HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel

I had a great stay at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica! The location couldn’t be better, just a few minutes from the beach, the pier, and tons of restaurants and shops. The hostel is super clean, well-organized, and feels really safe. Rooms are spacious, beds are comfy, and the bathrooms are spotless. The staff were friendly and helpful, always ready with tips about the area. I loved the social vibe, it’s easy to meet people from all over the world, and they organize fun activities like tours, yoga, and even comedy nights. Overall, this hostel is the perfect mix of comfort, cleanliness, and community. Totally worth it and I’d definitely stay here again!

The hostel’s location is a major highlight, with the Santa Monica Pier just a short walk away, making it extremely convenient for exploring the area. I arrived in Los Angeles with concerns about safety, but my stay at HI Los Angeles genuinely changed that perception. The building feels secure, and most of the staff members are welcoming and accommodating. While there were a few moments where someone seemed rude, it was minor and likely situational. Overall, the experience was positive. Having a multi-story parking lot right in front of the hostel is another advantage, especially for those traveling by car.

I usually only write reviews for restaurants, but I needed to make an exception here. Excellent location, good amenities, and a very nice kitchen. Also the service is very good from the desk staff and I found them to be extremely helpful and accommodating. Their company rules and policies seem to be very customer friendly. I needed to cancel the last night of my stay (leave 1 day early), and I let the front desk know about this the night before, and they were able to fully refund me the money for this night easily. I wasn’t expecting them to be able to do this. Also, they offer a service for $5 to hold your luggage after checkout till 10:00 PM, and you can still use all the facilities of the hostel during this time! You can chill out, shower, play pool, use the kitchen, etc. A great deal for $5.

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is hands down one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in! The location is unbeatable — just a short walk from Santa Monica Pier, the beach, Third Street Promenade, and all the best shops, cafes, and nightlife spots in the area. Whether you're a solo traveler or in a group, this place makes exploring LA easy and fun. The hostel itself is incredibly well-maintained. The rooms are clean, spacious, and well-lit, with secure lockers for your belongings. The beds are comfy, and even in shared dorms, there's enough space to feel comfortable. Bathrooms and showers are spotless, and the housekeeping staff does a fantastic job keeping everything tidy. What really makes this place special is the friendly and social atmosphere. There are plenty of common areas, including a large courtyard and a cozy lounge, where you can meet travelers from around the world. The hostel organizes activities like walking tours and group outings, which is great if you’re new in town or traveling solo. The staff is super helpful, always smiling, and full of local tips on what to see and do. Plus, the free breakfast is a nice touch — simple but enough to get your day started. If you're looking for an affordable, safe, and welcoming place to stay in LA, especially near the beach, HI Santa Monica should be at the top of your list. Highly recommended!

This place was great. Being an older traveler I wasn’t sure about staying in a hostel again but reading the reviews I decided too. Was fairly quiet, one night had someone in our room check in late when we were all in bed but apart from that, it was peaceful. I did bring a lock for the lockers but felt like I didn’t need to lock my things up. Would definitely stay here again. It was so close to everything, restaurants, pier, entertainment..place was very clean (especially showers and toilets) it was well organised and staff very helpful with anything you may need. So easy to get to on public transport from airport. Just one tip have the correct money for the big blue bus service or download the transit app to prepay on app. Bus doesn’t take cc cards which I wasn’t expecting as we do at home and they don’t give change if you rock up with a note like I did. From LAX get the metro connector bus from airport shuttle area. Then number #3 big blue bus at bay 4 & 5. The bus ride is quite long. Get off at 4th street and broadway and hostel is a few min walk. Thanks for the stay!

Had a fantastic stay at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel! The location is perfect, just a short walk to the beach and nearby shops. The staff were super friendly and helpful, making check-in and check-out a breeze. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the common areas were great for meeting other travelers. I really enjoyed the relaxed and welcoming vibe here. Definitely a top choice for anyone visiting Santa Monica on a budget while still wanting a fun and social atmosphere!

The rooms are very clean, the bed is a little squeaky so you have to be careful not to wake others up but apart from that it’s very nice. I stayed in the all female ones (tried the 4 person, 6 person and 8 person one). It’s quiet in the night and no loud noises. The staff was very welcoming, none of the rooms come with breakfast but the breakfast is 7$ and you pay at the front desk in the morning, it goes from 7:30 to 10, I recommend going before 9:30/9 because once they run out they don’t refill stuff. Coffee and hot cocoa are free. The breakfast is usually bagels, jelly, peanut butter, cheese, prosciutto and cornflakes, so no warm food such as eggs. The location is 10/10 just a 7 minute walk to the Santa Monica pier, the neighbourhood feels safe and clean. The only thing is parking, the hostel doesn’t offer any parking but right across the street is parking structure 6 and it has overnight parking, the maximum cost is 26$. If you don’t mind walking there is a parking lot (civic parking center) around 15 minutes away and it’s only 14$ for overnight parking. There’s plenty of restaurants nearby, however quite pricey since you’re in downtown Santa Monica. Depends on your vibe. Overall a good experience, would recommend!

