HI Madison Hostel

Great location with affordable price. Nice clean facilities. The girls dorm it wasn't the most modern facility, but it was a great place to just sleep. Perfect for people visiting the city. The shared spaces were very cute, and other guests were friendly! There was even a board with events that were happening that weekend.

This is a friendly, clean, comfortable hostel in a a great location for downtown Madison. The only issue we had was a guest that got locked out (the doors lock at 10pm and you need a code to get in) and proceeded to wake everyone up at 3am pounding on the door and smashing a window. It took forever for management to show up and handle the situation. But otherwise it was a great experience.

Decent enough for a cheap place to crash in town. Atmosphere wasn’t great when I was there, not sure if I just was there at a bad time or if that’s just how it is. The beds are really tight, not much room once people and luggage are in the rooms. I only recommend for the price, and that’s the only reason why I’d stay again.

The only reason I gave a 5-star is because of the cost and the location of the place. If you are looking for a perfect and cosy bed to sleep, this might not be the place to stay. Good points about the place are: staff is nice, location is amazing especially if you like a quiet place but at the same time want to be close to everything in Madison. Overall it's a perfect place for people who just need a place to sleep and don't mind sharing room.

I had forgotten the romance of a great youth hostel; the local artwork, the communal cooking area, the board games. A few things have changed since my last visit to an HI hostel. But the cleanliness, quiet and promise of community remained.

I booked a night here so I could see a concert, and it really exceeded my expectations. First of all, it's super centrally located. It ended up being about a block from the concert venue, and two blocks from Capitol Square. It's not especially close to the university campus, but its proximity to Capitol Square makes catching a bus a breeze. The staff was also very friendly, and always patient with people who needed help. Lastly, I stayed in the six person dorm for women and thought it was clean and comfortable. My only suggestion would be to ask ahead of time whether someone would like a top or bottom bunk--an older woman in my room was assigned a top bunk, and she couldn't get down without the help of a couple of women in our room, so asking might help alleviate problems like that in the future. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'll bring a friend!

I wanted to like this place as the location was great and the staff were awesome, but there were a few too many small things that added up. The men's bathroom had several problems. There was always a wet towel in there, and after the first day the faucet on the tub broke, so only really cold water came out. Also, the internet got so allow it was useless.

A warm place to spend a night or two while travelling through Madison close to downtown and surrounded by a diverse array of restaurants. Staff was helpful, common areas were expansive with piano and computer, kitchen large and clean.

I'm going to make this simple as I can. 2019 summer I came back to the hostel and already I was asked to have a conversation about my last visit to the hostel. There was no room for the next few days (private) and I still have a booking in another room but I decided to cancel and head to Chicago for a big wedding. But let's be honest here ok, Yelp translated my last review wrong and now I am here to update and clear the air. I didn't like my last visit in 2018 of November and there were things I wasn't too cheerful about it. There was a guy doing drugs and offering us things that were so troublesome. We had complained about it to the staff and they said they will talk to him. Turns out that he was a homeless man last-named Goldsby living in Madison Wisconsin at the Men's homeless shelter. "How do I know this? Well, I'm the case manager for homeless services and I see him all the time but the point of this is to point out a flaw in checking in an individual that suppose to be from out of states. I've warned the young ladies that his energy didn't sit well with me or with the other guest. Another homeless guy comes in but this time it happens in October/November or 2018 where a friend of mine from Thailand had her GoPro stolen (I did replace it out of the kindness of my heart) but this guy was asked guests for money and wanted to eat our food. "I know, so disturbing." but later that night he now has money? So I can someone do a background check on this guy and the guy took off the next day. Again, months later after taking a JOB under the city and returning to Madison, I'd see the same guy at a day shelter for the homeless. "I should say something to the hostel but that's not my problem anymore but you as the viewer should know what happen with my experience. This is why I'd happen to take a star off, as a dual citizen I want to be told and ensure that this is a happy place for travelers. There were other things that happen but I rather keep that between HIUSA and I. Other than that, other HIUSA locations are out of this world amazing. But doesn't this bother some people, to find out that Hi-Madison isn't fully checking state Identification or have the better judgment to denied hospitality services? In 2015, 2016, 2017 and all experiences were so excellent that I starting to bring friends with me from other countries to Madison to the hostel. It's still a great place and right at the heart of the capitol. I'd notice a few things and questions. Now, I do not make visits to the hostel anymore and do not need the services from this location but it's a good place for anyone working in the Madison area for a short time. I'd now work for the city of Madison and a full-time photographer. But you only can stay up to 14 days a year now. It's not seasonal anymore. So if you here doing a Covance study or working internationally under visa requirements, be aware this also applies to you. Max stay is 14 days as well. But now I just have some friends that I've met at the HI-Madison location for work or summer classes and offer them a place to stay for FREE. Book your rooms in the advancement.

