HI - Santa Monica / Los Angeles

HI - Santa Monica / Los Angeles descritpion

The largest purpose-built hostel in the United States with affordable dorm accommodations, the hostel is the perfect base from which to explore all that the Los Angeles area has to offer.
It is just steps to the beaches of Santa Monica, Malibu and Venice, not to mention the Third Street Promenade with hundreds of shops, theaters, galleries, restaurants, and bars.
The property is central to all LA bus lines offering easy access to city tours, movie star's homes, shopping, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, and the world class Getty Center Museum and the Getty Villa Museum, overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
Santa Monica is a great choice for travelers interested in relaxation, beach walks and beaches.

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Facilities of HI - Santa Monica / Los Angeles

Outdoors ：Grounds

Kitchen ：Shared Kitchen

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Bicycle Rental | Library

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and charges apply.

General ：Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Elevator

Languages Spoken ：Spanish | English

Reviews for HI - Santa Monica / Los Angeles

Review 1：Mattresses a bit thin. Refrigerators were BIG but stuffed w/ god knows what.

Review 2：Great location, easy to get to the beach and to where I needed to go. Once I figured it out, good public transportation to and from airport. Helpful staff w/ room situations and directions about how to get here and there. Breakfast was OK, but still very helpful in getting going in the morning. The kitchen seemed well stocked w/ equipment that was needed. Looking forward to when the construction is done :)

Review 3：The common spaces, the fact that you can share everything you want with everybody. The electronic key that gives you acces to the facilities instead of showing your id pass like in other hostels.

Review 4：Very small room with 2 bunk bed, and little smell. The price is relatve high.

Review 5：The public areas are clean and friendly. The closed parking hause in front of the hotel. The surrounding streets are beautifulls.

Review 6：Housekeeping cleared my bed and removed by bath towels at 10:20am. Checkout is at 11am. Very unorganized and not professional. Needless to say...I did not get to take a shower & wash up before Checking out. Very upset and dissapointing.

Review 7：Safe & convenient location.

Review 8：Woke up with body ache. Maybe the bed was not as great

Review 9：It's a new facility and is clean. Location is good and staff is friend. Ideal for students and travelers

Review 10：The property location is great for being really close to Santa Monica beach/pier. Also, near the hostel are several options for food & drinks, and even some clubs if you're into some partying nights.

Review 11：shared bathroom was not completely clean

Review 12：Great location, great facilities, beautiful collective room, appreciate breakfast, opportunity to use kitchen, fridge, microwave...

Review 13：I needed farther information about how to get the places because it was a big city.

Review 14：I liked the location,it was really clean everywhere in the hostel.The breakfast.

Review 15：I would prefer they would consider curtains for each bed to make some more privacy. Internet speed was way slower than expected.

Review 16：The environment is quite interesting. Lots of different spaces to sit and doing any work. Great position in city with super easy access to some great attractions. Each room has it's own bathroom.

Review 17：It's a perfect location in Santa Monica : one block from the beach and one block from the 3rd St Promenade ! Plus, there are big lockers in the bedrooms, and breakfast is included.

Review 18：The bathrooms could have been cleaner but that's just my personal opinion

Review 19：I loved the girls at the front desk the were hilarious and caring and jut all around goo at their job

Review 20：The breakfast is the same everyday. The last day I was here the man that was behind the counter was rude and he seemed pissed and was not really interested in helping me.

Review 21：It was more confortable than I expected. Included breakfast and almost all of the staff is nice and polite.

Review 22：Not the cleanest or cheapest place (compared to in other countries). Non-HI-member fee charge of $3 per night. Wifi was slow to the point of unusable. No amenities provided.

Review 23：Cheapest place in L.A. that is a short bus ride away from the airport. Free breakfast. Facilities were decently clean. Roommates were friendly, interesting, and came from all over the world. Good location.

Review 24：Very expensive and many of the facilities, eg laundry and tv room, were out of action due to renovations without any apparent reduction in price to compensate. Also had to pay to store luggage. Showers only had curtains.

Review 25：Location. Spacious rooms with solid bunk beds. Cleaner and more modern looking than when I stayed 6 years ago.

Review 26：About everything else. Showers were freezing, the whole building was unheated (even after we requested to turn on the heating after a cold front in LA), staff was rude (cleaning staff and front desk staff).

Review 27：The location is absolutely unbeatable!

Review 28：Very good location close to the beach, clean and great value for money. It's a big hostel and people were very respectful and quiet considering it's still a backpacker environment... I would definitely stay there again if I ever go back to LA.

