- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
HI - Ottawa Jail Hostel
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
6 reviews for HI - Ottawa Jail Hostel
6 reviews in English
-
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you find yourself in our fine nation's capital on a modest budget and value clean rooms, a convenient location, friendly and knowledgeable staff and aren't weary of spending a night or two with the agreeable spirits of condemned murderers, arsonists ET AL. then the old Nicholas Street Gaol, or what is now known as HI Ottawa Hostel is for you.
When the jail closed in 1972, Hostelling International purchased and converted the building, but left much of the structure intact, allowing guests to experience spending a night "in jail". But rest assured you will not be inflicted to the oft inhumane conditions that awaited other less fortunate souls during their stays.
We stayed on the top floor in the "Richard" suite, the room had a beautiful hardwood floor and two sturdy bunk beds. The bottom of one was actually a double! and the room even had a sink en-suite and a leather couch to boot. Not too shabby for a hostel room. Another nice touch was the soaker tub in the bright bathroom steps from our door.
For the nominal cost of approx. $40.00/person for semi shared quarters you too can enjoy this quirky slice of prison life sans guards and bars. -
Review from Erich Z.
3/30/2011
The beds aren't awesome but they're much better than camping, and big-free to boot.
The novelty of staying in a somewhat-renovated jail would wear off over multiple nights, but it really is an interesting alternative to the many overpriced hotels in the area. I had a fun time exploring the levels and cells, though I missed the nightly tour. The basement houses the common area with a bar open nightly 6-10 pm.
I stayed in a dorm with other travelers on bunk beds, which suited me just fine. The others in my room were courteous about late night noise and light levels, which I appreciated as I awoke early for a morning tour of Ottawa. -
Review from bernice c.
6/7/2010
How does this place only have two reviews? This place was slightly creepy, but super cool. My bf and I did a Canada road trip and decided to stay one night in the Jail Hostel. I totally agree that one night is more then enough. I also highly advise to read the wikipedia history of the Jail Hostel or take the tour after you stay the night. I wish they had a morning jail tour instead of only once a night.
We booked a double occupancy in a private cell for about $85. The cell has an original jail door and isn't fully private. They give you clean sheets and towels to use. The sleeping quarters are super bare , but clean. I thought the bathrooms and showers were a bit too original and decided to shower at the next hotel. They keep the lights on all night, so its not as creepy.
I recommend that you check out every floor and the outside courtyard. It's pretty interesting to go to the 8th floor to see what your cell originally looked like. Your private room was equivalent to 3 jail cells. The solitary confinement cells is past the kitchen on the 3rd floor. I didn't see any ghosts, and its kind of cool to say I've stayed in a jail. Great location to the bars, and a little bit walking to parliament and the Canadian museum.
$5 for an all day parking spot on the property
free wi-fi -
Review from Sarah D.
7/7/2011
Staying here is all about the novelty of the place. It is really fun to stay in the original cells complete with bars. However, the hard beds and super creepy haunted feeling kind of sucks. Let's just say I didn't exactly sleep well. I would not recommend this as a place for multiple nights just for the creep out factor, but I highly recommend it as a cool experience for a night if you are in town. We stayed here on a road trip pit stop and it was definitely the most interesting place we crashed out...
-
Review from Pheng P.
Comox, BC
2/4/2009
A unique and memorable trip to the best Ottawa Hostel that'll not only include its sights, attractions, and activities but your overnight sentence in jail as well! The HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel is the only hostel in North America located in a former prison that operated for over 100 years. During your stay in this Victorian-era architectural relic, you'll sleep in former jail cells, the prison hospital, or maybe even the governor's quarters!
If you are look for a good experience and some history of the jail hostel? This is a place to be. It was my first hostel stay and I was impressed of the jail hostel.
PROS:
- Cheap Price
- Have great history and features
- Stuffs are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable
- Great with groups and with friends
- Very convenient right downtown (just about 20 minutes walk to the Parliament Hill and about 5 minutes walk to the ByWard Market and Restaurants)
- Could spend a night in a jail for free with no records
- Cheap internet
CONS:
- If you have a bad back. DO NOT GO HERE because bedding sucks and not comfortable, the bed spring is old and noise. Better to take the jail toured then stay for a night.
- Share bedrooms with unknown people (8 beds per room) best go in groups
- Smells of the old jail
- Share washroom/restroom
- Lack of AC (Poor ventilation)
- Additional costs were charged without prior notice
- Breakfasts does not included
OVERALLS:
It's ok because the cheap price for a night and the location is right downtown. I was looking for the experience and some history of the Ottawa jail. Best of all I stay in a jail for free with no records for the next day. The worst part would be, it's not that comfortable place to sleep in and if someone who snore and move a lot. You will hear the squaring noises. I would recommend to take the jail toured and learn the history of this place.
PP SIGNING OUT!
YES..PLEASE! -
Review from Jodi V.
3/17/2009
This place is worth staying at for ONE night just because of the novelty of it. It's tiny and not very comfortable, but it's definitely interesting. The rooms and bathrooms are really clean too.
