Phoenix Hostel

The hostel is centrally located and under 20-30min (WITH TRAFFIC) from the PHX airport. Pros: #1 - The instructions to check in were very clear and provided in advance. #2 - Gotta love the black cat, a nice added surprise!! #3 - I didn't use it myself per se but I believe there were 2 outdoor hammocks! That's neat #4 - For a community-driven hostel and one that I'd describe as exuding warmth and loveliness. In addition, the size of the kitchen and its organization of pantry vs tools was so so nice. Typically hostels have them all over the place, making it a struggle to cook. #5 - I stayed in a Private Room where there was so much space!! Cons: The CON.. I got dozens of mosquito bites and these bites have raised my skin after one day. We're talking one on my wrist, one on the back of my hand, my hips -- just too much. I am now finding out cream during the next leg of my trip. Had I known this would be an issue I would've brought my own mosquito repellent :(

Stayed just for 2 nights, before travelling to sedona. Great hostel, by the time I booked there was only private suite available but with shared bathroom. Room was big enough with a bed, 2 bunk beds and area to work or hang out. Check in instructions were very clear. Great. These are not big deal compared to the location, room , services. But it would be great, if these can be improved. Cons: 1. No common bathrooms available. I was stayin at hopi suite, there is a bathroom right outside . But, when I had to use bathroom in the morning, somone was there and I couldn't find another bathroom. 2. No storage lockers, this is v already mentioned . But it would be great to have it.

Keith you are a life saver! Coming from a country with a weaker currency rate, I found this hostel far beyond what it cost. Such an exceptional value I am speechless and feel very grateful. The hostel provide eggs, potatos, bread, jams, pancake mix flour, and spices. Safeway market is just 15minutes walk and I can use kitchen to prep my big meal for the day and save more money. It's basically my another homey home in Phoenix, with a great location. I even can move my budgets to look for more entertainment which most are pretty close from the hostel. Rooms are amazing, super clean. Everything is perfect!

For a comfortable affordable and quant stay in Phoenix - look no further than the Phoenix Hostel. Check in was smooth and efficient, and while I didn't see many folks or the owners during my stay you can tell they put a lot of thought and care into this place. Flyers, events calendars, recommendations for food entertainment were conveniently located throughout the place. All basic amenities but I say that with the highest regard. The beds were comfy, the space was private and quiet, and so convenient. I was in town for a conference at the convention center and I tried all modes of transportation (bus, lime, walking) and I couldn't go wrong either way! The neighborhood is historic and safe. Will be staying here again when I come to the city again!

This place is awesome. My first solo trip as a freshly 18 year old, and I felt very safe and comfortable. There are a bunch of cute coffee shops and other local shops nearby, and its only about 10 minutes from the morgatge arena! They also have the cutest sweet black cat!

Pleasant hostel to stay at for my first time in Arizona. Room I stayed in was private with own washroom but shared shower in common area. Conveniently located around a residential neighborhood in downtown. Walking distance to everything needed and bus routes. Would stay here again.

A hidden gem in downtown Phoenix! I stay at the Hostel because I support their vision and I appreciate the care that they put into every detail of this place. It's cozy, it's incredibly well situated in a city that is difficult to navigate without a car, and, if you are lucky, you might catch a poetry reading or a screening. I miss the black cat already.

My first stay at a hostel in Phoenix turned out to be surprisingly pleasant! Though compact, it’s truly well-equipped — clean, cozy, and even has a small living area inside the room, perfect for working or preparing materials quietly.

Low-key spare accommodations. Communal kitchen and living room. Private rooms (used to be bunk rooms back in the 1990s when I last stayed at the hostel in Phoenix) (back then, it was friendly but grungy). Walking distance to stores, etc. Is it a safe neighborhood? Probably mostly. I went for a late-night walk and was OK but I was vigilant. They rustled up a hair dryer for me.

This hostel was an absolute oasis for me during a recent multi city teaching tour. Located right near the very hip Roosevelt Row, the hostel had everything I wanted: xeriscaped outdoor spaces to enjoy the desert night, cozy and cleaned shared spaces, a well equipped and clean communal kitchen. Even laundry facilities (skip the dryer - the line works great in the desert!) Fellow guests were mellow, friendly, and generally non-intrusive. Staff were helpful and friendly. The individual quarters were very Spartan, but had air conditioning and comfortable beds. (At this time you still get a room to your own party, so I had a ton of space as a solo traveler; when things get back to shared accommodations there are plenty of lockers.) For someone seeking creative space that's also quiet enough to restore and recharge, this space is truly perfect.