An absolutely outstanding experience from start to finish. The attention to detail in every corner of the hotel was remarkable. The spa, pool, and restaurants were all world-class and beautifully designed. I felt pampered the entire stay and can’t wait to return again.

Place to stay it's close to the pier plenty of shops and bars and what not around public transportation is close by and have a great pool room decent breakfast bar good coffee and it's not bad staying in the room with eight people and only three show up. Clean and cheap $46 for 8 man dorm

This is one of my favorite hostels in Los Angeles. It's located in downtown Santa Monica and has a discreet entryway with automated glass sliding doors. I stayed here for a couple nights while working in DTLA. . It's a short walk (10 min or less) from the closest metro station and has a huge lobby with a restroom, water refill station, the reception desk & a glass sliding door that's only accessible via keycard. . This place has the works. A huge communal kitchen and dining room, a courtyard with couches, vending machines, a pool table, a fireplace and a reading room. . There's several floors. I believe I stayed on the second floor in a 8 bed co-ed dorm. There were 4 bunk beds (side note: be sure to look for the correct number bed assigned to you. I took the wrong one and housekeeping cleared my toiletries, which I eventually got back!) and lockers in the room as well as a restroom with dual sinks, a toilet and a shower. They give you a towel on your bed and have extra towels in the communal bathrooms. . What I love most about this place is the safety, community, cleanliness and professionalism. They don't require proof of on going travel just an ID which is helpful because I don't live in LA county, but do drive down for work pretty often so there's no need for me to get a plane, train or bus ticket. They offer free breakfast and host daily events for the guests from open mic night to guided tours. Parking can be a pain, but there's a garage nearby that charges $20 for the day, a steak for the area. . It's also close to several cinemas, gift shops, restaurants, cafes and clothing stores. If you're looking for a budget friendly place to stay in LA, HI Santa Monica is it!

Stayed here for two nights. Honestly if you're looking for a hostel this one is it! I haven't been to any others in LA but I have some friends who have and it seems this is one of the better ones. Right on 2nd street so only two blocks away from the beach (not counting the stairs or ramp to get to the beach/pier) and only one block from the promenade that has tons of shops and food places. There's a front sliding door (that you need a keycard to get into after 10pm) and then another door to get into the actual hostel area so very secure. There's a nice outdoor seating area, as well as indoor, a kitchen, vending machines, laundry, some games like a pool table I believe. There's also a tv room, and a study. I was in the 6 bed men's room and only one other person was there the two nights I was which was nice. They're very clean rooms. No smells, no insects of any kind, the lockers they have are kinda small. It can fit a small piece of luggage or two and a few personal bags. I don't think it can fit a full size luggage. The restrooms and showers are also very clean. Cleaned every day. Overall a great place. The price is more expensive than other hostels but I think the area, amenities, safety, and cleanliness are all the reasons you need to know why the price is the way it is. It was my first time in a hostel just having a little vacation so I was worried at first but pleasantly surprised. Most of the people there were young tourists in there 20-30s it seemed. There's also this other area that's like a club of sorts where they have different events. I didn't go to any but I'm sure a great place to meet people if you're traveling alone. They also have group activities like beach volleyball and such. Oh and they provide towels for the beach and showering.

I had a terrible experience at HI Santa Monica Hostel. As a Russian traveler working on replacing my lost passport, I came prepared with all the necessary documents to prove my travel status: copies of my inner and travel Russian passports, birth certificate, and other travel documents. Despite this, the unwelcoming staff at the reception refused to let me check in. They incorrectly assumed I was a California resident (I hold a California driver's license but am not a resident), and they made no effort to clarify or improve the situation. Instead of offering solutions, they immediately suggested canceling my booking. Confused and frustrated by their rude and strict attitude, I reluctantly agreed, thinking it was my only option. To make matters worse, the next day, the hostel charged me as a no-show even though I had been turned away. This kind of behavior is unacceptable for a business that claims to welcome travelers.

This place is one of the more affordable accommodations you'll find in the area. The location is excellent, there is a shared kitchen, coin laundry (cards not accepted in laundry machines, but there is at least a change machine), and free continental breakfast. There are plenty of shared public spaces to hang out in, work, and meet people. I stayed here for a week with my husband in a private room with a bathroom, so not the usual dorm situation. I cannot speak for the dorm setup here. The private room was a decent size. The bed was a queen and it was comfortable enough. We did get some cooler weather when we were here, and the thin blankets weren't really enough. Some nights were on the cold side. Otherwise, there were a solid amount of outlets and plenty of lights. The little work area under the TV was great as I needed to work remotely for a couple of days. The TV itself was a joke. We turned it on once just to see what was available and it was absurdly bad network TV (e.g. an hour of "Bladder Control Tips"), so don't waste your time. (Correction: it's DirecTV not network, but it's terrible regardless) The room came with its own iron and ironing board, which we actually needed, so that was great. An iron and board are also available in the common laundry room. The private bath was a good size and there were a solid amount of towels. The water pressure wasn't great and it takes a long while to heat up. I also noticed this when using the kitchen and I now suspect this place has a hot water problem. The soap that comes in the bathroom is from dispensers in the shower and at the sink. It's better than nothing, but not great. I loved having the kitchen available and made soup one night that I shared with some folks. There's an underground Trader Joe's about 6 minutes away by foot, which is super helpful. The kitchen itself is decent, with lots of ranges and a couple of ovens. There's plenty of counter space. You'll never find duller knives, so be careful you don't cut yourself and be sure to wash your own dishes. The WiFi was stable, the desk is staffed 24-7, and the place was kept clean. Check-In was a pain because your HI membership number isn't tied to your reservation in the system, so you'll have to dig it up. This was pretty irritating to be honest. Overall, I'm glad we stayed here. Will we do it again? Not sure, but even so, I'm glad it's an option. It's great to have more affordable travel accommodations to choose from.

