Hygie Pod Hotel - Hostel

It's conveniently located downtown. I booked through Airbnb and was given room 109, a lovely space with a private washroom and all the amenities working properly. The negative and positive reviews both seem to reflect real differences: Airbnb listings have private washroom suites, while Expedia has pods with bunk beds and shared showers. Make sure you book through Airbnb.

The only upside was being fairly close to Old Port and the metro. I stayed in a single pod in a dingy basement with no natural light, and the place felt run down, dirty, and disgusting. They had no shampoo, body wash, or tissues, and a towel wasn't provided at check-in unless you asked. The shower room was moldy, with a shower head literally falling apart and held together by duct tape. The locker room smelled of sweat and mold and had no ventilation. After the first day I had mysterious bites on my legs, probably bedbug bites. There were no outlets inside the pod, just a USB outlet and an extremely slow USB-C port. I asked Expedia about checking out and getting a refund for the remaining nights, but they refused. They could pay me 500 dollars next time and I still wouldn't stay here.

The location worked really well for us, within walking distance of Old Montreal, the port, and Chinatown. Parking is rough since it's all residential, so we left the car in a lot by the Ferris wheel for 50 a night, about a seven-minute walk away. The room was small but clean; the TV and outlet worked, and the water sometimes got too hot. It wasn't cold in the room like some reviews said. The pillows were thick and heavy, and we had a towel each plus one in the bathroom. There's no hairdryer, so bring one if you need it. My boyfriend booked a suite through Expedia for this past weekend after seeing good reviews, then I spotted the negative Google reviews and got worried for nothing. The lobby seemed kinda sus, but when we were confused about check-in, the staff answered the phone easily and texted me all the info I needed. I'd definitely stay again. There's also a Totoro-themed hotel across the street for Studio Ghibli fans, lol.

My daughter and I had a lovely stay. The room was clean and cozy, and we felt safe and well looked after by the owners. The old port location is perfect, so I could go out at night without worrying about transport. ❤️