For our end of August getaway we decided to take a short ferry trip across the islands starting on the Sunshine Coast. Although I've been keeping my Twitter lit up with where I've been, I thought I'd take a little more time to tell you about this great place to stay called the Powell River harbour Guesthouse and Hostel.
Located in the heart of Powell River, near the ferry terminal to Comox (our next stop), and attached to the local Thai Restaurant (Thaidal Wave) this hostel is actually better than I had expected. When you think of hostels, you really lower your expectations. But based on the cleanliness, it really does seem more like a hotel in this respect. Where the Hostel aspect comes into play is with the amenities.
You have a common kitchen and dining area and a fridge/freeze. There is even a sitting area with hanging chairs, a breakfast nook (complete with a guitar if you want to jam out some tunes) and lounge/TV area where you can also find a computer if you need one. All of these areas where clean, tidy, and really made you feel at home. Towels are available if you are travelling light, there are two bathrooms (one with a tub), which are as clean and well kept as the rest of the property.
If you choose not to cook here, the Thai Restaurant just out front has some of the best Thai cuisine I've had in a while. There's also a couple of greasy spoons within walking distance but I didn't visit either one so can't comment on them. But the area looks to be very safe and friendly so do go out and explore a bit.
The rooms were also clean and well laid out to sleep at least four people per room. It was actually cleaner than some hotels I've been to that charge three times the price. A family of four or five could comfortably fit into this room. There are two sets of bunk beds.
A shelving unit and a corner desk with chair fill out the rest of the furnishings. The lack of room furnishings isn't really a big deal consider all the space in the common areas. The great view on the patio (perfect for the Summer) or the nice sitting areas in the rest of the common area will probably keep you out of your room anyway.
Private rooms are available for $55 a night and covers two people (kids are free) while singles are only $24 a night. There is WiFi available but if you don't have your own computer, you can use theirs for a fee (which I think is $0.20 a half hour or something). I didn't ask because I never travel without something Internet enabled. You can also rent out the entire place (which sleeps up to 24 people) from $350 - 450 per night. There is also plenty of parking in the area but make sure you find out from the front desk where these parking areas are because you can't park behind or directly beside the building. But at least it's free.
Overall, you can't ask for a better deal in Powell River. I'll definitely stay here again with my family. You can find more information about Powell River Harbour Guest House and Hostel on their website. Unfortunately, there is no Twitter or Facebook. I think the owner here is a bit old skool but he seems nice and was pretty helpful.
