Belfast International Youth Hostel

I had booked my first two nights in Belfast at Vagabonds, but coming back in the end of my trip there was no female dorm available at Vagabonds, so I booked a female dorm at Belfast International Hostel instead. I made my bookings about a month ahead.

I booked a four-bed ensuite female dorm for £15.50 (March 2011). Breakfast is not included in that price, but there is a café, open in the mornings, downstairs.

The room was clean and so was the bathroom. There were lookers under the bed (you will need your own padlock) and bedside lamps for each bed. On the wall there was four hangers, but there were no chair or table to put things on. I stayed on the third floor and traffic noise could be heard. The first night it was quite cold, but I guess that was because I didn’t turn on the heater. Someone must have done that the next night, because it was not cold.

In the bathroom there was no place to put things, not even a hanger for a towel. The shower didn’t work, so I used one down the corridor instead.

On the second floor there is supposed to be a common room with TV and a library, but my card didn’t get me access to that floor. On the first floor (ground floor) there is an area with computers and a machine where you buy time for them. There is a café open in the mornings and a kitchen to use for guests. I kept my own breakfast in the kitchen, but there was no coffee or tea available for free as there is in most hostels, so in the morning I bought a coffee at the Causeway Café when it opened. A medium Coffee Americano was £1.60.

Belfast International hostel is situated just off Shaftesbury Square and it is not far from Europa Bus Centre, so the location is convenient. But it is too big and lacks character.

Directions: Just off Shatesbury Square.

Newly refurbished this hostel is of a very good quality (and i know, ive stayed in my fair few share) Handy to the train station, bus station and subsequently the whole city center (belfast is very small) this hostel is perfect for those on a budget and is family friendly too. It wont accept hen or stag dos or sport/university teams out of respect for other guests.

With the reputation of being one of the UK’s best youth hostels, trade is always brisk and booking in advance is a must where possible.
One thing I feel I must point out however is that the hostel is in quite a bad area. During the June and July there can be considerable amounts of political trouble in this area. Over the last number of years riots and both racial and sectarian attacks have occurred. Ironically, at any other time of the year, the area isn’t too bad, but I could not in all conscious recommend it to visitors over the summer period.

Unique Quality: Possibly Days Hotel woul dbe a better option for travellers. In a better area and really not that much more expensive, especially with two or three sharing a room.