Kelowna International Hostel

The building felt old, dirty, and unwelcoming, and when I returned in the morning, several people were sleeping in the common areas. I filed a complaint with booking.com. The manager didn’t apologize or want to refund me. He said my roommate had been there for a month without anyone complaining, then got frustrated and said he wouldn’t accept BC-residents anymore. The receptionist wrote down my complaint and said he’d speak to the manager, but I heard nothing, so I called again. I’d booked a bed in a four-person dorm. There were dirty tissues, cough syrup, a spoon, and cereal on the floor as soon as I walked in. I should have left then. Around 11 pm, my only roommate woke me by screaming. I think he was having a panic attack. He got up and scratched his back with a pasta spoon just centimeters from my bed, then went outside with it. He came back and lay down, but ten minutes later he got up again, dazed, and started scratching with the spoon. He clearly wasn’t in control of himself, and I felt unsafe, so I left at 2 am. Please be aware before staying here.

The room was dirty, poorly maintained, and smelled musty enough to make it hard to breathe. The bedding didn’t look clean, and the place felt unsafe and unwelcoming. I checked out within an hour and booked another hotel, even though I’d expected a basic but comfortable hostel stay. Staff seemed uninterested when I raised the problems and did nothing to address them. I’ve stayed in plenty of budget places, but this was the most disappointing. I’d recommend looking elsewhere.

The staff were nice, the owner was friendly, and the place could become a cool spot. Still, it was full of homeless people and drug addicts, and I felt uneasy even as a grown man. I can’t imagine how a woman travelling alone would feel. I’ve stayed in some suspect places, but this one takes the cake. Spend a little more and get a hotel.

People were chatting on the patio when I arrived, and the whole place has a friendly, alternative feel. It’s close to downtown Kelowna and just a couple of blocks from the beach. The house is old, broken, and a bit dirty, so it won’t suit everyone, but I’d happily keep coming back. Thanks for having me! :)