Garden is nice. The place is decorated outside tastefully. NOW ROOM AND SHOWER IS ANOTHER STORY, service is good.Bed was an old wooden double decker Bed, hinges were making constant noise, when the girl up tossed she was not happy as well in mor morning said Hinges are old Every toss was like an earthquake and she tossed LATER I THOUGHT HOW MUCH IS A GOOD DECENT BED, OK u get here tired want a good sleep and definitely I recommend airbnb.u never have experience like this. Also showers dirty Also fan on whole night and a cold night All women coughing by morning Hopefully be fixed

The people who have given this hostel good reviews, I assume, have not stayed in many hostels. It is not very good. The location is pretty handy and the staff were nice, but the facilities were old and lacking. It had more of Youth Camp vibe than a fun, travellers hot-spot one. Strange drinking rules require you to pour your beverage from the bottle or can into a provided plastic cup. And after you've done that, you're only allowed to drink a maximum of two beers. Odd. If you're booking the private room, please be aware that you just get a four person dorm to yourself. It's the same rickety old bunk beds. The bathroom is old and kinda gross, and the only way to get to it is through the kitchen, which seems hardly sanitary. Also, BED BUGS. I was savaged by them during my short stay there. After long days in the Phoenix sun, you probably want a comfortable place to came back to and relax. This is not that place. The bed bugs are the main reason I have given this place one-star. If not for them, I may have given them a solid two, or a very generous three.

Run down but friendly. The place needs major renovations, but the beds are comfortable the sheets are clean and the people are wonderful. My only suggestion would be to install a water filter or provide shelter water. The water in the water dispenser comes from the tap. Phoenix water tastes like mud.

Run by a lovely hippie holdover desert rat, this hostel is your typical bunks in a large room affair. Decent enough AC to keep you alive and comfortable (even cold) over night. Ridiculously great kitchen (I had to change my boxers after seeing the range) and amazing table for large group meals. As far as hostels go there isn't much to complain about. Except the bunk beds. They're frighteningly creaky. One strong earthquake and you've got squished hostelers. Walking distance to downtown, a handful of decent bars and a punk venue. Makes me happy. The many hostel (the movie) accouterments lying about are a bit terrifying - crowbar, saw, hatchet et.al. The torture porn possibilities are endless! Fortunately our group left with all of our fingers and toes.

I came in back in 2015 summer when I made a move from japan to go to ASU and some community college. I had 3 weeks of gap with my apartment lease so I stayed here for 3 weeks. Although it's not perfect with sanitary environment and all that, I got more than what I paid for. Free food on breakfast and people there and travelers were nice! I got to know some people and made friends. I bought bike from the person I was introduced and it opened to many things back then. They also drove me to my new apartment and helped me so much with my move. It has been a while but I do appreciate the fact that I was able to meet genuine people because it's kinda hard to meet genuine people in Phoenix now that I stay here for awhile. I don't know how you guys are doing now but keep it up!

I was excited to find this place while exploring Phoenix on bike. I'd been staying at an airbnb down the street and I stopped in to talk to Keith. He was wise and funny and recommended I ride by Carly's where the hostel crew was at trivia night. The next day, however, I was verbally abused by another manager there. It was one of the rudest experiences I've had. I had been waiting in the common area outside that morning to get breakfast w some friends I had met the night before. I was treated like a dog and told to leave immediately. Pretty ironic since this was, ya know, a hostel that maybe would value things like kindness and community. Good luck if you choose to stay here...

I stayed at this hostel for one night on my way through Phoenix. I was impressed by its cleanliness and also how nice the staff was. I like to cook and the kitchen was sufficiently set up to get what I wanted to get done (cooked some spicy Italian pork sausage dirty rice, yum). My only gripe is that the main dorm has tons of beds, meaning as everyone saunters into the dorm throughout the night you get woken up every damn time. Not ideal but that's the story of a hostel! Did have a chance to stay around for breakfast but it's also included in the cost of each nights stay. Overall, if I care less about my sleep, I will definitely check this hostel out again.

Centrally located and close to the Phoenix Metro Light Rail. Super friendly, knowledgeable staff. Spacious, clean common areas including a well stocked and accessible kitchen. They provide simple fruits, oatmeal, eggs, etc and tea+coffee for breakfast. Free WiFi. Lots of close, available free parking. They have door key-codes for late night access. I have since moved to the Phoenix area and would be happy to answer additional questions.