I booked this through Booking.com for one night because I needed a cheap place at the last minute. When I arrived, the woman at the front desk told me I couldn't stay because my license is from Los Angeles. I explained that I don't live at that address anymore, and for all she knows, I could be living in Idaho without updating my license. If I had a place to stay, I wouldn't be at that hostel. OBVIOUSLY. Her attitude was unprofessional and unhelpful throughout the interaction. Working the front desk at a hostel doesn't require a monumental effort; it's not as if she's discovering a cure for cancer. She needed to chill the fuck out and learn to not be so miserable. There are better options available for just a little more money. Don't give this place your money, take a little more time to hunt and get something better.

I loved staying here as a solo traveler. I felt safe and the ambiance is peaceful. Very relaxing, and respectful people.

Clean, friendly staff a lot of accommodation like a full kitchen. Plenty of places to chill.

I stayed here when I moved back to the USA from Europe and it improved alot from when I used to live in Santa Monica. The location is great between the beach and 3rd st. Promenade. There's a nice variety of travellers from all over the world. Cleanliness was excellent. And the unlimited free breakfast was nice. This may be the best Hostel overall in the LA area.

I'm not sure why I didn't start hosteling sooner, but I'm glad I've started! If you have a sense of adventure and plan on spending more time outside of your room than in it, then hostels are a perfect way to go. This is my second experience at a hostel and it was a great way to meet some new people and stay in a fabulous location on a budget. Its a couple of minutes walk from everything, has a comfortably furnished courtyard, and all areas were very clean, especially the bathrooms & showers. I am already planning our stay at HI Portland!

I did not stay overnight, a friend did, but I was allowed to tour the facility on 2 random occasions. Environment: Common areas were clean and had personality. They have an interior outdoor patio, so you can be outside without having to deal with the outside world. Rooms were clean with a sterile feel to them. Comes equipped with about 4 double bunk beds, mirror, window, and a 4 foot locker. Note bring your own lock, the one they sell looks like it can be forced open by hand. Staff: Good humored overall great. One gentleman had a bit of an attitude but if you engage him he is pleasant. I liked him. I heard him speaking mandarin and asked about it, turns out he speaks 4 languages. Cool. One gentlewoman said it was her first day and pretended to overcharge my friend $100 for tip which was very funny and done in good humor. Extras: This location seems to plan daily events that are free to join so visitors can be safe, have a good time, and make friends. Overall: Touring this location gave me a different perspective on our hostel business community. I would recommend for visitors on a budget or a weekend drinking binge.

Love our time here! Good price, clean comfy rooms and location is very central. Kimberly and Temalisa at the front desk are amazing, and made sure we felt right at home during our time here. Kimberly also made sure we know about the best kept secret here which is the historical Rapp's Salon, Santa Monica's first brick building erected in 1875. Glad to be teleported through time here. Temalise was so kind to show us our luggage too after we had our casual afternoon walk. Lovely people here. You will enjoy your stay!

This hostel was excellent; it was clean, not too noisy at night, felt very safe, my hostel mates were great, and everyone working the front desk was super friendly and helpful. My sheets were stretched out and needed to be replaced, and they took care of it immediately no issues. Location is really great too. I ended up moving to another hostel in Hollywood halfway through my trip, and actually wished i had just stayed at HI, it would have been worth the extra commuting time!

This would be a near 5 star review. However, while the kitchen is clean the refrigerators are a mess. There is food in there with tags indicating the people left 2, 3, 4 months ago. Growing mold. The staff is great, the place is clean. Just clean up the refrigerators.

Very Close to the Santa Monica pier/beach. Clean. Decent. Full kitchen. Clean welcoming community room. Community bathroom is clean, well maintained. Staff is helpful and friendly.

Staff in this place will refuse to check you in even if it was 5 minutes before 3:00. Very dissapointed experience. Everything is done by the books. Check-in process was very slow and routine. I didn't feel welcomed, was never greeted with a smile. Just a standard, robotic, very slow check-in process. The only good thing about this place is its location. Will never stay here again.

