Gardner Hotel & Hostel

A truly unique and atmospheric place in the heart of El Paso. The historic character, friendly vibe and excellent location make it an experience rather than just a stay. My only (very light-hearted) complaint: I couldn’t find Warsaw time displayed on the wall — which, as an international gentleman, I naturally missed. I trust that by the time I return, this minor oversight will have been graciously corrected. Highly recommended Greg

I've had positive experiences in other hostels I've stayed in, but not this one. This was the worst lodging I've ever had. I have more enjoyable experiences camping. I will say staff was nice, and it was clean. But everything else was awful. I had the private room. First, the lukewarm water for the shower. Water doesn't get anything close to hot. I've camped in Texas State Parks, and the water in their showers got hotter than the water at this hostel. Second, the loud music and bass from around 8 pm until 2 am even on weeknights. Yes, the website lists "city noise". This isn't city noise. City noise is street noise which is fine for me. But at the Gardner, it feels like the club is in your bedroom. The bass was sp strong the windows rattled. When I checked in, they informed me that there's bar music, but at that point, what was i supposed to do? I also didn't think it would be that bad. It's like the building has no insulation. Third, it's old. Like blankets, carpet, towels everything is just old and needs refurbishing. So it's kind of crazy that they told me that I would pay for any stained towels like these towels hadn't been in use for the last 15 years. If you're looking to party until 2 a.m. then you'll be fine at this hotel. But if you want to go to bed before 2 a.m. and have a hot shower then go anywhere else.

Awesome and charming place to stay. The staff was exceptionally nice and helpful. Wonderful location to the downtown area. You can walk everywhere. Restaurants bars all nearby. Very affordable and for what you get. No need to consider anywhere else. I will definitely stay here again

I’ve had good experiences here. This is a great hostel that also has private rooms. There are a number of bars around that go until 2am, at least on Saturday when I was there. But wasn’t a problem for me and some people like that anyways. Great little spot with good history located right downtown and off the highway. Will be back

It was such a wonderful experience staying at this hotel. If they had more than five stars, I would give them 100. The manager, Darryl, was extremely kind and helpful—he assisted me with my suitcases and made me feel very welcome. The entire staff was friendly, professional, and attentive. I truly recommend this hotel and would gladly stay here again.

Really nice hotel, though I stayed in the dorm bunks while there. Cool marble decor, feels like a spot out of the 1920s in part. Spacious kitchen downstairs, and they have a lounge / billiards table there also. Parking can be a bit of a challenge though given its downtown location if driving in.

Great spot! The Gardner hotel and hostel is beautiful and in a great walkable downtown location! Stayed in one of the hostel dorms and it was a nice room. Staff was super friendly and accommodating. They even held my bags after checkout until it was time for me to catch the train. Thanks Gardner Hotel!

Now, I've peeked at some of the other reviews, some were on point and some were not, so let's dive in to my experience at this historic hotel and hostel. First off, let's talk about the pricing for being pretty much in the center of downtown, very inexpensive. They run specials on Booking.com, and I must say for the price point, cleanliness and accommodations, this place is well worth it. If you're traveling for a few days and need somewhere affordable, clean, accommodating, with more than enough space, yes, I'd recommend Gardner Hotel for sure. In the 1930s John Dillinger, the gangster and infamous bank robber, stayed at this hotel, and who doesn't love a good anti-hero these days. I arrived around the same time as his stay, which was January 9th, four days after my birthday mind you. Although, I initially had a private room on my first night, left to go elsewhere closer to a meeting I had on the Eastside of town(in which I regret checking-in for a couple of days), I ended up coming right back to the Gardner Hotel, and was welcomed with opened arms, possibly the ghost of Dillinger's arms(lol). This time I had a Men's dorm room, which still wasn't half bad, although a little tight, I sleep well for a night or two before new roomies arrived. The shared bathrooms were clean and the young lady who was the receptionist on my first night, was also the housekeeper and she seemed to be on top of things. Very cute female staff...like all of them! They have a laundry area, $3.50 to wash and $2.50 to dry, just a washer and dryer, 40min of time on each, so be patient in people are ahead of you(FYI). A kitchenette area for you to do your own cooking, with a fridge for food storage if necessary. You can receive discounts from the bars, Cafe Rose(which is next door) and The Pizza Joint(very good) which reside on the same block. There are great places to eat within a block or two. All in all, I was happy with my stay, and I will be back. Also, just FYI, in the hostel dorms part of hotel policy is that you only can get rooms for 14 days a year, so be mindful of that. Other than that, you should enjoy your stay. *Downside, broken elevator! So you may have to take the stairs. If so, travel lightly!