Worst hostelng experience ever. And i've spent months in europe and traveled back and forth numerous times across the states in a mix of camping, friends places, motels and hostels so i've seen a bunch. what do you want from a hostel? to pay $20 for a clean place to SLEEP, did you hear that Metcalf House? SLEEP! You have to check in by 10pm, no problem i was there at quarter of and a couple nice people showed me around and took my money, said to register in the morning. Great! I'm in the music industry so went out to walk in/out of a few clubs to see some of the places i've been talking to about bookings. Had one drink, out til 2am, went back to the hostel where 5 germans were snoring teutonic and I joined the chorus. Alls well! Until morning. At 7:30 i'm rudely awakened by a grey haired woman who wanted to know if i'd mind registering. i said i would! i'm (wait for it) SLEEPING! (um, thats why i'm here). she insisted and said i had to get up and register, because some people run off. i said YOU'VE ALREADY GOT MY MONEY! which was news to her so she went away. For an hour. at 8:30 she slammed the door open (all germans gone, just me "sleeping"), came bashing through with a vacuum, singing. i asked if she could not see that i was SLEEPING!? she suggested that i expected too much, that i should pay $50 for a hotel, i said BS the reason people go to hostels like this is to pay $20 to SLEEP! supposedly, i had until noon, and had planned to sleep from 2-10am. she said i should "cry to your momma" about it (um, yes, instead of me peacefully sleeping this really happened) and i said no, I'd yelp about it, at which point she offered me $5 back. I said no, i just want to be LEFT ALONE TO SLEEP! but she kept at me so i hit the showers and took off. and true to my word, here i am: If you like SLEEP, and peace from a really nasty and sadistic woman (why in the world would this ogre get into hospitality??) find another place!

I arrived at Metcalf House at 11:30 PM on a Friday night. The hostel is located in a residential neighborhood, not a business district like most hostels. It's in a safe part of Phoenix. At 11:30 PM I called the number that was listed on the door of the hostel and Keith said he would be over in five minutes to let me in. It's a cash only hostel so bring lots of green. Keith set me up with a towel for one dollar to rent while I was there. They use electronic locks with codes so you don't need to carry around the key. The beds were super sturdy, so no shaking of the bed. The kitchen is large and has all kinds of cooking utensils, free coffee, and the hostel included continental breakfast. The living room is huge, there's is a very large, round table, enough to seat 10-12 people comfortably. There is a couch and a comfortable chair. The Wi-Fi signal is very strong. The only thing I wasn't pleased about is the shower. The showers are small and if you don't have the curtain just right inside the shower, there can be a puddle on the ground when you exit the shower. All in all the family who runs the hostel is very nice. Mary has traveled extensively and is very amiable. She gave me the 'local rundown' of Phoenix, which was extremely helpful. Thanks again Mary!

Okay, so I'm a second timer here. I swear it had been 20+ years since i visited phoenix and now i've been back here twice within the last year. Anyways, take a look at the photos because you are staying in a residential hostel which is basically a large house converted into an hostel. The area for those who like an edgier feel is in an historic artist community. Not a big deal to me but there are unique small shops happening in the area. For those who do public transportation its not too bad until the walk to the hostel which can be a sauna in the summer. I mean you can wait for the bus, but its a long wait in phoenix. An important thing about this place bring cash they do not take credit cards or checks

Stayed here been to hostels before didn't have an issue. I can only speak for the mens dorm now. So the mens area is a 10 bed dorm. Beds are what you expect from a hostel, the shower in the mens area is clean and decent pretty average. The kitchen is clean and organized, they have a computer on site and a place to print out any documents/paperwork you may want. Overall easy going staff friendly earthling environment. Parking is on the street if you have a car. Nice neighborhood surrounding the hostel. Walking mins away from downtown Phoenix. Good quick bites all over the area. I would recommend. Now they only have a max stay of 7 days

The Good: -it's a place to stay. The Bad: -it's only nominally better than just sleeping in your turned off car. Want to know why there are no pictures of the actual sleeping area(s) of the hostel? Stay here to find out. It's small; co-ed; and hot. They charge you without even inquiring if you are an HI member. They don't even ask to confirm your membership if you tell them you are a member. I did not use the kitchen or any of the community area(s), so look elsewhere for reviews of those areas. My review is solely for the sleeping quarters. - E Postscript. I used the showers, of course (only way to keep cool here), but cannot think of anything redeeming about them to factor in my 'Meh. I've experienced better' rating. Post-postscript. Perhaps my experience was unique in that the climate control was broken. Maybe you will have better luck in your stay. Post-post-postscript. The elderly lady operator is pretty abrasive in her personality (especially for hospitality industry).

