Edmonton · Canada
HI Edmonton
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
****BEDBUG ALERT*** Booked the family room. Room “EB1” with the double bed and bunk beds. Found 2 bed bugs in the double bed (can confirm each mattress has bed bug protectors however it seems that doesn’t stop the critters). Brought to the attention to the night staff however he wasn't much help and his solution to the problem was “well the bunk beds didn't have them”. However if theres even one bed bug in the room then EVERYTHING is at risk. We ended up staying in the bunk beds as all hotels/motels/hostels were fully booked and didn't want to risk getting the car infested. Thankfully due to my previous knowledge of bed bugs my buddy and i were able to isolate all of our items with burning heat before bringing home. Wasn't offered any kind of compensation or empathy for the risk we were put in, hopefully no other guest has brought home bed bugs…..
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Confirmed Booking.com
They had bed bugs.
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Confirmed Booking.com
Gettig eaten alive by Bed bugs
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Confirmed Google Maps
Bed bugs alert. I got eating bey bed bugs and I told them. They changed me bed and my flight was the next day watch out.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
I shared the two-bed dorm (only women) and it was easy to access, had a big locker, and was close to the (hot) shower and bathroom. However, my roommate told me there was a recent bed bug infestation in our room. I checked bedding and sheets, everything appeared clean, but the staff did not aware me of this beforehand, and I had a hard time sleeping because of it! That being said, I had no bed bugs and rooms/facilities were clean. The room was hot and due to proximity to whyte Ave, it’s loud!
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Confirmed Google Maps
Recently stayed at the HI Edmonton for the second time in a private room with a bathroom. It has all the best things about a hostel you hope for - the price absolutely cannot be beat, it's extremely clean, the location is fantastic, staff are top notch - friendly, knowledgeable, quick, there's free luggage storage in a secure room, massive shared kitchen & fridge with plenty of room to store food, and big comfy shared lounge & backyard. Previous reviews mentioned bed bugs, but I've stayed here in 2022 and 2024 and didn't see any either time. People tend to think of hostels as just for backpackers or younger people looking for the dorm experience. That's definitely the target audience, but private rooms are a great option for families or couples looking for a cheaper, short term stay. My only downsides were a few creature comforts in the rooms, which we easily remedied for our second stay; the rooms get very hot & stuffy with the blackout curtains drawn & the provided fan is very loud, so for our second stay we brought eye masks & ear plugs, and kept the curtains and window open. The shower towels are itty bitty, so we brought our larger sized pak towels. This might be too much of a hassle to some, but totally worth it for the price and convenience. For the dates we stayed, we paid about %70 less than nearby Air BnB's and hotels.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Good location but not enough washrooms, a weak equipment inside the rooms (almost no power outlets in the dorms in 2024), the “free breakfast” consists of an instant oatmeal. But definitely the worst part are the bedbugs you can find in the beds. Try to avoid this place!
HostelPunk native reviews
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Vibe Analysis
HI Edmonton is a basic, budget-leaning hostel near Whyte Avenue, useful if the plan is bars, cafes, shops, buses, and a cheap bed rather than a polished social machine. The best version of the place has friendly staff, clean beds, big lockers, spacious common areas, a large kitchen, a patio, a game area, and a laptop-friendly zone. The social side is uneven. There can be hostel-organized events, posters for local things to do, occasional barbecue nights, sunset walks, pub trips, and easy hangs with international travelers. At other times the atmosphere can feel cold, quiet, impersonal, or more like a cheap stopover than a proper backpacker scene. Rooms are simple and can be cramped, hot, and stuffy, especially without air conditioning or strong ventilation. Beds range from comfortable enough to thin, creaky, low-clearance, or uncomfortable. The kitchen can be handy for saving money, but cleanliness and equipment are inconsistent. This is not a soft landing for everyone. Safety, dorm behavior, bathroom condition, odor, limited washrooms, street noise, door slamming, snoring, staff warmth, and local-ID booking rules all create real friction. Pick it for price and Whyte Avenue access, not for guaranteed comfort or a reliably buzzing hostel vibe.
Signals to check
- Rooms can get hot and stuffy, and air conditioning may not be available.
- Bathrooms and the kitchen can be dirty, smelly, short on equipment, or too limited for demand.
- Dorm sleep can be rough from snoring, door slamming, shouting, cramped bunks, and thin or creaky beds.
- Safety can feel inconsistent, especially in dorms and around the surrounding area at night.
- Past bedbug incidents make mattress checks a smart move.
- Local Edmonton ID rules and payment or booking handling can create problems at check-in.