Fun times, totally about the hostel movement. Good place for kids if they are open minded and want to learn new thingss . Close to major points for Madison Metro. The most environmentally "on" place we have visited. They get it.

Venue needs to be cleaner. Lots of hair on the bathroom floor, the rug/carpet and on flannel blanket (washed seasonally?). Only sheets are replaced per person per stay. No visible AC, so don't stay here in the summer. Dormitory -- a converted back room of an old house. Cramp. 6 bunk beds. The only plus is, 4 outlets are available on top bunk. Dormitory Bathroom -- spacious. One shower with spray water. One sink with faster water faucet and slow drain. One toilet with well stocked decent toilet paper.

I understand that this is a hostel, and therefore is not going to have the same amenities as a hotel. That being said, I am unsure as to why the hostel received such positive reviews. First, our room... The room that my boyfriend and I stayed in was not clean. The top bunk of the bunk bed was covered in crumbs and pieces of stuff that I don't even want to know what they were. The cover on the top bunk was also plastic, and we were not provided with another sheet to put on top of it. Also, one of the windows in our room did not have a screen. I don't know why, but this bothered me a lot. There was also NO AIR CONDITIONING at this hostel. I noticed that this was not mentioned on yelp, but I think that this is an important consideration if you will be visiting in the summer. It was HOT. I know other rooms had fans, but ours did not. The bathroom... I was okay with my stay at the hostel, until I went to take a shower. Since the hostel is attempting to be environmentally friendly, they have a "water saver" in the shower head. What this actually does it spray all of the water to the left and right, and only a small amount where you want it to be. There was also mold on the ceiling directly above the shower. The hostel also uses towels to dry your hands instead of paper towels, which I think is an awesome idea. But they ran out of towels by the first night of my stay and they were not replenished by the time I checked out. Overall, I would stay here only because it is a VERY inexpensive way to stay in downtown Madison. My boyfriend and I agreed that staying at the hostel was kind of like sleeping over at a friend's house when your little and that friend's house kind of sucks.

OK travelers and MadTowners that are hosting travelers - this hostel is a great asset for Madison. Why have your friends crash out on your floor when they can stay in their own bed for only $18! Full disclosure, I work for Hostelling International Chicago and therefore totally love hostels as a great way to travel cheap and meet fun fellow travelers along the way. I have stayed at the Madison Hostel in the past and, while not a large hostel, it gives you just what you need when you're in Madison. The rooms are comfortable, the beds are soft, and the facility is kept clean. One stand out is the staff here, the manager Mike is a great guy and takes pride in providing a great overnight experience. At the hostel you are likely going to meet travelers from everywhere, even from as far away as Chicago. No really, we often direct our foreign travelers to the Madison hostel, because they often ask where is the next nearest hostel to Chicago. Check in and check it out!

This place is OK. Shoes must be taken off before you come inside. Staff was really, really friendly and that was nice. Rooms are RIGHT by the kitchen which can be annoying/noisy. Also gets FREEZING in here at night.

We have stayed here before and had no issues. It was clean, quiet and comfortable. We had a private room. We are staying here again soon and I'd like to confirm our reservation. However, I am unable to reach the hostel via their listed phone number. I also tried to e-mail, but have not received a response. It is important that we confirm our reservation because we have a little one with us and want to know if everything is set.

