105 1/2 Pike St, Seattle, Washington, United States | (618) 248-8274
Great
downtown location, a three-minute walk from Pike Place Market
Clean
dorm rooms and shared individual bathrooms
Each
bunk has a privacy curtain, lamp, fan, outlet, and storage
Free
breakfast daily and free dinner three nights a week
Free
Wi-Fi and access to computers and printers
Communal
kitchen, common room, game room, coin-operated laundry
Staff-led walking tours, city tours, pub crawls (for a fee)
Free
luggage storage
Bicycle
rentals available
No
lockout or curfews
No
air-conditioning
Towels and the safe deposit box cost extra
Some
of the rooms are cramped; most have shared bathrooms
Noise issues from guests arriving late and leaving early
The Green Tortoise Hostel is a budget option for travelers who don't
mind sharing rooms and facilities in a historic building in downtown Seattle, three minutes from Pike Place Market. There are 30 co-ed and women-only
dorm rooms, with a configuration of bunk beds, as well as a few
private rooms with attached bathrooms. Fun freebies promote a communal vibe: Breakfast is daily and a free
dinner is served three nights a week. Other handy amenities include a communal kitchen, a game room, bicycle rental, and staff-led events. There
is no curfew, so it can be a challenge to get a good night's sleep in
shared dorms. Budget extra cash for towels and access to a safe deposit box. As an alternative, Hotel Hotel Hostel has similar
facilities at cheaper rates and a trendy industrial-chic look.
Scene
Historic building with no-frill interior
The
Green Tortoise Hostel is located in a historic building -- the
restored Elliot Hotel, also known as the Hahn Building --
which dates back to 1908. The hostel is on a busy street, close to all the
action of downtown Seattle, and its entrance looks like a shopfront.
Once inside, the public areas of the hostels are clean and neat, but
not decorated with aesthetics in mind. The front desk and public
areas are tidy and clean, but the walls are busy with pamphlets,
notices, maps, and posters. A string of small international flags hangs around the perimeter. Not surprisingly, most guests staying
here are young people looking for a cheap bed for one or two nights,
and most are solo travelers or couples. There isn't a crazy party vibe, but since there's no curfew, guests come and go at all hours. Earplugs are available at the front desk.
Location
In downtown Seattle next to Pike Place Market
The
Green Tortoise Hostel is located in downtown Seattle at First Avenue
and Pike Street, across from Pike Place Market, a city
landmark. Many attractions are within easy walking distance, and
there are lots of cafes, shops, and restaurants in the immediate
neighborhood. Like on most streets in downtown Seattle, there's a visible homeless population here. - Three-minutewalk to Pike Place Market
Rooms
Clean but utilitarian dorm rooms
The
dorm rooms at The Green Tortoise Hostel are clean and utilitarian,
without much effort put into decoration or sense of place. The dorms are either
co-ed or women-only, with eight- six- or four-bed rooms available.
The rooms vary in size, and some aren't cramped. Each top and bottom bunk bed has a curtain for
privacy, power outlet, reading light, fan, and a large storage locker
underneath the bed. All the rooms also have in-room sinks, and
sometimes desks. There are several shared bathrooms on each floor.
They're clean and modern, and have individual walk-in shower cabins,
a sink, and toilet. Towels cost extra, but sheets are included with the room price. Free Wi-Fi is available in all the rooms. Private rooms have attached bathrooms and a few family rooms are available.
Features
Free breakfast daily, free dinner three times a week, and a communal kitchen
Features at Green Tortoise cater to young travelers on a budget. A
free breakfast is available each morningk which includes make-your-own
eggs and pancakes, as well as bread, jam, peanut butter, fruit, and
steamed rice. A free dinner is also served three evenings a week,
with an option for vegans. Guests are free to use the communal kitchen, which is stocked with refrigerators, a stove, and crockery. Vending machines sell snacks and useful
items like laundry detergent. There's a large common room with cable
TV, tables and chairs, and comfortable chairs and sofas, as well as a
game room. Events and activities are scheduled regularly, like pub
crawls and guided visits to popular local attractions. Other useful
amenities include a coin-operated laundry, ATM, indoor bicycle
storage and rentals, and free earplugs. Free
Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel.