First time staying at a HI USA hostel, and I gotta say I’m impressed overall. Good value stay with thoughtful amenities right in the heart of the gaslamp district. Pros: secure entry, good price, clean rooms & bathrooms, cool AC temp, lockers (bring your own lock), flexible booking/cancellations, free breakfast (oatmeal, fruit, bagels), community activities and lounge areas, kitchen & laundry rooms, very walkable. Cons: super noisy with nightlife nearby until the early AM, smelly downtown area, earplugs a must if you’re a light sleeper (they have free earplugs at the front desk), and cheap parking is atrociously hard to find. Would suggest metered parking < 1 mi. away by civic center or on 6th, otherwise be prepared to PAY for lot & garage parking. Overall would definitely recommend and come back.

Stayed in a private 4-bunk room with 2 other friends. Our room was huge, super clean, and spacious. Only negative is that our room faced Market St, so even with the windows closed it was pretty loud on weekends -- but the hostel gives you free earplugs so those come in real handy. Oh, and I wish there were some sort of plug for the top bunk. Bring long charging cables. The location is absolutely perfect. The staff are friendly, the kitchen is big and clean. For the price, you really can't complain about this place!

Very friendly and safe atmosphere. Staff were nice and explained things clearly and helpful. Very secure entrance and rooms had electronic locks. My bed wasn't ready when I showed up early but they offered to stow my luggage and allowed me to hang out in the common area. The common areas were very clean. The bed was comfy and linens were clean and my blanket was fluffy. Lockers were big and fit my suitcase. Locks were available for purchase for $5.50. the outlet was right next to my bunk which was really convenient. Bathroom smelled a little funky but not enough to really bother me. It was a quiet environment perfect for relaxing. The city gets a little loud at night but I expected that with all the outdoor dining and activities going on. There's free earplugs if you need them. Lots of good dining and not far from the stadium, drugstore, and the bay. I was able to walk a few blocks and catch the local bus to the airport for $2.50 which was anice option compared to taxi etc. This was my first stay at a Hostel and likely not my last because of how this went. Thank you to all the staff for a relaxing experience!!

This was my first time at a hostel and I loved it. The common spaces were clean and the other guests were friendly and accommodating. You could tell they had a system for managing people flow, cleaning schedules, etc. I appreciated that they provided complimentary ear plugs, though my room was quiet and I didn't need them. They provided a locker for my suitcase and only charged me $4 for a lock, which I feel like they could have taken advantage of the situation and overcharged me, but they didn't. The downsides were that the emergency exits weren't clear, the power went out for a short while, and at least one of the bathrooms on our floor was closed which meant sometimes having to hunt for another option. All in all, those things didn't bother me much. The location in the Gas Lamp district is unbeatable and convenient to the convention center and all the restaurants. When I visited on April 20, 2022, masks were recommended but not required. Proof of vaccination was required. Amazing experience. I highly recommend.

HI is one of the cheapest options for accommodation, so you get what you pay for. I’d recommend only staying for a day or two, but it’s fine if you just want a roof over your head. While the place advertises meeting new people, most people just keep to themselves. You get a bunk and a large locker to yourself, and then everything else is shared. The bed and pillows left my back and neck so stiff, I could not last another day on them. The bed just gives in the middle so it’s terrible for back sleepers. The toilet and shower were good, water pressure and heat were great. They have extra full bathrooms around the floor so you should always have one available. The game room has 2 arcade cabinets to pay for, a pool table, and over a dozen board games to play. There’s a lot of seating for eating and it was always pretty empty. The kitchen is well-stocked with tableware and you could definitely cook a full meal with easy. The continental breakfast is extremely bare-bones: oatmeal, bagels, and cereal.