I came here to escape my broken a/c on a 100°+ night, turns out they have a swamp cooler and the room was just barely cooler than my house I have no regrets. For $60 I got to experience a little bit of history. The tiny room was adorable and the bathrooms were shockingly clean and tidy (considering the entire floor shared 2 bathrooms).

Great hostile and great location near downtown El Paso and so close to the freeway and to the bar

If you're expecting a comfortable bed, a quiet comfortable stay, and a TV in your room, this is not the place. There was noise from the pub below and all the drunks eating pizza slices on the street at the corner pizzeria. You can hear the cars driving by constantly. There was construction noise, from dump trucks and garbage trucks making extremely loud banging noises. I have no idea why this was going on at 3-4 a.m. The noise is so bad, that the hotel gives you ear plugs and makes you sign a waiver at check-in, that you have been advised of the noise. Had I known this, I would have never booked it, but it was already too late, as I had paid on Priceline. The front desk clerk at check in was polite and personable. I saw him again the next morning at check out and he was very pleasant. The night clerk was pissed off and was mean mugging the entering guests. He had a scowl on his face that said, "I hate my job and don't want to be here." Believe what others have said. The noise is real and it can be heard thru the thin windows. If you are a light sleeper, avoid this place. The bed must be from 1922, the year the hotel was supposedly constructed. You could feel all of the metal springs. It was not even a mattress. It was like sleeping on a set of boxsprings. Between the noise and horrendous bed, I did not sleep at all. The hotel promotes itself on its nostalgia and because Dillinger supposedly stayed there. Who really cares? The lobby is about the only decent part of the hotel. They have some old typewriters in a display case and a vintage phone booth. The elevator is out of order. Hope you enjoy a narrow, slippery, treacherous marble staircase with lots of luggage. The soda vending machine on my floor was out of order as well. The bathroom is shared by other rooms on the floor. Your room only comes with a sink to brush your teeth, etc., unless you pay double to get a an en suite bathroom. Hopefully you don't need to go to the restroom while someone has the door locked for an hour. I had to piss in the sink in my room twice. There are lots of renovations that were taking place. And some of the rooms are just used to store junk. Much of the property appeared to be in a state of disrepair. I don't know what they are improving, but I do know that you can't polish a turd. The best thing about this property is the downtown location if you have business in the area or at UTEP, as the street car route is right across the street. I only gave it 2 stars because of the location. Otherwise, it is a quaint, nostalgic 1-star dump. Every other hotel in downtown El Paso is better. Much better. Do yourself a favor. Spend the extra money and stay at one of the other properties.

The hotel is a trippy time-warp in the heart of Downtown El Paso. The service and amenities are bare-bones but the savings and unique experience are definitely worth it. Very LGBT+ friendly and on the same block as many of the local gay bars. The shared-bathrooms are super clean and not nearly as intimidating as it might seem for Americans used to having their own bathrooms.

I wish I can put minus five this hotel. Because they speak about cancelation policy with so conviction about rules. But the standard of the hotel is poor, and deficient. They do not care about care the customers you charge $107 for a room that does not have the minimum requirement for a hotel. If you have second floor and the elevator does not work and you do not repaid the elevator to take care of disable customer. You are in the wrong business. Do not waist your money in paying for a room with this this hotel.

Great stay at The Gardner. Fantastic location downtown and a three minute walk to the passport office. Room was clean, but you will need ear plugs as there is a music venue next door. Best value for the location. Cute and quirky!

