Sign in with FacebookHI Ottawa Jail Hostel
75 Nicholas St, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Hotel
Photos - Hotel
Amenities
Check Rates and Availability
of people enjoy staying here
57 Opinions
- Excellent
- Very Good
- Average
- Poor
- Terrible
Our Members Say
-
thejumpingcorw
- Reviews: 6
User Rating
Very unique hostel in a great location
The staff was very friendly. We stayed in a private room at the top floor and had a very nice shared bathroom. I looked in on the dorm floor and it did not look very nice and that bathroom was disgusting. I would recommened this hostel for it's private room. It has a great location and they change their security code everyday - very safe.
Unique Quality: They had a spooky very interesting jail tour. A bit pricey but very interesting. They have kept a lot of the building with it's original bars and such which made it very interesting.
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
- Related to: Backpacking, Budget Travel, Arts and Culture
- Written February 24, 2011
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
1 more images-
oceania26
- Reviews: 235
Helpfulness
Jail house hostel
I didn't stay here but I took the jail house tour and I would definitely come stay here. It seemed clean, safe and friendly with lots of value added service and activities. It's at a very good location, directly behind the Rideau Centre (huge shopping complex) and not too far from the other sightseeing areas.
-
bicycle_girl
- Reviews: 335
User Rating
Helpfulness
Cheap, unusual and fun!
Yup, you sleep in a cell! Thhe good news is even though it's hot outside, it's not that hot in because of the thick walls and the concrete. I had a good time over there, and all the amenities were great. Friendly staff too!
- Opinion of Price: least expensive
- Related to: Budget Travel, Study Abroad, Backpacking
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel Photo: In the hall near my cell!
-
Blatherwick
- Reviews: 1168
User Rating
Helpfulness
Atmosphere abound in the former jail
You mostly stay here for the atmosphere but it doesn't hurt that it's right in the centre of town. For $22 Cdn you can stay in a cell within the old Ottawa jail. Formerly a prison and the site of Canada's last public hanging, this historical landmark retains much of its original character. You can visit death row and the gallows during a Jail Tour. As for security...it was a jail man!
- Opinion of Price: least expensive
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel Photo: Ottawa Jail Hostel
-
pirategirl
- Reviews: 6
User Rating
A Hell Hole
We should have known that staying in a jail would be a bad idea.
We were both assigned top bunks (no choice), and in our room there were 3 bunks to sleep 6 people. They do provide a pillow and sheets, but I would definitely advise bringing your own. The bunks are the squeakiest, noisiest, most uncomfortable beds you will likely ever sleep in. When I climbed into my top bunk, I honestly thought that the bed was going to tip over because they're not secured to the ground, and are very unstable. When my bunkmate came in during the middle of the night, although she was trying to be as quiet as possible, I awoke to what felt like a person catapulting herself into the bed below. The bedframes are metal, and (for the top bunk), there's only a small piece of metal (part of the ladder) to keep you in, in case of rolling. It doesn't even stretch the length of the bed! I also had the joy of a heating vent right above me, so my bunk felt even narrower than it actually was.
If you're claustrophobic I definitely do not recommend this hostel! Since it used to be a jail, they still have the metal bars above the doors, and even the metal bar doors for each "cell". The walls are brick, the floors are concrete, and there is no ventilation in the rooms. There is no A/C in the summer, but they do keep the hall windows open. It's also very damp, and for someone like me with breathing problems, this poses a problem. It honestly feels like a dungeon.
There are only two redeeming qualities that I can think of for this hostel. The first is the security - it's actually quite good. They change the security code on the downstairs door every morning at 11am. You also get a key for your floor door. We had no problem with leaving our bags on our bunks (we had no valuables), but others may want to make use of lockers. The second redeeming quality is that the showers actually had hot water and that there were no waiting lines to use them.
I will end off by saying "stay at your own risk", and save your money for a real hotel!!!