I can't even believe this place is real. I keep looking for something to be wrong about it, but there's nothing. First off, the location is crucial. It's walkable to anything you could want downtown. The lobby is clean and welcoming. When I arrived I was greeted by two smiling faces who offered me insight on the city and answered any questions I had. Though I booked a bed in a double bunk room, I spent the night all to myself (it was a Thursday). So lovely. The room was super clean and cute! AC unit and extra blankets and pillows made for a good deep sleep. The bed was way more comfortable than I imagined it would be. The room had plenty of storage and outlets. The kitchen is pretty amazing and there is a full fridge to store any goodies you may bring back. Honestly next time I'm in Madison I'll be spending my money here instead of at a hotel.

I love all the colors and great atmosphere at this hostel. As a frequent hosteler, I can say the accommodations are better than standard, with legitimately comfy beds. The hostel isn't too large, so it feels welcoming and it is easy to meet people. I have stayed here often, and it almost felt like I was home the last time I was there.

We had two beds in the six-bed female dorm. We are 35 and 41. The other guests were mid-20s and 55. A great variety of folks! It was exactly what we expected. Clean and safe. The guests in the common areas were a little loud sometimes but it wasn't a bother. It was really quiet outside. We had no trouble parking in the lot. The location was amazing. Minutes (on foot) to the Capitol and many local bars/restaurants.

I would DEFINITELY stay here again. Though there are downsides (it is urban), there is a lot of upside here. Oh, and with changes lately, things are much improved so some of the older reviews may no longer be applicable. OK - so I arrived mid-day Monday for check-in for one night and found my bunk in the 4-bunk room to be great - and lucky me, I ended up with a private room as the other two reservations ended up cancelling. There is a 2-door locker but you need to bring your own lock. No problem for me as the room door has a key so my belongings were safe inside. The 4-bunk room was the old kitchen - amazing to contemplate. It's not small for a room but I can't imagine fitting in a kitchen for multiple person use. The new kitchen is on the first level behind the office and sitting room. It has a large island and dining table and lots of space for moving around. I didn't use the kitchen except to store some food in the fridge and get some water to drink. However, there was an ample availability of things and an easy clean-up system, though it appeared some people had left their dirty dishes in the sink. I washed a couple more than just mine but not all of them. Maybe people don't get that this is a hostel, not a hotel. There is no cleaning lady to make up your bed, no maid to clean the kitchen. That's why it's inexpensive!! There is a large couch in the lobby entrance which, with the sitting parlor, allows multiple groups to have gatherings. The sitting room even has a piano! I should have taken a moment to play but I'm so rusty... There is a limited library so bring a book to donate if you can. I was so busy touring State Street that it was not a problem but for a longer stay, you may want to bring some reading material. When I was here in Jan-2015, the computer in the lobby was non-functional. I had my own but didn't even use it so can't comment on the WIFI. There is no alcohol allowed at the hostel so if you're gonna be drinking, you can enjoy one of the MANY pubs within walking distance. However, if you have an experience like me, do this with a GPS so you can find your way home. I have a very good sense of direction but all the criss-crossing and diagonal streets really threw me for a loop. I will say (to my credit) that I had to ask for directions at the parking garage around the corner from the hostel and even that guy had to pull out a map! I was literally a stone's throw from the place. He said it's real easy to get turned around. What an understatement! Parking was $7 and I was glad I paid for it as this is right downtown and it snowed overnight. Glad to be safe in a spot in back. There was some hallway noise but nothing too loud and nothing during quiet hours. The bed was SUPER COMFY - way great for a hostel environment. Nice sheets and blankets with extra pillows available (my personal favorite thing). Downsides: 1) The towels in the bathroom are hand towels (like large washcloth size) so it took two to get the job done. But they are super-absorbent and brightly colored so they are cheerful! The shower is small but I'm a big girl - standard 3' x 3' which is workable. 2) There is a garbage truck garage across the street and they rumble out about 6 AM... but it's over quick. I guess this is just weekdays so weekends would be better. Best upside: Carlos is super-fantastic friendly. He can direct you to anything you might need to get to in town. I definitely felt welcomed by him when I ran into him late Monday evening. Helpful hint: A family of 3-4 could stay in Room 2 as it has a double bed-bunk. That's where we'll stay next time we do a family vacation to Madison. Overall, I thought Madison was a hip town with loads to see - wish I had more than 24-hours and that it was about 50 degrees warmer! This place is a good value for the price.

