Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel

I was truly captivated by Saintlo, enticed by its rich--dare I say, haunting--history! Serving as a prison from 1862 to 1972, the experience was nothing short of chilling. However, in 1973, a remarkable transformation occurred as it was repurposed into a hostel. The juxtaposition of its dark past and the present-day hostel setting added a unique layer to my visit, making it all the more fascinating. The complimentary jail/hostel tour, skillfully conducted by the knowledgable and witty guide, Simon, added an unforgettable touch to my experience! Speaking of the staff, every encounter was met with friendliness and kindness. However, the only drawback I encountered was the early morning staff training sessions right next to my "cell," which proved to be exceptionally loud on both mornings. Let's talk about the "cell," also known as my room. Opting for the basic single private room, it was undeniably tiny but surprisingly cozy. Equipped with 2 outlets, a reading lamp, and a mirror, it had all the essentials. The only downside was the door, which was open on top, making noise more audible. Oh, and a pro-tip: ensure the hallway light is turned off at night for a peaceful sleep. My first night was a struggle until I discovered that the lights weren't turned off--I slept like a baby the second night. Cleanliness was top-notch in my room, as well as in the bathrooms, showers, lounge, and lobby. Kudos to the staff for maintaining such high standards. The free breakfast, offering bagels, cereal, fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and copious amounts of coffee, met my expectations. The showers, although small, were clean and provided hot water. In terms of safety, I felt secure. The absence of a key card for building entry was compensated by a pin code required to access the dorms and other areas. They also provided a key for my room. The location was fantastic--just steps away from the CF Rideau Centre, ByWard Market District, and a mere 15-minute walk from Parliament Hill and Downtown. A few extra notes: While they have a water cooler in the lobby, having an additional one in the lounge/kitchen area could enhance convenience. Although I didn't cook, the kitchen appeared small but equipped enough for preparing meals. Beyond the tour, it seemed like there weren't many activities for guests to engage in together. In conclusion, my overall experience was fantastic, and if I ever find myself in Ottawa again, a visit to Saintlo would be on the agenda! Additionally, it's worth noting that I traveled solo, and as a female, the experience was still enjoyable. *Experience a firsthand tour of Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel through my YouTube video! Get a sneak peek before your stay. Happy watching! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkqwSq0yNHU&t=18s I am not affiliated with Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel; I'm simply a passionate budget traveler who enjoys sharing my hostel experiences with fellow adventurers.

Staying overnight in a jail cell was such a unique experience. We stayed in a cell with bunk beds and it was surprisingly spacious for two people. The location is centrally located close to Byward Market, Parliament, and the shopping mall. The hostel also offers historical tours of the jail (join a walking haunted tour company if you'd like to learn about the ghost stories). Definitely would recommend staying here for the experience. Parking is an additional $12 cost. The hostel will be closed from November 1 to December 31 due to COVID.

