11th Avenue Hostel

From the street, the 11th Avenue Hotel & Hostel appears a bit dingy and uninspired: the tan bricks are stained and the maroon awning has seen better days. But the common areas of the property are tidy and practical. The spacious lobby faces the street and is sparsely furnished with a few leather armchairs, an oak table, and an Oriental rug. Aluminum pendant lights are strung from a high, black-painted ceiling. Some original brick shows through on the walls, and ceiling arches supported by thick columns lend some charm. Free newspapers, a brochure rack, and several vending machines are here. A rugged steel staircase leads to the three floors with big windows at each landing. The white-walled common room has a grey velour sofa and a long counter with a computer, and stools facing the street. The common kitchenette is also in this space, harshly lit by overhead florescent lighting. Guests can gather outdoors, in a back alley, where there are some picnic tables and a grill near the gas meter. Most guests are younger and traveling with friends or solo; some are international, and all are seeking budget-friendly accommodations in the heart of the city. 

Located in the Capitol Hill section, across the street from a nightclub in an area with lots of nightlife, this property is convenient to several attractions. There's a bus stop one minute from the entrance to the hotel, but many sights are walkable. Guests can reach the History Colorado Center in two minutes on foot. It's a five-minute walk from the Denver Public Library. Other sights in walking distance include the Denver Art Museum (seven minutes), Civic Center Park (six minutes), and the Colorado State Capitol (12 minutes). The 16th Street Mall -- a pedestrian zone with restaurants, shopping, and transit -- is a five-minute drive and around 15 minutes on public transportation. The closest ski area to the hotel is Loveland, an hour's drive. The bigger resorts of Keystone and Breckenridge are 90 minutes by car. The Denver International Airport is a 30-minute drive or about one hour and 20 minutes on public transportation. The Amtrak station is a 10-minute drive or 20 minutes by public transportation. 

There is a dormitory for women and one for men at the 11th Avenue Hotel & Hostel. Each dorm is equipped with steel frame bunk beds, a sink, a tube-style TV, and lockers. Guests who stay here, in the property's least expensive lodgings, share a single-sex bathroom. There are also rooms with double beds or bunk beds that share a bathroom. Private rooms with en suite bathrooms are also available. Half of the rooms face the street and the other half, the courtyard; noise is reportedly worse for the street-facing rooms due to its proximity to a night club. The rooms, whether public or shared, are basic and visually grim. One room contained a sink with much of the porcelain veneer worn off. There is dark carpeting, inexpensive metal or laminated wood furnishings, budget bed linens, and windows covered in wire mesh. The mattresses are wrapped in plastic prompting some guests to complain about the crinkly sound and sweaty sheets on hot nights -- the property has no air-conditioning. (Guests staying during warmer months should request a fan.) But the most alarming complaint from previous guests is the reports of bed bugs. The bathrooms are small and relatively tidy with black and white tiles and either stall showers or claw-foot tubs with shower fixtures and curtains. Towels can be rented, and some toiletries are for sale in the vending machines. 

There are a few pragmatic amenities at the budget 11th Avenue property. The Wi-Fi is free, and there's a computer available for guests' use 24 hours a day. In the lobby, guests will find free newspapers and free luggage storage for 24 hours. There's a common room with two sinks, a microwave, toaster oven, full-size refrigerator, coffee machine, and electric kettle. A shelf of books sits near a sofa and a tube TV. And there's a coin-operated laundry room in the basement with three washers and three dryers. Outdoors, in an alley, there are some picnic tables and a grill. The property reports that it has the lowest energy usage per square foot of any hotel in Denver. Guests who are military personnel receive a 10 percent discount. Extra cots for children and fans are available on request. Pets are not allowed.