Although facility is good, the most ubhostlelike hkstle I ever visited. Unfriendly computer geeks Everywhere, ZERO parking unless you pay a Lot of money, no up front info given upon check in, thus is a hotel in a creepy grossly expensive neighborhood designed to fleece tourists. The most un friendly fellow guests imaginable. No breakfast anything except coffee WithOUT real milk and a kitchen where ALL fridge space is taken up with big black tubs that after 7 days nere NEVER move. A corporate tourist trap full of computer geeks. Can not wait to leave.

Awesome hostel. Rooms where clean and nice set up. Really can't beat the location it is great! Stayed there 3 nights. Pub crawl was fun. Met people from all over the world. Would recommend.

I stayed here for two nights and I really had a great experience. This place is in the idea location if you are looking to have fun in Santa Monica! It is just a block away from the beach, Sabra Monica pier and 3rd programande street! Very close to everything you need to have fun!!! The place itself has a lunch room with a pool table in which I spend most of my afternoons meeting people. It has a large kitchen with refrigerators to store your food, hot tea 24/7! A room with TV, a library with two computers! Free and fast internet, very clean rooms all the time someone is cleaning: it also has a laundry room! Staff were super friendly, I really liked this place and I am definitely staying in my next trip to LA!

Impressive even for a local! I've seen my fair shares of hostels from traveling in Asia, and this one is NICE! They had good programs and fun things to do even for a local Angelino for me. They actually make it possible to see LA without needing to have a personal car. Unbelieveable!

For budget travelers, the location of this hostel is very good. It's in downtown Santa Monica within walking distance to the beach. I didn't have any complaint on the facilities, I just stayed a night and it served its purpose - a bed to sleep in, free light breakfast and wifi. However, I was not happy with the reservation process on their own website. I tried to book a room at their website. I completed all the information required and put in my credit card details. After I clicked finished, there was a pop-up saying that only travelers outside LA county are allowed to stay at the hostel. I am not from LA, so this warning doesn't apply to me. When I clicked the ok button, it brought me back to the booking page. I tried booking online again but got the same message. Confused on whether the reservation went through or not, I called the hostel to confirm. The lady who answered the phone said my reservation is not showing on their end and maybe it's still updating and try to call back at a later time. She also said there's a lot of vacant beds and would be better to just walk in. When I arrived at the hostel, I told the front desk person about the zip code error message I got on their online reservation site and she said, it's a known problem and has happened to other guests too. Oh well, it's not the first time it happened and they knew about it, yet they haven't bothered to fix it!!??? I asked for the bed I was trying to book online, but was told they cannot honor the online price. They would charge me higher for the same bed. Worse, she also said, they are sold out on those beds. I told her, I just called and was advised to just walk in since there are a lot of vacant beds. I said it's not my fault their website is bad and malfunctioning, so I shouldn't be punished for it. The representative was helpful but it's still annoying to be charged more for something that was totally not my shortcoming. Their website is not working right, so it's not fair that they're making the customers pay for it.

This was a very clean hostel! Bathrooms are lovely. They give you one good sized towel, and you can always go ask for more. They also give you a large locker for storage (bring your own lock) and TWO pillows! I love having two pillows bc normally hostels only give you one tiny one. The activities were nice, and the atmosphere was social-ish. I was able to make a big group of friends, but only because I tried for that! If you want to store your bags past 1pm day of checkout you need to pay $5. The free breakfast is horrible! It's bread w jam or butter + a ton of sugary cereals (I think there are bananas too but they run out super fast). If you're trying to be healthy then this breakfast is definitely not the move. Also, Front front desk was a little annoying at check in (not being especially nice, etc). Breakfast + service is why it's 4 stars and not 5!

This place is clean and friendly. It feels safe and I would recommend anyone on a budget to visit. It's conveniently located in Santa Monica so you can get around to seeing everything no, problem. Parking can be pricey if you try and park at the hotel down the street but if you park at the courthouse, it's cheaper just a short walk. Maybe a couple of blocks but it's safe. This is one of the nicer hostels in the area that has beach towels and umbrellas to borrow as well as pool toys, WIFI, and breakfast!

Finally was able to get a chance to check out Santa Monica and needed a place to stay for 2 nights. After staying in various hostels around the world in the past I was actually pleasantly surprised by this hostel. Now keep in mind that this hostel is quite large so it can be hard to meet people but even then I was able to make a few connections easily. The location for this hostel is great as it's very close to the Santa Monica pier. As for the hostel itself it's mostly what I expected from staying at other hostels. It was nice to see a pool table near the kitchen which I ended up playing on a few times and there is plenty of room to sit nearby the kitchen, although I can imagine it to be packed if the hostel is full. The shower setup inside the bathrooms was a bit awkward as there are not very many places to put your belongings and clothes. Travelers seem to be mostly from all over as I saw a bunch of European travelers as well as some people from Asia. I would stay here again if I happened to be in the area on another visit.

