 for the most outstanding urban hostel in Canada. No doubt Sidney J. Pitts, the businessman who built the warehouse to hold the goods for his wholesale grocery, provision and produce business, would be surprised to see his building full of travelers from around the world.
The hostel offers a total of 108 beds in two private rooms, three co-ed rooms (four-, six- and eight-bed) and three dorms (two female with 16 and 20 beds each, one male with 44 beds). An adult must accompany guests under 16 and the friendly staff person at the front desk told me that if a family with children comes to visit they try to accommodate them in one of the three co-ed rooms.
The rooms are basic but adequate and the hostel management and staff have gone out of their way to provide helpful extras. There are coin-operated laundry facilities and indoor bike storage (much better than leaving your chariot on the street overnight). There are two Internet access terminals ($1 for 10 minutes) and a game room with foosball and a pool table. Along with books, the small library offers a few board games, and for a nominal charge you can rent movies to watch in the TV room.
There is a huge, well laid-out kitchen with almost everything you might want with the exception of a conventional oven (so no baking or roast beef on Sunday). There’s lots of fridge space, countertop and cupboards as well as a good assortment of pots, pans, cutlery and china. Concern for the environment is evident with a recycling area located off the kitchen as well as reminders about conserving water.
The hostel, not surprisingly, is often booked solid in the summer. Reservations are essential during the high season and recommended at other times. The location can’t be beat--just steps from all of downtown’s attractions and across the street from one of the city’s favorite nightspots. If you want to party you’ll be well advised to take it out of the hostel as there is a strict no-alcohol policy. The entire hostel is also non-smoking and staff and management try to ensure the safety and privacy of registered guests by keeping visitors to a minimum.
Written By: Susan Z. Martin
Features
Pool/Billards
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Public Internet Access
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Smoke-free
Comments
No atmosphere, no fun never goign back!
- James on Sun, February 19, 2006
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