Review 29：There wasnt even one washing machine and dryer avaliable because of renovations

Review 30：The staff were excellent and friendly. The other guests were friendly, nice and up for a chat. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Breakfast provided was good for the price of the accomodation. Overall it was a great hostel to stay at.

Review 31：slowest WiFi ever, specially on the 3&4th floors. Santa Monica City WiFi on the street was faster than the Hostel's own WiFi!

Review 32：Location, location, location! Plus amazing facilities. All you need for a perfect stay in LA

Review 33：There is no parking there, so in addition to the expensive dorm cost you must pay at least $14 for letting your car to sleep safe too. (There is no option to be there without a car, or you spend your money on taxis that will cost you even more)

Review 34：The hostel is answering to all standards and more. Still think that the cost of $30 in dorm is very high (I stay in 3 stars hotel in Mexico city in this price and happier)

Review 35：Cold shower! Also, I booked an "all-female" dorm through Booking.com. I went to sleep pretty early and woke up in the middle of the night and there was a male (in his 50's) in my room. I'm a 24 year old female so you can imagine how alarmed I was when I woke up. Front desk staff's response to the issue was "Sometimes we book both males and females in the same room". That answer would have been fine if I had not booked an all-female dorm!

Review 36：Excellent location to Santa Monica beach - only a 5 minute walk! Gorgeous Third Street Promenade is only a street away with tons of outdoor shopping and dining options. Breakfast was sufficient. Very international group of tenants, which was cool. Would stay again. Great value for the price:)

Review 37：No alcohol allowed anywhere inside

Review 38：I had already stayed here for a week but came back later in my travels for 2 more nights. It is a great hostel in a fantastic location. Staff were friendly and helpful. There were plenty of places inside to relax including the cool TV area. Just a nice spacious hostel with good facilities, also met some nice people here.

Review 39：Nothing! I would definitely stay there again!

Review 40：Staff was excellent and I liked the location which allowed me to be by the beach within few minutes...! They also serve breakfast in the morning and that saved me a couple of dollars!

Review 41：Weakest WiFi I've ever experienced at an hostel. Useless at the rooms and barely works on main halls. Had to go outside of the hostel door a good connection, Santa Monica's public city wifi worked 10 times faster on any street in town. If you're traveling for business and you're an international guest and don't have a US day package, you're basically screwed.

Review 42：Amazing location, top facilities

Review 43：By far the least sociable hostel i have visited. Whilst some events were hosted they were not very enjoyable. I would much have preferred some more social gatherings and meetings either on or offsite to socialise with other guests.

Review 44：The rooms were well maintained, clean tidy and quiet. Location was excellent and facilities were modern.

Review 45：Rooms were small and squished and the wifi never worked. Made it hard to book things or see what was going on the in area!

Review 46：Staff were amazing! Friendly, helpful and great to chat to. The hostel was massive!

Review 47：There are no rooms with in-suite bathroom. The internet is so slow that I never knew if it worked. Would get tired of waiting to load and would use my celphone internet or the one from the Starbucks nearby instead. The breakfast is basic. The front desk staff gets defensive about everything! I didn't feel like they had my back at all. Would not stay in this hostel ever again.

Review 48：The location was great, a few minutes from the Santa Monica Pier.

Review 49：I don't know if they got rooms with Air-conditioning... Rooms can get very hot.

Review 50：It's one of the cheapest accommodations in the area Venice / Santa Monica. At least if you don't mind sleeping in a dorm. I stay there every time I am coming through LA. You got power and light right at your bed, fans in the rooms, every room I stayed in had shower and toilet, staff is always trying to help you with your requests, breakfast is not the best but good enough for a backpacker I suppose. I enjoyed staying there but I spend most of the day outside anyway. If you are looking for an affordable accommodation that is clean and provides all basics...this is your choice.

Review 51：Shared bathrooms are always a challenge to be kept clean. Bring thongs/flip flops to use in the "communal" showers!

Review 52：Loved the location, rooms were clean and great amount of space. Excellent lockers. Great break out rooms with modern and clean furniture.

Review 53：Wifi exremly poor, for 50$ bad in 6 dorm room we deserve at least that. That is what all traverels need the most to organize and make plans, also to keep in touch. There is no AC and it can be realy hot. Room was smelly on dirthy sucks and shoes...

Review 54：Location, brackfast

Review 55：The wifi is not so stable.

