Bed bug reports for Ottawa Backpackers Inn — HostelPunk
Ottawa Backpackers Inn

Ottawa · Canada

Ottawa Backpackers Inn

Punk Score
54% SHIT
High confidence 2,054 reviews
Could still be good with enough luck and social skills, but not inherently social
Best in Ottawa
Bed bug reports Showing 12 reports · 1 in the last 12 months
  1. Possible Booking.com

    I woke up on the second morning with bug bites all over my body. Staff suggested maybe I was allergic to the bedding but these had clear bite marks. The washroom door didn't lock and there was a hole in the wall in my room next to the bed.

  2. Confirmed Hostelworld

    Bed bugs and dirty rooms, homeless and prostitutes sleeping in common areas Bathrooms were clean, convenient parking on-site

  3. Possible Hostelworld

    Twee nachten hier verbleven. Bij binnenkomst wordt direct gezegd je schoenen uit te doen. Bij vragen voor een handdoek wordt $2 gevraagd. Je krijgt dat een hele smoezelige handdoek. De vloerbedekking is oud en ziet er vies uit, niet erg lekker om op je blote voeten over te lopen. De banken in de woonkamer zijn oud en ook smoezelig. De kamers zijn klein en vol geprakt met stapelbedden. In kamer Europe heb ik bedwantsen beten opgelopen. Ik heb contact proberen op te nemen maar geen gehoor.

  4. Confirmed Google Maps

    Bed bugs! They will lie about it, but infested. Need the city to shut them down. Deny it all you want but maybe the owner should read the reviews. Don't even think of going there, not worth the laundry bill and anguish.

  5. Confirmed Google Maps

    It’s a small room actually very small one and they have clean shared washroom. But the pathetic thing is that this single room cost around 88$ which was mentioned 75$ during online checkout. They didn’t mention the tax and other charges clearly. This is a horrible thing. This room isn’t worthy of 88$ . And one more problem is that if someone uses the washroom at night you will feel maritime torpedo is passing by. That was hilarious. I could not sleep properly. Otherwise the bed was clean. No bed bugs. The room is approximately 7ft*8ft. The receiption lady was very helpful. You can have weed in the balcony if you want

  6. Confirmed Google Maps

    Two old, rundown houses The location is in one of the worst drug/homeless areas in Ottawa, even though in walking distance to Byward Market, museums, and the Parliament. One good thing was that the staff was polite, the young lady from Frankfurt, Germany was very friendly. The bathroom and the toilet were well cleaned. But there was not a single hook where you can hang your belongings. AND: This bathroom had to be shared by about twenty people... women and men - Rooms are extremely small and musty, and barely any space to place clothes and suitcases - I got a wrong WiFi password from the receptionist, tried for hours to get an Internet connection - Fridge did not work, was totally warm, and only the freezer worked - Microwave was "out of order" in one kitchen - No window screens anywhere - which means windows had to be locked during warm weather in order to avoid mosquitos - Furniture looks like resourced from a garbage dump and so was the sleeping pillow - Bedding was made out of cheap plastic, and the mattress was very thin - Scared of bed bugs... Never again in this one-star place! But: you get what you pay for

  7. Confirmed Google Maps

    The hostel is located in an old house but overall the rooms, washrooms and kitchen are ok. The staff is extremely nice and welcoming. However, the beds make a lot of noise when you move which can be uncomfortable when you are trying to sleep. Also, they have bed bugs.

  8. Confirmed Google Maps

    It's a nice house and the staff is really kind but they have BED BUGS, be careful!!! They bit me really bad and I spend only one night :(

  9. Confirmed Google Maps

    Is this place still open? Bed bugs everywhere, and they just don't care. Do not go there!

  10. Confirmed Google Maps

    Do not come here, after two nights we found out we had bed bugs and the owner kept on putting off meeting us when we asked to talked to him the next day. Horrible experience.