I used to stay there and even did a large portion of the last renovation on the place. While the hostel itself is good for the price, the manager is a complete psychopath. We did the work on this place LAST SUMMER and had to stop because the manager didn't submit our invoicing to pay our crew. One of the most important projects we couldn't complete was the rear emergency exit which has a 1500lb wall about to collapse on anyone who may be using it. IT STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED. BE WARNED, the place is a wee bit of a death trap currently.

Yet again a very inexpensive and very friendly experience. We decided to stay again at the hostel and got a private room with a full-size bed that demanded that you rise by at least 8 am. Hey, you don't stay at a hostel to sleep without end or shag with comfort! No! It's cheap, friendly, safe and doesn't break the bank. Please note: Limited parking is extremely limited and the street parking directly in front is metered. Walk about 4-5 blocks West and the free parking is plentiful. Take your shoes off and stay a while!

staff was exceptionally friendly, it was a great experience- - hostelling is not for everyone - i enjoyed my stay and met some really neat fellow travelers. The facilities were clean, i'd stay again

As a grad of hotel school, I'm used to 4+ star hotels, so I was skeptical. But I can honestly say that I very much enjoyed my first stay in a hostel. The facilities were clean, comfy, safe, convenient and friendly. And who can beat the price? I'm glad I listened to my young cousin :)

This is the only hostel I've ever stayed in, so I can't compare it to others. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the building, the full kitchen, and the location (right in downtown). The staff was very nice and helpful, and you can't beat the price. My only complaint was that the heater in my room didn't work. It didn't end up being too cold, so it wasn't a problem on my stay, but would've been a big issue a little later into the season.

For the money it was good overall. The noise was a bit much as my room was across from the kitchen and I was awoken at 630AM to someone in the kitchen talking on their phone. There was that and someone decided to play the piano down in the living room area which could be heard throughout the entire hostel. The location is good and the staff was friendly though.

Friendly and clean. I stayed in the 6-person women's dorm, which has an en-suite shower. This is on the first floor, but there are still stairs to get into the building. I didn't see any other entrance, so I have to assume this place is not accessible for some people with mobility issues. Also, a slightly unusual thing for me: you have to remove your shoes in the entryway. There's a stool to sit on, should you need it, but you can't wear your shoes within the hostel. The staff were friendly. I actually didn't spend a lot of time at the hostel itself - I was in town to be out and about, after all! But the time I did spend was well worth the money. The sitting room has, as mentioned, a piano. It also has free Netflix access. I know others complained about the towels - I brought my own, so I can't comment on the quality or size of those provided by the hostel. Pros: * Individual lockers in the room for storing your things (bring your own lock) * Great price * Free street parking about 4 blocks away (Note: on Sundays & Holidays, the meters are not in effect, so you can park for free directly in front of the hostel) * Walking distance of Capitol and downtown (less than half a mile) * Nearby bars, so you can have a nice nightcap before heading back to the hostel to sleep Cons: * Beds are *very* soft - softer than I like * Room sharing - if you are a light sleeper, this may be an issue for you * Shower pressure was mediocre * As noted, not accessible for most assistive devices. * Nearby bars, so there is occasional noise from the patrons when they are leaving Note: I visited during the spring, and the weather was great. I did not see any air conditioning, however, so it probably gets quite warm during the summer months.

what an awesome place to stay in Madison. the staff is super nice, the place is clean, quiet, colorful, and the the location couldn't be better. the adorable Costa Rica Cafe adjacent to the hostel is the perfect chill spot for some good eats and drinks in a low-key, yet very popular and busy, atmosphere. the staff was very responsive to all my requests, including mailing my cell phone charger back to me without any attitude or complaints. it's a queer friendly place with lots of resources as to what one can do around Madison and it's walking distance to the Cardinal, another fun local queer hang out for those who like a bit more of a flavor with their night life than what the local jock bar can offer. i'll be staying there next time i'm in town for sure!

Terrible, terrible hostel. All the favorable reviews are from corporate employees of hostelling international. The building and rooms are the most dilapidated I've seen. The beds are painfull and the temperature is freezing. Worst of all there is this rip off restaurant run by a scary Jamaican guy, connected to the hostel, that blasts regae all night long! I mean till two am on a Tuesday, sleeping and comfort are impossible here. It's not even worth $2.50 a night.