Review 56：I would recommend this place for solo trip. Safe, clean, nice breakfast. Nice environment, and some events will be held in the hostel. You can meet friends from different countries and they are friendly. I was a little shy as its my first time to America and LA is such a big city. My Korean roommate gave me a candy before she leaves though we have not talked. I was happy after that. It just takes 15 mins on foot to the Santa Monica beach. It's beautiful.

Review 57：The bed is not long enough for me. (I am 188cm tall.) I found it not very comfortable sleeping in the night. The vent in the surge protector is a bit big for my mac charger, I could not attach my charger to it firmly.

Review 58：Awesome location. Less than 5 minutes walk to Santa Monica beach. The hostel itself is quite clean and well-equipped. Free breakfast is good.

Review 59：The rooms aren't very ventilated making it hot and muggy at night..

Review 60：The overall freedom of the building. Kinda like being on a college campus again.

Review 61：Rooms are just too hot at night. There is not much of a hostel culture here either, everyone keeps to themselves and the Courtyard area was closed off all day. For $44/night this is by far the most expensive hostel I've ever stayed in. Wifi was too slow so I had to use my phone's 4G. Not value for money at all as the only excellent points are the breakfast and location. Everything else was pretty standard.

Review 62：Location is excellent near the beach and bus stops. Breakfast is pretty sufficient - granola, milk, bread, jam, coffee, tea. Personal lockers are handy.

Review 63：Other travelers weren't very social. Shower was low pressure and didn't get very warm. Room got very hot.

Review 64：Great location, close to Santa Monica beach, the promenade and public transportation

Review 65：There is no air conditioner. It is really hot to stay in room. I just don't understand why not adding air conditioner for each room? Is that very expensive? Unbelievable!

Review 66：Considering it is a hostel, the facility is relatively good enough. However, I live in a room shared with 6 people, so just for me, it is not a good experience on living here. That is not the hostel's fault, anybody lives with 6 people will not reach a satisfied with his or her expectation. The receptionist are friendly but not as friendly as the comments said. They can keep polite and talking with a smile. Oh yes, the location is really really perfect, just by Santa Monica beach which is my favorite.

Review 67：Only thing i didn't like was only a fan in the rooms so hot at night

Review 68：Good place to stay on a budget. Staff all friendly and clean rooms Two minutes from the beach

Review 69：The room did not have air conditioning, I almost died during the night. And I am from Brasil, I am used to hot! Hahahaah

Review 70：Great location and veeeery nice staff! Very good breakfast and fun place to be.

Review 71：No A/C in the dorm during the hot days, and too many people talking loudly on the street during late night.

Review 72：The beds are clean and breakfast service is really nice :)

Review 73：I booked a 10 bed room, and the check in was done in 6 bed room (I paid for the 6 bed room) The room was very hot, not good ventilation.

Review 74：Excellent breakfast, friendly staff, nice and clean bathroom. Great location.

Review 75：Staff just staff, rather impersonal compared to other hostels, breakfast could have been better for the price. Bit many people in one room for price.

Review 76：Close to the beach, nice pubs around, clean

Review 77：But too warm in the room at night due to lotsa heat and no AC, but was still manageable!

Review 78：Great location; friendly and knowledgable staff; appeared to be plenty organised activities even though I did not participate in any of them; generally a fantastic experience. Thanks guys

Review 79：It's a shame dorms in the 4th floor (not sure about the others) don't have air conditioning, only a fan... It gets really hot inside! Bathrooms could be cleaner.

Review 80：On the bright side, they have enough bathrooms, nice social areas, big lockers in dorms, Wifi available everywhere, nice decoration in general. The location is excellent, close to the beach, stores and feels really safe at night.

Review 81：I stayed in a 6 beds room during september and the temperature inside it was extremely hot. There was only one small fan on the wall and it didn't work well, so it was almost impossible to stay inside the room even at night. We were in 5 friends in this room and only one of us got to sleep inside it at night, the others sleeped on the sofa in the hall, because there was air conditioner there. I'm not exaggerating. I'm from Brazil and where I live is very hot almost all the year, so I'm used to it, but we really couldn't sleep in the room. The restroom had cockroaches every morning. One morning I went to the toilet and there was a big one there. Went to the shower and there was another one. That's not the first thing you want to see in the morning...

Review 82：Awesome location, very close to Santa Monica Pier. Nice people to meet in the Hostel. It's also close to some nice pubs. Beds have individual power outlet.