First time hosteling and will most likely never do it again. Check in time is incredibly late at 3pm not sure if that’s normal but the front desk did let me put my bags in the back.Very unpleasant walking around in the same clothes you’ve been traveling If you’re a person who likes your surroundings looking presentable and being clean you should look somewhere else. They allow guests who have COVID stay here, coughing and spitting up in the bathroom you have to share.You must flash your security pass to the front desk despite having to use that same pass to gain entry.From what I can tell the room was not cleaned during the stay,the same pile of dust sat by the door.Floors so dusty they would leave my socks dirty in a few steps.Sheets and blankets are not cleaned adequately with actual detergent and there was hair on the blankets, you also put them on your chosen flat mattress yourself.Outlets are not placed by every bed so you’re just left to deal with it. Roommates are inconsiderate and clueless having loud conversations and being disgusting despite there being multiple break rooms.Woke up to the door being open multiple times for no apparent reason.Do not book if you’re annoyed very easily by obnoxious white girls. No “amenities” besides a tv/computer room, kitchen,and laundry room but be prepared to go outside and buy detergent instead of what they sell here. Air conditioners are inadequate only releasing air for a few minutes initially then turning off even though we’re in Southern California.The area is surrounded by homeless on literally every block doing hard drugs and exposing themselves.You really do get what you paid for.Wish I could include audio clips of the homeless men threatening violence and the horrid coughing and choking I heard throughout the night.

Stayed one night, the three star is for the friendly staff and nice location,however the hygiene is a problem, the sheet has a very obvious yellow stain, not sure from the last person who stayed in this room or something, the blanket has some sort of brown candy like residue on it and doesn’t smell like sanitized.

I LOVED this hostel & felt very safe here BUT do yourself a favour and request a quiet room!!! I usually don’t have trouble sleeping but having a window facing Market Street is pure torture (especially during the weekend) 😈 Apart from that it was perfect! Very kind staff, clean and modern facilities and very low-key atmosphere! Location isn’t the prettiest but very accessible if you’re using public transport !

The worst experience I have ever had. Came in for a wedding for one night, got thrown out at 3:00 AM because someone else let their friends into building. Was told I let a bunch of people in the building. I have no idea who they were. Eight police officers woke my girlfriend up as they raided my room. I literally have no clue who any of those people were. Please please please do not stay here. Craziest night of my life.

Great, central location. Rooms were great. My only complaint would be that the area could get noisy late at night, but that comes naturally with having the location they have.

Great location, nice rooms, clean bathroom. Breakfast could have some variety but despite that, great hostel!

Overall fantastic - location is central, all customer service was friendly, and the hostel overall seemed clean. A secure building, front door is locked in the evening and the desk is always manned checking room passes. Note - if you plan on sleeping before 2am on a weekend, bring silicone earplugs or noise canceling headphones - they very kindly provide the usual earplugs free of charge but they don't do much against the party vibe of the gaslamp district. Other than that, hot coffee and tea 24/7, luggage lock available same day of check in/check out, and the atmosphere is welcoming to all.

We had a private room with a shared bathroom. The room was nice but it was located into the street so it was really loud at night. There are a couple bathrooms but the water is pretty cold when you're taking a shower. We had a good time here.

The reception staff were very friendly. They didn't have our room ready, as we reached before time but they arranged something for us. They even suggested places around . The room was very clean. The hostel is well maintained and a great common area for everyone to chill and mingle. They had free breakfast in the morning as well. Overall a great stay. Highly recommended !!

The location is fantastic and the faculities were very good, although the shower room could be more private and comfortable. The beds were metallic, a bit noisy, and didn’t have any curtains, which can be an issue for those more worried about privacy and excess lighting. Also since we are at the heart of downtown it gets noisy at night, especially since there is a rooftop bar a few meters from the room window. Still, I had a good time there.

Don’t get fouled by the cosy pictures, if you want to rest this place is hell. The hostel is located right in the middle of the party district of San Diego. No matter how thick your earplugs are, you will always hear loud music up untill very late at night, then drunk men shouting, then noisy trucks, etc. By the time it’s quiet again it’s around 7 in the morning… All in all we spent 3 weeks in California and this was by far the worst accommodation we had; after two nights we are very happy to finally go back home.

Great location and the best Hostel downtown, but the beds need to be updated to be like every other hostel in the world and have private covered beds. I’ve stayed in hostels in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Barcelona, Vancouver BC and more and this place and other hostels and San Diego have the most outdated rooms. Makes sense I guess, but still would take this place to the next level.

