Charleston's NotSo Hostel
156 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403-5220
Full view
View all photos (693)693
360
Panoramas (15) 
Room & Suite (253)
About
#1 of 1 hostel in Charleston
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Located in lovely and historic downtown Charleston, the Notso Hostel provides safe, clean and simple accommodations. We offer camping, dorms, privates and more. Guests have access to kitchens, porches and common rooms with Internet and WIFI. Breakfast is included as are linens and parking. Come and have breakfast with travelers from all over the world and explore this beautiful Earth.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shared bathroom
Laundry service
Shared kitchen
Show more
Room features
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
Languages Spoken
English
Location
70Somewhat walkable
Grade: 70 out of 100
26Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
4Attractionswithin 0.5 km
156 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403-5220
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Charleston car hire
525Reviews10Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
- 228
- 158
- 56
- 55
- 28
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
As a solo traveller I had hoped to make some connections and a generally social yet relaxed atmosphere. However this was not the case. I knew it was self check in but there was no welcome from what I assume were the owners in the property facing the hostel. They simply stood and stared at me after Id arrived, never said hello or welcome. Any other guests I encountered were polite but very much kept to themselves. Not even to share a drink or chat in the communal kitchen or on the shared veranda which was a shame. However location and facilities snd air con were good. House is creaky and i could hear every single movement of the guest above but I kind of knew this beforehand. however no one was noisy late at night. no tvs in the rooms is not ideal. The window had thin cream blinds which prevented me sleeping properly sadly…
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: The window lets too much light in. Do not go as a solo traveller expecting social interactions....
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 23 Sept 2023
Thank you for your review and feedback. So sorry to hear you weren't able to connect with other travelers. We love to welcome our guests but it may have been a sitter or someone not connected to the hostel staff at the property when you arrived. We do not have TV's in order to facilitate more connection among our travelers. Sometimes there is a great group of travelers where everyone clicks, it just depends on who is there at the time and the season. I'm glad you found the hostel clean and cool and other guests were respectful of the quiet hours.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is one of the most squalid places I have ever stayed. DON'T BELIEVE THE PICTURES! The rooms are very small but what made the one we had (Austria) worse was that there were literally no hooks, rods, shelves or any other way to manage our belongings. There wasn't even an adequate towel rack or hook. For some bizarre reason, there is a couch that converts into a futon bed but I'm honestly not sure there is enough room to open it. The "bathroom" is TINY! It is less than 2 feet wide by 4 feet long and has a toilet and an essentially unusable sink. There is no way you can wash your face in that sink because there is a medicine cabinet right above it that limits the amount of space above the sink to about 12 inches. And closing the door makes it unbearably claustrophobic. Also, the kitchen is inadequately equipped so don't plan to cook in it. There is no front reception desk and no staff really available for help. If you need to communicate, you are told to email the hostel. Honestly, take your money and go somewhere else!…
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Don't do it, stay somewhere else.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 23 Sept 2023
Thank you for your review and feedback. I'm so sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your experience. We do state that the bathroom is a water closet and there is a full bathroom for the Austria Room down the hall. The kitchen should be fully equipped and has a full size fridge, stove, microwaves, cutlery, plates, pans, coffee, tea and more for our guests. We have since added hooks and other areas for guests to store belongings in the Austria room. I hope you will give the hostel another try on your next trip to Charleston.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
I absolutely loved my stay here! The house is so cute and full of great amenities. The staff were very responsive and friendly not to mention helpful. Check-in and out is a breeze and the room was ready for us when we arrived late at night. You get a key to your room, extra pillows/blankets, a noise machine and ear plugs, etc. There are drawers of free food and toiletries that people have left as well as two full kitchens. I saw all ages staying there and met the coolest people! Great food nearby: Bad Bunnies, Fuel Charleston, D'Allesandro's Pizza and Charlie's Grocery
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: The futons aren't the comfiest but the extra blankets downstairs make it perfect! There are...