I booked this hostel because it was the cheapest place to stay at and I heard it was haunted. I enjoyed my experience at HI Ottawa Jail Hostel but there were a few minor things that I didn't like hence 4/5. Price: 5/5 sharing a room with strangers is the cheapest option. It's about $40-45 after tax and fees. For a small cell where you sleep alone, it's about $50-60 after tax and fees. They also offer a single room with a double sized bed. Prices do fluctuate depending on when you book your stay and what days you're staying at the hostel. A week after i booked my room, i saw that the prices went up by $5 so booking last minute may not be worth it. *I am referring to the prices per night* Location: 5/5 you are in the heart of downtown Ottawa. You're minutes away from CF Rideau Centre (the Ottawa Eaton Centre) and a huge bus terminal! You cannot find a better location. Staff: 5/5 They were friendly. I didn't have any issues with any of the staff members. When I checked in, this friendly lady helped me! They also offer tours of the hostel at 11am. I didn't see the tour because the time was inconvenient for me and I wanted to start my day early! Noise: 2/5 the hostel was noisy because I heard everything! Our upstairs neighbour was jumping up and down! There were a bunch of children on a field trip so they were jumping up and down for hours!!!!! It was quite annoying!!! I can't blame the hostel for this but I wish they had strict rules about no noise after 10pm! Stairs: I don't think they had elevators. I had to go up and down so many flights of stairs every days!!! I was forced to exercise by going up and down the stairs Parking: there's a parking lot by the side of the hostel and it is an extra fee. I paid $12/night for parking. GPS Issue: If you're using Apple GPS, it's not going to lead you to the right location. For me, i had to drive around in circles to find the hostel because my phone lead me near CF Rideau and I wasn't familiar with the area. Eventually I found the hostel by using Google Maps. So use Google Maps instead. Also, the street in front of the hostel is a one way street! Breakfast: 3/5 It's included but for me, i had very few things that I could eat due to dietary restrictions. Breakfast includes hard boiled eggs, juice concentrate (two types of juice), bread, a few types of fruits, cereal, milk, coffee and tea. They also had these giant toasters/oven-like things that you can use to toast your bread. Also breakfast started at 7:30ish which was pretty late for me considering the fact that I was waking up so early in the mornings. Showering/toilets: For our room, we had a bathroom with shower/toilet to share among the 6 of us (5/5). I really like the bathroom that our room came with. Each floor also has a public shower/toilet room (2/5). I went into the public shower/toilet room once and walked out seconds later because it just looked gross. It was very damp inside and I just saw someone's old tissue all soggy and sitting by the shower area. I hate germs and I could not walk into the shower/ toilet so for me that's a big thumbs down! I can't blame for hostel for keeping that public shower/toilet room clean every second but that room looked like it needed some serious scrubbing. Beds: 4/5 It was very comfortable. I liked the mattress. I had very little expectation for the mattress quality but the mattress was much better than I've expected. If you are sharing a room with multiple other strangers, it's all bunk beds. Cleanliness: 4/5 Our room and the bathroom that came with our room was very clean. I read some previous Yelp comments about bed bugs. I like to note that I am extremely allergic to bed bugs bites and my skin develops rashes within minutes of being bitten. From checking my mattress and seeing no bed bugs and having no rash on skin in the morning, I can safely say that I didn't experience any bed bugs at this hostel. For the cleanliness of the public areas in the hostel, I give them 3/5. The place is quite old so it doesn't look that clean in some parts of the hostel. Ghosts/ paranormal activities: I wanted to see a ghost or orb or something but I didn't :( I think my old apartment was much scarier. Based on what I saw online, there are people asserting that the place is haunted. If anyone see anything paranormal at the hostel, send me a pic or video. I would love to see it! Recommend? Yes I recommend this hostel! It's a great experience because you get to sleep in an old haunted prison! This place is great if you're solo travelling or looking for a bargain. Obviously this hostel is not better than a 5 star hotel but for the price, this hostel is definitely worth its price. Keep in mind, you're in a good location with breakfast included and you're paying less than $60/ night even if you're sleeping in your own cell room!

Spent a weekend in Ottawa for a wedding and needed a last minute cheap option for a night downtown. This place is easy to find and a few blocks from everything. The place is really clean and the staff is lovely. Wasn't really familiar with the area and they suggested fantastic eats and things to do while we were there. The whole place is actually hilarious because it's an old jail so when you go to your room, it's an old jail cell and there's written info about someone who stayed in that cell. There's no full doors so expect to be cold if it's winter or hot if it's summer. The air flow is pretty minimal but it didn't really bother us. Breakfast is included and there's wifi so honestly no complaints! If I ever make my way back I will 100% stay here again. The atmosphere was fun and spooky and I already have recommended it to all of my friends.

Definitely 100 points for the experience of sleeping in a single cell on 'death row', but not quite so many points for comfort. One night interrupted by the clatter of chains, snoring and other nightly noises was an experience - two would have been an inconvenience. The cells are built with vaulted ceilings to amplify sound. While this certainly made life easier for the past guards, present guests are not exactly lulled to sleep by the nightly snor-gasbord. Zzzzzzzz. Bring earplugs! Otherwise I was a little disappointed by the hostel. I usually love HI, and stay at their hostels whenever possible to feel the spirit and enjoy the activities. This hostel felt a little neglected - possibly because I visited in late November. The info on notice boards was out of date, and staff seemed generally unenthusiastic. It was not bad by all means, but there was just no trace of that HI spirit. Furthermore, a lot of the guest seemed to be single male long term residents. I am not a squeamish or fearful female traveller, but I start to feel a little uncomfortable when outnumbered by male prison benchwarmers at a ratio of about 10 to 1. But I guess it all adds to the inmate experience. So stay for a night in a single cell, get in touch with your inner badass, and let yourself out next morning with a clear criminal record!

