The Entrance To The West Yellowstone Hostel In the Historic Madson Hotel - August 31, 2010
The West Yellowstone Hostel at the Madison Hotel is one of the nicest hostels you will find! Located right at the West Yellowstone National Park entrance in the historic Madison Hotel, the hostel offers excellent rooms, nice common areas, free coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings and a bed and breakfast type ambiance to it.
The Inside of the Three Bunk Room At the West Yellowstone Hostel In the Madison Hotel - August 31, 2010
The rooms are clean, the beds comfortable, the staff casual and personable and the price a little bit higher than some hostels but well worth it! There is a small communal refrigerator, a microwave and a water dispenser but there is no kitchen or cooking facility other than the microwave. Cooking in the rooms with your own hot plate or something similar is not permitted either.
The Madison Gift Shop Attached To the West Yellowstone Hostel At The Madison Hotel - August 31, 2010
The town of West Yellowstone is a nice little resort town. It is much bigger than Baker, Nevada (where Great Basin National Park is located) or Lone Pine (where the very nice Whitney Portal Hostel is located) but definitely not a city. Restaurants and other hotels (some with small casinos) cover about 5 square blocks so there are ample options for shopping, dining and lodging if the hostel is full.
A Larger and More Expensive Private Room At the West Yellowstone Hostel - August 31, 2010
There are several different room arrangements at the West Yellowstone Hostel at the Madison Hotel. It seems that there is only one bunk room for males and one for females for a total of 6 bunks for the cheapest per bed rate which comes out to about $35.00 per night with taxes and whatever other charges may be added on to the base rate. Other rooms are available in the $65 – $95 range. At about $65 per night you get a single room and at about $95.00 per night you get a room with a private bathroom.
None of the rooms are very big but the price is right for the bunks. If you are a party of two or more people, then the $65.00 and up room rates for rooms with at least double beds are a great option! All the hostel rooms are separate from the hotel rooms which are off in another section of the building. The bunk rooms do have a sink with water so you can take care of basic personal hygiene needs even if you are staying in a room that does not have a private bathroom.
One of the Private Bathrooms at the West Yellowstone Hostel - August 31, 2001
The public bathrooms are located on the same floor as the rooms. Men’s and women’s bathrooms are separate (there isn’t just a unisex bathroom). There is a sink and two toilets in each of the bathrooms. The shower rooms are separate from the bathrooms so if someone takes a long shower than does not impede your ability to go to the bathroom.
The Mens Common Bathroom At West Yellowstone Hostel At the Madison Hotel - August 31, 2010
In addition to the mens and womens bathrooms upstairs on the same floor as the rooms there is also a downstairs bathroom. It is more conventional style with the sink, toilet and shower with a bathtub all in one room. You don’t find many hostels that have a bathtub you can use! Towels, hand soap and shampoo are also provided at no charge to guests.
The West Yellowstone Hostel At the Madison Hotel Common Area - August 31, 2010
The common area has lots of comfortable chairs and other furniture on which to sit. There is a chess and backgammon table, two computers that offer Internet access at $5.00 per hour with a $2.00 minimum. If you have your own computer then wireless Internet access is free with your stay at the hostel. In addition to the computers and chairs there is a TV with cable you can watch until midnight. Quiet hours begin at 10pm at which time the TV must be turned down low. At midnight it must be turned off.
The West Yellowstone Hostel Kitchen Area At the Madison Hotel - August 31, 2010
Though there is no kitchen, there is a restaurant right next door to the hostel and there are two grocery stores in town where you an buy anything you might want to cook in the microwave or get fresh fruits or vegetables to snack on. If you can stock up on food before you get to the West Yellowstone Hostel you will save some cash. The selection at the grocery store is not what you would find in a larger city and the prices are higher than many other areas but not that much higher.
The Outside Corner Of The West Yellowstone Hostel At the Madison Hotel - August 31, 2010
When it comes to eating out on the cheap there are some fast food places like McDonald’s, Subway and Dairy Queen that have subs and sandwiches. McDonald’s is minus the $1.00 extra value menu and Subway does not offer the $5.00 subs that seem to be offered in every other Subway in the country. About the best you will do for a meal out is $10.00 and that is going to be a fast food combo meal of some sort. One grocery store in town sometimes has sandwiches and other hot ready to eat food but the stock varies and you never know what they will have.
The Second Floor Hallway Where the Hostel Rooms Are Located At the West Yellowstone Hostel - August 31, 2010
Overall when you are trying to see Yellowstone on a budget, the West Yellowstone Hostel at the Madison Hotel is one of the best budget places you can stay! It is clean, comfortable and cozy with very nice common areas, great staff at a great price. Unlike the Yosemite Bug (another nice hostel) which is actually about an hour drive from the Yosemite Park entrance, the West Yellowstone Hostel at the Madison Hotel is as close as you can get to being in Yellowstone Park without actually being in Yellowstone National Park.
One of Many Elk You Might See While Exploring Yellowstone and Staying At the West Yellowstone Hostel - August 31, 2010
Other budget options for staying in or near Yellowstone National Park include camping and one other hostel at which a night may be spent before departing the town of West Yellowstone. Camping in the park will run you about $25 per night at a reserved campsite and as low as $12.00 at walk in campsites. For the campsites you can reserve, when you factor in the cost of two pay showers per day the West Yellowstone Hostel bunk rooms at the Madison Hotel net out about the same if you are traveling by yourself!
