HI Calgary City Centre
Visitors frequently praise the HI Calgary City Centre for its friendly and helpful staff, clean facilities, and convenient downtown location with easy access to public transport and amenities like grocery stores. However, some guests mention concerns about the surrounding area at night, with mentions of homeless individuals and a general feeling of unease, and a few reviewers noted issues with the bed construction being noisy or uncomfortable.
Hotels near HI Calgary City Centre
via Stay22About this place HI Calgary City Centre
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Nice but you can endure some noises while sleeping 😂
Used it to store my backpack. It was quick, friendly and efficient service. Great people!
So this hostel used to be managed by a guy named Jason. The building was always clean and functional and now it's becoming shabby. The fridge freezes food. The ATM machine is broken. There is one washer and one drier that will eat your loonies and provide no service. The entry for every room requires a key card to enter. Washroom showers are always full of water . Hallways, stairs are dirty with random dead flies or odd piece of garbage. I didn't see anyone vaccuum or mop the main areas aside from the kitchen and upstairs lounge. Oh but you have games organised by the staff. Also there is a group of Sudanese men who will sit in the park and have a great deal of intellectual conversations till the morning and By- law won't do a thing. So if your room is facing the train. Good luck sleeping though that. You can park for free on the street 6pm to 9 am. This hostel is not as social as hostels I have stayed in terms of finding buddies for activities. People seem to be very standoffish to be honest. They are all on their way to work in the mountain. Not so much a traveller vibe but here to transition to a life in Banff /Canmore or Lake Louise.
The hostel is okay but overall not a worthwhile experience. They do not enforce quiet hours and we were woken from midnight all the way to 4am by the sound of people packing their bags and slamming of items and we had booked a private suite, I can't imagine the shared dorms.
Located in the downtown, clean, provided 24/7 reception and safety. Complimentary breakfast with boiled eggs, yogurt, waffles, coffee, tea, juice. Beds are really nice but bring am 👂 earplugs because Calgary is noisy at night. Recommended
I recently stayed at HI Calgary City Centre and unfortunately had a very mixed experience overall. I want to start by giving credit where it is deserved because the front desk staff was honestly the best part of the entire stay. Every employee I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, patient, and genuinely helpful. They did their best to assist guests and maintain a positive environment, and I truly appreciate the professionalism and kindness they showed throughout my visit. However, outside of the staff, the condition and cleanliness of this property seriously need attention. The biggest issue by far was the bathrooms and showers. For the number of rooms and guests staying on each level, having only a very limited number of showers created constant inconvenience. On top of that, the overall cleanliness of the bathrooms was extremely disappointing. The showers were dirty, the floors did not appear to be cleaned properly, and even the ceiling and walls showed clear signs of neglect and poor maintenance. It honestly felt like either there are not enough people assigned to clean the facility or the cleaning standards simply are not being maintained consistently. The kitchen area also raised concerns. The shared spaces, especially around the fridge and preparation areas, did not feel sanitary or properly maintained. Cleanliness is one of the most important things when staying in a shared hostel-style environment, and unfortunately that standard was lacking throughout multiple areas of the building. Another major issue was the overall maintenance of the property. There were broken or worn-down items throughout the facility that clearly need repair or replacement. Even something as simple as the pool table downstairs could have been a fun feature, but many of the pool sticks were damaged and not maintained. Small details like this add up and make the property feel neglected over time. It honestly leaves you wondering why more money is not being reinvested into maintaining and improving the building because the location itself has potential. Speaking of location, there are definitely positives. The hostel is surrounded by restaurants and nearby amenities, making it convenient for travelers wanting food or things to do within walking distance. One surprisingly enjoyable part of the experience was seeing jackrabbits running around the parking lot area, which was honestly pretty cool and memorable. That being said, the surrounding environment also felt uncomfortable at times due to the large homeless presence directly around the property. I understand this is something the hostel itself cannot fully control, but it did contribute to the overall feeling of uneasiness and safety concerns, especially at night. Overall, this place has potential because the staff truly works hard and the location has advantages, but the lack of cleanliness, poor bathroom conditions, maintenance issues, and overall upkeep significantly hurt the experience. With proper renovations, stronger cleaning standards, and more consistent maintenance, this could honestly become a much better place to stay. Right now, the customer service is carrying the property, but the cleanliness and condition of the facility need major improvement.
The best hostel within the HI Canada network, the staff are amazing and make you feel at home. HIGHLY recommended.
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Last updated on 12 August 2026