Very clearly, I was booked for two nights in a dormitory at Hostelling International, in November, 2018 at the following location: 479 NW 18th Avenue, Portland, 97209, United States. If I recall correctly the dormitory was to be mixed and a 6 bed. After a long day, I headed to the NW section of Portland, Oregon, with hopes to have a sound night of sleep. I forget the exact time I arrived at Hostelling International, but it was definitely after 11:30 p.m. Pitch black and I'm waking alone in an unfamiliar area in an unfamiliar city. I was tired and figured I'd get off the bus, check-in to the hostel, head up to bed and fall sound asleep. This could not be farther from the truth.
When I arrived at Hostelling International to check in, I met a tall white man with short, light hair. The man wore no name tag to indicate he was part of the staff, nor, at the very least introduced himself, "Hi, my name is xxx, are ya checkin' in?" The man from the get-go was unfriendly.
Later, I found it was towards the end of his shift at work. Fair enough. Still - it is rude to project your tiredness onto someone else. His mood was snippy, like that of someone who had just quit smoking, and was having ups and downs and literal withdrawal. I handed to this man, Dallas (I learnt of his name after all of his rudeness, and asking as to write this complaint), a copy of a driver's license. He indicated, "we cannot take the copy" and REFUSED to check me in. He tried to "shoo me away" as fast as possible. Dallas asked no clarifying questions, whatsoever, regarding any supplemental identification I had. Other supplemental documentation I had with, included: a print-out of a current temporary driver's license from a different state. On the paper it indicates if accompanied with an expired driver's license, it can be used for identification. I had a copy of a recently expired driver's license with me, several cards with my personal name, and also an expired passport (not a copy) all with me. Dallas indicated to me he needed to see the physical license - the original. I offered to show him an e-mail from the driver's license department who sent the temporary license to me via e-mail. He refused to look at this and said, "It's our policy. The rule is we have to have the physical license." Then, I argued with Dallas for many minutes, saying "are you reducing me to a piece of plastic? Very clearly I am a person." He argued with me about alleged, issues of safety and it's for everyone's safety etc. I thought I'd be asleep by now, for sure. But, Dallas, he enjoyed taunting me. I reminded Dallas that a.) he wasn't wearing a name tag, so I didn't know who he was, and b.) he never personally introduced himself to me. Just sayin' Dallas offered no option for me to speak with a manager, while I was in the lobby. His instincts were "shoo away". At one point, I indicated that I did not see anywhere on the third party booking site about having the physical copy of one's ID. Nor the hostel website. (after the whole debacle, I looked on the HI hostel website and no mention of having the physical copy was indicated)
Sidenote: I've traveled quite a bit. I've had copies of documents in an e-mail to access, in the event of an extenuating circumstance. Life happens, and I like to be prepared. Well, apparently "Hostelling International" does not see that "life happens." Having any sort of "back up" info is useless. You are a piece of plastic to "Hostelling International," not a person. So you have a stolen wallet, and Hostelling International will refuse to accept your "back-up" to check you in Literally, as a single, adult female, you will be left hanging on the street at 12:30 a.m. with no place to go. And, well that's what happened!
Back to the cat fight with Dallas. The tone he used the whole time was authoritative - as in "I'm the boss" and "you're the pion." Often, I was talked AT, as opposed to talked TO. I was spoken over, rushed, and often "shooed" while other travelers checked in with plastic IDs. Off to bed, to sleep, I'll bet. Dallas really only affirms plastic people, as people. Judged. I was judged because I did not have this piece of plastic. When I inquired to Dallas if I would be charged, he said, "well if you leave now, I can put a note in here not to charge you." But if you dont..... the look he gave me, and his little, "don't you think you'd better get on, now" phrase, well did you formerly work at a corrections institution, or what? This was not any offering of solace or peace. Okay, so you are bribing me not to make a stink/scene what have you? Really? While I didn't make "a scene" I definitely didn't go away - where would I go? Everything in the area was booked in my price-range, and I demanded to be let in, as I had done nothing wrong. Truly, I desired other travelers be witness to how I was being mistreated. I had no intent to antagonize, but I did raise my voice when polite inquires were not taken seriously, and I was written off as "the nice girl." So, I get angry and you now fear "your business reputation?" That's so very sad. This business is very clearly not for any person, but the "the people in charge." I wonder if one of them is Dallas? Later, I found out that the third party website where I booked through - they sent me an e-mail asking if I actually stayed at Hostelling International. I confirmed "No" I did not stay at Hosteling International. So that little bribery game, that wasn't koser, Dallas. That whole thing about "you may get charged, but I can write this note in here that says she didn't have an ID -and you won't get charged," that could have been overturned, easily. It's 12:30 a.m. and I'm alone and you use scare and bribery tactics to "get me out" of your property? You are a cruel person. What is your hidden agenda?