I visited San Diego and stayed in the HI hostel for four nights in late November 2022. I like to stay in the Youth Hostels whenever I travel alone to a new place as it gives me a perfect opportunity to meet people from different cultures and regions. I genuinely admire the HI hostel network worldwide; HI hostels are usually my go-to. This one met my expectations well. It is ideally situated in the downtown area close to a major city attraction, Gaslamp quarters. The site is well connected with public transport and is easily navigable. The building is old; the rooms are neat and spacious. There are lots of cleaning staff. They have a nice common area and kitchen. They could improve on mattress and linen quality. The washrooms were clean, but they needed a renovation to make them look tidier. Breakfast was just oat sachets and poor coffee. Overall, good experience. The place makes you feel safe. Good staff. I will recommend it to anyone travelling alone or in small groups.

Larry at HI Hostel is an absolute legend! His hospitality and enthusiasm create a welcoming atmosphere for guests. From check-in to local recommendations, he goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable stay. Larry's knowledge of the area is impressive, making him an invaluable resource for travelers. Kudos to the rest of the fantastic staff whose names I didn't catch; their professionalism and friendliness contribute to the hostel's overall positive vibe. The team's commitment to guest satisfaction truly sets this hostel apart.

Everything about our stay at this hotel was fantastic; I will definitely be booking with HI USA hostels in the future. The beds were incredibly comfortable and I felt we had more amenities than when I stay in a hotel. We felt very safe and comfortable and all the volunteers and staff were friendly and very supportive and helpful! All the other patrons were polite and easy to interact with and we were incredibly pleased with the experiences. Happy to support places like this which helps to increase opportunities for cultural exchange and travel.

Can’t say enough positive things about this place! Great location, the whole place is thoroughly cleaned daily (and smells good!), the staff is friendly and it’s a very inviting and relaxing environment. Will definitely stay there again next time I’m in San Diego.

I first stayed here in 2016. I came back in 2024. The place is still nice. Staff are very helpful.

The rooms are really clean. The bathrooms are also clean. The gentleman from the front desk spent more than 30 minutes to tell me more about the city and the things that I can do. I really appreciate their friendliness.

We stayed in a private room that we booked same day. The location cannot be better, the hostel feels very safe and was relatively quiet for a Saturday night,and the room was comfortable and clean. We would definitely stay here again considering the low price for the area.

Stayed at this hostel for 3 nights and is honestly the best hostel I have ever stayed in. Let me check in early free of charge, held my luggage for free on check out, breakfast was lovely, friendly reception staff. I wasnt much of a fan of San Diego as a traveller but the accomadation was fab!

My reviews a little late but I would love to say that I had the most joyful time staying there The service and the front desk and all the people that work there are so hospitable and very kind I would recommend this place anytime they're located right in the core of the gaslamp you couldn't ask for anything more walking distance to the fun. You guys rock.

If you want to be able to sleep, don't stay here. I wore earplugs, windows shut, nothing stopped the noise. If you like to stay up past 2am, then go for it. If you dont want to pay $600 for a private room and get no sleep for how loud and disruptive it is. Go somewhere else.

Despite all the wonderful reviews, I was very disappointed. Ideally I would have liked to take a look at the room before committing to a booking. The bed felt like a futon, no tv, I had to shower almost against the wall due to the low water pressure. There were no outlets by the bed. I had to park on the street and make sure to pay parking before 10 a.m. For the price I could have stayed in a better place. Not happy at all.

As far as hostels go, this one is clean and quiet, bedbug free. Even has washers and dryers. Would recommend.

The location was great and centrally location in the heart of downtown, but most of the other hostels are too. It's clean, reasonable priced(for San Diego) and quiet besides Saturday. I would recommend try 1 day for a good night's sleep and maybe try another hostel to meet people, drink or have fun. Not a party astrosphere at all. No hard alcohol, no drinks or pool after 11pm.

The staff was very helpful, friendly, and efficient! Prices were affordable, the rooms were well kept, and being in the heart of the Gaslamp made enjoying the nightlife very easy. Public transport is also all around the location so theres options to get where you need to go. Highly reccomend this hostel!

Great location, good common areas including kitchen and many bathrooms. Secure. Modest breakfast choices available. Rooms don't have tables or chairs and floor is dirty. AC is in rooms only.

