Every trip has its highs and lows, and sometimes, where you stay can make all the difference. During my recent visit to Montreal, I chose Samesun Montreal Central – a hostel that promised a friendly atmosphere and great location. While it delivered on a few of those things, other aspects of the stay left me wishing I’d gone a different route. This is my honest review of the experience: the good, the not-so-good, and what I learned for next time.
Location
Perfectly positioned less than five minutes from Berri-UQAM metro and a twenty-minute stroll from Old Port, Samesun Montreal Central makes getting around the city simple. The neighborhood itself has a few dining options, but the metro puts all of Montreal’s best eats and attractions within easy reach.
Rooms
One thing I appreciated about Samesun Montreal Central was the range of room options – from private rooms to mixed and female-only dorms, there’s something for every type of traveller. Each room has its own ensuite, which means no wandering down hallways in the middle of the night – a small but welcome comfort.
My Room - Single Bed in Female 8 Bed Dorm
I spent five nights at Samesun Montreal Central, and while it wasn’t a terrible stay, it definitely didn’t meet expectations. I arrived around 2 a.m, and although check-in was smooth, I was surprised to find my bed unmade. I’ve come to learn that can be normal in hostels, but it made for an awkward and tiring start as I tried to quietly make the bed while everyone else slept.
I had a bottom bunk with curtains on one side and the end, but one corner – facing the bathrooms – was completely open. Every time someone went in, the light beamed right at me, and I never felt totally comfortable with people being able to see in. Thankfully I have an amazing sleep mask that blocked out all the light, but it still just made the experience uncomfortable. To make things worse, the person above me – a different one each time – managed to drop their charger three times, hitting me on the head every single time (once while I was asleep). And not just a little phone plug – I’m talking about those heavy universal travel adaptors. The staff didn’t offer any real fix for it.
There’s also no real luggage storage in the room, just small lockers for personal items (bring your own lock).
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Facilities
Breakfast
Breakfast was included with the stay and offered a decent selection – cereals, toast, bagels, waffles, and fruit. It’s a simple but satisfying way to start the day.
Common Area
The hostel has a spacious common area, usually with enough seating for everyone at breakfast. Outside of that time, though, it never felt particularly busy or social.
Kitchen
The kitchen is quite small but functional. Oddly, there was no kettle or jug for boiling water – something I really needed during my stay – so it was back to basics with a pot on the stove.
Bathroom
Each room, including dorms, has its own ensuite bathroom, with dorms typically having two. They’re fairly standard and clean, but there are no hand towels, paper towels, or hand dryers provided.
Bar
The check-in area doubles as both the breakfast room and the bar, which serves a range of drinks in the evening, including happy hour specials.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is included and easy to connect to. I had no issues with the connection during my stay.
Safety
Access to the hostel is controlled by key card, or you can press a buzzer for the front desk to unlock the door. The entrance remains locked 24/7, which adds a sense of security.
Luggage Storage
Luggage storage is available near the common area for guests arriving early or departing late – a helpful touch for anyone with odd flight or bus times.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, I left a bit disappointed with my stay at Samesun Montreal Central. In terms of comfort, it just wasn’t there, and I didn’t feel much care or attention from the team toward guest experience. If my bunk had an extra curtain for privacy – and if I hadn’t spent nights worrying about stray chargers falling from above – this review could have been very different.
Overall, I’d rate my experience a 5/10.
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