Billie's Backpackers Hostel

Billie's is a wonderful place. Billie and her son were great hosts. The other guests added to the pleasant experience of staying there. We were on a motorcycle trip from Florida to Deadhorse and spent three nights on the way up and two on the way down. Out of two months of traveling, Billie's was our most memorable. If I am ever back in Fairbanks, I hope she has a bed for me.

I was traveling as a solo female and definitely felt safe here. The dorm rooms were mixed (an older guy shared the room one night) and another lady wasn't comfortable with that so Billie made temporary accommodations for her which I thought was very thoughtful and hospitable. There weren't any lockers but I could keep my things secure in my locked rental car. Billie's son helped people get around since there's really no Uber service there and taxis don't come by frequently either. The social spaces were really nice and used frequently to share a travel stories over a meal which you cook on your own, and there were also several quiet spaces. Everything was clean and the sheets and towels were accommodating and the Wi-Fi was really good. It was just a couple walking blocks from the farmers market and a Thai restaurant that was convenient. And the dog that roams freely is super cute. I stayed inside in a room with two bunk beds, but other people use the option to sleep outdoors in a tent and were happy there, too.

(Late Review) Cheap and Safe place to stay in Fairbanks. I had a chance to stay with Billie (sweet old lady that runs the place) around Oct last year. It's a typical hostel with multiple room types. They have common bathrooms (tidy and clean) and a kitchen & dining area with all standard features. Was only able to stay for one night, but would definitely be back the next time I am in Fairbanks.

Literally one of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever encountered in a hostel... or in Alaska! Good setup & easy check in. Could've used another fan but it was still a pleasant sleep. I accidentally left something & as soon as I reached out about it, the staff had it in the mail for me! Awesome customer service & will definitely stay again next time I'm in Fairbanks!

We spent a quick night at Billie’s. It was super comfy. Billie’s son was up when we got in and he was super nice. Highly recommend Billie’s. They were very communicative and helpful.

This was the best introduction to the hostel experience a person could have. Billie has created a sanctuary with little touches of homeyness Guests relax into the welcome and share hearty conversation, making friends within minutes!

Wonderful place - a home away from home. Billie and her son Art couldn’t be more helpful and the place has a wonderful atmosphere. There’s always someone playing the guitar or piano and a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Can’t wait to go back,

Billie's is a no-frills hostel - but friendly, safe and cheap option for a budget trip to Fairbanks. I liked the opportunity to meet travellers of all ages and backgrounds. It is also the only available hostel in Fairbanks and is significantly cheaper than anything else. The dorm beds are comfy, but have no railing on the top bunk. There's no lockers, so remember to bring a lock for your suitcase. The location of the hostel was wonderful, very safe and clean. I loved my stay at Billie's since it felt like I was a guest at someone's home (attached a picture of a pie Bille baked herself). However, if you are 'particular about things' kinda person, and expect a "facilities/service", this may not be the place for you.

Wonderful hostel that I would like to stay in again! Billie and her family + friends are very kind and helped us with anything we needed during the stay from recommendations for viewing the aurora to understanding the bus schedule. The hostel was always warm despite the winter chill outside and I felt very comfortable. There is also ample community space and I enjoyed meeting people from around the world. I definitely recommend staying here while you are in Fairbanks!

My Sister and I (59&60 from Atlanta &Houston) stayed here in a private room for a week in late November 2023. All the other guests were in their 20s and from all over the world. Fairbanks is a wonderfully friendly small town and Billie's Hostel is the best representation of that. Billie and her son Art keep a very clean and warm home away from home for a wide array of travelers. They are chatty and helpful if that is what you want or need and they leave you in peace if that is what you want or need. A neighbor Ray drops in for coffee some days and is a wealth of information about all the sites that only locals know best. We paid for a tour to see the lights and saw none. Ray gave us the inside scoop and we had an amazing Aurora Borealis night. (Really, everything depends on the weather )The bus lines circle the town, ride them around even if you have a car and chat with the bus drivers who seem to love to show off their town to visitors. I can not emphasize enough how clean and warm Billie's Hostel is. (And every day I was there, there was yummy cake set out for everyone) I would love to visit again in the Spring, and would defiantly recommend anyone going to Fairbanks to stay at Billie's