Unique Quality: - security
- interesting atmosphere
- Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel Photo: me at the Ottawa Jail Hostel
-
janika
- Reviews: 246
User Rating
Helpfulness
Jail-House inn or Out?!
The Ottawa Jail Hostel or officially called Ottawa International Hostel. This building is located in Ottawa downtown, not oo far from the Ridea Canal and a walking distance from the Rideau Center shopping Mall. The prices are cheaper than those in a hotel environment. The most interesting part of this place is it's historical purpose. This building was a prison long time ago.
Prices start at only $21.00/Dorm This hostel has 154 beds and also offers corrency exchange with many other convenient commodities. It has it's own parking and bicycle locker for your bikers. Check-in:
May - Sep.: 24 hours. Oct. - April: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. This place never closes and offers family rooms for larger groups or families. They conveniently accept the following cards as payment:
Credit Cards: AMEX, JCB, Mastercard, Visa, Debit Card and ofcourse cash .
Unique Quality: It's a prison building. This is what makes this place so unique and museum like experience while obtaining an affordable accomodation at the middle of the city.
- Opinion of Price: least expensive
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel Photo: Hostel building
-
hullian
- Reviews: 3
User Rating
woooahh this is scary man!!
this is an unused jail that has been converted to a hostel (in 1972 it shut down and in 1973 converted and opened).
it still retains many of its original features from the gates outside, the stocks near the entrance and death row on the top floor.
you enter from the streets on the thrid level, are given a key to the main door and go through a massive 2ft thick original wooden door to the stairs. floor 1 is storage, floor 2 is the kitchens, lounge and washing machines and a corridor to the shooting gallery out the back where you can also see the hanging area where the last hanging took place only 60 years ago. the rest of the floors are bedrooms and the 10th top floor is an all accessible death row.
the bedrooms are the original cells with no changed doors or features - the beds are still bunks and are very cramped to give a realistic feel to the place.
once a day the staff will give a tour of the place for $10 each which ends with a bbq in the shooting gallery. this takes you round every floor with each one having its own very scary and true story of the jails original residents 100's of years ago and also a visit to death row and the noose chamber - try it out if you want!!!
Unique Quality: its a converted jail for gods sake how many unique qualities do you want it to have!
-
Rice_Paper
- Reviews: 127
A lil spooky but all around cheap!
Nice and cheap! And talk about LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Just a hop, skip, and a jump and you're in Rideau Centre (biggest shopping complex in Ottawa)...and a few more steps Northbound is Byward Market.
Unique Quality: This used to be a jailhouse until the 70s. The 4th floor is closed off for the Ottawa Haunted Tour (aka it's still retain its "shape" as a jail...).
- Opinion of Price: least expensive
HI Ottawa Jail Hostel Photo: The ol' jailhouse turned hostel...
-
louisa_2
- Reviews: 25
Helpfulness
Hostelling Internationl
Unique Quality: This place used to be a former jail and it's interior is much as it was before the jail closed in the 1970's. The hostel dorms are what used to be the prison cells, complete with cell doors,a nd you can even go on a tour of the hostel and see the hanging quarter and solitary confinement cells. It's a bit scarey but at least you know you can leave when you want to!
-
shotgunsally
- Reviews: 21
Helpfulness
International Youth Hostel
Unique Quality: was the jail back in the day... the site of the last Canadian public hanging from the back door. They used to let one stay for free if they stayed in the spookiest cell. A while back, someone got freaked out while staying in there and couldn't get out of the cell. I am not sure what happened but they don't let people stay in that room anymore. Tours are also available of the facility for a couple dollars. Very spooky, very haunted, very cool.
Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful
More about HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
Forum Posts
Hotel rather than Driving for a 19 yr old
DOes anyone know any hotels in Ottawa where you don't have to be 21 to book a room? My son who is turning 19 will be celebrating his birthday in Ottawa and that means no driving. But do you think I can find a hotel for hom to stay at !
Any ideas?
