Capitol City Hostel, Washington

Capitol city Hostel - Budget accommodation in DC with great service and extras. Good value for the price you pay. SERVICE I had to change my reservations twice because my travel plans changed, but the hostel staff were very good about it (a.k.a. they didn't charge my credit card for the cancelled days). I was blissfully unplanned, didn’t even have a printout of the city when I arrived and the (manager?) Craig was wonderful, he gave me a lot of (free) maps and suggestions to spend my time in DC. CLEANLINESS I am not picky, and I can say that the whole place was clean, as the basic definition of the word goes. For 18$ a day, you get clean sheets, wide bunk bed, free hot showers and best of all, free unlimited internet. LOCATION Okay, frankly, I was creeped out. I’m an Asian woman in my mid-20s, and I think it’s not very wise for single woman to stay in this neighborhood (could be compared to Bronx). There’s a budget Chinese fast food place right next to the hostel and I saw a lot of rough looking characters hanging out, though they gave me no trouble, it could be nerve-wracking for a traveler with limited world knowledge (and I am that!) The X2 bus stops right across the hostel, so I guess if you return to the hostel by 10 pm, it’s good. Otherwise, PLEASE get a cab! VALUE I found about this hostel on the net, at 18$ a bed it's a steal. It's not big and it's not like a hostel either, it's more like a residence converted into a hostel. If you’re a student or a starving artist or just looking for a bed to crash, this is a very good place to stay. BOTTOMLINE If you’re a seasoned traveler or a part of a group, if you’re just looking for a clean bed to crash, then this hostel would be the cheapest option in DC. But if you’re not, if you want to return back at the wee hours, or if you want a vibrant location with lot of attractions, then you better look elsewhere. EXTRA TIPS It was my first day in DC so I was quite lost in Union Station... nobody seemed to know where H street was or where X2 bus stopped inside the station. After 45 minutes of struggling, I gave up and caught a cab to the hostel. The ride cost 11$, not including tips. I did say that the location was shady, but still, nobody bothered me, only *I* was creeped out. I was more PESTERED – directly - by homeless people at the Union Station. Washington is a beautiful city, but is quite unfriendly and slightly menacing – at least for the solitary traveler. My advice – NEVER talk to a homeless person or an over-friendly person at the public spaces. Get a map, memorize it, it will REALLY help you save a lot of money. Spend a day sieving the net or reading from a guidebook about transportation and landmarks in DC, plan ahead about how you’re going to spend your time, and you should be fine.