Michie Hostel

I recently stayed at Michie Hostel in Providence and had a mixed experience that, unfortunately, leaned more negative than positive. On arrival, the first thing I noticed was the extremely loud music coming from outside—it could be heard several blocks away. Thankfully, once inside the hostel, the soundproofing was surprisingly effective, and most outside noise was well mitigated. Although the booking instructions stated there would be no host on-site, I was greeted by someone who introduced herself as the host. To her credit, she was warm and welcoming, gave me a quick tour of the space, and generously helped me connect my CPAP machine to the upper bunk—something I genuinely appreciated. It was also a nice touch that she made previously left-behind towels and bath products available for guests who might have forgotten essentials. There were a few other things I appreciated about the hostel: it's a non-smoking property, it offers same-sex dorms which can be more comfortable for some travelers, and it accommodates late check-ins, which made my arrival smooth despite the hour. Email customer service was also extremely responsive, which helped with a few pre-arrival questions. That said, there were several key issues. First, the listing did not mention that the sleeping arrangements included bunk beds—something that may matter to travelers with mobility or health considerations. The entry system relies entirely on a phone app, which I found glitchy and difficult to use at first. While I did eventually gain access, it was not a smooth start. Most frustratingly, the host—despite identifying as an experienced hosteler—came into the room at 1:30 AM and played movies out loud as a way to fall asleep. While I understand using media as a sleep aid (I do the same), it felt extremely inconsiderate in a shared dorm setting to do so without headphones. My multiple polite requests to lower the volume were ignored, and the movies played on until my alarms went off at 6:30 AM, making for a nearly sleepless night. In short, while the hostel has potential and some thoughtful features, the experience was ultimately disappointing due to poor communication, a lack of transparency in the listing, and inconsiderate behavior that significantly affected my ability to rest. I hope improvements are made for future guests.

A Charmingly Cheap Hostel My buddy and I came into Providence for a concert and needed a cheap place so we didn't have to drive back. Price: Our one room with a bunk bed cost us about $33 per person after tax. This is much cheaper than anything in the area as most hotels were around $100 for the night. Hostel Quality: The building's outside doesn't look good but the inside is nice and clean. Whoever restored the building's interior did well. There's a common area with kitchen and a large table as well as bathroom and shower room. Area: The immediate neighbor doesn't look the best but its fine as long as you mind your business. Locals and other reviewers say similar. The worst thing we experienced was a homeless man asking for a cigarette. Otherwise, the location is great as its a 15-20 minute walk from downtime Providence. We had no troubles on our drunken stumble back from the bar. Problems: I only had two problems. First, the morning we were to leave, the bathroom didn't have any toilet paper and since the local stores and restaurants don't have public bathrooms, my friend was forced to buy some. The second problem is that there is a bar directly below the hostel that played loud music until 1 am. I doubt this is a problem most nights but I could see this being a problem if its the weekend and you want to go to bed early. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap place for 1 or 2 nights, Michie Hostel is perfect. I would stay here again.

This is by far the worst place I have ever been at across Europe and the US. Please do yourself a favor and book literally anything else. ******* was also not the best at advertising the place online (photos do not match!) or providing support after the check in. The room is extremely dirty and smells very bad. Same with the common area and the shared bathroom weren’t cleaned probably in years. Area in unsafe and the front door of the apartment is open 24/7. You can hear other guests from your own room.