A friend and I needed a cheap place to crash in the city, this place beat out even the cheapest of motels by a large margin. Check in was quick and painless for two guys who walked in off the street. They said they preferred reservations, but they were not mandatory. My friend was new to the hostel experience and was unsure about the idea be after some "light nudging" we managed to convince him to stay. The hostel is split into Male and female dorms with private rooms of you wanted to spend a bit more. Beds were nice enough and blankets were more than adequate. Pancake mix and other foods were provided the next morning free of charge. Overall a good stay, with some very chill people. My only complaint is that the make dorm had female toilets making them difficult to use without "touching". Aside from that it has a nice view of a nearby island and the surrounding area. Would recommend to anyone looking for a place better than the nearby motels.

It is out of the way, not very near a store or restaurant. But it is close to the ocean and has the most incredible views. It's quant and welcoming. The staff is incredibly kind, thoughtful, and helpful. I had plans to go explore, but loved it at the hostel so much I ended up staying most of the day. The people who were staying there were really nice as well. I can't wait to go back!!!! The Korean friendship bell was beautiful and I enjoyed a picnic nearby looking out to the ocean. There were great little spots on the property to meditate and enjoy the wildlife. So far, my favorite hostel. The price for a private room was perfect.

Although the lodgings are kind of spartan, this place is a treasure. Right on the southern California coast, the hostel looks directly out on the Korean Friendship Bell, and the beautiful pagoda in which it is housed; & then, across the channel to a nice view of Catalina Island. Though most of the facilities are dormitory style, private rooms are available for just over $50/night: certainly affordable! The atmosphere is peaceful, quiet, & environmentally friendly.

I needed a place with peace and quiet. In that regard, this place rates #1. The bed (okay, not so soft, but I don't care) was in a pitch dark room shared with others which I appreciated. Open the curtain & voila! it's bright. The morning walk overlooking Catalina Island was fresh, pristine, breathtaking. The big Bell and pagoda are serene. It's not a place for rocking out, or schmoozing, or gadding about town, but if you want a cheap sleep and happy breakfast, a place far from the madding crowd, restful before you travel on, go for it. The staff are friendly & helpful.

We felt very at home here. The staff are great once you get to know them, and the free breakfast is great (oatmeal, pancake mix, bread, etc. And free coffee all day). Fridays is free spaghetti night. There was enough food in the free food sections that we only went to the shops once. The location is a little out of the way, but relaxing (pick up a metro pass and you can get to the city centre) only downside is no toilets in the main reception block, and the wifi only reaches some dorms

This was my first time staying in a hostel. I thought I should get the experience in while I'm still young and able to climb into a bunk! We got a private room with two beds, which was perfect for me and my sister. It was very affordable. The room was basic, but if you consider the price and the fact that it is a hostel, I think it was really decent. We had a key so we were able to stay for several days and keep our belongings in the room. There was no food or drink allowed in the dorms, so the area was pretty clean. There was a shared bathroom with two stalls, two showers, and two sinks. The main area was clean and well-maintained. The staff was kind and helpful, for the most part. The guests were friendly. My only complaint is that everyone there sounded like they were sick. The walls were thin and we could hear everyone hacking away in the night. LOL it was kind of a buzz kill because we were afraid that we were going to get sick. But other than that, a great place to stay on a budget. The ocean view and the view of the Korean Friendship Bell is BREATHTAKING.

Positive: I enjoyed my stay at the South Bay Hostel. The staff was friendly and helpful. The people staying there were nice, got a ride with a couple of them to the Beach which was fun. I liked being by the Korean bell and the Angel gate park. Negative: It takes a long time 2-3 hours by bus, to get anywhere from Pedro. Overall, great hostel, I would give it a 5 if the location for traveling was better. Good lockers, facilities and showers, nice breakfast, they sell you eggs too. Plenty of fridge and kitchen space. Friday pasta dinners are fun. If you're staying in LA, this is a good place to start.

Initially I had a hard time locating this hostel but with the patience of my Uber driver and limited directions from the hostel receptionist, I found my home away from home. The views from this hostel are truly incredible, nothing more magical than watching the sunset or sunrise from Angels Gate Park just a few feet away from your doorstep. Although the location is beautiful, I wouldn't recommend this hostel to a traveler on foot. Public transportation is scarce but available. I had to rely a lot on Uber's which adds up fairly quickly so keep that in mind fellow backpackers. But there still is a lot to do/see/eat that is in walking distance! The space was clean, friendly staff, and a decent breakfast provided. The price per night is a bit high in my opinion but I enjoyed my stay nonetheless.

I always love staying at HI Hostels. This was no different. It was a cool location. The rooms were just fine, I mean don't expect a 5 star hotel. The bathroom was perfect. The staff was super friendly. Breakfast was nothing to write home about but it definitely will get your day started. The only thing was that right outside my window was a basketball court and at 6 am there were people loudly playing basketball...you could hear everything. But this would not stop me from recommending this hostel to people. If you are looking for good night life around your hostel or hotel, this isn't the place for you. If you are looking for a nice local place with amazing views then this is perfect.

Fab hostel, amazing view, super friendly staff. What more could you need?! Rooms are small and basic (as you’d expect from a hostel) comfy bed, great bathrooms. This hostel evidently cares about its carbon footprint which is a winner for me. Highly recommend.