I really enjoyed my stay here at the hi- hostel Ottawa jail . It was a treat. It was great to stay 4 bed cell for 2 nights. The tour they gave of the jail was great . A free breakfast from 7:30am-10:30am every day . I would really like to thank may the front desk people who helped me find my passport thank you very much .if I come back again I will stay here

I've had many good experiences with the HI Hostels - however this wasn't one of them. Let's start with the good stuff. The hostels location is basically perfect. Right next to the Rideau Centre and only about a 10-15 minute walk to all spots around the Ottawa River and Byward Market, and less than a 5 minute walk to the Rideau Canal. The 4-female-dorm I stayed in was large and even had a couch. The reception/pub staff is very friendly and always there if you need something. You get to do the Jail Tour for free. Breakfast is good considering it's free (the coffee sucks though). Unfortunately the bad stuff also adds up. The Wi-Fi is very "moody" and doesn't work down in the Bar and kitchen (there is another one, but I only got the password from people that basically lived in the hostel). The rooms, general areas and especially the kitchen weren't very clean or comfortable at any given time. While theoretically the kitchen is well equipped one of two stoves doesn't work, making it difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to cook at the same time. There were absolutely no lockers in the room, and the available ones downstairs had to be especially paid for. While the room had a large window it was facing another building wall and almost no daylight evee got into the room. There bathrooms aren't per dorm, but per floor. On level 5 four dorms share one toilet, one shower and 3 sinks. I would love to stay again in a hostel at this exact location - just not in this one.

This is an amazing opportunity to visit and stay in an authentic jail . You have a choice to make. Either a dormitory or a private cell. This is an historical building.

How does this place only have two reviews? This place was slightly creepy, but super cool. My bf and I did a Canada road trip and decided to stay one night in the Jail Hostel. I totally agree that one night is more then enough. I also highly advise to read the wikipedia history of the Jail Hostel or take the tour after you stay the night. I wish they had a morning jail tour instead of only once a night. We booked a double occupancy in a private cell for about $85. The cell has an original jail door and isn't fully private. They give you clean sheets and towels to use. The sleeping quarters are super bare , but clean. I thought the bathrooms and showers were a bit too original and decided to shower at the next hotel. They keep the lights on all night, so its not as creepy. I recommend that you check out every floor and the outside courtyard. It's pretty interesting to go to the 8th floor to see what your cell originally looked like. Your private room was equivalent to 3 jail cells. The solitary confinement cells is past the kitchen on the 3rd floor. I didn't see any ghosts, and its kind of cool to say I've stayed in a jail. Great location to the bars, and a little bit walking to parliament and the Canadian museum. $5 for an all day parking spot on the property free wi-fi

If you find yourself in our fine nation's capital on a modest budget and value clean rooms, a convenient location, friendly and knowledgeable staff and aren't weary of spending a night or two with the agreeable spirits of condemned murderers, arsonists ET AL. then the old Nicholas Street Gaol, or what is now known as HI Ottawa Hostel is for you. When the jail closed in 1972, Hostelling International purchased and converted the building, but left much of the structure intact, allowing guests to experience spending a night "in jail". But rest assured you will not be inflicted to the oft inhumane conditions that awaited other less fortunate souls during their stays. We stayed on the top floor in the "Richard" suite, the room had a beautiful hardwood floor and two sturdy bunk beds. The bottom of one was actually a double! and the room even had a sink en-suite and a leather couch to boot. Not too shabby for a hostel room. Another nice touch was the soaker tub in the bright bathroom steps from our door. For the nominal cost of approx. $40.00/person for semi shared quarters you too can enjoy this quirky slice of prison life sans guards and bars.