Meh. As poor quality as this hotel room was, i would say it was still not the worst. We've definitely had a good helping of hotel rooms over the years with the Army moving us around. Service and quality of the room here still beat a couple places. We'll start with parking which is almost non-existent. I tried to look for a bigger sign for parking than it actually is. I had to call the hotel clerk a few times so she can explain where to find it. It was literally a 4 car space area with a small sign "hotel loading zone." And once that was full, you basically need to just find some other area which you would need to pay and walk quite a ways. Second, the room temperature was warm, almost hot. Even at night after the temp drops. The only accommodation would be to open the top latch over our door to let in cold air from the AC vent that was literally blasting through the hallway. Third, even though they warn you about the noise level being loud, it still doesnt make the experience better. The fore warning was more to tell us no refunds from the noise level. This is all thanks to the lower level also occupied by The Pizza Joint and the other bars along with their loud drunkees. And since The Pizza Joint doesnt close until 3am, you will hear loud ass cranking sounds from them closing up that time. I would say the only thing that redeems them is the historical value to the place, especially since we believe we got to spend the night in John Dillingers room, 121. Pretty cool. Thats the most value of it though. Not worth 75$ but probably the cheapest rate downtown.

Useful, clean and conveniently located. No issues with loitering like other hotels in this area (will not go into details,but, I can get girls on my own, no need for pimps!) Historic building, looks good as new, no issues. Reasonable, clean and close. What more would one expect?

In reading some of the reviews here, I've come to the conclusion that some people are just whiners who complain when they get what they ask for. You pay $65ish for a hotel room downtown in one of the country's largest cities and are sad it doesn't look like the Holiday Inn? You pay $25ish to stay in a shared hostel room, and you don't like the air conditioning? Get the hell out of here! This is cheap and interesting housing for travelers. In a world where all of us must make compromises, this is the right set of compromises for me. I'm on a cross-country bike trip from San Diego, California to San Augustine, Florida. I've camped in National Forests and on remote BLM lands. I've stayed in RV parks full of migrant workers or snowbirds. Sure, the paint in some places looks like it needs touch up, I'm not confident about the fire protection system, and the nearby club shakes the place with its booming bass dance music until really late. The elevator appears permabusted, so I had to walk my bicycle down some gnarly stairs after a long day of pedaling. There probably isn't any car parking, but travelers adventurous enough to stay here might be arriving by bus, bike, foot, thumb, or rail. You people who have to have a place for your late-model SUV are out of place anyway. Go choose again. At this price, why complain? It's fascinating, fun, in the center of downtown right next to San Jacinto Plaza, and has pizza and beer right next door. The staff are solicitous and helpful. The prices are, again, cheap. The bass boom is muffled enough to sleep through. Everything is old, but clean. Jeez, Louise. It's amazing some of you people made it to adulthood. Which one of you still sucks your thumb? Your dentist wants you to stop, you know, because it's not helping your overbite.

The guy at the front desk has a jar of ear plugs because the club next door is so loud, the windows and walls shake. The bass and the people yelling into the mic are just what I want to hear when I'm tired -- not. I guess there are no building codes or noise regulation in TX.

Stayed for a quick overnight trip, but wouldn't mind staying a few days. If you're booking this looking for a historic shell with modern amenities, keep looking. The Gardner has stayed true to its original roots and the owners have done a great job at keeping it historic; they even have the original two button light fixtures. The hotel and our room was very clean and the staff was extremely friendly. Our first room had the smoke detector had the battery going out and they didn't hesitate to move us to another room. The club was right below us, but the music wasn't loud at all and we slept great. Thank you guys for a great stay.

Beautiful historic hotel/hostel that has always accommodated me last-minute at a good price. The staff is very friendly and helpful. It's central/walkable to everything downtown; plenty of great bars and restos within a block or two. I've only stayed in the hostel area, and the rooms aren't crowded - I usually have a room to myself. There's a Rec room and kitchen in the basement. Housekeeping is great - it's always clean. Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun nights you'll want earplugs for the nearby clubs, else stay out yourself til 2am - it's historic; the window glass is thin and you'll hear and feel that bass otherwise. I've stayed here anywhere from a couple nights to a few weeks and it's always a pleasant experience.

