The Hostelz.com Review
This is a fantastic hostel in a great location. The hostel is surrounded by great shops, bars, and cafes and you can walk to the beach in less than five minutes.
The hostel has a great atmosphere and lots going on, weekly free barbeque (get there early if you want to to be sure to get any food!) and plenty of outdoor space for socializing. The hostel itself is cleaned regularly, which really shows. The kitchen is closed for a couple of hours cleaning every afternoon.
The hostel is quite far from the city, and the buses running to it end early at night, so is not ideal for heading into town unless you have enough cash for a taxi back. But there is plenty to do in the local area within walking distance. Activities in the local area include a fortnightly farmers market which takes up the whole street and sells some great local produce.
We loved this place so stopped by twice on our US tour. It's a great place to experience the California lifestyle!
The hostel has a great atmosphere and lots going on, weekly free barbeque (get there early if you want to to be sure to get any food!) and plenty of outdoor space for socializing. The hostel itself is cleaned regularly, which really shows. The kitchen is closed for a couple of hours cleaning every afternoon.
The hostel is quite far from the city, and the buses running to it end early at night, so is not ideal for heading into town unless you have enough cash for a taxi back. But there is plenty to do in the local area within walking distance. Activities in the local area include a fortnightly farmers market which takes up the whole street and sells some great local produce.
We loved this place so stopped by twice on our US tour. It's a great place to experience the California lifestyle!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2005
Their Description
San Diego's Ocean Beach International Hostel Details
|
|
(To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Update Form.)
Map Location/ContactHow is San Diego's Ocean Beach International Hostel rated on other websites?
San Diego's Ocean Beach International Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
The best hostel in San Diego! OB Hostel is far better than any other hostel I've ever been to! Everyone is very personable and friendly and they keep the place really clean! It's a very fun, relaxed environment and I felt comfortable and safe for the whole week I was there. Awesome place, amazing staff, great food, wonderful activities. No complaints! PERFECT HOSTEL! — Nadia , USA (2011-12-30) Can't wait to go back I could not have asked for a better stay at OBI this last summer. The staff at the hostel were very friendly, very welcoming people and it only took a couple days before I felt as though I was a member of the OBI family. I had never stayed at a hostel before so I was weary about what the environment and maintenance would be like, but I was overall very impressed. My room could hold up to six people, but crowding was never a problem because there were never more than three of us booked in the room at the same time. Each room is thoroughly cleaned every day, the bathrooms are always maintained, and it always smelled clean inside because of how thorough the staff was. I loved how the staff encouraged everybody staying there to get to know each other, and had bonfires, barbeques, and other activities to get everybody involved. The hostel is just a short walk away from the beach and seconds away from great restaurants and shopping. My experience at the Ocean Beach International hostel was one that I will never forget. I made friends from all over the world that I still keep in contact with today. I bawled my eyes out when it was time to leave, and once I got to the airport,my friend and I decided that one more day in Ocean Beach wouldn't hurt. It really is so much more than just a place to stay while you're on vacation. I have every intention of going back to visit my family and friends at OBI as soon as possible. — Danica , US (2011-11-13) THE place in San Diego Really an awsome time here. the staff were good but really jason made everything fun all the time and matt boss new everything about everything. best hostel breakfast and so many other bonus things. — John , Australia (2011-11-12) Great mixture of SoCA friendliness and professionalism I stayed at OBI for two nights, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in living the character of Southern California. In addition to a great location (street is known by locals for having a few top fish taco places, plus the pier is close by), the staff is definitely committed to its guests. I lost my keys while in the area, and they did everything possible to help send them back home. You can't find a more genuine place for SoCA hospitality. — Anonymous , US (2011-10-29) Like a family This hostel is absolutely amazing. There are some hostels out there that are 'party hostels' that are just dirty and only care about getting people drunk, and then there are the 'home-like' hostels that are nice to have a hotel experience but forbid partying. This one is perfectly in the middle! They encourage people to get together and have fun, but don't go over the top with it ... Very clean place and all the extras they throw in are so amazing. (Free stuff at check-in, free breakfasts/dinners, the nightly activities.) Only bad thing is that the location is a bit away from downtown, but Ocean Beach is awesome by itself. I didn't even want to leave! — Anonymous , UK (2011-10-15) GREAT TIME! We had so much fun at OBH. The staff were super friendly, rooms were clean, there was a bathroom in our room as well as communal bathrooms. Everything was nice and clean and curtains around your bed gave it a nice sense of privacy! Not close to the city, was fine for day trips and we had fun going out locally in Ocean Beach. Nice bike ride to Mission Beach was also a good thing to do. They also pay for your transport to the hostel (make sure you get a receipt). Breakfast was good too! The only unfortunate thing was the curfew for the outdoor areas, but it was easy enough to find the bars and they usually organise night events like pub crawls! Close to the beach, all in all beautiful! — Nicky , Australia (2011-10-12) Great hostel experience! Ocean beach hostel was the one of the best hostel experiences I've had in california. The chilled atmosphere is great and there's always something going on at night. The beer pong contests were particularly fun! Staff are warm and welcoming and the free breakfast was a bonus! Great location too. Definitely worth spending a few nights here, it'll will be memorable! — Ali D , UK (2011-10-11) Best Time For Me in USA It was one of the best experiences I had in my life. I've me people from all over the world. I made many friends than I would have ever imagined. I was traveling