I've been staying in hostels quite a bit the last couple years while doing some budget travelling and I've had amazing experiences. I knew the lucky streak wouldn't last forever. So here's my first negative hostel experience. The actual cell I booked was great. The bed was comfy enough, the price was right ($30 for a private cell), and it was just enough space for me and my bags. The staff on check-in were very friendly and very helpful. My problems revolve around noise concerns. The other guests were among the most inconsiderate people I've witnessed in my travels. Loud talking at all hours, blaring music in the rooms without headphones, passing out on the furniture, it was really something else. It's not like they were drunk teenagers getting their frustrations out, either, most of them were grown adults. The biggest annoyance was that there are signs everywhere reminding guests it is a shared social environment so to be respectful and that quiet hours are after 11 PM. I'd read online that the hostel bar can make things loud until 1 AM so I stayed out until 1 AM just in case. When I got back it was still incredibly loud. I called and asked the front desk when we could expect a little quiet. They said 2:30 AM. I asked to be moved and they said it wasn't a possibility. They offered ear plugs. I went and picked up the ear plugs. They didn't help at all. It may not have been so bad if they had confined the noise to the bar in the basement but they had the party in the courtyard which is directly in front of the windows for the rooms. I found this incredibly disrespectful. I showered a couple times a day at different times. The water never got hot. A couple times I thought it got slightly warm but as soon as I'd stick my head under to wash my hair I'd realize it was still cold and I'd just adjusted to it. At 10 AM they make announcements over a P.A. system for some unknown reason. It's a bit obnoxious. The bar was supposed to be open at 7:30 PM. I went at 8 PM to get a drink and there was no bartender to be found. This would have been fine and I would have just had a drink in my room but there are signs forbidding that as well. I've never had that issue in a private room at other hostels. The wifi doesn't work in most of the hostel. Luckily I had my own data plan. There are also a lot of stairs and no elevator. This doesn't bother me at all as I hate elevators and prefer stairs, but if you have any kind of mobility concerns be prepared for that as there are eight floors. There are also several ghost walk tour groups roaming the halls in the evenings so make sure you aren't walking around in your underpants if you are shy. The property has a ton of potential. I'm really sorry that it fails in execution.

A unique and memorable trip to the best Ottawa Hostel that'll not only include its sights, attractions, and activities but your overnight sentence in jail as well! The HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel is the only hostel in North America located in a former prison that operated for over 100 years. During your stay in this Victorian-era architectural relic, you'll sleep in former jail cells, the prison hospital, or maybe even the governor's quarters! If you are look for a good experience and some history of the jail hostel? This is a place to be. It was my first hostel stay and I was impressed of the jail hostel. PROS: - Cheap Price - Have great history and features - Stuffs are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable - Great with groups and with friends - Very convenient right downtown (just about 20 minutes walk to the Parliament Hill and about 5 minutes walk to the ByWard Market and Restaurants) - Could spend a night in a jail for free with no records - Cheap internet CONS: - If you have a bad back. DO NOT GO HERE because bedding sucks and not comfortable, the bed spring is old and noise. Better to take the jail toured then stay for a night. - Share bedrooms with unknown people (8 beds per room) best go in groups - Smells of the old jail - Share washroom/restroom - Lack of AC (Poor ventilation) - Additional costs were charged without prior notice - Breakfasts does not included OVERALLS: It's ok because the cheap price for a night and the location is right downtown. I was looking for the experience and some history of the Ottawa jail. Best of all I stay in a jail for free with no records for the next day. The worst part would be, it's not that comfortable place to sleep in and if someone who snore and move a lot. You will hear the squaring noises. I would recommend to take the jail toured and learn the history of this place. PP SIGNING OUT! YES..PLEASE!

