If you want to check this place out, take the 7 PM tour! It was a jail. If you stay there you might find yourself, as I found myself, planning your escape all night long. If you're lucky enough to get a window, there will be bars on it and it will not open. There were these things that looked... more

Worst of the hostels I have stayed so far in Canada. Stuffy, no ventiliation, beds are quite squeeky (need replacement), Sunday morning at9:30AM , one of the only the 2 male toilets is out of toipet paper, one of the woman staff has been rude to some of the mates who stayed at this place. Bathrooms and toilets are bad.... more

This hostel is very centrally located downtown in Ottawa. All tourist sights and activities are accessible and within walking distance. Great location. The people who work in the hostel are very friendly and helpful. The hostel was very novel and not like anywhere i had stayed before...it is exactly what it says ..a jailhouse. Your room is a cell behind... more

We (a family of two adults and two teenage boys) booked a night in a private family room here because of the novelty (an old jail...how cool is that) and its location (very easy walk to Parliament and an open air market). On both accounts this place is just right. But if you're not into the hostel scene (as my... more

Most HI-hostels offer good service but this one is an exception. You might be very dissappointed if you stayed in other HI-hostels before. You might be "surprised" with the incompetence of the staff and their unfrendliness. The problem is that they are in the HI-system of hotels and most people who go there rely upon this "trademark" and just are... more

That's what you are going to do if you book this hostel. It can be an interesting one night experience but I don't recommend it for longer stays... Rooms and showers are really small ... specially if you are claustrophobic! And the beds creak all the night... I cannot complain too much because I stayed in a bedroom for four... more

I had a great experience of staying in jail for a week. First people said a story about ghost, I didnt believe. When I took a tour of the death row, I captured the pic of the cells. For a surprise I also captured the face of a person who was mistakenly executed long ago. Initially I didnt believe but... more

Great Place! Totally unique accommodation. Clean rooms, secure and well thought out common areas. Staff are terrifically friendly and very helpful. One of the best part was the guided "story" tour of the old jail areas. This took it from a place to stay to a place to remember! Right beside the Byward Market and access to all sorts of... more

Just stayed at the hostel last night with a girlfriend. It was awesome, Andrew, the guy behind the desk when we got there was friendly and really helpful seeing as we had never 'hosteled' before. He explained everything..it was $5 to park the night in there parking lot and $2.50 each for clean sheets. The cells were clean, though still... more