Washington International Student Center

"A good hostel for the price. Rooms are stuffed with bunks but, according to staff, there is no locker space available so one must keep one’s effects on one’s bed. There is bag storage, according to staff, but it’s putting your bag down in the common room with no security. Staff are work exchange volunteers, working one day a week and living onsite, which makes for an occasional lapse in communication. The constant hum of window air conditioners does not alleviate the heat in summertime. There is a slight shortage of showers, with 34 beds served apparently by only three single-stall bathrooms. The kitchen is equipped and comfortable, if a tad prone to grime, and I found the continental of coffee, tea, and toast quite pleasant."

"I really enjoyed my stay at the student centre. First and foremost the staff were so friendly and professional Max the manager welcomed me in and showed me around the place. Logan was always happy to answer questions and give directions. Brian and Racheal were very accommodating and friendly finally nurul had a great sense of humor. The hostel it self carried A unique atmosphere with A mixture of long stay students and short term traveller's allowing people to easily make friends and have a pleasant time as far as the facilities go the kitchen is kitted with an oven and hob and the lounge area Is a good place to chill out and share stories with others. The beds are relatively comfortable and you can get a good rest overall this place punches above its weight and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay."

"This is my go to spot when I am in DC for a night or two; why spend 200+ for a room when I can grab a bunk in one of the best neighborhoods in DC for less than I normally spend on lunch? Luxury it is not but it IS safe, clean, and fun. Steve and his staff are laid back and friendly and have always been very accommodating to me. The dorm rooms have AC, kitchen is decent sized, wifi is free, and the location is phenomenal. As a married woman in her 40s I feel completely safe staying here and always have delightful conversations with guests from all over the world. So if you prefer your buildings with a little bit of history, your neighborhoods with little bit of color and life and your wallet with a lot of savings then this is the spot in DC."

"The ambiance of this hostel was simply enchanting. It's a place that transcends the typical lodging experience, genuine connections formed with staff and travelers created a true sense of community!!! The room was clean and the location is perfect to visit around! As a solo traveler, I recommend this place"

"I visisted this hostel as a tourist and found it decent. The best part of it, alongside its low price, is that it is very well located - various locations walkable and others easily accessible through public transport. The surrounding area is also very lively with good restaurants, various bars and similar, I wish I had had the energy and the funds to check out a few more of the bars myself but its a good location if you're after a drink or two. I stayed in a 6 bed female dorm. The bed was comfortable enough but there were various minor issues like blinds that didn't fully close so I woke up a little early each day and limited storage space (there are no cupboards or wardrobes or anything so it's under the bed or limited floor space - fine if the room isn't full or everyone has 1 neat suitcase each but if not it becomes cramped quickly). There was an air conditioner window unit which was very much needed in the warm weather and did work. The common room was small but does the job, its not a particularly social hostel so this wasn't an issue. There are four bathrooms for all guests so you do have to wait your turn occasionally but I didn't have any particularly extended waits. The shower is good in turns of temperature and water pressure but the bathroom nearest my room had fairly extensive mould on the ceiling and I saw a number of cockroaches in there on one occasion. Unfortunately that was my biggest issue, there were several cockroaches in the kitchen as well which I saw regularly - admittedly they were small ones but that clearly needs resolving. I also saw a mouse run across the kitchen at one point. This is likely because the kitchen in general was not kept very clean. There seemed to be a certain expectation of guests/residents to take care of it which is fair enough, I agree that people should be washing their dishes, but there was still clearly a level of cleaning/hygiene oversight lacking. I didn't use the kitchen for any more than the provided breakfast each day as i was only visiting for a brief while but had I actually been intending to cook while there I'm not sure I would have been happy to once I arrived. Overall I was not unhappy with my stay but I would probably pick a different place if I visit again."