Pros - Historical building with some cool history. - Supposedly haunted - there's free daily ghost tours for anyone staying in the hostel. It's nothing fancy, but it's fun to check out. - Safe. I was traveling alone (stayed in a 4 bed dorm) and felt completely safe (ghosts or otherworldly spirits notwithstanding). - Free breakfast included. - Free wifi, although it did cut out a bit. - Good location. Only a few blocks from Byward Market and other attractions are nearby. - Friendly staff. Cons - Beds. Look I've done hostels before, quite a bit, and I've done bunk beds. I knew it wouldn't be the most comfortable bed ever, but could we spring (pun intended) for bunks with ladders? I shouldn't have to hoist myself up to the top bunk, and attempt to get down from the top bunk without a ladder, especially in the middle of the night. It's a pain in the ass. - Noisy. This is often a given at the hostels. It's a bit of a party hostel which is fine. What I found really odd was the fact there seemed to be groups of school kids (like 10 year-olds) running around or in the breakfast area. I'm used to hostels where everyone is at least 18. These were like High School school groups. It was weird. - Bathrooms. At least the one by my floor had a shower that was a little icky looking. It's an older building - I get that - but this shower looked like it had mold or something. It smelled kind of funky. Perhaps the other showers were fine, but that one was weird. Overall I didn't mind my stay here, and I think it was fun to check out a "haunted" hostel for a couple of nights (although nothing scary or weird happened while I was there). That being said I had the experience and next time I'm in Ottawa I'll probably look to stay somewhere else.

The beds aren't awesome but they're much better than camping, and big-free to boot. The novelty of staying in a somewhat-renovated jail would wear off over multiple nights, but it really is an interesting alternative to the many overpriced hotels in the area. I had a fun time exploring the levels and cells, though I missed the nightly tour. The basement houses the common area with a bar open nightly 6-10 pm. I stayed in a dorm with other travelers on bunk beds, which suited me just fine. The others in my room were courteous about late night noise and light levels, which I appreciated as I awoke early for a morning tour of Ottawa.

It was cozier than I expected it to be. The front desk staffs were extremely helpful and friendly. I stayed in a double jail cell, and it was very basic, as I had imagined. The bed was surprisingly comfortable! The girls' showers were spacious and decently clean, I did not have any problems with getting a shower stall whenever I needed one. The location was fantastic! Walking distance to just about everything you need. The complimentary breakfast was very healthy and I was happy with the selection of food and beverages. I was a little disappointed with how "realistic" the jail would be. Although we were situated in a former jail house, other than the brick walls and the metal jail door, there was no real jail like atmosphere. I thought the whole experience would have been better if we were given jump suits when we checked in, had a guard "escort" us to our cells, had PA announcements indicating when curfew was (no actual curfew necessary), etc.

Stayed in a private jail cell bunk for two. Amazing staff, cool digs, wicked location, terrific breakfast, clean. But (and it's a huge but) we found a bed bug in our clothes. Brave travellers are encouraged to risk it but beware.

It's an interesting concept however my friend was attacked by bed begs. We left the room at 6am and we were allowed to use the staff drier. We sat and waited for our clothes in the lobby for 45 minutes were the staff discreetly spoke about our situation, I don't think they believed us. The first woman we spoke to was apologetic, but we were to offered anything in terms of a credit or somewhere else to sleep.

I stayed during the fall season for five nights and one ot two beds were always unoccupied so booking was not heavy. In regard to some of the prior reviews, the beds are metal framed and the mattress suited my comfort demands; I was not bothered by the history of the building or the fact that convicts died in the bldg, hell the stairways are protected by an anti-suicide grating. My only comment is that the dorm had a window facing Nicholas St. and during the morning hours, the traffic noise will wake the undead but that didn't bother me since I sleep with ear-plugs. The hostel is located off the OC Transport bus lines 94, 95 from the Via Canada Ottawa train station and across the street from the Rideau Mall. Everything you could need is located close by including a Metro 24 hr. grocery store. One other note, the breakfast is cereal, bagels, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee/tea.

Coolest hostel ever! Loved the jail tour! I didn't know the 8th floor washrooms were out of bounds though... I heard whistling when I was using the washroom there... and I was all by myself...

great location as its downtown. The pictures we saw online were nothing like what we stayed in. The breakfast was included and very basic. it costed 90 plus we had to pay for parking, could have stayed at a real hotel for the price. Cells are small and you can hear other people all night since the cells have openings on the top and bottom.Staff was rude and not helpful. We went to go on the jailwalk but had to put our bags in the car we told the staff they said they'd wait then when we came back a few minutes later they had left. I would not suggest going here unless you are only staying a night and want to be located downtown for cheap-ish but the beds are not comfy. if you stay in a single bed cell there is absolutely no room for anything it's just a bed in a comfined spot. we had bunk beds so we had a bit of room