Love this place. Was in Alaska for over a few weeks, love every minute. I can't wait to go bav

The adage, "home away from home" most aptly describes what it's like to come stay here at Billie's. A cliché, I know, but there's really no other way to put it. I arrived at an odd hour past midnight, I rang the doorbell, and Billie, adoringly, came right out to open the door for me and set the bed. I instantly recognized that feeling; it was the same warm welcome that my grandmother would give to me, when she was waiting for me to come visit. The very next day, she introduced me to a spectacular group of fellow travelers; some of whom Billie's has known for decades. It was here that I met Sara and Bill, this adorable traveling couple from Australia. They've been long friends of Billie and have been coming to Fairbanks over the decades. I had the opportunity to meet Billie's kids, grandkids, and even her great-grandchild, whom was just this little ball of bright energy. They too we're all so welcoming. This family fed me one of the best home cooked chicken fried and mashed potatoes. And Billie makes the tastiest Strawberry shortcake! Everyone I met here had an interesting story and they all really aimed to connect and genuinely learn about you. This is the better part of travel: convening with your fellow human and forging lifelong friends and memories. When I wanted to take a tour to see the lights, or go fishing, or dog mushing, Billie's not only knew whom to send me to, but she went above and beyond and called them directly as my representative, and got me 10% off my tours. Her connections with the locals really has it's benefits. Billie really goes out of her way for you, the same way your own family would. I am eager to return here next year. Coming here was the best part of my visit to Alaska. Quiet, quaint, humble, yet filled with life and the best of memories. This is home for me now, whenever I come to visit Alaska. This should be your travel destination.

We stayed at Billie's for several nights last summer and really enjoyed our trip. Everything was very clean, and she bent over backwards to accommodate everyone. She was great with information regarding things to do and provided discounts when available. She even made fresh bread in the afternoon! We would love to stay with her again in the future.

A very relaxing stay to the end of my Alaska trip. Billie makes you feel at home and that's how I'd describe the hostel; comfy. I booked through Hostelworld easy. Paid when I arrived and was able to unwind easily. There's two bunk bed areas; one in the loft ( open area) and then in the room. I stayed in the loft area. Bring headphones if you prefer quiet to go sleep. Bathroom is standard but the shower is large which I so appreciate. Location is great less than 15 minutes from airport and downtown. Definitely would stay again

SCABIES. I got scabies from staying at this hostel. If you don't know what scabies are, be glad: they are a super contagious microscopic parasite that burrow into your skin and lay eggs in you. If left untreated, they will spread and essentially colonize your whole body. The bites itch like crazy and the only cure is a very expensive ($160 w/o insurance) prescription; nothing over-the-counter works. So guess how I spent the rest of my Alaskan vacation? When I emailed about it--with pictures--the response from the owners son basically said, "Gwe, that's too bad" and then proceeded to mansplain scabies to me. No offer of a refund or any compensation. So, I paid a grand total of $282.76 to get scabies from this hospital and get it treated, which was at a great discount for the doctor visit and the script, or else it would have been well over $600. Not to mention the misery of the itching, the potential of spreading it wherever I went, being unable to do activities I had planned, because they would have spread the scabies to other innocent people, like myself, and the time I had to waste calling clinics, at the clinic, and getting the script, as well as doing the actual treatment itself. Do yourself a favor: spend a little more and book yourself someplace where you can rest easy or you may just find yourself, not resting at all. Stay here at your own risk. To the hostel: do better. Period.

My first time staying at a hostel and it was a fantastic experience!!!! Billie was soooooo nice and accommodating. The hostel is super clean and well kept. My boyfriend who has traveled to several different places and countries (9 times out of 10 stays at hostels) says this is the cleanest and nicest hostel he has stayed at and I agree. It's very similar to a hotel. The kitchen had pots and pans and spices too. Kelts very warm in the winter which is nice for the non locals who are not used to the cold temperatures. I would definitely recommend staying here for the good prices, cleanliness and kind host Billie.