I had a nice experience during my stay in the Metcalf House. The hostel is clean and orderly. It has a convenient location located off of I-10, a short walk from downtown Phoenix. Chase Field is only 15 minutes away on foot! There is lots of on street parking as well. The staff was friendly and helpful, providing a map and useful points of interest/food suggestions when I checked in. I have stayed at least 10 Hi Hostels and this one was quite different from the others. The hostel is unusual in that the staff leaves at 10pm and returns the next day at 8am. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 8am and they impose a no laptops policy on one of the main kitchen table, which is a bit inconvenient if you want to use your laptop because it is the only indoor table space. The shower was a bit cramped, but was adequate for taking a shower. They provide a small breakfast but they limit your breakfast size (One coffee/tea, one piece of toast, one egg, and one piece of fruit) so it's not really enough food to start the day. They don't put out the breakfast stuff until 8am so it's a bit inconvenient if you want to start the day early. I was waiting around for them to put the breakfast stuff out on my last day until 8:10 and simply left because they were running late. If I find myself traveling alone to Phoenix again, I would stay at the hostel for sure. I wasn't really impressed with the art district of Phoenix, but there are a number of great hiking opportunities (Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, Pinnacle Mountain, etc) close by and the hostel is centrally located to all of these points provided you have a car.

Here's the situation: It's late July 2014. You've just spent 13 hours driving from Oakland, California to Phoenix in a minivan with 6 other people. As you continued East along Interstate 10, the air got hotter, people got grumpier, and thighs got stickier. Looking back, there is no place I would have rather picked to spend the night at rather than the Metcalf House. The staff was super friendly and welcoming as we pulled up to the house around 10pm. The AC was already going in the room, and folks were socializing in the living room and in the outdoor areas. There were cool spots (bars, restaurants, karaoke bars!) within close proximity of the hostel, and after we finished exploring the nearby neighborhood, we spent some time unwinding the in backyard. The facilities were very clean, and the price was very reasonable (We were a group of students so we got a group rate). We stayed for only one night, but I would have totally been down to staying longer! So, if you find yourself stressed out in Phoenix sweating your butt off and without a place to stay, hit this place up. You won't regret it!

I really enjoyed my stay here. I was traveling with my boyfriend and we wanted a privet room. We were able to get one the first night, and the second we had the option of the dorm or the outside shack/mobile home converted to bed room, so we took that, it was pretty cool and funky :) The kitchen space here is nice. They have some free breakfast options. The staff is really great. They have ping pong :) Con... They only have one bathroom.

Spent 1 night here on my way to Flagstaff. The staff was great, I met really nice people there for the next steps of my trip. The talking table is a good idea and the kitchen is complete. However, I would say that the beds are a little bit old and make a lot of noise everything is like moving when someone walks in. Great hostel I recommend it !

While traveling through to San Diego I needed a place to stop that had electricity so I could do my 30 minute treatment (I have Cystic Fibrosis). The staff was super friendly and more than willing to let me use their facility so I could do my treatment. I really appreciated their hospitality! The grounds were also lovely and from what I saw on the inside the place was really clean. Thank you!

Very good hostel, with friendly hosts! Great atmosphere!

I love their backyard space during the day and at night as well. Inside it is a nice and clean space. Their staff is friendly and their community events are very welcoming and diverse. I met people from many countries.

I approached the owner of the hostel with a request to shoot a scene in a movie at her location. I was happily surprised when the owner replied with an immediate, "Yes!" I loved the look of the hostel, a unique venue to be sure. They have an outdoor performance area, lots of native plants and an interior that speaks of the history of the hostel and the city itself. The staff at the hostel was very helpful, even staying late to assist us. I've done my fair share of hosteling across Europe and the U.S., and this hostel is by far the most welcoming place I've encountered. If you are hosteling, you should come to Phoenix and stay here. You'll love it!

Nice staff, nice common room with plenty of info of what to see and do in the area, large communal table, decent sized kitchen. I only spent one night so didn't see much else. I had the private room which has a separate entrance around the back and has a door into the common bathroom, which is shared with the mens dorm - so basically you're sharing a mens dorm bathroom, which is kind of meh. Also the walls and door are thin and the bathroom is just on the other side, so if you're a light sleeper you will wake up every time someone goes in the stalls or showers. There is another bathroom in the main part of the house that has a more private shower. Bed was pretty comfortable and there was a heater in the room which I didn't use. It was cold when I was there so I can't comment on how the air is in that room but I would wonder about that - I don't sleep well when I'm hot.

I love the people, I love the decorations, the homie feel of the place. I love the staff, I love the 3 dollar beers, I love everything about it. I met so many cool people there and had the fun-nest time walking on the streets of Phoenix during Friday artwork. I call it my 3rd home. I love this hostel!!!!