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 23 Sept 2023
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We were happy to have hosted you and so glad you enjoyed your stay. Come visit us again soon!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Upon getting to our room, the Austria room, we were immediately distracted by the upper deck outside our door. It’s sloped and looks like it could collapse at any moment. Hopefully no one is injured on it! The room was clean. Sound machine provided made it pretty easy to sleep. We had a half bath which was basically the size of a bathroom closet. Difficult to even brush your teeth at but luckily the shared bath is right down the hall. It worked for us but may be too small for a larger couple. We were hot at night and the temperatures were typically below 80 during the day. Not sure how it would work in the summer but us northerners wanted some cooler air. The common areas were very clean as well. Overall we had a great stay! The price is unbeatable.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 15 Nov 2022
Thank you for your review! Glad you enjoyed your stay. The porch is absolutely safe and up to code. It is historic and we are not allowed to change it! We have great AC in the summer and heat in the winter to keep our guests comfortable. Come and visit us again soon!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The annex is not a hostel, just separate bedrooms with two shared bathrooms, so the hostel experience of meeting other travelers is not something you'll get there. Maybe people hung out in the kitchen and living room pre-Covid but not lately. Having a private room is the draw, plus a parking spot near the city center. It's an old house, so you can hear every step anyone takes. Central a/c in the house (thank goodness). The room was fairly clean but the bathrooms were not clean, especially the larger bathroom. The larger bathroom door was off its hinges so people had to lift it up and slam it to get it closed. Hoping someone will fix that door. Lots of rental units nearby. Loud music until 3 am one night. Crooked bed with broken slats. Didn't get much sleep here, just a place to stay while seeing the city. Breakfast is make your own coffee and instant oatmeal. It's not a hotel, but they could make more of an effort for the price you're paying.…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 12 Oct 2022
Thank you for your review and feedback. I'm sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay. We have dorms and more common areas at the main location if in the future you are looking for more of a social experience. We have fixed the door hinge and addressed all the issues you mentioned. I hope you'll give us another try on your next trip to Charleston.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My initial impression of the hostel was that the dorm beds were extremely shaky and creaky, and for some reason the bunks were positioned right under the ceiling fan - to the point you would bang your head on the fan attempting to climb into the top bunk. I'm a fairly small person (under 5'0"), so keep that in mind if you're a normal sized human. The bathrooms weren't that clean. I've stayed in hostels all over the US, Europe, and Canada despite generally disliking hostels. The reason I chose to stay in one in Charleston is that hotels in Charleston work amongst themselves to price fix rates. Hence, they are absurdly high. Especially for a city like Charleston. No offense, but as someone who lived in NYC for years, it is really beyond me why my fellow NYers are moving to this city. Totally bizarre choice after spending a few days there. Complete waste of money overall. It's a boring New Orleans, and it's twice as expensive. In any case, I stayed in a hostel in order to not pay $400+/night for a hotel room in a place like Charleston. I can't say I regret that choice as I would have regretted spending $800 to stay in Charleston far more. My main complaint is there are no locking lockers in the dorms. Now, normally, this is not an issue. But this is the only hostel I've ever stayed at where I had an item stolen. And it was stolen so quickly it was really surprising. I realized I'd accidentally left a clothing item (a very nice one) in the room. I'd left the hostel, and I emailed them at 7am saying I'd left it. At 9am, they emailed me saying there's no sign of the item. I still find it difficult to believe that someone stole this item within a few hours of my leaving the hostel. I've never had this issue anywhere else - even in Irish hostels where people were belligerently drunk regularly. I'd also left in a bit of a rush as I was panicked due to almost being attacked in the street the night prior. I had to run and hide in a hotel lobby about a mile away as I was attempting to walk back to the hostel. Another incident that I have never experienced anywhere else in my life - supposedly this is a nice area of town? I held off writing this review for a while, but even months later that entire experience bothers me. The area isn't great, there are sketchy people about at night, I had my item stolen in a hilariously short amount of time (apparently by people who I'd chatted with while staying there!), and it wasn't very clean. But again, it's Charleston. So apparently you either deal with this or a $400 hotel. I'd suggest going to a completely different city frankly. Or at this point in the US, don't. Go to a rural area and avoid crimes being committed against you in the wastelands that are current US cities. Leave them to their own destruction at this point. It's too expensive anyway. At least NYC has The Met. It's unclear what Charleston has. Seriously. I'm still confused.…
