Description: I was nervous about staying here because I was with my Mum, but we arrived before we could check in and they let us leave our bags while we explored. When we could check in it was a really straightforward process and before we knew it we were climbing up the central staircase to our room.
We were in a female only dorm that slept 4 and we weren't actually in the old jail but in the governers quarters. The room was spacious and clean with hardwood floors and the typical hostel bunkbeds. We had a sink and a mirror and lockers to store our valuables. There wasn't any air conditioning, which was a shame because when we were there Ottawa was suffering from a terrible heat wave and it was roasting. There was a fan, however, so with that and the two windows open we at least at a breeze through the room.
We were sharing a bathroom with the other rooms on that floor, all of which were female only. You could lock the bathroom door if you were particularly shy, but there were cubicles for the two showers and a separate cubicle for the toilet. Everything was nice and clean, but as usual in these sort of places it wasn't brand spanking new, but it was perfectly adequate for what we needed and paid.
Security in the hostel was great, which you would expect being that it was an old jail. You needed a key card to get from reception up to the rooms and then another key for your bedroom, so we felt secure and safe at all times.
We didn't actually use the kitchen and common room facilities because we were out all of the time. But when I wandered through them they we big, very spacious and clean so I can't imagine anyone would have any problem sorting out their breakfast there.
The staff were all very pleasant and courteous, they went out of their way to help us and recommended several places we should go to and others we should avoid at night on our own.
The beds were comfortable and we managed to have a good nights sleep despite being situated at the front of the building near the main road. Noise levels were really low during the night and the hostel itself imposes a curfew on noise after 11pm and before 7am.
All in all a quirky and unique place to stay...go on get yourself locked up for the night!
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