Lets start off by letting you know I am a former hostel owner and have stayed in over 100+ having worked in the backpacker industry for many years. This hostel was great on many levels, the only downside for me was the fact that they allow many guests from the oil fields to use it as layover accommodation so the atmosphere is not really one of an international flavour.

Having said that the staff were terrific, the building was modern and very comfortable and the rooms clean with lots of individual storage space. You could not ask for a better location on Whyte Ave. and while the hostel is a little expensive it certainly has many plus sides. I would definitely recommend this hostel, except to intrepid travellers looking to meet fellow like minded backpackers

I came to this hostel because I was bringing a group, and I saw that the boy scouts and girl guides stayed here. Unfortunately, they must have come at a different time, or would never stay here again. The common room was filled with drunks from seven oclock onward. Rowdy, completely out of it, drunks. If they were in a bar, they would be denied service and thrown out. Not at the hostel though! Don't worry, you'll get to go to sleep with wandering men so drunk they can barely stand. You'll wake up to old men so out of it the can barely stand. Good times. It's gross here. I wish I never came.

We did not enjoy our stay at this hostel, but it was due to the other guests rather than the hostel itself – it might have been because it was off season (January), so that's worth considering. Most other guests staying there were workers who were clearly looking for cheap accommodation. They did not care about their surroundings, nor about other people's things. This meant that the kitchen was only clean for about half an hour after the cleaners had been in and our food was turned upside down and moved around in the fridge.

The bathrooms were fine and although the bedroom was quite small (we had a private double, shared bathroom) it was clean and had enough space for bags. The bedroom walls were quite thin and the heating was so high that it was necessary to keep the window open meaning you could hear people in other rooms. The wifi was only accessible in the lounge area near reception and even then it wasn't a great signal.

The positives were the location, the hostel staff were lovely and really helpful, there were transport explanations and a weekly activities suggestion board.

This hostel should be great, and I hope the owners come to realise that an HI is meant to be a travellers home on the road, not a pit stop for workers in need of cheap accommodation.

The hi-edmonton is a good place to stay. Close to the old town, close to public transport and safeway nearby.

What is good? It's very clean, lots of tourist information available, great kitchen and cooking area, laundry service, pool table/table tennis downstairs, internet corner, direct taxi line and wifi (but not so fast).

Not so good: slow wifi and not available on the rooms, no double bed in the private room (high sleeper), they did not show us arond upn arrival (=service) and the boys/girls bathrooms are on different levels. Can be quite noisy during the night (better action night guard?).

Price and locating are good, so for us a good place to stay.