Not sure how to describe this place honestly. Saw in a few places the reservation is none refundable but couldn't imagine going Into a place like ... place is definitely old and I figured it will have his charm and as much as it didn't come close to it I figured I'll make it work. Walked In and obviously they run the card so fast before anything so signed and went to eat... An hour and half later came back and brought my bag (the stairs) and was looking to settle in. 10 -15 min later when I couldn't find an AC thermostat or vent I went downstairs to ask cause room was HOT. Central AC was the answer and I should leave the window above the door and the window facing out to the street open. That's the point I asked to vacate the room and was told sorry no refund. Unreal !!!! 15 min can actually cost over $300 with this place and they don't bother tell you that you'll have to sleep with no AC in the room while in the desert

Very charming, great location, great price, and clean. This place should have a higher rating. Check them out on google where they have a rating over 4 stars. It's got some cool history. Dilinger stayed there and Cormac McCarthy wrote some of his books there. The room was cheap $85 after tax. I could have gotten a cheaper room but didnt want to share a bathroom

This hotel has worked very hard to turn themselves around - I'm glad I didn't see the past reviews before checking this place out. Apparently they were on an episode of "Hotel Impossible". I stayed last night in a female hostel room with ensuite bathroom. The room and bathroom were minimalist, but everything was clean and there were zero pests. Service was friendly and helpful. The kitchen (located in the basement) was apparently redone when they were on the show. Beautiful dishes and simple decor - I had to go up to the front desk to ask for a fork, though - apparently before they appeared on the show someone stole all their cutlery. The common/pool table room is currently closed while they continue to remodel and fix up the place. The hostel aspect was a bit deserted - they aren't part of Hostels International (yet!), the only way I found out about them was through Google. They have some cool historical items on display on the first floor lobby area. They have a super old school elevator (I think it might be original), but it is currently out of service. Excellent restaurants literally next door (Pot au Feu has *amazing* food and great service). Supposedly there are also several clubs nearby. I was only able to stay one night, but I'll definitely be back in future - I'm excited to see what else they'll have remodeled and done by then.

Me and my travel buddy. Booked Gardner hotel online. He went inside to pay. Boy I wish we would have looked at the room b4 he paid for it.. elevator was out a svc. And had to walk 3 flites of stairs to room. Didn't know no a.c. in room. It had a 1930's style air cooling system. Where u had to keep ur window open above the door. And room was musty. We went to desk and complained but no refund was offered. We went to another hotel. Mgmt would not offer a rfnd. I would not recommend this hotel as it was 105 degrees outside

For a cheap, quickly accommodating place, I was quite happy with my stay at the hostel. It obviously wasn't a five start hotel, but for 23 bucks i was given sheets and great service. I was given a room that had two bunks and could sleep four people to myself so there was no need to get a locker like other hostels. Sink in the bedroom and a shared shower and bath down the hall. I walked around the area in the evening and felt pretty safe. Good little restaurants in the area, and interesting history as well. When I came back, I was locked out but the front desk man quickly came running to the door to let me in. He told me he locks it after a certain hour to "keep the ugly people out." I told him thanks for letting me in, then.

FANTASTIC! Most comfortable hostel ever!!!! When I checked in the woman at the front desk was amazing! She let me use the bathroom after a long drive (after checking I did have a reservation, understandable). Check in was a breeze and she then suggested some places to go to eat and then told me about the parking situation! They have TWO parking spots directly in front of the building!!! If it isn't busy and you can get one, it is amazing! You can find paid parking around but this was super convenient! I went out to eat at one of the suggested spots, which was right next door and had a great meal! I came back to a room that was IMMACULATELY clean and properly air-conditioned (not too hot, not too cold). The beds are SOLID! you couldn't feel someone shake the bed if they tried! Addtionally the REAL mattress put me to sleep so hard they had to call up to me at check out time to wake me from my slumber. I ran into one of the cleaners in the hall way and she greeted me with a happy smile and a "good morning." The Staff down stairs that morning was incredibly friendly (I know the owner was around but still impressed!) The owner (possible manager, assuming from the prowess within him!) chatted me up for a lil and mad me smile! I highly suggest this hostel. There isn't much of a common space to meet other travelers but the quality of sleep you will receive is well worth the cheap price. The hostel that feels as if you are sharing your hotel room with 4 of your good respectful friends! Thank you guys again! Simply Fantastic!!! PS. Close to downtown and fake gators, beer, food & coffee!