I've really enjoyed my time at HI Santa Monica ! Welcomed by great staff with manners and very courteous. Tora , Aaron , Marisol and Kim El have showed me great hospitality ! Highly recommend . Also while staying I recommend the restaurant next door , bacon and egg pizza with roasted veggies is my fav . I would want to stay there again when ( visiting Santa Monica ) .

I will start with the pros first: This place is very clean and spacious - you feel like you are staying in a hotel more than a hostel in that sense. There are numerous common rooms to lounge around in, it is very clean and modern and the location couldn't be better - steps away from the Santa Monica beach and pier. Cons: I paid between 40 and 50 bucks a night to share a room with 7 people...seriously? I have stayed in many hostels in Europe and around the world and never paid so much. On top of that, there was never any hot water so showers were pretty miserable, you had to pay to use their computers and print things, the wifi barely functioned (their excuse was that too many people were in the hostel - that doesn't seem to be a problem in other hotels, so I don't see that as a valid excuse...). There is also no parking (I guess to be expected in Santa Monica). I also found the hostel very impersonal compared to other hostels I have stayed at - there was the occasional crazily overpriced pub crawl like once a week but other than that, there was really no effort to help guests intermingle - perhaps it was also the massive size of the place, which didn't help. Finally, I got fed up and left, after paying 50 bucks to share a room with 7 people. I moved to the Banana Bungalow hostel in West Hollywood which was 20 bucks cheaper AND I shared a room with only 5 people (score!), we had a private bathroom to ourselves (at HI, the entire floor had to share a bathroom), hot water all the time, the internet worked so well that I could stream Netflix from my room, no fee to use their computers or print the occasional document (as it should be!), parking was supplied...not to mention a killer location in WeHo. There were also nightly events hosted by the hostel - all of which were really good deals! Like 20 bucks for all your can drink and eat and entry to a club. I didn't partake while there but souned like a great deal! Bottom line: I would definitely recommend the Banana Bungalow hostel over the HI hostel - you get a lot more for your money.

I stayed here for 3 nights in April this year. I was going to stay for four, but my bf and I decided to get a hotel for the last night. My dorm was a 8 bed room of all women and they all were quiet and respectful. We mostly used the room to sleep and read quietly. The room was crazy ridiculous hot, but they were having a heat wave in LA. There was a box fan in the room but I wasn't sure if it belonged to someone so it never got used. The beds were comfortable enough and they provided linens and towels. Bathrooms were normal dorm style. Pretty clean. There were a nice amount of lounge areas in the building where you could go pretty much 24/7. The breakfast was a spread of a couple cereals, some pastries, fruit, yogurt, and mini bagels. You have to wash your own dishes. I almost didn't go on the pub crawl but I'm glad I did. I met some wacky Europeans and we ended up closing down a hip-hop club. We were lead on the pub crawl by some American locals who left us there (which was a little weird). I led the very drunk Europeans back to the hostel safely. I barely spent any money and was totally schnookered to the point where I prevented a Brazilian guy and English girl from getting their swerve on. Oops. Anyway, it was fun. About 30 bucks a night so it was hard to beat.

I've stayed at a few hostels, and this one is tops! Check in is smooth & easy. Staff is always busy, but very willing to help. With lots of activities daily, the overall vibe at this place is young, fun, and social... you can come without a plan, and still find yourself doing all kinds of awesome things! (Pub crawls, nightly movies, museum trips, etc.) I stayed for 2 nights this summer and would have stayed longer if time permitted... There were 10 beds in my dorm, and the room was hot & muggy (I think the window was broken so it wouldn't crank open) but the rooms were quiet and everyone got along great. The bed is already assigned to you at check-in, so there's no awkward "did someone claim this bed already" junk. You get your own locker (bring your own lock) that's really big & has plenty of room for your valuables. Wifi is free and only works in the lounge areas. (Hey it keeps you from sitting in your room with the computer on all night!) You can pay for internet, but it's probably pretty expensive ~ I'm sure if you asked the staff, they'd be able to point out to you the nearest library or something. They seemed to know where EVERYTHING is in the area. Breakfast is included, and was pretty damn good as far as hosteling goes! Cereal, bagels, hard boiled eggs, tea, coffee, milk, juice.. If that's not enough for you, you can cook in the huge kitchen. I brought some snacks for my stay, but noticed there's several shelves with food & spices marked "FREE" left by previous travelers - so help yourself! I don't know how many people stay here, but it's a lot, and they've got it down to an art... it's clean, and efficient, without looking the least bit institutional. (Lots of color, and funky lights, etc.) I'm a fan, Santa Monica! PS. Didn't see this mentioned anywhere before I went, but noticed signs at the front desk- they offer shuttles to/from the airport for cheap (I think $12 or so? Don't quote me on that) and also a daily shuttle to the San Francisco hostel for like $50.

You Know Right when you arrive ...You are greeted by...Smokers. Everytime you leave...you are Greeted by Smokers. Hostel Smokers, Homeless Smokers...All Types. When you arrive..Smokers. when you Check Out...Smokers.

