Located downtown near Bell Centre and close to public
transportation
Clean shared rooms with lockers and coat hooks
Some private rooms with flat-screen TVs and writing desks
Shared kitchen with cooking equipment and food storage
Free continental breakfast
Bar/lounge with pool table and pub food
Hostel-organized events like pub crawls, trivia nights
Free Wi-Fi throughout
On-site bicycle rental
ATM and computers for guests' use
Rooms are sparse, including private rooms
No lights or power plugs next to beds
No on-site parking
No elevator to second or third floor
Part of the worldwide Hostelling International chain, the two-pearl
HI-Montreal is well located in a residential neighborhood downtown near
attractions and public transportation. Spartan shared rooms are clean and no-frills, but they're reasonably priced for travelers who need little more than a place to bunk. A few private rooms have the added bonus of a flat-screen TV and in-room bathrooms, though their atmosphere is equally stark. But free breakfast, hostel-organized activities, and the hip bar/lounge make
this hostel a friendly communal place. Rates at nearby hotels such as the Hotel Espresso
aren’t much higher on certain dates, so shop around before assuming this is the
best deal in the city for private accommodations downtown.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Comfortable, hip, and friendly vibe with organized activities
The HI Montreal Hostel exudes a comfortable, friendly atmosphere from the get-go. In the lobby, a light
wood-framed front desk is paired with a chalkboard offering suggestions for
nearby restaurants, cafes, clubs and outdoor activities, and a bulletin board announces hostel-organized events like pub crawls. Travel literature sits on
two simple round tables. The bar and adjacent dining/lounge area are a hub of activity where breakfast is served daily and bingo and trivia nights take place. Black-and-white murals loom over the dark bar, industrial metal stools, pool table, and cushy black and red upholstered chairs. The large communal kitchen where guests can store and prepare food is a busy
place at meal times. Overall, the hostel is quaint, cozy, and designed to encourage interaction among guests.
Location
In a residential neighborhood, centrally located downtown
The white-brick, three-story HI-Montreal is located on a quiet
residential street, but construction projects are occurring just across the
street. It’s off Rene-Levesque Boulevard, a major thoroughfare running through
the heart of downtown Montreal. Various cafes, restaurants, and shops are all within a brief walk. The Bell Center sports arena is a seven-minute
walk away, and the Eaton Centre shopping mall is about 15 minutes walking, as is the
Bonaventure train station. The 747 express city bus stop to Trudeau
International Airport is about five minutes’ walk away. The bus, which runs 24/7,
takes about 30 minutes to get to the airport.
Rooms
Spartan but clean private rooms and various shared-room configurations
Rooms are offered in shared bunk beds of two, four, six, eight, and 10, as well as Single and Double Private Rooms. Both coed and single-sex
shared rooms are available. Room furnishings are spartan yet clean and not too cramped,
although the green carpet in some rooms is well worn. Some rooms have wood
laminate flooring, and all shared rooms have simple white bunks with linens
supplied. All rooms have windows, small lockers, and coat hooks, but no lights or power plugs next to beds. Shared rooms have simple
laminate tables and chairs. White or tan walls and black painted doors sum up the decor. In the bathroom, the tan tile framing the small shower looks newer than the rest of
the bathroom area, which has a white pedestal vanity, soap dispensers, and little else. The Double Private Room has a private bath, plus a wall-mounted
flat-screen TV and writing desk. Other than being
private and offering a TV, it’s not much of an upgrade.
Features
On-site bar and lounge, free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast, communal kitchen
The hostel has an ATM and pay phone in the lobby as well as
two computer stations for guests' use. The shared kitchen offers stovetop burners, a microwave, toasters,
coffee pots, pots and pans, and food storage areas including refrigerated areas.
The bar/dining area has a pool table and various table games and offers a food
menu that focuses on sandwiches and hot dogs. A free continental breakfast is
offered each morning. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. The self-service
laundry facilities include an ironing area. Bicycle rentals are available in
the lobby, where hairdryers, sewing kits, and sports equipment like soccer balls
and Frisbees are offered for lend. The front desk also sells items including T-shirts,
flip-flops, locks, umbrellas, and winter hats. There's no on-site parking, but hostel staff can suggest nearby private lots.