Consider yourself lucky, blessed, charmed, favored, or just awesome if you get the chance to stay here. This is a find. A true, unparallelled experience, so completely genuine and rare that I consider myself very, very fortunate to have spent a summer here. Billie's, at which I stayed in a tent out back intermittently for about 5 months, equaled the amazing Fairbanks experiences I had at Denali, the Tors, the White Mountains/Steese, biking to the Arctic Circle, and seeing Aurora in the middle of nowhere on Fort Wainwright. Like a very, very few hostels I've encountered around the world (Zhilam Hostel in Tibet and Sim's Hostel in Chengdu, China), Billie's is, in itself, a destination. It's not just that it's way cheaper than a hotel, or that you can meet interesting people here. Though those are certainly factors. This place is so unique and full of the most interesting and kind people (as well as the least interesting and kind). That's what makes it amazing; the outrageous diversity of people there. I was the loner, and still got to know a couple of people well. I watched others become family. I also watched travelers have incredible experiences and pick up on opportunities that they otherwise would surely miss. Billie is a saint, a fantastic woman and truly gracious hostess, and her family is wonderful. If you're looking for community, it's here. If you're looking for a cheap place to sleep and maybe meet some other travelers, you've got that too. If you're looking for a place to get completely fucked up, there's a different place for that, at the bar down the street. I cannot recommend this highly enough, I suggest it most highly to my friends who live in Fairbanks, for this is a side of that city that few see, even after living there. However, if you just want a room to sleep and to be otherwise left alone, which is fine, don't come here... though I believe there are private rooms, it's more for the social traveler.

Billie is very understanding. My bf and I ended up not staying here for the night since we still prefer hotel. Billie and her son just said: "sure, we will refund you." We did not expect this process could be this easy. This place is super popular, I heard right after we left, there were people filled up our beds. This simple fact shows how popular this place is.

This was my first time staying at a hostel, and I hope that all future experiences will be the same. Billie is so kind and welcoming, and she has two fantastic pugs. At the end of the road is a coffee shop, where you can wait for a bus to take you all around the city. I was in town for one day, and had no problem picking up food and supplies from the REI and surprisingly massive Fred Meyers store. At the end of the day I returned to Billie's to find muffins and iced tea set out for visitors. I hope I find myself back here again one day.

We stayed here in preparation for our hiking trip, and afterwards as we had a day or two to spare, before leaving Fairbanks. Billie is very nice and loves listening to stories. The hostel was very comfortable to stay at as well. It's very quiet usually and relaxing. We didn't have the good fortune of seeing the northern lights but a couple members from our group did a day or two after had left. Overall great experience and definitely high on our list of recommendations!

This is my favorite hostel I've ever stayed at and I hope I get the pleasure of returning here in the future. Billie welcomed us very early in the morning and made sure we were given a bed right away so we could sleep after our tiring flights. She made sure we knew where the facilities were and showed us the coffee she brews fresh every day for her guests. Honestly Billie and her adorable dogs are the best part about this place and that's saying a lot, because the rest of the hostel is wonderful. Staying here was like staying at an out of town aunt's house, I felt welcome and at home. The other guests were very nice and I felt safe sleeping here and leaving my things in my room. I was pleasantly surprised and glad that I stayed warm inside the house as well, as that was something I was worried about before my trip since I visited in February! Billie keeps things clean and always greeted us with a smile, she's seriously the sweetest and I was beyond thrilled to find and stay at a place like this. Even the eclectic decor inside her home was fun to look at. She has all the bus routes conveniently posted by the front door and her website is chock full of suggestions for things to do and places to see which helped me during my planning. Her hostel is also in the best possible spot in town, I think. We never had issues requesting a Lyft (whereas I heard other travelers in Airbnb's further out could not find Uber/Lyft drivers within range). It's also within walking distance of some really great restaurants and shops so we got to do some exploring on foot. If you are traveling to Fairbanks I cannot recommend staying here enough and I will seriously treasure the memories I made here!

