Washington International Student Center

Horrible management. Horrible place. Dirty and filthy. Everything is falling apart. Geto neighborhood. High crime area. Too many homeless people. **** is open open on all streets. I will never recommend any decent person to go there. I will never ever go there again.

This is not one of those highly stylized hostel chains with trendy interiors which have started to become popular as of late (e.g., Generator or HI); but its "traditional" hostel feel works well for it. The mixed dorm rooms are just the right size. The staff and guests can be friendly; but they know how to mind their own business (which is always good if you are a solo traveler who is just looking to relax quietly on a trip rather than be socializing the whole way). The kitchen is large and provides enough space and amenities such that it's like you have your own kitchen in your own house (It saves you money on food, though there are tons of food options in Adams Morgans). The bathrooms were clean, and the toilet paper and other bathroom amenities were kept stocked throughout my stay. There were more than enough common spaces between the lobby, the kitchen, and a little study desk area to give guests private time even though they are living in a shared space. The other guests seemed like normal people (for the most part...). Keep in mind that this is an older house, which felt cozy to me; but if you need brand new, shiny amenities in a hostel (regardless of how efficient and respectful of personal space the staff are), then look elsewhere. The other thing is you need to be mindful of is the possibility of theft. Keep an eye on your personal belongings: a pair of my shoes went missing towards the end of my stay. :(

When I'm in DC for a night or two this is my go to. Why drop $200+ a night for a room where I mostly just sleep and stash my luggage when I can grab a bunk in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in DC for less than I spend on lunch? Luxury it is not but it is safe, clean, and fun. Not only do I get to enjoy free wifi and an ac in the dorm rooms (there are private rooms too) but the staff is wonderful and laid back and there are always interesting people staying so delightful conversations to be had as well in this completely walkable neighborhood. So many food, drink, shopping, and entertainment options steps away. Always a pleasant stay and one of my favorite hostels stateside.

Me and my wife had a recent trip to Washington so we decided to stay here. Our flight was delayed for 4 hours. So we ended up landing there around 10 pm. Although we pre-informed the guy (reception) about our stay early morning, the guy completely denied our stay there. He was drunk and told us that he cannot accommodate us after 11 pm. He was very rude and unprofessional. Please do yourself a favor and don't choose this place to save some bucks. It might very well ruin your trip. The main guy there is just so unprofessional.