Read more
Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 12 Oct 2022
Thank you for your review and I'm so sorry to hear you did not enjoy your experience. We have small lockers in all of our dorm rooms and large lockers in common areas for guests to use. I'm sorry we weren't able to find your item and hope that you will give Charleston, the United States and hostels another try.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I loved it here and would definitely stay here again. It more than met my needs and expectations. I found the NotSo Hostel charming. I spent 7 nights here in April 2022. You get what you pay for. Considering the prices in Charleston, I think you get a lot for your $$. The location is wonderful, right off Upper King St. Granted it’s a walk, but a lovely walk, down to the Historic District and the Battery. There are many things to see and visit on the way down. There’s also a free DASH bus with 3 differed routes that takes you down. I didn’t use it so can’t comment except to say that I regularly saw them running. I took the #11 CARTA bus from the airport. It dropped me off a few blocks away. It only costs $2, $1 over age 55. I booked the Kendall Suite so I had a private entrance, bath & kitchenette. The unit was spotless except for big-time dust on the top of the microwave. The unit showed some wear-n-tear but no big deal. I didn’t see any bugs so I’m happy. The bed was comfortable. There are extra comforters in the closet. The AC was cold for me. I texted and got a quick positive response. I had issues with the internet at times, but it may have been the Xfinity app itself. I had less issues on the side of the room near the common area. The only possible issue here could be noise… nothing against the place itself. It’s just a house. The kitchen in the common area is on the same wall as the bed. People talked right outside my door but most weren’t too loud. A few were up at 4 for an early flight, dragging bags down the steps & yacking loudly in the kitchen. It’s also party central nearby. Around 7 or 8 PM until (luckily only) 11 PM or so, there’s extremely loud house/dance music playing. That was Th-Sat nights. I think it came from a nearby bar/club. This unit is also by the gravel parking lot. I did hear a lot of loud, outside noise from people in the parking lot & ones walking by probably coming from bars. There are earplugs in the room. As a solo woman I mostly felt safe here. It’s not the ritziest neighborhood but it was fine. Just be aware. 2 suggestions to make it better: 1) Put a deadbolt on the inside of the door by the parking lot. There’s a lot of coming/going. I would have felt more relaxed with a physical lock in addition to the electronic one. Renters wouldn’t need to have the key. 2) Have some place for folded clothes. Replace one of the nightstands with something with drawers? Put a little bureau in the closet?…
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 3 May 2022
Thank you for your wonderful review Kathy! So glad you enjoyed your stay and we appreciate your suggestions on how we can improve and make the guest experience more pleasant. We look forward to hosting you again on your next trip to Charleston.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Second stay in Kendall Room, this time solo and last time with my bf. PERFECT location for hopping around downtown on foot, specifically for dinner and nightlife. Every other actual hotel or AirBnB downtown will be double the price, so this is way worth it for the majority of the cheap travel crowd. Just a bed, bathroom, private entrance, and parking space. All you need if you’re out and about. Minus one: the shower is a bit weird. Like rainfall-ish but gets cold randomly. My personal opinion, an extra hour for check out would be nice. Generally clean, but it’s a Charleston house so some age and wear and tear. Absolutely will stay here again!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 11 Mar 2022
Thank you for your review and feedback Michael! I will definitely check into our water heater as it should be consistently hot for our guests. Glad you enjoyed your stay and we'd love to host you again the next time you visit our beautiful city.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Not So Hostel: I stayed at the Kendall, with a private upstairs back entry and designated parking at the annex. It is close to King, however not close to the Historical part of King nor Battery Park areas, it's not walkable at all. The area is a bit run down but looks like it’s coming up. The building is very rough and run down. My MAIN complaint is the WIFI is inconsistent, on/off, in/out, horribly spotty which is not good if you need to use your computer to work while traveling. The temps are VERY inconsistent. Warm with the afternoon sun coming through the windows but cold at night and stuffy, as would be expected of an older home. However, there is ZERO control of the temp in the room, which means pestering the staff to turn up/down the temps. While, the room is not as pictured, the space is adequate with the sink, mini fridge, microwave, but the scurrying of cockroaches was enough to make me scream. I can’t imagine this room is up to code with the electrical and plumbing. There was some sort of electrical box on top of the fridge inside the cabinet that flashed a neon blue light every 15-30 seconds. It was quite annoying when trying to sleep. I didn't make it to the main areas of either the Annex nor Spring Street. I mostly used the room to sleep/stay while passing through town. The bedding is fairly thin, I had to use every single quilt they had in the room, plus request the heat be turned up. The teak table and chairs is a nice touch, the ceiling and table fans helped circulate the air a little bit, I wish there was an interior door lock. I didn't feel safe not knowing if the door was locked at night, anyone could enter this property which was a bit of a concern when seeing the rough neighbors next door. I doubt I will stay here again at $120 plus a night, I will look elsewhere with reliable internet.…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Use the ear plug provided
