Kelowna Okanagan Lake Hostel

We paid $340 for two miserable nights. The room had no heat either night, and when I asked the host to turn it up, she said she could raise the temperature but it wouldn’t work for every room. It didn’t work for mine at all. The place smelled stale and musty, and by the next day the odor had made me sick. The tiny room looked as if it hadn’t been used or cleaned in ages. I was scared to use the motel bedding and had to ask my friend for a blanket. At 5:30 AM, people were cooking and chopping in the shared kitchen, so sleeping was impossible. The bathroom looked like it was from the 1900s, and everything seemed so scary we didn’t use it. The TV was just as outdated and couldn’t connect to WiFi or modern devices. Afterward, I read the reviews and saw the owner’s rude replies to complaints in the photos. I expect one after this, but who cares? She has no customer service skills. It was a horror experience, and I’d rate it below zero if I could. Avoid this place, it’ll ruin your trip.

The air was stale, smelled bad, and seemed moldy. When she suggested I put my bags away, I felt so uncomfortable I thought sleeping outside might be better. I paid for the room by credit card in advance, but the operator demanded a $200 deposit, which I refused to pay. I asked for a refund, and she made excuses about the transactions, saying the payment hadn’t gone through. I called my bank right away and cancelled the latest transaction. It may take a while to get my money back, but I’d rather wait. The old lady running the place was disrespectful and had no manners. The office was meant to open at 3 PM, but she arrived late and rushed through the process. I was really unhappy with that first interaction. I’ll spend my money elsewhere and advise people to stay away from this junk yard. You won’t have a good stay here. It needs upgrading in every area.

The location is great, close to amenities, and the wildflower garden was something I could compliment. The operator is an eccentric, funny lady who was pleasant to us, unlike the reviews I’d read. I like supporting small independent businesses, but people should know what they’re booking. I’d booked this as a last resort when nothing else was available. The building is extremely old and in poor repair, which left me very concerned about its safety. My room was in the basement, where the windows were tiny and, in my view, not in line with fire codes. Booking site photos don’t accurately show the rooms, and inconsiderate guests have caused damage to the property. The linens were old and stained. The operator kindly replaced sheets with urine and blood stains, saying they came from a rusted-out washing machine. I know things cost money, but a hostel or hotel needs proper laundry facilities. The washrooms were absolutely disgusting. The showers are exceptionally small, water spills across the main area, and guests are expected to mop it up. The old toilet doors have gaps, there’s rust everywhere, and the urinal faces the kitchen with the door left open. There’s no privacy. My travel buddy, who worked in hostels around Europe, called the place a “budget prison cell.” If you know what you’re getting into, it might be fine, but as someone who’d never stayed in a hostel, I found it pretty bad. The lady who runs it is lovely, and I wanted to praise the operators, but the place needs a lot of work. I’m not saying people shouldn’t stay, just that they should know accurately what they’re booking.

The room looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in over a month, and the sheets were gross. I had to inflate my camping pad and use my sleeping bag just to feel somewhat okay sleeping there. The place was a disaster and a mess, and I’d be happier outside. The lady working there was a terrible host and made excuses whenever we asked questions. I showed her a video of a mouse or rat in the kitchen, and she asked us to delete it and not leave a review. She blamed the competitors for putting it there, which felt like taking the easy way out. This place has two stars for a reason, since there’s no competition. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.