Miss Billie is terrific! She is very kind and hospitable. She is extremely go-with-the-flow, and always happy to have people around. The hostel is clean, well kept, and the bedding smells good. The neighbors are super friendly and neighborhood is quiet and very peaceful. Everyone is happy to help if you ask; that includes Billie, the grounds keeper Joe, and others that are there permanently. Getting to know her and visiting with Joe, were real treats and added to the warmth & welcome feeling I had upon staying there. I would absolutely come back here again. This being my first hostel experience, Miss Billie and her team made it a great one! Thanks again, Miss Billie! Female; mid 30s; Educator; Lone Traveler

We stayed at Billie's for two nights. We are a family of 4 adults and booked a small room with 4 bunk beds. It is homey and sufficient. When we arrived, owner did not appear to be ready for us. She removed someone from the bunk-bed room and quickly vacuumed. We made our beds. Value-wise, it was $30/per person... not much, but when it is a family of 4, it equals $120/night which is the same as hotels in the area. The bathroom is down the hall or a larger, nicer one downstairs. There is a kitchen area where you can provide/prepare your own food. Billie's is an easy walk to a spot where you can see the northern lights. Also walking distance to some eateries. Pad Thai was excellent on the main street. We did not see or interact much with the owner and Mr. Cook did not appear to be very personable. Part of staying in a hostel is getting to know the owners.

This place saved us when we couldn't find any hotel. It was nice and cozy. Of course it also saved us money.

Very cozy and nice place.. I am staying at the glass house: a bit chilly for the day but Billie always gives you extra layers.. Only 1 minute walk from red/blue line..a very well run hostel in Fairbanks

Wow it was like coming home after 34. Years. What warmth and hospitality. Billie made my visit perfect.

After reading multiple wonderful reviews online, I decided to reserved a room at Billie's. The hostel seem quaint and homely when I first arrived despite a urine stench that encompassed main-living area. My first impression of Billie was actually quite nice and everything that the reviews said she was. She reminded me of a nice little grandma. But little did I know, she was anything but. The trouble seem to have stemmed from a simple mistake. I miscalculated my stay by a night. I arrived early in the morning on Thursday (3:00 AM) and was staying until early Sunday (4:00 AM), so I told Billie I was staying for three nights. She promptly told me that it I was staying for 4 nights and not three. I sincerely apologized MULTIPLE times for my mistake and paid her right away for the fourth night. I didn't give much thought into it since I assumed that it wasn't a big deal since I corrected my mistake right away. However, Billie apparently did not share my thoughts. I came back early my last day and fell asleep. When I woke up I heard Billie and her "friends" talking about me under the assumption I was out. She told her little buddies that she hated me because I tried to cheated her out of a night. That I was trying to get away with not paying. They then talked about how horrible a person/guest I am and how I should have find somewhere else to stay if I wanted to get a "free" night. Her friends/neighbors went as far as suggesting throwing my stuff out. Mind you, I did paid for a fourth night and would have high-tail out of there if I knew what she thought of me. She interacted with me a total of 5 times and each was less than a 5 minutes talk. I didn't even stay the at the hostel for a full night because I met up with a friend. And yet, somehow she knew I was this horrible cheating person (even though I paid). I was going to endure her bashing and stubbornly stay there for my money sake but after she opened the door to private room to check on my stuff, I felt throughly threatened. Hands down one of the worse experience I have EVER gone through. I packed my bags and promptly left right after. Get this, she had the audacity to call me dear, asked why I am leaving early, and wished me a safe trip home when she clearly knew I heard all of her vicious words about me minutes before I walked out. I would never believe this was the same woman who bashed me for hours before I didn't hear it myself. The same woman that conspired with two other men to throw my stuff out hours before. I left the hostel in the middle of a -7 degrees night and 7 hours before my flight in tears. Billie is one of the most vicious woman I have ever met. There are several different hostels in Fairbanks, please choose somewhere that doesn't have an owner that is as cruel as Billie. Additionally, the urine smell is nauseating. You will also be told not to talk if you stay in a private room.

