The Avenues Hostel

Worst hostel I’ve ever stayed at. A total dump. The staff isn’t friendly and would disappear for hours at a time. Added fees for everything. Stay anywhere else.

I really want to do this hostel justice because the staff there is very friendly. So I think I’ll do a pro/​con list and you can decide if this hostel would work for you. I’ve been an avid hostel user for 20 years, so I’m not hugely picky, but there are some things you should know.
PROS:
Bus 209 is the best bus to and from Downtown (Salt Palace area). It’s also very walkable (a mile). The area is Safe at night; it’s one of the most affluent areas in SLC. The hostel recommends bus 3, but the service isn’t as frequent (and ends early).
The location is great. The two men I met who work there are very nice. It was very quiet as well (not that it matters to me; I always pack ear plugs).
Cons:
You have to give them a $ 20 key/​damage deposit when you get there. This is very funny because it’s pretty darn shabby to begin with. My room was fine — clean sheets, but no blanket, no towel, which is usually provided when sheets are provided at other hostels. I’m not going to lie; I wouldn’t take a shower there. There was also a creepy taped sticky note on the back of the bathroom door above a bleached orange/​pink towel indicating it was to be used for the upstairs shower only. Yikes. A shared towel? Really? You definitely would want sandals to take a shower there. The whole place is just dingy and falling apart. I moved a roller chair in my room and the desk front fell off; it had been scotch taped on. Sort of funny, sort of not. There was one bathroom/​shower upstairs for at least 4 rooms. Downstairs, there is a small bank of gym-​type half lockers. Narrow. Bring your own lock. The keys take some jiggling to unlock the room door (at least it did on mine).
This hostel is screaming for a makeover; it has so much potential. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will be realizing it any time soon.

You may want to avoid this place if you are not a seasoned traveler. After i came back from my ski outing my roommate from germany told me all his cash had been removed from his wallet. The only time he could pinpoint was when he went to use the bathroom and left his wallet behind another man had been rooming with us but had come in very late he had immediately checked out. Okay things like this happen, but the owner gave him a lecture about securing his valuables and did not let the police know. I then went and asked the night attendant about contacting the police she gave me bogus numbers i had to google the after hours branch and got a policemen who came over and took notes. Unfortunately this is well past eight hours so the suspect is long gone. Today i asked a question whether she had helped the police and her curt response was NO! I have a feeling that pros stay here looking for opportunities

The hostel is well-​located, the staff is very friendly and helpful, the rooms look clean and are spacious, got TV and payTV too afaik (didnt use), it’s quiet even on daytime. You got free wifi here, they order a cab for you if needed.
But there are some things which surprised me: on the rooms, you got a key which seems decades old (works only with patience), the toilets, tough claim to be clean, have curtains instead of doors! The accommodation seems quite old and not well maintained, for laundry, you gotta go to the basement with a ceiling of like 5.5ft! (at least dryer is included in the 2.50 fee) and there is only one machine to use. You have to pay extra for towel, storage, extra blankets and in case you pay the nights by credit card, a one dollar fee appears out of nothing.
I came from Yellowstone and just get myself rearranged here for a night so i am ok with the price, but if you consider to stay longer, you may choose better than avenue hostel…
I’m not sure if i choose Ace Hostel again…

Very clean accommodations. Friendly and helpful staff! And best of all I left a small bag in the room and they mailed it to me promptly with no hassle. Definitely would stay at Avenues Hostel again!

Creepy, not clean, and unfriendly staff. Overall, revolting. Also not very well located. Don’t stay here!

My nephew and I stayed here for a ski trip. We got our own room with bunk beds, shower and toilet and it was $ 25 a night. The place was clean, safe, and definitely worth the budget price. In the mornings you can make your own eggs and toast that are provided. The room also came with a small fridge so you could stash some sodas or beer.
Three computers are available for internet access or use the free wi-​fi if you have your own laptop. Our room also had a small flat screen with DirectTV with Gol TV (soccer) as part of the package.
Since Sundance was going on and a lot of things were booked or close to $ 200 a night, we were pleasantly surprised.
We were there for a weekend of snowboarding and all we wanted was someplace clean to crash and we ended up finding something great.

great location near downtown, quiet and cozy and 20 $ was not unreasonable. no complaints at all.

While covering the Sundance Film Festival and trying to make arrangements with friends with whom to stay with for a week in SLC, I kept on going back to this hostel over and over.
First, of course, the prices are better than a hotel, as cheap as $ 15 for communal rooms (with various beds, 4 – 8), to $ 25 fro semi-​private rooms (you only share bathroom), to $ 35 for private rooms (w/​private bathroom) – and you can get better prices if you share the room with a friend in the last to categories.
Second, the place is very clean, well kept-​up.
Third, the neighborhood looks good and safe.
Fourth, is not far from downtown and its public transportation hub.
And five, the manager/​owner –and his staff – are very kind and very accommodating.
Fifth, it has various computers with free Internet – which are available 24 – 7 in the lobby.
Of course, customers vary but I did not have any complaint about the few people I met or ran into. Several seemed like me, visitors who were professionals or tourists trying to save a buck or two.
I ended up staying here for a week and it was worth it. I highly recommended.
Good luck in your stay and have a wonderful trip!