Chill place to stay. Right in the middle of a lot of action. If you are traveling light, I would highly recommend this place. It’s simple but just what you need when traveling solo or with few friends and don’t want to spend all your money on a hotel that you only sleep in. This place let us spend less money onLyft rides because it is closer to the restaurants and places we wanted to visit. Also, we felt better about drinking and just walking back to our beds. They don’t have their own parking so you will have to pay to park nearby if you have a car.

Out of the three HI hostels I've stayed in this was the dingiest I've been to. I have a lot of thoughts Pros: Staff is friendly. You have to show a security pass and use your key to enter the building. Well stocked kitchen. Lockers are large. Masks are encouraged . Fast elevator . Handicap accessible bathrooms and provide floor mats. Laundry is cheap - dollar for washer and dryer. Dryers dry quick (bring change, there is no change machine.. you can buy detergent in the lobby) Lobby provides ear plugs. Cons: bathrooms in the rooms looked grimey (bring flip flops). Outlets are harder to get to if you are on the top bunk. Bring an extension cord. I wish it was like Chicago and NYC where everyone gets an outlet and light. The paper towel holders don't work quite well. I wish the stairs led to the lobby, instead of relying on the elevator Take it or leave it: they don't make the beds for you but have everything folded if you want to do it yourself Miscellaneous: I wish staff had the ability to bar stinky hostelmates. There was one we had who smelt quite ripe and it was horrendous . I feel bad typing this but that's how it is. I wish I could give half stars so I could properly rate it 3.5/5. I think if they fix the slight issues this would be an a+ hostel

Stayed here many times. Staff are usually always both friendly and helpful. In past used dorms, on this trip a private room. The building is really clean and feels secure with a duel security check on entry, card access to building and then security check by staff on arrival. Good kitchen facilities for use by guests, a lounge with TV, game room with various board games and snooker table. Close to bars, restaurants, shops, pharmacy and transport links. Some gyms with sauna and pool, with reasonable rates for an extended stay close by too. Prices have markedly risen since my first stays and since COVID it has seen a real downturn in the convivial atmosphere. The hostel doesn't provide much in the ways of tours or evening group activities as it had done in the past. Breakfast used to be a lively group activity, where you sat and shared conversation with other travellers, shared travel tips over fresh bagels in the morning. Now it feels very solitary with processed porridge pack or cereal bar, definitely a loss of the more social aspects of youth hostel dynamics. I expect this may recover organically after COVID, however the Hostel has definitely provided more in the past for travellers, and again this may return post-covid. I would recommend over the other hostels in the locality and would recommend to other travellers.

Really great hostel. Rooms and common areas super clean. The only thing is they charge you $4 per night for not being a HI member. I've stayed at lots of HI hostels and never had to pay this so that was weird.

I had an amazing time with my wife for our anniversary. The location was amazing right in the heart of the Gas lamp quarters. Which is the historic region of San Diego. In addition, it is walking distance from the train station, beach, and Balboa Park. The atmosphere of the Hostel was a vibe. Super artistic, well put together, and Instagram perfect. Would definitely stay here again.

Top-notch hostel. Spacious social areas with capacity for both mingling and working privately. The set-up reflects attention to detail and an intentional aesthetic. Stayed in a private room. The staff is friendly and communicative. The power kicked out one night, but the manager was prompt to intervene and help us through the back stairwell given the rooms are only accessible through elevator.

The employees are super friendly, and helpful, and the rooms are very clean. I stayed 2 nights with my two teenagers, and it was our first time staying in a hostel, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you so very much to the employees at the front desk for everything! :) We felt safe and comfortable, and I feel like it was an awesome experience. We plan on returning to San Diego, and we will definitely want to stay at this hostel again.

Friendly staff, nice rooms and good location It’s a bit noisy from other rooms though and the curtains do not block the sunlight

Awesome place in the heart of it all. Private room with a view of El Chigon. Was fun to roam around from and watch the marathon out the window. Mori and Sonia were perfect.

Have definitely enjoyed staying here! Staff is friendly and the rooms are basic but clean. It's a bit rowdy outside but that's part of Gaslamp Quarter nightlife. Easy access to the Trolley and San Diego sights.

Just popped my cherry in hostel staying. Now I'll be addicted to hostel hopping. I'm glad I stayed in this hostel. Everyone is cool good vibes right on the strip! On to the next city, next hostel. Have a good journey everyone. Be blessed, stay blessed and God bless! ✌️