In addition, while all this was going on, Dallas (he's from Australia, by the way) repeatedly said in between our spats, "just wait 'till my overnight shift gets here - she doesn't mess around - she'll kick you out in no time." So, that's um, a "threat." Great "threatening" customer service. This repeated verbal abuse by Dallas put me into a frantic state. I feel he was extremely sadistic, and enjoyed seeing my facial expressions and 'beggar' like behavior. For example, I had to *ask* if the place had a sheet of other hotels/hostels etc. in the area. While I just desired the sheet, Dallas made sure to chime in, "most hostels are probably full by now, especially this time of night." So, you know that, and taunt me with that? You care not at all of my well-being or risk walking around the later it gets. Nor, chances of getting a bus or train growing slimmer as 1:00 a.m. nears?
Dallas enjoyed watching me struggle and frantically make phone calls while it was near 12:30 a.m. This is called sadism - watching another person struggle and squirm, knowing you have the power to change the situation with a few clicks of a button. Both you and she know this. Yet, you keep taunting her of her unlikely nature of finding a place, due to the time of night, and very limited hostels in the area. Dallas never offered to 'bend the rules'. I mean, how would his boss know if he saw a copy or a piece of plastic as an ID? I have checked into hotels with a copy of an ID many times. It has the same exact information ON both the copy and original. Truly, this was inhumane to do to another person.
You had the power to do something to bring peaceful resolve to the situation. Yet, you elected to laugh, glare, gossip with your co-worker, fake smile at other brainwashed travelers who were in for the "Tourist Trap" of Portland, Oregon. Dallas looked at me suspiciously, but while I had a bit of an "outdated" or "unacceptable" ID, my behavior was poised and polite. Even when I was angry. I never did "make a scene" nor name call etc. Yet, Dallas, while supposedly in a position of decision making, used passive-aggressive communication and "scare tactics" to "oust" me into the freezing cold with nowhere to go. It was down to 32 degrees that evening* (*depending on website forecasts reported). I never did find a place, and ended up staying up ALL NIGHT at a 24 hour joint. I'll leave it at that. I believe I stayed up for nearly 37 hours straight. My whole trip was ruined. PS: Has this man never traveled or been on a budget? Cared about the safety or well-being of another? Around $100 US currency is quite a lot for a traveler. How does this individual have employment?
Hosteling International Reviews
Very clearly, I was booked for two nights in a dormitory at Hostelling International, in November, 2018 at the following location: 479 NW 18th Avenue, Portland, 97209, United States. If I recall correctly the dormitory was to be mixed and a 6 bed. After a long day, I headed to the NW section of Portland, Oregon, with hopes to have a sound night of sleep. I forget the exact time I arrived at Hostelling International, but it was definitely after 11:30 p.m. Pitch black and I'm waking alone in an unfamiliar area in an unfamiliar city. I was tired and figured I'd get off the bus, check-in to the hostel, head up to bed and fall sound asleep. This could not be farther from the truth.
When I arrived at Hostelling International to check in, I met a tall white man with short, light hair. The man wore no name tag to indicate he was part of the staff, nor, at the very least introduced himself, "Hi, my name is xxx, are ya checkin' in?" The man from the get-go was unfriendly.
Later, I found it was towards the end of his shift at work. Fair enough. Still - it is rude to project your tiredness onto someone else. His mood was snippy, like that of someone who had just quit smoking, and was having ups and downs and literal withdrawal. I handed to this man, Dallas (I learnt of his name after all of his rudeness, and asking as to write this complaint), a copy of a driver's license. He indicated, "we cannot take the copy" and REFUSED to check me in. He tried to "shoo me away" as fast as possible. Dallas asked no clarifying questions, whatsoever, regarding any supplemental identification I had. Other supplemental documentation I had with, included: a print-out of a current temporary driver's license from a different state. On the paper it indicates if accompanied with an expired driver's license, it can be used for identification. I had a copy of a recently expired driver's license with me, several cards with my personal name, and also an expired passport (not a copy) all with me. Dallas indicated to me he needed to see the physical license - the original. I offered to show him an e-mail from the driver's license department who sent the temporary license to me via e-mail. He refused to look at this and said, "It's our policy. The rule is we have to have the physical license." Then, I argued with Dallas for many minutes, saying "are you reducing me to a piece of plastic? Very clearly I am a person." He argued with me about alleged, issues of safety and it's for everyone's safety etc. I thought I'd be asleep by now, for sure. But, Dallas, he enjoyed taunting me. I reminded Dallas that a.) he wasn't wearing a name tag, so I didn't know who he was, and b.) he never personally introduced himself to me. Just sayin' Dallas offered no option for me to speak with a manager, while I was in the lobby. His instincts were "shoo away". At one point, I indicated that I did not see anywhere on the third party booking site about having the physical copy of one's ID. Nor the hostel website. (after the whole debacle, I looked on the HI hostel website and no mention of having the physical copy was indicated)
Sidenote: I've traveled quite a bit. I've had copies of documents in an e-mail to access, in the event of an extenuating circumstance. Life happens, and I like to be prepared. Well, apparently "Hostelling International" does not see that "life happens." Having any sort of "back up" info is useless. You are a piece of plastic to "Hostelling International," not a person. So you have a stolen wallet, and Hostelling International will refuse to accept your "back-up" to check you in Literally, as a single, adult female, you will be left hanging on the street at 12:30 a.m. with no place to go. And, well that's what happened!
