Our stay at the Samesun in Kelowna was a very brief visit but it was great fun. The hostel has a very lively party atmosphere and the staff are great fun. We arrived late in the afternoon and had a quick freshen up before heading to an early evening boat party on the lake. A lot of the staff and a few other guests from the hostel joined us. It was a great activity to have on our first day of the tour as it allowed us all to interact and get to know each other! The boat was really fun and there was an empty hot tub which we all ended up sitting in! After the boat party we had a little walk through the town (to find a liquor store) and then headed back to the hostel for dinner which was included in our stay. The dinner was really yummy and we had Salmon, Chicken or veggie options to choose from, all served with veg and potatoes. it was delicious! We sat out in the garden to eat dinner and there was a really social atmosphere with lots of guests drinking, talking and playing guitars. We stayed up chatting but decided we didn't really fancy a night out, although the staff did try to persuade us and they still ventured out to karaoke night!
The hostel was clean and comfortable and the dorms were nice and roomy with lots of space for luggage and locker space for each guest. We also had breakfast included in the stay which included fruit, toast and 'make your own' pancakes. The hostel also had free wifi.
HI Banff Alpine Centre (11th, 13th &14th April)
During the tour I stayed at the HI in Banff on 2 separate occasions. The first stay was in a dorm room and the second was in a private room. The hostel is a really clean and comfortable place which has a real ski lodge/wooden cabin feel to it. There is a fire place with comfy couches in the lobby area which instantly makes the place feel homely and welcoming. There is also a cafe where you can buy a yummy breakfast before a day on the slopes! I tried the eggs & bacon with hash brown and toast and it was delicious! The staff at the hostel are really friendly and helpful and will help you out if you want to organize any day trips or get involved with events and activities. There is also a bar which not only has cheap drink offers like their 'happy rum' for $2.75, but they also host daily events such as karaoke and gigs. The kitchen is huge and has an enormous walk in fridge along with all the cooking equipment you will need. The hostel is located slightly out of town, however they give you a free bus pass during your stay and the bus picks up and drops off just outside the hostel and will only take a few minutes to get down to the main town area.
Both the dorm room and the private room were lovely and comfortable. The dorm had individual reading lamps for each bed and lockers within the room. The private room had a double bed, a chest of draws and a full length mirror. Washrooms were communal for both rooms and were clean and well kept. The hostel offered free wifi.
The HI in Athabasca Falls is an awesome little hostel in a remote location, it really is a log cabin in the middle of a Canadian forest! This hostel is a wilderness hostel so it is very basic but comfortable and fun! There is no running water, no showers and no flushing toilets, so be prepared to rough it during your stay! There is purified drinking water supplied, a refrigerator and a kitchen with cooking equipment, but don't expect to hook up to the internet or head out to a local bar! Stop off at a liquor store on the way for some beer, grab some food for cooking, and don't forget the essentials - S'mores ingredients!!!
This hostel is a great way to escape from it all, sit round a log fire with your friends and toast marshmallows! There are plenty of hiking trails close by and you can also get involved with seasonal activities like skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking. We all really enjoyed our stay at the cosy HI Athabasca Falls hostel!
Samesun Banff (15th-19th April)
Party Party Party - That's what sums up the Samesun Banff hostel! This hostel is awesome with an amazing social atmosphere! If you are looking to meet people and be in the centre of town, then this is the place to be. The Beaver bar is crammed full every night and offers cheap drinks and live entertainment. They also serve delicious and affordable food and they have a daily special for around $6. During my stay at the hostel I met so many people and the staff were really friendly and up for getting involved with nights out. The dorms were really comfortable, spacious and clean and we even had our own washroom complete with a jacuzzi bath tub! Breakfast was free and included toast, fruit, oatmeal, pancakes, juice, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. There is a small kitchen where you can cook your own food and the wifi is free to use. The staff at this hostel were really friendly and welcoming and were always willing to give advise and tips about hiking trails, skiing and nightlife. The hostel is located on Banff Avenue, right in the heart of the town and is walking distance from all the main shops, bars, restaurants and clubs.
The Copper Island Inn is a very basic hostel/guest house, however clean and comfortable and we had a yummy dinner included in our stay. The hostel was walking distance to Shuswap lake and is located above the local pub, so very close to the bar if you want an evening drink or a bite to eat. Tea and coffee was supplied and there was a common room with comfy sofas to relax in. There was free wifi and the hostel even has a resident cat to cosy up with! We were supplied with a basic breakfast of cereal, tea and coffee.
