Chattanooga is a hidden gem for those of us here in the southeastern part of the States. This small city is full of history, art, food and fun. We were immediately impressed with the relaxed and laid back vibe of Chattanooga, making it easy for us to see that it is a great place for both families and outdoor enthusiasts. But beyond these things, we discovered something even more surprising, a pretty awesome Chattanooga hostel…The Crash Pad!
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Located only a few short hours from Atlanta, Knoxville, and Nashville, Chattanooga may get overlooked when planning vacations around the southeast. In fact, even we overlooked it on multiple occasions. However after our recent visit, we are convinced that Chattanooga should be on everyone’s travel radar here in the southeast. For more details about our recent visit, check out our post on the top 5 things to do in Chattanooga.
Welcome to The Crash Pad, Chattanooga Hostel
We had actually heard about the Crash Pad Chattanooga Hostel a while back. Yet every time we got around to making plans for a trip to Chattanooga, they were booked full. This was a sign to us that it must be a pretty popular place! And as soon as we walked into the lobby/common area, we could see why!
We were greeted by Jordan behind the desk. With a huge smile and friendly personality, you could feel his energy and passion for the outdoors right away. The Crash Pad Chattanooga hostel is a mix of modern design with outdoor attitude. The giant picture of the legendary rock climber Alex Honnold that hangs in the common area gives you a sense of the personality of this community.
The check in process was made easy by Jordan and the staff at The Crash Pad. He went over the security measures and showed us how to use our key cards, then gave us a quick tour before showing us to our room.
Accommodation Options at The Crash Pad, Chattanooga Hostel
The Crash Pad has a few different room options for travelers. One thing we hear a lot from people who are unfamiliar with hostels is that they are just for young travelers trying to save money on the road. And while this is true to a certain extent, these are not the only types of people who stay at hostels. In fact, we met several people staying with The Crash Pad who were regular business travelers who enjoyed the pricing and atmosphere. Check out this post about common misconceptions about hostels that we wrote.
On this particular trip, we had some work that we needed to catch up on, so we opted to stay in a private room at The Crash Pad. The room was quite comfortable with modern furnishings, comfy bed and linens, and a sink. For this particular room we did not have an ensuite bathroom, but instead a community bathroom down the hall. And we were fine with that. It’s similar to when you stay at a campground and you walk to the shower in the morning. The bathrooms were clean and located only a few steps away from our room.
The Crash Pad also offers a number of nice wooden bunk beds, each with privacy curtains. They include a personal fan, reading light, and locking compartments for your belongings. There are also larger private room options with space for 3 people, having a queen size bed and single bunk above it.
Amenities at The Crash Pad Chattanooga Hostel
One of the reasons we enjoy staying at hostels is that they typically have a community kitchen that you can use. This really helps to save money while traveling, but also gives you the homey and comfortable vibe. At some hostels, including The Crash Pad Chattanooga hostel, they offer complimentary breakfast. In this case, they provided all the ingredients to cook your own breakfast, with local organic eggs, toast with a variety of spreads, and plenty of coffee.
It always nice when we are traveling to be able to wake up slowly, enjoy a nice cup of coffee and chat over breakfast before rushing out to see the sights. Plus, we love being able to socialize with other travelers. Food always brings people together. And in this case, we had a fun morning having breakfast and meeting the others who were staying at The Crash Pad too. To learn more about why we enjoy hostels, check out our post 5 Perks of Staying in a Hostel.
Other amenities at The Crash Pad include laundry facilities, computers and internet, beer and other snacks, as well as outdoor space that includes a fire pit and yard games. This outdoor space comes wired with speakers, lights, and a grill — so you can even rent this space for events (pretty cool)! Lastly, there is a restaurant next door that has the same owners and you can get 20% off your purchases for being hostel guest. However if you want to explore other restaurants in town, just ask the hostel for a list and they will show you many other places where you can get discounts too! These discounts even extend to outdoor rental companies, so be sure to check it out!
The Crash Pad is the Only LEED Certified Hostel
Chattanooga is also a very “Green” town. And during our visit to The Crash Pad, we learned just how environmentally friendly the hostel is. In fact, they have earned platinum LEED certification, currently the only hostel to achieve this and only the fourth building in Chattanooga.
They even have a system set up to recycle their water, and rain water is collected into their water system as well. Even the roof is green with a vegetable garden growing up there. Plus, the view is nothing short of amazing.
The Uncommon Hostel in Chattanooga, Tennessee
We really enjoyed our stay at The Crash Pad Chattanooga Hostel. Our room was very clean and comfortable. It is well constructed to reduce noise, the bathrooms were clean, the amenities were thoughtful, and we loved that we were able to cook a homemade breakfast and enjoy the common areas with fellow travelers. Plus, Jordan’s hospitality was top notch. He even gave us some sightseeing advice and printed up directions for us. It was a great experience and we were very happy to finally get the chance to stay here while visiting Chattanooga. If you are ever in the area and need a place to crash, make sure to book your stay with The Crash Pad.