This hostel I must say is absolutely FANTASTIC! Here is why. The management and staff are as nice as possibly can be. The young ladies that work here cook breakfast every morning for the guests. A good breakfast too. The hostel is extremely clean 100% of the time. Very very clean. My favorite part about this place is the fact they have a strict alcohol policy. They do not allow people to get drunk and party at this hostel. They are not about the BS. They are about the guest having a peaceful, relaxing, and clean environment to stay at. So if you are looking for a party hostel, than go elsewhere, but if you want to stay at a place that is friendly, clean and a lot of fun, then you have to come see Keith and Katie. Those two are the absolute best. This is the best hostel I have ever stayed at.

I really liked this hostel. It's clean, staff is very very nice, the beds are comfortable, and late check in is very easy. I like the backyard!

This is a small, homey hostel with great atmosphere and artistic flair (definitely not your typical Hostelling Int'l hostel) in the heart of the artist district near the bus lines and a 15 minute walk to the light rail. While it was pretty empty in early September, the staff running the hostel was lovely to talk to and I enjoyed rifling through the various treasures (books, artwork, instruments). The neighborhood is safe.

for a hostel I think this place is as good as it gets.........I paid 20/night we even had a decent Superbowl party with food and drink, the people running the place were nice while I was there. I had a good nights rest, did laundry, and a nice shower and met some interesting and nice people...I recommend it, next time I'm in phoenix I'll stay here again no problem =)

I've traveled in hostels all over the world (China, Europe, etc), and this is one of the nicest I've been to. Mary gets to know all of her guests personally, and creates the kind of community environment where everyone wants to hang out, make dinner together, etc. She will also provide great advice about where to go, including a walking tour of the public art that has been appearing all over Phoenix - a great way to see the city if you don't have any other destination in mind! We stayed in the private room with shared bathroom, and the only downside was that one of the other guests had a stomach flu that night, and the adjoining bathroom was... not very soundproof. Oh well. Overall, a great place to meet some cool people if you're passing through Phoenix, especially if you're interested in art/music/off-the-beaten-track places.

We really enjoyed our stay here. Nice place--loved the pancakes!--and a nice hostelling experience. Good location, too.

I love the Phoenix Hostel! I work for a social justice organization in downtown Phoenix and we have a lot of our out of town guests stay at the hostel. We know they are not only getting a clean, nice place to stay, but that they will be in a progressive and creative community. The Phoenix Hostel hosts fun arts and cultural events like readings from banned plays and downtown mural tours. I often come to hangout even though I'm a local. I love this place!

Definitely stay here. This is a very low key hostel. I drove past twice before finding it. If you are expecting room keys and lockers you may want to try elsewhere. When I stayed there were only two other guys there so I ended up with a room to myself. Free wifi, AC in the dorm rooms and an amazing kitchen are drawcards. For what it is, I'm surprised it's vouched for by the IHA, but make no mistake this is s very cool place. A very convenient and unique part of Phoenix close to downtown and the airport. It is like an Oasis from the desert heat.

This place is the snake's hips! It's cozy and warm and the staff is so darn lovely. Kate, Csila, Al et al will make you feel welcome and at home and might even take you hiking or on some cool cultural field trips. Keith is awesome and beats the weather channel for accurate forecasts by a mile. The hostel is clean and has everything you need, and everyone there goes to great lengths to accommodate you and make your stay comfortable and memorable. It's in a rad part of town, close to cool bars, cafes, shops etc. Can't say enough about it, love it, and so will you.

It's a great hoestel. The staff is very warm, welcoming, and responsive. This is a home and definitely not a large facility. If u enjoy hostels with state of the ares equiptment and lots of space this isn't the place. However this place is clean warm and the staff is awesome.

This is hostel is amazing! The staff is incredibly friendly, talkative and will go out of their way to make your stay, not only at the hostel, but in Phoenix as great as possible. The facilities are nice, clean and very homie. The outdoor areas are perfect, and during the evening when the ferry lights are turned on it's just the best. I sincerely hope you'll not miss out on the weekly barbecue (organize on otherwise!) - it's the best time, good food, a nice way to get to know your fellow travelers and the staff at the hostel and learn more about what to do in Phoenix. I planned to just stay one night but ended ended up staying two, and leaving with a love for Phoenix - mainly because of this hostel. Other plus is the low rates, good included breakfast (not the normal pancake powder a lot of the US hostels are giving ya'), the homemade map given upon check in (it has a backside full of activities and plans to make your Phoenix stay awesome) and the location (fairly central, in a nice residential area - super close to the murals and art galleries). Stay here if you'll get the chance!