Philadelphia · USA
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia
Bed bug reports
-
Confirmed Booking.com
Look up reviews on Google because there are a LOT of bed bugs reviews that don't show here. I checked in and then went to the room and immediately looked for a hotel. This place is dirty, the beds def had signs of bed bugs and everything smells moldy. People in the rooms looked sketchy as well. I didn't feel safe at all, i ran away from there so fast. Make yourself a favor and book somewhere else
-
Confirmed Google Maps
Bed bugs 🐞 Very rude and disrespectful employees including owners and managers. Dirty rooms. Everyone here looks high on either alcohol or hard Drugs, including employees. They will have you pay for a particular room then give you a different one at the time of check in. Don’t use this place guys!!!
-
Confirmed Google Maps
They have a no outside bedding policy, which is fine and I get it because bed bugs are a nightmare. What wasn’t cool was coming home after a 12 hour day of activity to find that the cleaning crew had rifled through my bed and confiscated my bedding. I wish they had mentioned this policy during check-in, since they also have laundry machines on site and I could have very easily had the opportunity to wash my bedding before going to the room instead of having my comfort and privacy violated by the staff.
-
Confirmed Google Maps
Bed bugs! See the pictures! I got eaten alive! It was awful. This doesn’t feel like your typical hostel. You might expect Finnish backpackers or something, but many of the patrons looked and acted like vagrants. It’s like a questionable Motel 6 mixed with a hostel theme. I wouldn’t stay here again, even if they didn’t have bed bugs.
HostelPunk native reviews
First-party field notes
No first-party HostelPunk reviews yet. Be the first signal.
Vibe Analysis
Apple Hostels of Philadelphia is best for a central Old City base with a real shared-kitchen setup, a roomy lobby, and easy walking access to historic Philly, restaurants, shops, museums, Market Street, the subway, and the convention center. The common areas are the stronger part of the hostel: the kitchen is large and well equipped, the lounge can feel comfortable, and there may be social nights, free drinks, instruments in the living room, and occasional activities like a ghost tour. It can be fun for a short, practical city stop, especially if location matters more than polish. The dorm experience is uneven. Smaller rooms can be cleaner and quieter, while larger dorms, especially the 18-bed setup, can feel cramped, humid, smelly, and low on privacy. Beds are basic, often without curtains, and the hostel expects you to make your own bed. This is not a soft landing if you need quiet, easy stairs, or hotel-style service. Loud lobby music, thin walls, street noise, hot or cold rooms, no elevator, and mixed staff interactions can make the place feel more chaotic than cozy.
Signals to check
- No elevator, with rooms spread across multiple floors and sometimes narrow stairs.
- You may need to make your own bed with provided linens.
- Larger dorms can have odor, humidity, cleanliness, and privacy issues.
- Noise can carry from the lobby, street, hallways, bathrooms, and other rooms.
- Temperature control may require staff help and can be unreliable.
- Food is not allowed in rooms, and rule enforcement can feel strict.
- Laundry, locks, deposits, and other basics may add extra cost.