Quirk El Numero Uno: There appears to be two websites. The old Gardner Hotel is one part hotel, three parts hostel. Depending on which you're looking for defines which URL should best suit you. Here's both: Hotel: http://www.gardnerhotel.com/ Hostel: http://www.elpasohostel.com/ Quirk Secondo: There is a dramatic difference between the workers in the morning and in the evening. Reviews on hostel sites support this, as they almost all either love their experience or hate it. I asked around during my own stay, and it's pretty much been narrowed down to someone (or more) on evening shift that is the bad apple. Ergo, show yourself up 'n check in before the afternoon/evening. That should perk your experience immensely. Third: Hostelers be warned, this is one of the more pricey U.S. hostels. It comes in at over 25-bones. There was no free WiFi when I was there, although they had an Internet kiosk that you could pay to use. The kitchen is open to use, but you'll need to bring your own food. Lastly, the dorms are nothing fancy... and are more than a bit run down. Positives: This isn't the El Paso shelter... which is more of a prison than a safe haven. The hostel's location truly is superb. It makes an excellent launch point for almost any trip you're planning within forty or so miles. Also, El Paso has been consistently ranked among the top three safest metro areas in America. That ranking doesn't take into account the lithium content in the water reservoirs, or the corruption of the police force, but it's still a great place to wander around. Just remember that Ciudad Juarez--which is just across the bridge--sits on the opposite side of the safety spectrum. NOTE: I've never stayed in one of the private rooms of the hotel section. I hear they are clean, well kept and quite luxurious. I look forward to seeing a review from someone who's stayed in one just to hear back on the actual costs and if it's worth it..

Do you like the hairs of random strangers to grace your minimalist towel? Do you like when bugs magically appear in your bed over night? Do you like when the throbbing bass from an Adele dance remix wafts its way from the gayborhood into your hostel room on the third floor? Do you like when a hostel inexplicably has free wifi on every floor? If so, this is perfect for you! Also, lock your door at night. There are some interesting characters renting rooms month to month.

If you like hanging out at the bus station, you'll like this place. My husband picked the place because it was historic and the oldest hotel in El Paso. The downstairs was very cool and using the old elevator. But there was also a shabby quality that felt not so much hip and cool, but rather seedy. It's clear that the owner has tried to keep it up and running but with minimal input. In our room, curtains were falling, blinds, we're filthy. Not sure if there is AC or not but we could open the window. Our shower didn't work. I requested of my husband that we move to a different place for subsequent nights.

Worst place to stay. I've never had worse customer service. Old and dirty. Very loud, couldn't sleep. Lied about check out time, price online is a lie, there are only two "free" parking spots. They don't compensate for you paying for parking. Don't trust this place. Horrible place. If you can help it, stay anywhere else!

The hotel was presented as a historic hotel in downtown El Paso. Historic must mean old rundown building with a few antiques scattered about. Booked this hotel based on the website photos. Photos can lie! The photo showing the king bed we had, does not show that is just two worn out twin beds pushed together with king bedding. Our historic shower provided us with less water pressure and flow than a WaterPik flosser. Finally let's not forget the exercise equipment, multiple flights of steep steps to carry your luggage up and down, no working elevator. Pay attention to all reviews that mention the noise as the hotel is in a nightclub district, plus all the downtown city sounds. I felt just like I was in one of the nightclubs as we could clearly hear them as they counted down to Midnight New Year's Eve 2019. As stated in many reviews there were only two parking spaces in front of the hotel building that were never empty during our stay. In one review the hotel states that there is street parking for $3 by the hotel, we never found it. All parking spaces are metered parking spaces that are active from 8:00am to 6:00pm M-S 4 hour limit, so set your alarm and avoid that ticket or take a walk to a not so nearby parking garage, but not $3 either. I did even considered find something better, but we stuck it out for the one night and treated it as a learning experience. What I learned "JUST DON'T DO IT!"

I liked this small inexpensive historical quirky place for a short quick stay in El Paso. There is some real historical character to the hotel. The fixtures all seemed clean, quality, and simple with lots of history. Apparently this is the oldest continuously operated hotel in El Paso that is family owned and operated still to this day. Some improvements are underway to restore more of the historical character. The night when I stayed the lobby floor was being restored to its original tile floor. The neighborhood immediately around the lobby has a few unique historical joints including a pizza place, dance floor basement club and beer/wine bar. I slept well.

