Squilax General Store and Hostel

Blair and staff were awesome. Laid back, access to the lake and quiet atmosphere. Pancakes were great!

We've stayed at this hostel a few times now and every time it is relaxing and beautiful. Really can't beat the price AND the lakeside location, plus sleeping in old train cars is the coolest. For a small amount extra, you can even get a lovely homemade pancake breakfast in the morning. As well, you can take a canoe out onto the lake or even dip yourself in on a hot day. A really cool place to try out if you're passing through the area.

A little shabby and rough around the edges, but totally awesome. We stayed here in July 2013 and loved it.

The quirky dorms are the main draw; they're converted old Canadian National rail cars. The hostel is also in a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Shuswap, and makes a convenient halfway stop if you're travelling between Banff and Vancouver.

As well as the train carriage dorms, there are private rooms in the main house. We pitched our tent in the garden for $12 per person.

Breakfast is $5 per person for all-you-can-eat pancakes and coffee. The pancakes are home-made and totally delicious - we had banana and blueberry the day we were there.

There's a wharf out back that's lovely on summer evenings. You can also borrow canoes, a bike or hiking equipment. There's free firewood, and they'll put your laundry through the machine for 50 cents.

Don't come here if you don't like being near animals! There are two llamas, a couple of cats and a huge, gentle dog called Samson.

The owner still keeps the original Squilax General Store open. Vegans will like the falafel mix and dried houmous packets.

If you've been on the road awhile, this is the kind of place you can stay a few days and relax. It has an old-school, hippy-edged hostelling vibe that I found a nice change from the big city industrial-scale places. Give it a try.