Review 83：have no aircondition in the room, just two old fans working all day with crazy heavy noise， could‘t sleep at night!

Review 84：the location is excellent, walk to the beach or shopping street are both fine, just 1-2 minute; the courtyard is beautiful, the whole hostel has many places to relax! the kitchen is large! the free breakfast has fresh fruit and juice!

Review 85：On the 4th floor the water in the shower is too cold.

Review 86：Nice location in Santa Monica, friendly staff and many activities for tourists. Good for 2-3 nights.

Review 87：Toilet,No air condition. My room is 3rd floor and near street,it's not only hot but also noisy since 4am (noise from opposite building)

Review 88：Location,Kitchen,living space

Review 89：There is only one fan in the room while 8 person have to share it. The fan is not rotating and only work on one side, which is HOT!

Review 90：HI is a very good place to meet other cool travelers and making new friends. Continental breakfast is good and yummy. :p

Review 91：I liked just about everything, but the rooms could be have air conditioning, and be more airy.

Review 92：The staff is very helpful, wonderful environment, and they have a complete and nutritious breakfast. Great place to meet people from around the world.

Review 93：Hair and empty confections of shampoo and liquid soap on the floor, in showers. I know it's because of some disrespectful guests' demeanor and you're not responsible for, but it was ''yuk!''

Review 94：It's a nice place in Santa Monica! The staff is really kind and even hilarious! Lots of space and things to do inside HI too! And in two minutes you're on Santa Monica Beach!!!! I will certainly book at HI every time I will be in L.A..

Review 95：Soooooo hot rooms..i couldn't breath at night and the rooms smells bad too because no air.fun didnt help at all! I know maybe is bit expensive but they can install small air conditioners in every room.i understand if you busy and people stay there so for what..but i dont know..for better costumer service maybe??? Everything was good but if you cant sleep at night it a problem :(

Review 96：Great location and staff!! Ready to help and always welcome! Big hostel so you can have your privacy if you want to and for sure not party place thanks god :)

Review 97：The bathroom and shower smelled bad. The breakfast was all packaged sugar filled stuff, meagre and sad. The room was so hot that many people were struggling to sleep.

Review 98：The people at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. The fresh towel and storage options.

Review 99：The vibe was very boring shame for such a great hostel. No alcohol rule prob kills it, especially since everyone is on holidays. It help people meet new people

Review 100：The amazing building

Review 101：The rooms are tiny and the restrooms are not very clean.

Review 102：The location is great, although if it's your first visit to LA and would like to see the city, it's not an option since you will spend 1hr and 45 mins on the bus to get to Hollywood and then back.

Review 103：Room was very hot and uncomfortable. (Was there late August, one fan per room).

Review 104：The location here is incredible, literally around the corner from the beach, sun sets and the Pier extending into the ocean! Lot's of other people traveling through and from all around the world Lot's of different places to hang out in the hotel if your looking for quiet space, chill out and relax, or even the courtyard opening to the sky. Management took care of any of my concerns in a responsible manor and were very nice overall.

Review 105：It would have been good to have plug sockets near the bunks, particularly the upper bunks. Wifi was a bit slow at times in the room but still worked. Not as sociable as other hostels, maybe because it is a larger hostel.

Review 106：The location was perfect, right near Santa Monica beach. It was very clean and great facilities. Nice people who stayed at the hostel.

Review 107：As any other place with shared bathrooms.. wear your jandals, though still pretty reasonable.

Review 108：The staff were great, luggage storage option a bonus, and the mattress was the most comfortable I've slept on for a back packers.. Value for money with location, amenities plus breakfast included.

Review 109：No air conditioning, broken window, unhelpful staff, poor breakfast, lack of social opportunities organized by the hostel & VERY overpriced!

Review 110：The location was very good

Review 111：The room wasn't very clean, but that may have been due to the extreme amount of mess caused by some guests. Would really have appreciated air conditioning. A fan hardly does anything, and some of the girls kept turning it off because of the noise.

Review 112：Free breakfast was good, Wi-Fi worked well, and the staff were lovely.

Review 113：Restrooms and shower need a serious revamp and cleansing. Room dingy and small beds.

Review 114：Amazing location, very helpfull staff, nice common areas. For that price i would expect a bit better..

Review 115：Some of the roomies are way to hot! I had 3 different rooms the 3 Floor with the bathroom inside the room was the best one the other ones were to little especially that one in he second floor was way to little and it was super hot inside the room with 3 other people inside!

