Kelowna Okanagan Lake Hostel

I booked this room as a last resort when nothing else was available. It is important to know what you are getting yourself into. This is a very old building. The operator is an eccentric and really funny lady who was very pleasant to us, contrary to the reviews I have read. While I find it very important to support small independent businesses, it is also important to know a few details about the facility. 1) The building is extremely old. I am VERY concerned about the safety of the building as it is in poor repair. The basement where my room was located had very small windows, not in line with fire codes. 2) The photos of the rooms on various booking sites do not accurately depict the space. 3) The people that stay at this location really contribute to the situation by not respecting the property- there is damage caused by inconsiderate guests. 4) Linens are very old and stained. The operator was kind enough to replace some urine and blood stained sheets in our room, claiming it was from a rusted out wash machine. I understand things are expensive, but proper laundering facilities are required when you operate a hostel or hotel. If booking here, I suggest bringing your own linens. 5) The washroom facilities are (I hate to say it) absolutely disgusting. The showers are exceptionally small and water spills all over the main washroom area. As a result, guests are expected to mop up after themselves. Toilet areas have old doors with gaps, rust is to be seen everywhere. The urinal faces the kitchen and the door is left open. There is no privacy here. The location of this hostel is great as it is very close to amenities. Overall, I think if you know what you are booking, it is fine. As a person who has never stayed in a hostel though , I found it pretty bad. I wanted so desperately to praise the operators for their facility as the Lady that runs it is lovely, however, the place needs a lot of work. My travel buddy worked in various hostels in Europe and referred to the condition of this place as a "budget prison cell". Again, love the idea of supporting small business. Wish I could compliment them on something. Sadly, this is the worst facility I have ever stayed at due to cleanliness and condition.