  11. Possible Google Maps

    FUYEZ CET ENDROIT !!! Literie sale, draps sales !!!! Les lits grincent (allez ça passe encore on n'est plus à ça près) les douches sont sales (des cheveux retrouvés ici et là). Des taches douteuses sur la moquette qui sent extrêment mauvais. Innadmissible de proposer un tel "service"! Backpacker ou non le client doit pouvoir disposer d'un minimum de confort et propreté. Pas d'autre solution pour nous que de dormir tout habillés, emmitouflés dans nos sweats à capuche pour ne pas être en contact avec les draps surtout après avoir lu des avis (bien trop tard malheureusement) de clients qui avaient attrapé des punaises de lit. Vos avis positifs sont donc de faux avis ! Complètement mensongers ! Une vraie honte !!

  12. Confirmed Google Maps

    Awesome, stuffs are friendly, and helpfull. Everybody was down to earth and ready to help. The CAT was the best. I woke up in the morning and had my breakfast and the cat came. I gave him a lil bit but he denied, like "come on dude, its not cat food". One other thing, those who wants air conditioned, breakfast in the bed type service, come on dude, u r in hostel, not in a 7 star hotel.... As a hostel, this one is one of the bests. Try to get 8 or 10 bed dorm so that u can access the belcony. And put a fan in the belcony. Its gonna bring the cool air inside the room. Most importantly, NO BED BUGS!!! Thanks guys, u r awesome

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Vibe Analysis

Ottawa Backpackers Inn is a very central, budget-first base near ByWard Market, downtown food, shops, transit, and sightseeing. The best case here is practical: a walkable Ottawa location, friendly staff at times, shared kitchen space, laundry, and common areas with couches, books, and games. The building feels old and worn rather than polished. Beds can be creaky, mattresses and pillows may be thin, and rooms can run hot, stuffy, noisy, or dark. Private rooms are not necessarily a comfort upgrade; basement rooms and tiny rooms may feel cramped, humid, or poorly ventilated. This is not a clean, quiet, predictable hostel. Noise from common areas, doors, street activity, roommates, staff, and late-night partying can carry hard through the building. The social side can exist, but it can also feel dominated by on-site workers or messy common-space dynamics. Book this only if the central location and low price matter more than comfort, sleep, and smooth operations. It may suit a short, flexible stopover better than a restful Ottawa stay.

Signals to check

  • Cleanliness is a serious risk across rooms, common areas, bedding, carpets, and bathrooms. 3 mentions Last mentioned Apr 28, 2026
  • Bugs, including cockroaches and possible bed-bug bites, have been a recurring problem. 3 mentions Last mentioned Nov 8, 2025
  • Noise can last very late, and the old building carries sound through rooms and dorms. 3 mentions Last mentioned Apr 28, 2026
  • Beds, pillows, sheets, blankets, lockers, plugs, hot water, fans, and room ventilation may be unreliable. 3 mentions Last mentioned Apr 28, 2026
  • The surrounding area can feel unsafe at night, especially around nearby street activity. 3 mentions Last mentioned Apr 28, 2026
  • Check-in, ID rules, gender-room handling, refunds, and reception communication can be frustrating or inconsistent. 3 mentions Last mentioned Mar 15, 2026
  • Shared kitchen space may be small and difficult to use when staff or long-term occupants take over. 3 mentions Last mentioned Oct 10, 2025
Book here: Hostelworld from ≈$21 Booking.com HW prices from today

Tags

Facilities

🍳 COOKER 👕 Laundry 🅿️ Parking 🅿️ Paid Parking 🔥 BBQ 🌅 Outdoor Terrace
Other facilities (27)
Bicycle Parking Luggage Storage Reception (Limited Hours) Internet Access Book Exchange DVD's Board Games Cable TV Wi-Fi Linen Included Reading Light Hair Dryers Towels Not Included Towels For Hire Late Check-out Paid Luggage Storage Security Lockers CCTV in Common Areas Fire Extinguishers Smoke Alarms Smoke Detector Common Room Tea & Coffee Making Facilities Free City Maps Free WiFi Free Internet Access Hot Showers

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