Perfect lodging for students, backpackers, and other fearless travelers who seek experiences out of the ordinary. Clean, centrally located and incredibly budget-friendly (around $30 a night), this particular lHI Hostel location is set in an old jail! So yes, for one night, you get your own "cell" in a historic building just steps away (walking distance) from downtown and the University of Ottawa. The staff, friendly, also has a lots of recommendations about the city life. There is an on-site bar, Mugshots, that is a no frills open bar in the backyard of the hostel, complete with a few tables for a casual makeshift patio. Stand-up showers are lean as usual, and breakfast is complimentary (yay!). Don't forget to get the HI membership for a 15% discount, all the time, at any HI Hostel location across the world!

I intentionally reserved a room to see the jail hostel but stayed for 5 hours only. Previously i stayed in a similar hostel in Germany, so, i knew what i was getting myself into. This hostel is located right in downtown Ottawa. Most of the rooms are shared with other people so as the washrooms. However, there are some private rooms available. Rooms for boys and girls are separate. Each room was named after individual instead of a typical numerical name. There is a small parking at the back and few street parkings. Obviously the building is a historic structue, so, it is OLD! There are 9 floors and the entranace door to the stairs has a password which gets updated everyday. There is also a large cafe on the 3rd floor. Everyday around 11 am they give a tour of the jail hostel. This is a great accomodation for students, short stay or people with tight budget but overall it is a good hostel to stay.

Staying here is all about the novelty of the place. It is really fun to stay in the original cells complete with bars. However, the hard beds and super creepy haunted feeling kind of sucks. Let's just say I didn't exactly sleep well. I would not recommend this as a place for multiple nights just for the creep out factor, but I highly recommend it as a cool experience for a night if you are in town. We stayed here on a road trip pit stop and it was definitely the most interesting place we crashed out...

We booked a 4 bed male dorm and stayed in a beautiful room with two bunk beds, one of them with a queen size bed on the lower level. We even had a sink and two armchairs in our room. The shared bathroom was old but very clean. Breakfast was very good; good bagels and fresh fruits were provided. Parking was 11$ per night. I would definitely recommend this hostel to everyone who is looking for a central location and a nice atmosphere.

This place is worth staying at for ONE night just because of the novelty of it. It's tiny and not very comfortable, but it's definitely interesting. The rooms and bathrooms are really clean too.

I hear all other comments of this place. Yes, stay one night for the novelty of the place. Be prepare that the jail room is small, bed squeaky, shower further away. I thought that I went there at bad timing, because I thought that the management was very careless. There were garbage everywhere, uncollected, kitchen left dirty either by visitors or management team (I couldn't tell), late night noise party. It may be because I was there during long weekend, but I'm sensing that it's more like cumulated negligence on management's behalf. I have seen better hostels, so this experience was a disappointment. I would still go back to see if there's improvement or not. However, next time I wouldn't bring my friends to suffer. If I travel alone, then I'm up for the experience. If you plan to visit hostels, heads-up.

Stayed 2 nights in a private cell. A very unique experience indeed! Good for students and backpackers that visits the capital as other reviews mentioned. The staffs were welcoming and helpful at answering questions you have around the area. The location is great, right across from the mall and within walking distance to the Parliament building, byward market, and also uOttawa. This is a hostel so don't expect environment of a 4 or 5 star hotel. But the shared bathrooms and the showers are clean and I had no problems with those. And it is good for the hostel price range as well. The first night was very good, but the second I had a was not good because the fellow beside my cell was snoring extremely loud. And because of the original design of the prison was meant to resonance the sounds from each cell, it made that night impossible to sleep. :( there were signs around about this knowledge so I couldn't help but complaint about that fellow for kind of inconsiderate. But no rantings, my advice would be only stay in a private cell in weekdays, where there's less people (and less chance of bad experience), and perhaps switch to a dorm style room during weekends. Overall my stay was good, it gave me convenient access to all the places I want to go see, and the expectations meet the price. Would recommend the place for budget travellers.

cool opinion!!! A real jail looked a little bit scary but the concept was awesome!!!!

The place is great,but they need to do something about their staff.Very slow and unprofessional.