City House New Orleans Samesun

Cheap. Easy check-in. Organized. Lots of bathrooms.

Entrance is somewhat hidden beside a garage parking, and the hall before the elevator to the actual hostel was dirty and smelled of urine. First hostel in my life that did not accept to store our luggage for a few hours before check-in time. While breakfast was offered, it was limited to one bagel/waffle/pancake per guest.

Great location, really friendly staff, comfy bed. nice vibe of the public area. Well-equipped kitchen, and good price in downtown New Orleans area.

General cleanness of the bathroom, no big locker and just one fridge for a big hostel. No baggage storage if you planning to stay around the area after checkout.

We loved the location, just blocks from Bourbon St.! We loved that there was a parking garage in the same building. We love the common area, great way to meet people! We loved the friendly staff. We loved the affordable price!

We didn’t like finding the location with all of the city street closures. We didn’t like paying extra on New Years for parking.

Friendly helpful staff, keen to encourage social atmosphere even when the place is quiet. Very good and extensive kitchen facilities, lounge area etc. Everything clean, AC and heaters to cover all NOLA weathers. Generally a good vibe.

Very handy location but downstairs entrance area is pretty unwelcoming. The place could do with some updating and renovations just to give it a lift. The response to us leaving bags after checkout seemed to be very strict and serious, which seemed odd particularly for a hostel. These are fairly minor issues considering everything that is good with the place.

The employees who were "volunteers" were cool & friendly. The managers--the GM, Cinara Cobb, & the subordinate manager who was a young black female--were horrible. The lowest Google reviews where people have complained about how crazy the “Brazilian” or the “GM” is? They're talking about Cinara Cobb. She’s the “Brazilian” and the “GM.” She actually writes crazy responses to these reviews at times, & in business, this is just seen as crazy & unprofessional. I am convinced that the hostel managers & owner have the place bugged in the common areas where there are cameras. I was kicked out by Cinara b/c I was talking w/ other guests about a hurricane that was on track to the New Orleans area. I was downplaying the storm by telling the guests that we’d probably only get some wind & rain--but it wouldn’t be another Katrina. Cinara overheard me, & when I later passed her & the staff during a meeting they were having about the storm & asked a question about something (can't remember), she chose that time to tell me that she overheard me talking about the hurricane & didn't want me to continue to talk about it w/ guests anymore but to just let the staff talk about it w/ the guests instead. I was a little taken aback at first by this, and then I became angry b/c I was a guest & should be allowed to talk about anything I want to within reason. I wasn’t starting any drama by discussing the storm. I was downplaying its severity b/c I really didn’t think it would be that bad—and it wasn't for New Orleans. I decided to defend myself after Cinara finished her meeting--and I also wanted a record of what was said, so I pressed the record button on my phone. When Cinara returned to the main common area, I told her that I was downplaying the storm & shouldn't have to restrict myself from talking about it since I was a guest & not staff.

PART 2: …b/c I was a guest & NOT staff. I didn’t work for her, so I should be able to discuss issues like hurricanes w/o her banning me from doing this. She told me to step into her office. I refused. I said I didn't need to b/c I hadn't done anything wrong. She insisted. I questioned her reason, & she lowered her voice & told me that it was b/c she was about to kick me out. I had been drinking before this confrontation arose--but I insist I was NOT the one who unreasonably started drama—but I grew angrier & raised my voice after she told me again--this time, with certainty--that she was kicking me out & would issue a refund. I told her I was recording everything. She told me I was welcome to b/c they had cameras recording everything. I said, “Oh, good, so you're eavesdropping illegally?" She immediately tried to backtrack on her words by saying, "There is no eavesdropping." She sounded slightly scared—like she quickly wanted to correct what she said. Why tell me that I was welcome to record the conversation b/c they had cameras recording everything if the cameras’ microphones weren’t on & recording what was being said? What good would silent camera footage w/o conversation do?!! She was definitely eavesdropping through the microphones in the cameras in the common area or through hidden microphones, also. I demanded a full refund, explaining that I needed enough $$ to pay to stay somewhere else b/c she was kicking me out, and I would also get her fired & sue her. I packed up. One staff member tried to console me & calm me down at this time. I told her to stop b/c I didn't want Cinara to retaliate against her for trying to console me. A male staff member was too scared to admit that Cinara crazy. On my way out, her asst. manager (whatever she is)--the young black female—also decided to get in my face.

Reasonably priced. Great location to the fun spots.

Manager barged into our private room. Didn't knock... Just to see who was in the room. Very unprofessional. I could have been changing clothes.