Inexpensive and well-located historic hotel with everything needed. Several small restaurants in area.

First I'll thank James for the great service and awesome info on what to do in town. My stay was enjoyable and the room was better than I expected, I highly suggest this place if you want a cheap spot to rest your head with a group of friends or solo.

If you're visiting El Paso definitely come stay at this beautiful hotel downtown. It is wonderfully located around many restaurants and nightlife locations. The staff are all so welcoming and most of them are bi-lingual. Stephanie, the manager, was so friendly and professional. The hotel also provides free wifi! It is also full of history, I mean John Dillinger stayed here! Definitely check it out if you are coming to visit, you won't be disappointed.

I do not know how it got good reviews. I saw dead bugs along with hairs everywhere in my bed.

I would rather park my car in a rest area next to highway and sleep over there than spend one night in this awful hotel. It's right next to a bar with loud music all night. It only offers two parking spot in its front for whoever comes first, and it is a pain in the ass to find a parking spot on the street. The room is tight and small. And I am not sure if u need to share the bathroom with ur neighbor, cause when I inspected the room, I was able to get into the next guest room which was empty from my bathroom. U literally get nothing besides couple old style looking bed which likes older than a army barracks bed, a shower, a sink, a mirror, and AC. Oh wait, u also get the loud music keeps u awake all night from the bar.

Disclaimer: I stayed here 8 years ago! I was driving cross country from LA to NYC with a friend who was moving from coast to coast. We were all about cheap yet interesting accommodations. This was our first night and I don't recall what side we were on but it wasn't luxurious or safe feeling so I am guessing the hostel side. In fact, we moved the room furniture in order to barricade ourselves in. Yes, we were that scared. Young and silly? Probably. Little did we know at the time it wouldn't be the scariest place we stayed during our adventure however. Obviously we survived but from what my hazy memory recalls I wouldn't want to stay there again. But hey, this was 8 years ago so you never know!

Need to stay somewhere in El Paso for a few nights? Look no further than the Gardner, a hostel with character! You'll feel like you're taking a step back in time. This is a must for all you history buffs and fans of the "Public Enemies" movie, because this is the hotel where John Dillinger stayed in the 30s when he came through El Paso. The lobby has a vintage phone booth and switchboard, and a display case with lots of photos from a bygone era. The elevator is 70+ years old, and still works; it's like the ones you only see in old movies. Rooms are a bit small; I didn't care because I only needed to sleep. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms. There is a downstairs TV room with hundreds of channels. When I stayed there on Memorial Day weekend, I was able to lounge on the sofas and had the whole room to myself! Front doors are locked after 10:00; you need to ring for the attendant on duty to open it up. Walking distance: Bars, Dance clubs, Downtown El Paso (interesting art and history museums), and the border to Juarez Mexico. Also there is a wonderful Holocaust Museum nearby, well worth a few hours of your time. Also, if you are a movie buff, you have to check out the nearby Fellini Film Cafe, a coffee bar/restaurant/art-house video store that shows classic/artsy movies here on almost every night of the week. You could easily spend 2-3 days here without a car, but I would recommend one to see more of El Paso, or if you are doing road trips to Carlsbad Canyons or Roswell, New Mexico. If you stay here, the staff is very helpful. This is the only place I stay when I am in El Paso. The only downfall is that they were painting all the hallways when I was there (May 2009). I'm sure they have finished by now.

The hotel is very old and in need to massive renovations. The elevator doesn't work. The rooms do not have air conditioning. It says they have free parking, but only 2 parking spaces for 50 rooms and they were taken already. There are bars next to it that play loud music until closing time. This is the worst hotel I've ever seen and I'm a 58 year old seasoned traveler. Please do not sign anything until you have checked out a room there, as the staff/manager will not issue a refund!

... I liked it here. The building's cool and the staff knows the area. I went walking around at night, and the area around the hostel didn't set off any unusual warning bells... so the location seems pretty secure. Not quite as "social" as some places I've stayed, but that might change by the week. Rate was pretty good--totaled $22 with sheets--which ain't bad for a hostel in a large city. The only downside is the parking situation, and the fact this part of town seems to be a little quiet on weeknights.

