DC International Hostel 1 — Hotel in Washington

I mean this quite literally, as the owners have obviously sourced some of their mattresses from those tossed out as garbage by other people - details below.||||I chose to stay here because it was a half-mile walk from Union Station, and I was unwilling to pay the $300 that area hotels were looking for. In retrospect, I should have stayed at the official HI (Hostelling International) hostel, which costs about the same.||||I arrived at the front door, pushed the doorbell, but the door wasn't opened and I didn't heard anything. Thinking whoever was running the place was distant from the door, I pounded on it with my palm. Finally someone came out of a side door, complaining of my loudness. I said that if they had a sign with info / instructions on the front door, I wouldn't have felt the need to act as I did.||||A young woman confirmed my reservation and briefly showed me around the place. They give you a very small piece of paper containing the codes for the front door as well as the door of the room you'll be staying in. An older woman - neither of them had English as their first language, told me that if I lost this scrap of paper that I'd have to pay for my bed a second time to get access. There were only two bunks in my room, with a Vietnamese guy in his 40's and a woman in her 60's - which surprised me. However, since I'm 70 perhaps they meant this as a room for adults vs. kids.||||I ran my hand down the mattress on my bed and knew immediately that it would never do, as there was a loose wire just below the surface, and it clearly should have been discarded years ago. My interpretation was that someone else had in fact discarded it, but the hostel felt they could get away with giving it to some unsuspecting person for a while longer. ||||The mattress on the top bunk was a little bit better, although far from good, so I swapped them and used a trick I'd developed in my travels when I have to deal with a poor mattress. I stripped the sheet off it, and put the duvet and my sleeping bag between the mattress and the top sheet. Duvets are too heavy for me to sleep under, so I asked the younger woman for a top sheet and received one. I have no idea how frequently they wash the duvet covers. The springs on the bunks sag quite a bit, and perhaps only half have plywood over them; I moved the plywood from the top to bottom.||||It wasn't a great night, but far better than it would have been with the original mattress. The next day the woman was leaving to go to the official hostel, and I discovered that her bunk had a newer mattress, so I grabbed it and slept much better the next night.||||However, on my last night I could hear and feel someone climb to the bunk above me at about 10:30 PM, and just assumed it was a traveler arriving late. However, this person left at first light (5:30) and I noticed he had slept fully dressed and didn't have any luggage - he actually looked like a street-person, so I don't know what the situation was. I sent a message to the hostel, alerting them to having an intruder, and suggesting it was time to change the codes. They claimed they knew who it was, but wouldn't provide any details on what to me was a very...

This is the worst hostel experience in my life! The first night I stay there, a trespasser just came in to the room, claimed a bed, and start sleeping. The management only realized it after 10-15 minutes, and the trespasser was evacuated from the building. On the very same night, another guest in the room started to shake violently, foam coming out from his mouth, and start shouting erratically. I freaked out, jumped out the bed, and went to the front desk but no one is there to help. However, I managed to call the owner after frantically search for their number online.

Paramedic, and police to check on the guest. They presumed he took some drugs but he is conscious enough to refuse any medical assistance. The owner/manager want him out of the building but he can’t do so because the guest still have his rights to stay in the hostel. (To be honest I’m not sure about the legality of the incident).

The owner/manager gave me a new room even though, i said I want to leave and I want my money back. He said I have to wait until tomorrow. End up, I slept on the lobby couch because I don’t to be inconvenience to other guests in my new room as I need to unpack, make the bed, and etc. (Do take note these al happened around 2-3am).

The office opened at 9.30am, I told them again I want out and I want to get my full refund. The same manger/owner said since I stayed one night and according to their “policy”, he have to charged me another full night. Attached is their policy, he claimed if i check out after checking-in they are entitled to charged with 100% for a full night and 50% for the second night. But in this case, I stayed one night (even though, I told him I want check out that very night) he still charged me two full nights.

He keep insisted its not their fault that these incident happened, is out of his control, and he asked me what should he do! Seriously? I have to tell you how to run your own business?

I got flustered and admittedly very angry because they don’t take responsibility but instead blamed on me and other guests. Saying that why I’m getting all stressed up! With no sleep, safety issues, and terrible service, who wouldn’t get stressed-up?!

In the end I book with Capital View - better location, better facilities, better room, and better services.

Don’t go to this place!!!! Sorry for...

Travellers, this IS a HOSTEL!! The prices are extremely reasonable. I booked initially for 4 days this past weekend in a 4 bed room, but ended up staying for a 5th. The staff was very cordial, especially the older gentleman that checked me in. He was welcoming in a natural sort of way, which immediately put me at ease. My request due to recent surgery was a lower bunk, and that was granted without hesitation. There was a bed, sheets, towel, TV in my room (104), the bathroom was 2 stalls and 2 showers (mixed use as women and men had to share). Each of my room mates was fine (you ARE sharing with strangers from all over that may wake up early, or come back rally late, wake you up unintentionally, or snore a bit (BUT THIS IS A HOSTEL where you may HAVE to share with others). The guests were really diverse: young and old, people from Korea, Egypt, Mexico, other States, and me the New YAWKER!!! There was a kitchen with lockers, washers, dryer, table, fridge, utensils etc. The lobby was simple with a TV and vending machine and wi-fi. No free coffee in the morning while I was there due to a broken pot before I got there, but SO WHAT, right around the corner from the hostel is a 24 hour 7-11 !!!! The area is Shaw/ Howard University, not the most chic area, but it's an historically lower middle class area with some Young professionals and College students mixed in (due to Howard's campus nearby, and its on a major street (7th). The Metro train was 2 blocks away, and buses ran north and south along 7th Street. There's a club and restaurant next door, but I NEVER noticed loud noise or music or rowdy people being intrusive. YES, I would stay here again.........the great price, basic amenities, efficient staff is all I wanted from this place, and that's what I got. For what I paid HERE and GOT here for 5 days would normally cost me what I would pay for A NIGHT staying in a traditional hotel elsewhere, like DuPont Circle or Foggy Bottom or near MetroCenter and have "luxuries" that I really...