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 11 Mar 2022
So sorry to hear you didn't have a good experience, we appreciate your feedback as we are always trying to improve. Our WIFI is normally very strong so I'm sorry you had trouble during your stay with us. We have switched our thermostats to nests which are auto controlled to help with keeping consistent temperatures. We've changed the interior door to have a lock and access to the kitchen and living room again now that covid has died down. We have Terminix come and spray but unfortunately, palmetto bugs are everywhere in downtown Charleston. We are updating the bathrooms and we are up to code with the city. I hope you'll give us another try and see all the changes we've made to make our guests more comfortable.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed in India suite for five nights and Andrew Adams dorm for one night. For this price point and arrangement, this is pretty much the only game in town when we were looking for hostels. Everything else was Air BnBs, hotels, or bed n' breakfasts, all of which were crazy expensive. Grounds and actual building are great! Very quaint. You feel that Southern charm staying here. There's a porch swing on the second floor piazza of the middle building that you need to spend time on after a day of seeing the sights. Drink some sweet tea with bourbon and relax. Good times. One night there was a deluge and I sat on the second floor piazza meditating. Vibes. Beds and linens comfortable. Quality common areas to make food and kick it. Good informational pamphlets about sights in the area. Keyless entry is nice. Parking included is huge as well. Area is quiet and beautiful. AC/fans got the job done. Bathrooms were really nice. Showering was a joy. Place was really clean. Outlets good. Wi-fi pretty good. We stayed here for literally half of what it would have cost for the next cheapest place in Charleston. Pockets. Close by there's a little convenience store, a super expensive cafe, and a place called Fuel Charleston which is a little over priced, but pretty dang good and you should eat there. It's on the way to Folly Beach and Angel Oak. This place is outside of King street and the normal touristy area which is definitely nice. Makes it cheaper and more quaint. If you're staying in the middle house, stay in India suite. Don't get in a hurry at this place. They take it slow and aren't the best at responding to questions or requests (I have to say the owner called me back and got us in so we could collect our things and make it to the airport though). They don't do laundry as of June 2021. The lobby was closed as well because of COVID which contributes to the problem of having no one to answer questions or talk to if you need something. Depending on the main sights you want to see on the peninsula, this place is a 20 to 45 min walk away. Plan on hiking it in everyday if you don't have a car. Not as many amenities and restaurants around. BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a hostel in Charleston, South Carolina this is probably you're only option and that's not bad. Just be ready to deal with a little bit of a hike to see things and not getting a lot of answers from staff. But enjoy the beautiful edifice with tons of personality and quiet surroundings.…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: India suite is cool as hell and quiet!
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Vikki Matsis, General Manager at Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Responded 11 Mar 2022
Thank you for your review and all your feedback. We have since increased our staff and are responding quickly to all of our guests needs. Covid threw a wrench in staffing pretty much everywhere and we were no exception. So glad you enjoyed the room, found it clean and comfortable and hope you'll come visit us again on your next trip to Charleston!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
charleston`s notso hotel charleston
LOCATION
United StatesSouth CarolinaCoastal South CarolinaCharleston
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingCHARLESTON'S NOTSO HOSTEL (AU$19): 2023 Prices & Reviews (SC) - Photos of Hostel - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston's NotSo Hostel
Which popular attractions are close to Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Nearby attractions include Pure Theatre (0.1 km), Brith Shalom Beth Israel Synagogue (0.4 km), and Saint Luke's Chapel (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Conveniently located restaurants include R Kitchen, Xiao Bao Biscuit, and Fuel.
Are there any historical sites close to Charleston's NotSo Hostel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting St. Michael's Church (2.3 km), Nathaniel Russell House (2.4 km), and McLeod Plantation Historic Site (3.7 km).