Stayed in a 10 man dorm room. Woke up around 4 am to some Australian yelling "get the fk out of my bed." I was on the top bunk so I wasn't able to see what was going on so I lied quietly and listened. Then I heard a different Australian voice yell "f××K off mate" By now I realized something funny is going on. Eventually someone turns on the lights and there is a totally naked man casually leaned up against the storage lockers and says "final chance...does anyone want to have sex?" At the time I was a little horrified and told him he could probably find a homeless man on the streets to warm him up. The Australian went down and told the manager and they promptly kicked him out. The morning after it was a funny story to tell. Turns out he was trying sneak into multiple guys beds all throughout the night. I usually hate having the top bunk but god was on my side that night and my innocence is still intact. Great community rooms and free bagel, cream cheese, peaches, yogurt and cereal for breakfast. Awesome location in Santa Monica a block from the beach.

What a dream location! The site is big, warm, inviting and you have a complete sense of privacy~ The layout of the hostel is around a courtyard. I had a private room, whose window opened up into the central courtyard. The room was spotless, inviting and the beds feel like Ikea cardboard in texture, but were comfortable enough!

As many know, not all hostels are created equal, and this hostel is superior than most. In this particular order, I enjoyed these the most: the staff/service, accommodations, structure/ambiance, and the other people staying there. All were superior and exceeded my expectations, I absolutely love this hostel, not to mention the location is extremely convenient. The only issue would be that the rooms aren't properly heated, so if you stay here on a cold night, request an extra blanket or some way to keep warm (perhaps more layers). All in all, this place deserves 5 stars. At night, they lit the fireplace and it had coal in shapes such as a triangle, circle, and square, all of which were large and made the fire all the more attractive. The hostel is clean and the food remains safe in the kitchen. The internet is a bit pricey if you want to use their computers, but it seems like a fair trade (.10 a minute which does add up). They have a payphone located inside the hostel so you have some privacy, as well as key-card access for added security and safety. There is no alcohol or drugs allowed, but there is a bar and other bars within a block. They also have pub crawls and other nightly events, just ask the front desk. Thanks for the awesome experience!

Extremely unprofessional staffs, don't even know the major attractions of the nearby area. Don't seem knowledgeable since every time they need to use Google to find the answers to ur question Very rude to the customers, unfriendly Can't use laundry room. Wifi is extremely slow. No hot shower Bathroom is not clean. For this higher price , not worth it Came here for the shorter route to the airport .

This is a really big hostel! So it doesn't give you that get-to-know-people-feeling that you get at other places. The building seems newly renovated and the facilities are very nice. It has all you need and more! The breakfast though is horrible. The most boring toast, butter and one kind of jam. Day old sliced fruit and hard boiled egg, probably from the day before aswell. The orange juice is the only possitive thing about breakfast. The location is really good.

I came here for a cheap bed to sleep on during the New Years Eve, Together As One 2010/2011 event in Downtown Los Angeles. I made the unfortunate mistake of picking a spot too far from the event that I wanted to go. But nevertheless, I love the atmosphere on this beachside hostel. I paid $28.99 a day for a three day stay. They'll take a small amount of money for collateral that you will get back later on when you check out. It's just $5 for the key. I don't have much to say about a hostel. Because hostels are designed in a way where it encourages the folks staying over to network with other roommates and tourists and go outside to explore the area together. The locals are super peaceful and chill. And I spent the previous day walking down the Venice Beach Boardwalk (also known as the famous Muscle Beach, featuring stars like Arnold Schwarzeneggar back during his prime) to party and kick back with the local hippies. There is a guy on roller skates called "Harry Perry" on Venice Beach, he carries a electric guitar amplifier on his back, and starts busting out some heavy metal tunes for all the weed smokers high from the shit sold at the local dispensaries. Real awesome :D What you'll also find within a 2 mile radius are numerous marijuana dispensaries like the Kush Doctor. People who work for them give you fliers to come inside and get a checkup to find out if you qualify for a Californian 2.15/420 card, which lets you legally smoke pot in public within the borders of California for "medical reasons". It's really easy to get this card, from the Kush Doctor you can have it either as a plastic card or a green piece of paper for $80 for a year. I'm not telling you how to get this card. All I can really say is follow your instincts when you walk inside these offices. I got my card because of chronic depression and mental issues. Directly one block east of the hostel is the Third Street Promenade. Its a outdoor shopping mall extending 4 blocks from North to South. It recently has been renovated to add new stores. You have a lot of street performers, Islam bashers, dance crews, etc. Coming here, and up to San Francisco was one of the most relaxing vacations and time-offs I ever had (:

There was the geriatric fellow in bed two with the penchant for listening to opera to lull himself to sleep. Wearing headphones will make you deaf, though I imagine at 75 everything works in converse. And not to dilly-out the judgement - but horray for the Pakistani kid in bed four who chanted the koran whilst sleeping. I took no offence, yet he somehow found the will to throw a shoe at me for presumed snoring at 2:04. I curse you, kiddo. Bed four was a sleeper. His wretched feet peered through the little-person blanket, twitching slightly at any hint of noise. Personal hyiene had run off with his nail clippers. For those two nights we three gypsies bonded with muffled gasps and rhythmic bed-squeaking; bed four being particularly jumpy on the latter.

