Ocean Island Inn Backpackers Suites

Like any good hostel, it has a welcoming atmosphere and feeling of community. My room was clean and cozy, and kind of smelled a little bit like a nicely scented candle…? As someone who was visiting on foot, it was a great location within walking distance of the ferry terminal, restaurants, and the venue I went to see a show at. Awesome that they include a complimentary meal and drink as well!

Quite good for the price, with major caveats. Be aware that any last-minute booking is likely to be a top bunk in a shared dorm. This is really more of a hostel than a hotel, although I have previously stayed in a private room here, which was exceedingly small and did not come with a private shower or toilet. I had no issues with cleanliness on either stay. The clientele is cosmopolitan -- I noticed Germans, Irish and French-Canadian in my short one-night stay. There are many homeless people outside and nearby, and not all of them are your friend, and some of them are noisy. I did see a mouse come out of the kitchen into the dining area. The staff member I alerted pretty much said "what are you going to do? We have traps out." Not sure what a good reaction would have looked like, but that wasn't quite it. Something to keep in mind if you are planning a longer stay that involves storing food. There are fridges, and on the whole the kitchen seemed quite clean, with most dishes getting washed by the people that used them, and somebody apparently staying on top of the ones that weren't. The free breakfast was better than many hotels provide, about 80th percentile, including orange juice, eggs, toast and waffles with butter and jam.

For the price I was thoroughly impressed.

The service was great and the staff were very patient/helpful as I lost my voice during my 5 day trip.

Pros

*The private suite with the tub is very roomy
*A quick walk to most activities
*Free breakfast, dinner and booze! Some beverages cost but very affordable.
*Large kitchen with space to cook
*Additional storage space
*Very secure

Cons

*The bed is a bit older with a small dip.
*I found the room to be cold and the blankets were thinner.
*The fridge hits the bed when opening so its a bit akward.
*The hot water doesn't seem to last more than ten minutes. If you like steamy showers - make it quick
*Room has closet but bring your own hangers

This is an awesome place. A real gift to Victoria. Great location. Rooms are clean and minimalist. The sound doesn’t really carry so even though there’s a lot of people you aren’t too bothered by noise. I love the old heritage wood floors. My room had a small fridge and good lighting, comfy bed and clean sheets. There’s a shared kitchen so you can save money by cooking your own meals. For $65 including breakfast and dinner, I really don’t know how anyone could complain about this place!! Some people are really so ungrateful.

Okay, this place gets very mixed reviews and I wanted to leave my opinion on what to expect.
First off this hostel was alright, there was a bed and I felt secure in my dorm room. There were privacy curtains and good lockers. The sheets were clean enough even though I didn't actually use them. The entire place felt pretty unclean but nothing to make me run for the hills. There was a mouse running around the dining area after dinner and the people who worked there were talking about it saying it's been running around for a while, so note they know it's there and decide to do nothing. Which is pretty disgusting and definitely made me think twice about everywhere I sat.
The bathrooms were private and they had quiet a few on each floor. They didn't feel like they have been cleaned in a while. It was enough for what I had to do but i was in and out quickly.
They had free breakfast and dinner which was pretty good, free drink at the bar every night as well was a nice touch.
The people working here were nice and helpful as well.
I would stay here again if I needed a cheap place to stay cause everywhere in Victoria is pretty expensive and with the free food it made it worth it. But if you have some extra cash definitely try looking for an airbnb or something if what I said makes you uncomfortable. Here you get what you pay for.