This hostel is fantastic! It is not only adorable and kitschy, but has everything you need from furnished private rooms, clean bathrooms, and a well-equipped common room complete with a kitchen, TV, wifi, and lots of sitting space. Not to mention, Billie is very nice, and her two pugs are cute. :D I enjoyed my stay here while passing through Fairbanks, and I would wholly recommend it.

Had a wonderful time here. Billie is a lovely lady. I rented the private room for 5 nights, because I had my13 yr old Granddaughter with me. She had never stayed in a hostel. Very positive experience for her. She loved it. It was very quiet, yet social. Talked with many young Europeans staying there. Billie baked homemade bread almost ever day. I definitely recommend staying with Billie.

My trip in June started off with a woman at the airport offering to share a taxi with me and, it turned out, we were both going to Billie's. Upon our arrival at 11:45 pm, Billie showed us a few rooms to choose from and then took us outside to the "Snore Hut", or gazebo where they sometimes send very loud snorers. Well, one look and we said, "We'll stay here!" We renamed it The Palace. It's outside in the garden and you can see the sky (no stars because of the lack of darkness). It was just perfect! We especially liked the glass ceiling when it rained one night. In the morning, Billie was up taking care of everyone and making sure all was well. I was looking for bus information to get a rental car at the airport when a local offered to drive me there. Having grown up in Fairbanks, Billie knows where everything is. She even helped me with networking and contacts for volunteering opportunities. It didn't matter what time it was, Billie seems to always make sure everyone has what they need. And the two pugs are just as funny as can be. Fairbanks is where most people spend a night or two before getting transport to Denali for tours and/or hiking/camping so there were several changes of guests in the main house and in The Palace, but everyone was very friendly and helpful with thoughts on what to do while in Fairbanks. The University is very close and has an amazing museum as well as the Large Animal Research Station with Musk Ox and Caribou. Bottom line: the hostel is very close to the bus lines, walking distance to the farmers market, and in a quiet, safe neighborhood. Typical hostel-style rooms with bunk beds. One bathroom upstairs and a larger one downstairs. You cannot find a nicer hostess than Billie. Someone asked if she was my mom and I wish I could have said, "Yes." Cannot wait to return.

Billie is the sweetest woman ever. We arrived from our flight early in the morning at 7am. After making our way to Billie's hoping to pay a little extra for early check-in so that we could shower, freshen up, and get ready for the day, she welcomed us in and got the room set up right away for us. We also requested a private room instead of the dorm if it was available, and she accommodated right on the spot. Billie's house is extremely homey, filled with interesting trinkets and decor. I do have to say though, there were a couple of creepy dolls lying around that made me uneasy. Haha! She also has many pets around the place, including a dog named Frank, some birds, and a gerbil (?? if i'm remembering correctly). The room was small and comfortable and the bathroom was equipped with everything that you might need for an overnight stay. She was happy to answer all of our questions during our stay and although we didn't spend a lot of time at the hostel, it was a great place to come back to at the end of a fun filled day. Great location near the University and about a 10 minute drive to restaurants and museums in downtown.

Billie's is a great place, I have stayed there 3 times. I would agree with most of the detail already explained in the other reviews, no need to repeat! Small place, but arranged so there are 3 different sitting "areas" that allow you to have quiet reading space or conversations or tv all at the same time. I'm usually working on a last-minute schedule when I go up to Fairbanks, and Billie is always incredibly flexible with schedules (I don't expect that or take it for granted either, as in any case, being respectful may go a long way), almost always available and willing to work with your situation. I do call ahead if I'm going to show up at 12am, but she allows a quiet person to grab a bunk any hour.

Billie is an amazing person and her hostel is a one-of-a-kind amazing place. The Northern Lights can be easily seen from the hostel on a clear night, my room was comfortable, and Billie as well as other locals who passed by the hostel were delightful to talk to as well as extremely helpful. Thanks, Billie!