This is a great hostel. It's extremely clean and very nicely design, meaning modern. The dorms have large individual lockers. Just bring your padlock and you're good to go. They provide sheets, 2 pillows & even a shower towel. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You can find information on tours, things to do, etc. from the front desk. Huge parking lot (lot 6) is right across the street if you need it. The location couldn't be any better. Santa Monica pier and Venice beach is all within walking distance. Restaurants, shops and pubs can be found one street East on 3rd Street Promenade or just a short walk down Main St. One of the best hostels I've ever stayed in!

Words will not give justice just how incredible this place is. I booked it on a whim just as my "go to" destination after I arrived from Sydney to LAX. And it was the best decision I made on the whole trip. The hostel itself is extremely clean. The bathrooms are neat and even provide a hair dryer (yay for those of us who were too cool to bring one ourselves). The kitchen is HUGE and equip with absolutely everything you could possibly need to create foodie masterpieces. The breakfast is free, and although I'm not a huge fan of shitty American cereals and sugary bagels... It's still free and I'm not complaining ! Plus, free endless supply of tea and coffee - hell yes ! Bed linen is provided, towels and a locker to put your valuables. Everyone is friendly and I made SO many friends at this hostel. The vibe is just incredible. SO much fun. I have to say though, the hostel staff were the highlight of my stay. They didn't treat me like a "customer" ... They treated me like a friend. Anything I needed to know, they were there to help. They gave me genuine advice and didn't treat me like a stereotypical traveller. I truly loved those girls. Betty, Marlene, etc etc. I mean their warmth, authenticity and true friendly nature truly did make my stay so fulfilling. They are a genuine reflection of this hostel - amazing. Do what I did and become a H.I. Member because it gives you $3 off the usual nightly price and other perks too. Would highly recommend this company (and especially the Santa Monica hostel). After booking my flight and having absolutely nothing planned ... I ended up staying at the Hostel Internationals all over the country for 3 months. One hundred and ten million percent worth it. I could not give them a higher recommendation. :)

Comfiest beds I've ever slept in at a hostel!! Rooms are huge, clean, comfortable and the layout is really great. Free breakfast, cheap pasta and burger nights are brilliant. Not really the best hostel for socialising, but it's still not too bad. Location is incredible.. Extremely close to Santa Monica Pier and the 3rd Street Promenade. Only real negative I found during my stay was that there is no air con in the rooms, only a fan attached to the wall. It wasn't too bad while there was only 3 of us in the room, but when all 6 beds were full, it did get incredibly hot and stuffy. I will definitely recommend this hostel to anyone looking to get away from the craziness of staying in the city. Very relaxing atmosphere.

I stayed at the Hi Hostel, Santa Monica for a week, and I had one of the best vacations in my life, seriously. It's in a great area, one short block from the beach. It's exceptionally clean, and the bed I had was very comfortable. I checked into a room with six beds and en suite bathroom. I really got along well with my room buddies. They were all great. The breakfast hours were 7:30 to 10:30 so that afforded me the opportunity to take a long walk on the beach or sleep in and still have breakfast. With some creative thinking, the breakfast options were plentiful. It's a 24 hour hostel so rolling in at midnight wasn't a problem. The front desk offered handouts on different places one could go, Venice, the Getty Museum, etc. One can get around quite easily on public transportation which is exceedingly cheap. The restaurant options within walking distance are numerous and superb. And of course there is a kitchen for those interested in cooking. Many of the local, world-class museums are totally free, even the expertly guided tours. The whole vacation couldn't have been better. I can't say enough good things about this hostel. Go there, you won't be sorry. This is not the old Santa Monica one hears about. This is not Dogtown, although Bicknell Hill is about four blocks away from the hostel. This is Silicon Beach!

Solid, clean, tourist-friendly hostel. There is no climate control (for you not used to the heat this may be a problem), but it's located SOOO close to the Santa Monica beach that it should really not be a problem (it was not for me). Nearby parking is very inexpensive (garages across the street from the hostel [even the parking attendants, who have nothing to do with the hostel but more indicative of the attitude of this part of Santa Monica, are joyfully friendly). They plan trips to art museums if that is your thing (it is mine, but I took myself in my car) and everyone everywhere is very friendly. Small arthouse cinema is just down the street perhaps a block or less than a city block away. Very good upkeep and probably among the nicest hostels you will find in the U.S.; absurdly inexpensive. - E

Really well run hostel. Lots of people but lots of beds. Free breakfast was nice. My only complaint is the wifi speed. It was downright almost unusable.

