Apple Hostels of Philadelphia

The Living Areas

The hostel has two buildings. The main one has the reception, a living room with a pool table and piano, and a big modern kitchen. Someone's always working the front desk. I spent a lot of time at the pool table. You could jump into a game, have a beer, and end up talking to someone new. The kitchen had everything. Plenty of counter space and a huge fridge where you could store your food as long as you labeled it.

The second building, where I stayed, is across the alley. The first floor has a TV room that's on all the time. Good for zoning out in front of the TV or reading at one of the tables. There's a chess set in the corner that nobody touched while I was there.

The Dorm

I picked the 18-bed male dorm on the second floor. I sleep fine and I've stayed in hostels before, plus I spent some time in the army, so sharing a room with a bunch of people doesn't bother me. The setup was simple: 9 bunk beds. Each bed had power outlets and a reading lamp. The lights go on at 11 AM and off at 11 PM automatically. You can't control them yourself. I actually liked this rule. Nobody could stumble in at 3 AM and flip on all the lights. They gave me sheets and a pillowcase at check-in. Everything was clean and comfortable. I slept well all three nights and everyone in the room was respectful.

Storage

There are lockers outside the dorm. You can bring your own lock or buy one for $6. If you return it at checkout you get $3 back. I kept mine. My toddler found it when I got back to DC and loved playing with it, so the $6 was worth it just for that. The lockers are gym-sized, so a big backpack probably won't fit. Each one has a power outlet inside so you can charge your phone or laptop while you're out. I didn't use it but it's a nice idea.

Restrooms and Showers

The bathrooms and showers are on the same floor as the dorm and lockers. They're shared but they were always clean. The showers actually work well, much better than those awful "wave showers" I've dealt with at other hostels. Good water pressure. They have shampoo and body wash in wall-mounted dispensers. There are two more bathrooms on the first floor. One has a shower, so you can use that if you want more privacy. Everything was clean and well-maintained.

Activities

I did two of the hostel activities. First was the Thanksgiving potluck. When I checked in, the receptionist asked if I wanted to join and what I'd bring. I got some drinks and a chocolate cake. Dinner started at 8 PM and there was way more food than expected. People actually cooked real dishes. Lots of drinks and desserts too. I had some good conversations with other guests. The second thing was a ghost tour that started at 8:30 PM. It took about an hour. The guide took us to twelve different spots around the city and told ghost stories. It was freezing that night so I was glad when it ended. Cost $5 which is pretty cheap. Everyone got a free beer from the hostel afterward. I didn't take mine since I don't really drink anymore.

Conclusion

I liked the Apple Hostel a lot. $41 per night was worth it. For solo travel it's great because you can meet people without it feeling forced, and they organize activities so you don't have to figure everything out yourself. If you're into hostels and you're in Philadelphia, check out the Apple Hostel.