The Clarence Park - Hostel

My first hostel stay was two nights in a premium private room, and it exceeded my expectations. It was spacious and clean enough. The staff were friendly, and they let me leave my luggage until check-in. The place was quiet, though you could hear people coming and going, everyone seemed respectful. They installed an AC unit in my room during my stay and didn't move or remove anything. The staff seemed trustworthy. I'll stay again, thanks for a great visit.

The location is a real plus, with everything close enough to walk to and save on transport. The price is decent too, but hygiene and comfort problems ruined the stay for me. After the first night I had a lot of bites, and they got worse every day until I could barely sleep. Reception initially thought they were probably mosquitoes. Pharmacists I spoke to afterward said they were most likely bed bug bites. I was in the men's room while a friend in the women's room had no issues, so perhaps it depends on the room. The hostel is right in front of a park, and there are definitely plenty of mosquitoes around. They might consider mosquito nets on the windows. The bathrooms didn't seem very clean. I saw mosquito larvae by the shower area, and there were barely enough supplies for everyone. Towels are provided, but bring flip-flops for hygiene. Breakfast is basic but okay. You have to clean up after yourself carefully, and there are cameras in the kitchen. There are lockers in the rooms, though you'll need your own padlock. There's a Dollarama nearby if you need one. The AC is very loud at night, and the beds feel cheap. You can hear and feel every movement from the person above or below, so bring earplugs. Some staff were nice and helpful, while others seemed not to care about guests. A few came across as cold, judgmental, and unwelcoming, especially toward people new to hostels.

The room was tidy and clean, stayed at a comfortable temperature, and the bathroom had a hairdryer. We also got two separate room keys, which isn't always a given at places like this. Breakfast was a pleasant surprise, free from 8 to 10 a.m., even though it wasn't mentioned in our Booking reservation. Staff were very kind and helpful from the start, and the reception/lounge was a nice place to sit, with complimentary lemon-infused water. It's a hostel-style place with private rooms and bathrooms, in a convenient area a short walk from the CN Tower and well connected to the rest of the city. They let us leave our bags in a locked storage room after check-out, which was handy for our later plans. We had a very positive stay and would recommend it. My only small reservation is the price, about €153 per night for two people, which feels a little high for a hostel.

I slept really well in the dorm, thanks in part to the bunk bed being fully enclosed by curtains on all four sides. The common areas were clean and tidy, and the staff were extremely helpful. The location was great too. I stayed one night and had a pleasant experience. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs because of the wooden floor.