Awesome hostel, clean, great staff. In addition to this being a perfect location ~ the hostel offers various tours to guests that are FREE! I would highly recommend the Saturday tour of downtown LA led by Marvin or Steve. It is a great way to spend an afternoon learning the history of Bunker Hill, walking through hotel greats (Bonaventure), the LA Library, Walt Disney Concert Hall. Lunch at the City Center Food Court has endless culinary treats, then off to Angels Flight, Olvera Street and Union Station. Each tour they offer on a daily basis is unique - the Thursday Getty Museum tour is another gem! All this and the opportunity to chat with people from various countries!

Ok, so I haven't actually been here since the 1990's, but I have fond memories of this place. I have been to 15 or so hostels in the US and Canada, and location is everything. It is a block from the water. It is a block from the Third Street Promenade. I'm sure it has the same awful bunk beds all hostels have (I can't remember the sleeping quarters at all), but when you've got so much going on around you, how much time are you going to spend inside anyway?

I got to stay in this place a couple of months ago, I just felt like getting out of town, but didn't have much money; so I packed my bag & went to Santa Monica (I love this place!!). I honestly didn't know where to stay (that was really cheap) but out of nowhere this place pops into my view, I went in, there was room, so I stayed. I shared my room with about 5 other girls (there were 8 beds), everything was clean, the bathroom, the fire test, was laways clean, I never had a problem with anyone (everyone was very respectful). So if you are strap for cash but you find yourself in Santa Monica, this is the place to stay!!! P.S. Is not far from the beach!!!!! ;)

First time here. I liked the place a lot. Price for the area was very reasonable. You get free breakfast every morning. They have a tv area with a few couches, washing machines to do your laundry, I really liked the outside area which had a couple of day beds and lots of chairs to sit outside and relax. The rooms have lockers for your luggage, but bring a lock. My only complaints, is there is no air conditioner in the rooms and it was very hot, they had a fan which really didn't do much. The lounge areas weren't that hot, it was kind of cool. The bathrooms had a funky musky smell to them and it was extremely hot in the bathrooms because of no air conditioner. The place is very nice and all the employees are super cool. The young lady, I think her name was Bevin(?) long curly brown hair. She was very very helpful with any questions that I asked.

This hostel is in a phenomenal location and has very good facilities, plenty of places to find some space for yourself or to meet people, walking distance to everything in Santa Monica, very close to the beach as well as the 3rd st Promenade. I have been in a 10 person dorm and the rooms are pretty clean with it's own shower and bathroom. The included breakfast in the morning is great, just like a continental breakfast at a lot of hotels. My one downside that brought the rating down is the price, I paid $41 a night for the first 2 nights and then went to book an extra night which was $58 because it was Thursday night and approaching the weekend.. This is getting on the very expensive side for a hostel... I would expect to pay that in NY but not in California. Otherwise great experience and I would recommend staying here over other areas in LA such as Hollywood or West Hollywood.

I love this hostel and stay here whenever I pass through L.A., but noticed lately that the rates seem a bit inflated. $60 for a dorm bed in an 8 person suite, and it isn't even the summer time. Not a good sign. Staff is always great, but they need to check up on their rates. Awesome location etc.

I came back to my room and my things were gone. The desk checked in one place and they weren't in a bag at the front desk. It took some determination on my part to get them to check a few other places and give me a form to fill out to document what was missing, I wrote down and asked for a call back. I got no call back the next day. I had to walk about 15 blocks at 10:30 pm to find VONs to get toothpaste and notions. That night someone came into the room and flashed a phone light around the room around 3am in the morning. The next day I told 4 of the other girls in the room and they said no one had told them. The also told me that there was a guy sleeping in the bed across from me. We were all surprised because the rooms are not co-ed. I told the front desk and they did not know specifically who it was - from what I could hear it was one of 2 possible men. They moved him after I told them there was a guy in the room. I have never had a theft in a hostel - I didn't loose a lot, but it was inconvenient and creepy not knowing if it was the cleaning staff or someone in the room with us. For some reason I only got a fresh towel on 2 of the 4 days I stayed, and the cheaper parking they'd told me about no longer existed when I checked in. 1 clogged shower, and one clogged toilet during my 4 nights. The good points are: It's a fantastic location, close to the beach and 3rd st. promenade, lots of yoga studios, small gyms, a variety of restaurants, easy access to the freeways, and the parking across the street is very convenient (17.95/day, first 90 minutes are free). There are a lot of homeless folks - I doubt any would be dangerous - however some spots, especially near Venice beach smell like piss and garbage. I would like to say the people at the desk are nice, however no one said they were sorry for what happened to me and there was no support in trying to unravel what happened as you can see. I think it's important to get this out there - because my bet is, if it happens to most kids, there won't be any followup - as they're just touring and the hostel knows they won't be coming back or have the patience to followup on a police report. It's also to necessary to say, that I was not told the truth at least a couple of times. For example, that night they told me the cleaning lady said nothing was taken, but when I asked her earlier, she said she didn't know because the morning cleaners would know; I was told someone had tried to call the next day, but my mailbox was full, but I had 4 saved messages and no new calls. When you learn people are not telling you it becomes harder to trust them on anything. If I had not had this experience I would rate them a 4-star.