Thanks
Re: Hotel rather than Driving for a 19 yr old
Hi! Staying at the Ottawa Jail Hostel (http://www.hihostels.ca/OntarioEast/en/index.aspx?sortcode=2.0) can be a pretty neat experience, and it's well located, close to the By Market area. Also, as far as I know, you only need to be over 18 to book a room in Ontario so if he gets there on the day he turns 19, renting a room shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Re: Hotel rather than Driving for a 19 yr old
All the hotels I have contacted say he has to be 21 so i will look at hostels .
Thanks
Re: Hotel rather than Driving for a 19 yr old
Hmmm, you could also try calling Capital Hill Hotel (http://www.capitalhill.com), they might have a different policy. It's a nice enough place, clean and well located. Good luck!
Explore the World
- Hilton Daytona Beach/Ocean Walk Village
- Linden Suites
- Awana Porto Malai Hotel
- Sunset Royal Cancun Resort
- Daydream Island Resort & Spa
- Courtyard By Marriott Lake Buena Vista In The Marriott Village
- Iberostar Grand Rose Hall
- Catamaran Resort Hotel
- Portofino Bay Hotel Orlando
- New Orleans Marriott
- Bearskin Lodge On The River
- Blue Waters Hotel
- Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
- Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur
Travelers also viewed
The People
Our Members Say
was the jail back in the day... the site of the last Canadian public hanging from the back door. They used to let one stay for free if they stayed in the spookiest cell. A while back, someone got freaked out while staying in there and couldn't get out of the cell. I am not sure what happened but they don't let people stay in that room anymore. Tours are also available of the facility for a couple dollars. Very spooky, very haunted, very cool.
1277 members live in Ottawa
- HI Ottawa Jail Hostel: Save money, Book now !
- Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
- HI Ottawa Jail Hostel: Lowest Price Guarantee
- HostelBookers.com No Booking Fee. Book Online Now Great Prices & User Reviews
Sponsored Links
Hotel Helper
Ottawa
Similar to HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
Near HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
Cheapest in Ottawa
Great Hotels for Less
Questions and Answers
Q: Things to do and places to see in Ottawa? "Hi All! I will be in Ottawa tomorrow and the day after. Could you please tell some of the best places to see and things to do..."
A: "The tulips are getting towards the end; check out Commissioner's Park on the north-east side of Dows Lake. I shot the following images there last..."
- Ottawa: Save money, Book now !
- Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
- Ottawa: Book now for big savings!
- hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.
Sponsored Links
Latest Ottawa hotel reviews
- Fairmont Chateau Laurier
- 424 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - The Westin Ottawa
- 511 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - The National Hotel and Suites Ottawa
- 145 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Lord Elgin Hotel
- 510 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Albert At Bay Suite Hotel
- 356 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 24, 2012 - Les Suites Hotel Ottawa
- 270 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Marriott Ottawa
- 324 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Chateau Cartier Resort
- 58 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2012 - Minto Place Suite Hotel
- 343 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Hotel Indigo Ottawa Downtown
- 249 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012 - Days Inn Ottawa Airport
- 32 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Feb 25, 2012 - Capital Hill Hotel And Suites
- 139 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2012 - Brookstreet Hotel
- 191 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 27, 2012 - ByWard Blue Inn
- 113 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2012 - The Business Inn
- 141 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2012
- Ottawa: Save up to 50% on hotels.
- Hotwire.com Hotwire: Get a 4-star hotel for a 2-star price.
- Ottawa: Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
- Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
- Ottawa: Hotels Up to 50% off!
- www.priceline.com Great Low Prices, Pictures, and Guest Reviews. Book Now!
- Ottawa: Find the perfect activity!
- Expedia.com Book early before things sell out. Skip long lines and save on tickets!
Sponsored Links
- Save money, Book now !
- Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
- Book now for big savings!
- hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.
- Save up to 50% on hotels.
- Hotwire.com Hotwire: Get a 4-star hotel for a 2-star price.
- Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
- Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Sponsored Links