Review 116：I had a really nice journey!!! The location is perfect! It is 5 minutes walk to the beach and to the pier! Really good breakfast and really clean place! The people that work there are really friendly and helpful! I'll be back for sure!

Review 117：I just wasnt expecting to be sleeping with 7 other strangers. I was somewhat uncomfortable because you can't trust random strangers yet you are sleeping with them in bunk beds.

Review 118：The cost really wasn't to bad for being in downtown. It's just a different type of place. You have to realize that you don't get your own room. At least I didn't.

Review 119：Bunk beds too narrow, no hangers in the room to dry a wet bathing suit, girls leave too much stuff in the shared bathroom and don't clean after themselves, no good internet connection in the rooms.

Review 120：It's close to the beach and downtown santa monica, spacious kitchen, good breakfast. Good for meeting people.

Review 121：The front dest employess were not very welcoming, and price is too high for a hostel. Also, the water was NOT hot enough...

Review 122：The location was wonderful. And facility is much more greater than other hi hotstels.

Review 123：I found my room difficult to have a good night sleep given the fan offering little respite from the heat. Wifi didn't work for 2 days making communication expensive as I had to use my mobile data plan.

Review 124：The location of the hostel was perfect. Amenities was adequate for the price paid.

Review 125：Amazing location, just across from Santa Monica Pier, and close to 3rd ave for shopping. Lots of great food places around. Really chilled and nice, great as a solo traveller, met lots of great poeple

Review 126：The wifi was terrible, not only in the evenings but for most of the day. It was so slow you couldn't really do anything using it. The room we stayed in was extremely hot and even with a terribly noisy fan on, the room remained hot throughout the night.

Review 127：The rooms were fairly spacious and there were many places you could go to sit in the hostel. The hostel on generally was clean and the staff were nice and helpful. The hostel is in the perfect location, a 5 minute walk from Santa Monica beach and pier which was great.

Review 128：The facilities are OK. The matresses are thin and the rooms are just not really comfortable. Just stayed one night (of the three night that I had booked).

Review 129：The location is excellent! Really great!

Review 130：With not having any air-conditioning, the rooms were quite hot.

Review 131：The location is fantastic! The facilities are great! Just an all around great place to stay! Loved it! Highly recommended!!

Review 132：- Room mate snored very loudly so it was difficult getting to sleep some nights - Cheapest in Santa Monica but still expensive for a hostel

Review 133：-Excellent service -Excellent breakfast

Review 134：Best spot in town for travellers, literally a block away from the waterfront. Excellent service from the reception staff. Breakfast however consists of sugarery plastic wrapped airplane food. Fresh bread and an assortment of fruit wouldn't hurt. Also the rooms are not airconditioned and the top floors are stifling hot in the summer, making sleeping a little uncomfortable

Review 135：This is not a hostel problem or an issue for drivers with (rental) cars, but I had to take a long bus trip whenever I wanted to go somewhere in LA. Breakfast was very limited compared to other HI sites

Review 136：I've been to a bunch of HI hostels all over the US and this one is quite decent. You get what you paid for. Staff was super friendly and helpful

Review 137：Dorm mates were inconsiderate and noisy but that's not the hostels fault. Pricey for a hostel.

Review 138：Second time I've stayed here. Awesome location, friendly staff.

Review 139：difficult to get a great social experience as most people don't talk to meet new people. It's an alcohol free hostel.

Review 140：Great facilities!!! It feels almost like a Hotel!!! Just a block away from Santa Monica Beach. If you just start talking to people in your room and in the kitchen, you can make friends and find people to hang out with.

Review 141：Free breakfast was hardly worth it

Review 142：The staff were very helpful and nice. Location is first class. Facilities had everything you need. Rooms and bathrooms were very clean.

The Fine Print

Please note, there will be minor renovations at the property until January 2016. During this time, the laundry room , business center and TV room will not be available.Upon check-in all guests are required to present a valid passport. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.Children under the age of 13 are unable to be accommodated in shared dormitories. Children between the ages of 13 to 18 are unable to be accommodated in shared dormitories unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.Please note that non-members of Hostelling International (HI) must either pay an additional fee or purchase a membership card upon arrival. Hostel guests may stay for 14 consecutive nights or an accumulative total of 14 nights during each calendar year. At the end of the 14 nights guests may not return until the following calendar year. No extensions will be granted.Please contact Hostelling International Los Angeles/Santa Monica directly for reservations of 6 or more people.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.