Backpackers Hostel Canada- HI Hostel Canada
Save money and make friends! Staying in a backpackers hostel in Canada is a special experience for people of all ages.
Backpacker Hostels are not only for the “young”! Nothing beats heading out on a backcountry adventure with just a few belongings in a backpack and a bucket list of places to see.
Hostelling International Canada (HI-Canada) has a network of sixty hostels from coast to coast. Ten of the hostels located in western Canada are wilderness hostels.
A Backpacker’s Hostel in Canada is usually not the type of accommodation that comes to mind when you plan a trip to Canada.
The backpackers’ hostel is a good choice for budget travellers and backpackers. This type of travel is not for everyone.
Some hostels are located in beautiful, remote locations, difficult to reach by public transport.
Most Canadian backpacker hostels are modern places with great services and amenities. They have come a long way since my hosteling experience in my early years here. Since then, Hosteling International (HI)l has developed a quality standard for all HI hostels. Some youth hostels are privately owned and standards might be different.
Hostels, also called backpackers hostels, offer cheap and safe lodging. They are not only fun places to stay, but you will meet like-minded travellers from worldwide. Are you travelling alone? Not for long if you stay in a backpackers hostel in Canada. It’s a great place if you’re looking for a travel partner. Canadian hostels are run by people who know all about the region. They help you organize and book a trip, or help you find work if this is what you are after.
If you have a working holiday visa for Canada, and you’re looking for a job, the HI Backpackers Hostel is a good place to start. Information about hostel jobs can be found on the HI website.
Other Backpackers Accommodation In Canada
Canada is a big country and offers many different experiences. Backpacker’s hostel accommodations have similar standards, but most are pretty unique. Some backpackers hostels in cities and popular tourist places might be more like modern resorts than budget accommodation.
They might have nice patios to hang out, big pool areas, lively bars with music all day and free Internet.
Some backpacker hostels in Canada are party places for young travellers and are very loud, but there are alternatives.
Wilderness Hostels In The Rockies
Get back to nature and check out the HI network of wilderness hostels in West Canada, tucked away in the Rocky Mountains along the Icefield Parkway Highway 93 north, in both Banff and Jasper National Parks. These hostels offer affordable, basic accommodation away from electronics so you experience the simple things in life. Some have fire pits and even wood-burning saunas, how great is that?
You will be able to enjoy unspoiled nature, true silence, amazing night skies and magnificent landscapes, and be awarded a unique “off-the-grid” Canadian backcountry experience.
The rustic atmosphere and the beauty surrounding these hostels will make your effort worthwhile, whether you get there by car, bike or on foot. During summer you can tour the Icefields Parkway by bicycle, stopping at hostels. In winter these hostels give great access to winter sports. Check out the HI network of wilderness hostels, it’s worth it!
The Hostels:
- HI-Beauty Creek
- HI-Castle Mountain
- HI Hilda Creek
- HI Kanasakis
- HI-Mosquito Creek
- HI Mount Edith Cavell
- HI-Rampart Creek
- HI-Yoho National Park, Whiskey Jack Hostel
The HI Hostel Canada website gives information about each of the hostels.
What Can You Expect
Staying in a hostel is only for you if you don’t mind the lack of privacy, and sharing a dorm and the bathroom with strangers.
Most backpacker hostels in Canada offer mixed or single-sex dorms. This kind of accommodation only works for travellers who can fall asleep despite the noise around them. Some hostels have smaller dorms for four people, two-person or single rooms, sometimes with a private bathroom and shower.
The fee usually includes breakfast. A shared kitchen is available to cook your own meals. I’m not sure whether peanut butter sandwiches and baked beans on toast are still the favourite menus for backpackers!
No, you don’t have to worry about bed bugs, these times are gone. That’s not the reason they want you to bring your own hostel sheet in the shape of a sleeping bag. I remember the yellow heavy cotton sleeping sheet with a YH pattern I used to own, no silk ones were available then.
Invest in a money belt to secure your travel documents and keep it on you. Locker facilities vary from place to place.
Your nightly hostel fee usually pays for a bunk bed, a pillow and a blanket. No towels, shampoo, or soap are supplied. Breakfast might be included in the price.
What You Need To Bring Along
I suggest travelling light when choosing a backpackers hostel. Hostels are not suitcase-friendly and don’t offer much personal space. Bring a backpack along for your belongings. Even if you book a room, it will be small.
And that’s what you have to pack, apart from your personal belongings:
- Sleeping sheet and pillowcase
- Shower shoes and towel
- Soap and shampoo
- Padlocks and coins for lockers
HI Hostel Membership
You can purchase your HI membership online before you leave home or buy in person when you arrive in Canada. All hostels can sell you an International Membership, valid worldwide for one year.
How To Book A Backpackers Hostel Online
To find available youth hostels in Canada go to the HI Canada hostels website. I like their website and it’s easy to find your way around. You can make online reservations and cancellations for HI-Canada hostels with no booking fee.
Other backpacker hostels in Canada are privately owned. They don’t show up on the HI-Canada website.
Check out an independent booking site, like:
Both booking sites don’t charge any booking fees and no commission either.