ALT HOSTEL, Montreal

The hostel is at 347 Rue Saint Paul Est, in the historic district. The Old Port is less than 5 minutes' walk away, and the Notre-Dame Basilica is 9 minutes on foot. The Champ-de-Mars metro station is a 4-minute walk, with the orange line providing direct access to Lionel-Groulx station for the 747 airport shuttle bus (total journey from YUL airport: about 50 minutes with a CAD 10 24-hour ticket). The area is safe and walkable for sightseeing, with many restaurants, shops, and attractions within a short stroll. Note that supermarket options are limited in the immediate vicinity, and most require a short walk or metro trip.

Rooms are mixed-gender or female-only dorms, with bed options including singles, double bunks, and triple-stacked bunks. Triple bunks have very limited headroom on the middle and top levels, making entry and sitting up challenging. Dormitories can be cramped, particularly when luggage occupies floor space. Lockers are provided (bring your own padlock or buy one for CAD 5), but they are often too small to fit a standard carry-on suitcase. No privacy curtains on beds, no individual reading lights, and limited electrical outlets per room (sometimes only one for ten beds). Some rooms are in a separate building and require climbing stairs; no elevator is available. The building has a no-shoes policy, keeping floors cleaner. Rooms may be near bars on the lower floors, leading to noise until late at night; earplugs are recommended. The air conditioning units can be loud and, in winter, the heating may make the room uncomfortably hot; windows are typically sealed with signs advising they should not be opened.

The hostel does not have a restaurant or serve breakfast. Instead, a large, fully equipped communal kitchen with stoves, pots, pans, utensils, and three large fridges is available for self-catering. Free coffee and tea are offered all day. The kitchen is located in the main building, so guests staying in the annex building need to go outside to access it. There are multiple dining and social areas. For those who prefer to eat out, the Old Montreal area offers numerous restaurants within a 3-5 minute walk, with cuisines ranging from Italian (Salumi Vino) to French-Canadian (Le Club Chasse Et Peche) and bakeries (7 Grains Bakery and Cafe).

Alt Hostel does not have a swimming pool, spa, or gym. Leisure activities center on the communal spaces: a lounge with a TV, board games, and a social atmosphere. The hostel organizes nightly or weekly events such as movie nights (with free pizza and popcorn), Poutine nights, and a weekly Meet and Drink event every Thursday. A notice board lists daily activities. The Old Port, parks, and cultural attractions within walking distance provide ample options for daytime leisure.

The hostel provides free WiFi in all areas (though coverage is weak in some basement rooms). A 24-hour front desk handles check-ins, inquiries, and luggage storage at no extra cost. Laundry facilities (washing machines) are available for an additional charge. The shared kitchen is well-equipped and includes free coffee and tea. Lockers are free but require a padlock. Security measures include CCTV in common areas, smoke alarms, and key-code access at multiple entry points. Housekeeping cleans common areas and bathrooms daily; however, dorm rooms are not serviced daily. The no-shoes policy helps maintain cleanliness. Check-in is from 15:00 to 00:00, check-out until 11:00. Accepted payment methods include American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB, Discover, and UnionPay. Group reservations can be arranged by contacting the hostel directly.