I do actually have a couple of complaints about this hostel, but I will start off saying that it is actually very clean, the staff is very friendly and hospitable, the hostel is very conveniently located a few blocks to the downtown/Capitol Sq. area and yet is very cheap (the cheapest you can find in the vicinity of downtown Madison). Finally, it is pretty environmentally-friendly and uses biodegradable cleaners & hand soap, has efficient lighting and has signs about water conservation, which I appreciated. My complaints stem from things that occurred before I came to the hostel and at the tail end of my stay. I have a medical condition and so when I made my reservation so that I could attend a conference in Madison on a tight budget, I had requested a private room with a private bathroom (I offered to pay a little more for this privilege, but would have still saved a lot of money compared to any hotel in the area). The hostel agreed, and I was grateful for their willingness to accomodate me and my condition. After being assured of these arrangements, I registered for the conference and purchased my plane tickets. However, only a few weeks before my trip to Madison (and at this point I had had my hostel reservation for over a month), I received a terse e-mail from the hostel quickly apologizing that they had cancelled out my reservation because someone else who wanted to stay longer in it and pay more money for the room, wanted it. In the e-mail they made no attempt to arrange other alternative accomodations for me. I understand that the hostel is small and needs to turn a certain profit to stay open, but I still think it's unprofessional to cancel a reservation that had been in place for a while on short notice because there is the potential of a higher paying customer.At this point, it was too late for me get a refund on my plane tickets or my registration fee, and most of the other hotels in the area were either booked or way out of my price range. I basically had to make a lot of noise about the situation (including invoking my rights under the American Disability Act), and conjure up my own compromise that would allow me to stay at the hostel. The hostel did agree to it, and again, I was happy for their flexibility, though I wished they had put the effort in first. At the time of my arrival and during my stay, I was happy with the service and friendliness of the staff, and the orderliness of the hostel, until the time came to check out. Since check-out at the hostel is at 10am, and my flight was not until the late afternoon, I had inquired upon making my reservation if it was possible to store my luggage in the front desk office in the interim period, so that I could run some last minute errands and enjoy some last moments in Madison. I was assured this was a service they provided. I also asked about this again when I checked in and again the night before I was due to check out. But when the time came to check out, no one was around and there was simply a sign on the door saying someone would be back in the office in the early afternoon. Several other people also were wondering where the staff was to check in, change keys, etc. I guess there had been an emergency and the front desk person fell ill and by some fluke there was no back-up for the front desk. I know stuff happens and again it's a small operation. I was unaware of the emergency (the note did not indicate it), had some leftover frustration about my first situation, and so left an e-mail and phone complaint before I left the hostel. My complaint now isn't even with the situation itself, since it turn out to be a fluke, but that the hostel manager replied to my complaints stating that they are a non-profit and not a hotel and therefore not responsible for patrons' bags after check-out. Non-profit status was the same thing that was offered to me in defense for the first situation. My complaint is that the hostel staff actively offered these services, assured them, but then when for whatever reason they couldn't follow through (even if it's for a good reason), the manager appealed to non-profit status as though it grants automatic immunity from any complaints for failing to provide services that were initially agreed to. I did not expect these services implicitly and the hostel manager should acknowledge that my frustration is justified from my perspective. I will say, that a staffer e-mailed me a very courteous apology and a reasonable explanation for the check-out situation, which is all I really wanted. But they caused a lot of stress and wasted a lot of my time prior to and at the end of my trip due to shoddy mgt and unethical priorities. I had a nice stay though. I would just warn you if you have a medical condition, or another reason that impedes your ability to be flexible, you have a back-up plan.

Welcoming desk staff, great location, felt warm and friendly, lots of great info about the area.

The Madison Hostel is awesome. I was here a few years ago and decided to come back to this great city and my stay was even better than it was the first time. They have new beds, which i'll admit was needed the last time i was here. The atmosphere is great, the staff was super helpful and i was close to the metro so i could get everywhere i needed to go. If you're looking for a cheap place to stay in downtown madison i definitely recommend the hostel!