Back to the cat fight with Dallas. The tone he used the whole time was authoritative - as in "I'm the boss" and "you're the pion." Often, I was talked AT, as opposed to talked TO. I was spoken over, rushed, and often "shooed" while other travelers checked in with plastic IDs. Off to bed, to sleep, I'll bet. Dallas really only affirms plastic people, as people. Judged. I was judged because I did not have this piece of plastic. When I inquired to Dallas if I would be charged, he said, "well if you leave now, I can put a note in here not to charge you." But if you dont..... the look he gave me, and his little, "don't you think you'd better get on, now" phrase, well did you formerly work at a corrections institution, or what? This was not any offering of solace or peace. Okay, so you are bribing me not to make a stink/scene what have you? Really? While I didn't make "a scene" I definitely didn't go away - where would I go? Everything in the area was booked in my price-range, and I demanded to be let in, as I had done nothing wrong. Truly, I desired other travelers be witness to how I was being mistreated. I had no intent to antagonize, but I did raise my voice when polite inquires were not taken seriously, and I was written off as "the nice girl." So, I get angry and you now fear "your business reputation?" That's so very sad. This business is very clearly not for any person, but the "the people in charge." I wonder if one of them is Dallas? Later, I found out that the third party website where I booked through - they sent me an e-mail asking if I actually stayed at Hostelling International. I confirmed "No" I did not stay at Hosteling International. So that little bribery game, that wasn't koser, Dallas. That whole thing about "you may get charged, but I can write this note in here that says she didn't have an ID -and you won't get charged," that could have been overturned, easily. It's 12:30 a.m. and I'm alone and you use scare and bribery tactics to "get me out" of your property? You are a cruel person. What is your hidden agenda?
In addition, while all this was going on, Dallas (he's from Australia, by the way) repeatedly said in between our spats, "just wait 'till my overnight shift gets here - she doesn't mess around - she'll kick you out in no time." So, that's um, a "threat." Great "threatening" customer service. This repeated verbal abuse by Dallas put me into a frantic state. I feel he was extremely sadistic, and enjoyed seeing my facial expressions and 'beggar' like behavior. For example, I had to *ask* if the place had a sheet of other hotels/hostels etc. in the area. While I just desired the sheet, Dallas made sure to chime in, "most hostels are probably full by now, especially this time of night." So, you know that, and taunt me with that? You care not at all of my well-being or risk walking around the later it gets. Nor, chances of getting a bus or train growing slimmer as 1:00 a.m. nears?
Dallas enjoyed watching me struggle and frantically make phone calls while it was near 12:30 a.m. This is called sadism - watching another person struggle and squirm, knowing you have the power to change the situation with a few clicks of a button. Both you and she know this. Yet, you keep taunting her of her unlikely nature of finding a place, due to the time of night, and very limited hostels in the area. Dallas never offered to 'bend the rules'. I mean, how would his boss know if he saw a copy or a piece of plastic as an ID? I have checked into hotels with a copy of an ID many times. It has the same exact information ON both the copy and original. Truly, this was inhumane to do to another person.
You had the power to do something to bring peaceful resolve to the situation. Yet, you elected to laugh, glare, gossip with your co-worker, fake smile at other brainwashed travelers who were in for the "Tourist Trap" of Portland, Oregon. Dallas looked at me suspiciously, but while I had a bit of an "outdated" or "unacceptable" ID, my behavior was poised and polite. Even when I was angry. I never did "make a scene" nor name call etc. Yet, Dallas, while supposedly in a position of decision making, used passive-aggressive communication and "scare tactics" to "oust" me into the freezing cold with nowhere to go. It was down to 32 degrees that evening* (*depending on website forecasts reported). I never did find a place, and ended up staying up ALL NIGHT at a 24 hour joint. I'll leave it at that. I believe I stayed up for nearly 37 hours straight. My whole trip was ruined. PS: Has this man never traveled or been on a budget? Cared about the safety or well-being of another? Around $100 US currency is quite a lot for a traveler. How does this individual have employment?