The Gardner Hotel is beautiful and quaint, set in a historic part of El Paso. The staff is always friendly and great to serve you. It's a great place to unwind after a tough week, very relaxing. They offer superb service.

I booked a room at the Gardner on my recent vacation. I booked it online and called to confirm. The place was in the process of being remodeled and apparently my room was recently remodeled by the travel channel. It was really great decor, fancy bathroom and bunk beds(keep in mind I stayed on the hostel room) the charm of the place was that it is a 1940 hotel. It's full of decorations from the past in the lobby. The girl that owned this place said that Carson Mccullers wrote and lived here. Also, John Dillinger, stayed there before he got caught in Tuscon Arizona. I walked by two hipster bearded guys who said "This looks like a Bukowski hotel as I walked by." The Wifi worked great. I got a whole four room bunk bed room to myself which was great. The staff was extremely helpful and attractive. This is my kind of place. But if you like Days Inn, AmericInn, Holiday Inn type places this may not interest you. Which may explain some of the negative reviews, I was happy El Paso had a hostel because I was traveling the country on a 30 day rail pass and didn't want to spend a butt load on hotels that I didn't spend any time at.

My friend and I needed a place to spend the night at the last minute. As I walked into the lobby, I felt like I time traveled back to the 1940's, especially with all the antiques from this decade remaining in the lobby. The night manager, who I think was Ferni, was very pleasant and attentive to my questions of this establishment. He immediately informed us of the historic presence; e.g., John Dillinger's stay. After reading other reviews of this place, I did not know this was the oldest hotel in El Paso. The room was small and quaint, but I enjoyed waking up to the brightly lit up room from the sunshine and the city noise just outside the window. The amenities worked satisfactory as well. Upon exiting our room to leave, as you look down the hallway, it reminded me of the movie The Shining and I was expecting to see the twin girls. The day manager was very polite and even showed us the basement, which is compromised of a kitchen and entertainment room. If I ever require a room at the last minute again and I'm in the area, I'll definitely go to Hotel Gardner.

I was in town for a job interview and didn't have much to spend, so I took a chance on the hostel despite the reviews. I must concur with others in that it is not the cleanest around, but in all fairness, i dont think the place is actually dirty, it is just visibly old and not well updated. It had a bed and a shower for a reasonable price, which was all I needed. The place is not terribly charming, but the staff was friendly and accommodating. I suspect I was one of few guests at the hostel- hardly saw anyone else. If you are looking for a social place look elsewhere. This is really just meant to be cheap housing for a brief period. The basement has a kitchen, couches and a television and seems like it could be a decent place to congregate if the hostel had any guests. The rooms are tiny and poorly lit, the bathroom is suspect, but if you go in expecting bare minimum facilities, you are set.

As good as it gets for the.money. Stayed herefor several months a couple of times when we were put t ing in some factories in NM a supply Electrolux when they moved to Juarez from Michigan. I stayed in a privateroom with bath for $435 a month. Maid service everyday, freshlinen once a week.It was using a swamp cooler which works if you leave the transom open andthe window cracked which might seem sketchy fr some. My most interesting experience? My commode started acting up for about a week. Maintenance plunged a fewtimes etc. Finally bought my own plunger and went at it. Suddenly pulled up piles of change, dumped.in some bleach pulled out about $50.00, none d a ted after 1980. Go figure. The gayborhood, perfect description JM, (=every bar on this block,3 I think think when I was.there) can get loud. El.Paso is very safe to me. I p a ssed out in Central and no trouble. (Not recommened :|) Eat dinner at The Tap or the big hotel. Chicos (downtown still there?) good place to meet.people. I'm easy to please,still very convenient . Sounds like the hostel can be problematic?

It had been years since we stayed in El Paso lots of changes to check out ; much is within walking distance. If you're looking for a trip back in time with some genuine Dillinger history consider the Gardner Hotel. Very convenient in the heart of downtown and right off the freeway. While you're there you have to eat at the restaurant next door at Pot Au Feu - great food you won't be disappointed.