by myself and with the people and the staff i had the best time ever. There is a guy in the hostel he is the best his name is Jason Dalton. He is always the fun guy there. He will make sure every would is having fun. Trust me!!! this is the number 1 place to go in San Diego. — Moose , Egypt (2011-09-09) Everything was beautiful i think everyone needs to come to this hostel, when you like party and open people and have lots of fun this is the place. The hostel is very close to the beach and its the best. i would so come back!!!!!! — Anonymous , switzerland (2011-09-01) Good location Good location near the beach with really friendly and helpful staff. Good free breakfast and good nights out organised by staff. Really good community atmosphere for travelers, easy to meet people. Near bus stops to get into Downtown. The staff really make this hostel. — Anonymous , England (2011-08-21) I had a great time here! I had a great time here! I was very impressed by the cleanliness of this hostel. It was much better than the other hostels I have visited. The staff were very friendly and always greeted me with a smile. I really enjoyed the free breakfasts and barbecues. They had a TV room with lots of movies to watch. I met lots of nice people here. The holiday parade was so amazing! It was on the same street as the hostel. I will never forget this amazing time I had in San Diego. — Sydney Eden , Switzerland (2010-12-16) Looks lovely at first glance during day, Concentration Camp at night looks can be deceiving. We rolled into this coastal town thinking we gonna be in for a hell of a good time. Great location, people everywhere, cafes, eateries, bars, the beach only a short stroll away, so we quickly booked a week there! As night fell, the rules began. first the back common area closed early, then the kitchen closed early, then the front porch was banned, then alcohol/food was banned, all this by 9 p.m.! The rude manager on duty told us the only area left to socialize was the front steps, but by 11 p.m. that too was banned. We were then rudely told to go across the street/loiter there if we wanted to chat! There was no other place to go, i mean nowhere! We were all threatened if you didnt like it, "we could all pack our bags and go somewhere else" (leaving us on the street). So we went inside to our dorms, was extremely hot, so we left the door open just to get some air in, then management began to harass us again/closed our door! The look on everyone's face said it all. At day break, i approached friendly girl at reception, canceled our booking, she asked if i enjoyed my stay, with one word i answered "no". Dumbfounded, she offered free accommodation for us to stay longer, we just couldnt bear another minute, we couldnt wait to get out of this place! I've stayed in hostels all over the world three times over, never had such an isolated, depressing experience than this. — John & Chris , Melbourne - Australia (2009-12-23) I will definitely go back again. I just love the location. I have stayed in this hostel in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. I will definitely go back again due to its excellent location. two minutes walk to beach. three minutes walk to food market, four minutes walk to library to use free internet. fifteen minutes bus ride to down town San Diego. Every Wednesday, in front of hostel, Farmer's Market being set up. Twice a week free BBQ and beer if i remember correctly (i don't drink so didn't pay attention.) I love their fully equipped kitchen. Very safe location for international travelers. Locals are very friendly, even drunks/homeless along side the beach are friendly. I have been to hostels most major cities of Europe; Hollywood, California; and Quebec, Canada so if i compare this hostel to all the hostels i have stayed i could definitely give five star. Tell me a good hostel in Paris, Barcelona, Marseilles. You pay double price of what you pay for Ocean Beach International Hostel in Europe. In Paris kitchen means a microwave oven. In Hollywood they give you two slices of bread and a jam that everyone sharing. If the management increase their bed rates little then this hostel will definitely will be very clean and will have more customer friendly staff. Also, management should not allow local Americans entering premises whenever they do free BBQ. Hostel population suddenly doubling on those dates. Anyways, as i said location is great for me. i am looking forward going back again as soon as they stop charging fuel charge by end of June this year in Japan where i live. — chris , Turkey (2009-02-21) Terrible This hostel is terrible -- one of the worst I have stayed in. The rooms are extremely crowded, nothing is clean, and there are a ridiculous number of rules. I cut my stay short and headed home. — David VanHorn , USA (2009-01-16) Nice, but too many rules First the good things. the location is great, sure it's a thirty-minute bus ride away from downtown San Diego, but people staying here could've guessed downtown wouldn't be right next to the beach. Furthermore, the neighbourhood the hostel is located in has enough happening to keep one entertained for a while -- there's shops, bars, and the beach. Because I was traveling with friends I didnt hang out much with other people at the hostel but there seemed to be a friendly atmosphere and a good place for mingling with others. Furthermore the free breakfast is great! I've stayed at lots of motels in the U.S. where a free breakfast consists of a muffin and some coffee, so it was great to be somewhere where you could eat as many pancakes and scrambled eggs as you wanted, and that for only $17/night. However, why does this hostel have so many rules? Of course it's nice to be able to get some sleep at night and not be woken up by dozens of drunk, loud, rowdy backpackers who return at 2 a.m., but is it really necessary to run the place like it is a retirement home rather than a hostel? When me and a friend returned quietly around 1:30 a.m. on new year's eve, and wanted to eat our late-night meal in the hostel, we were told the kitchen was closed, we weren't allowed to be in the corridors after 11 p.m., nor were we allowed to eat it in our room or on the front porch and when we sat down on the sidewalk. the manager (or whoever it was working at the front desk) came running outside to tell us that we weren't allowed to sit on the sidewalk in front of the hostel either or otherwise "we could pack our bags and go somewhere else." Seriously, and that on a night like new year's eve when you'd think people would be slightly happier and more relaxed. Also, when me and my friends (five of us in total) asked to stay another night we all had to change rooms and my new bed looked like the sheets hadnt been cleaned, with stains all over them. Also, a thin sheet and one not-too-thick blanket is not really a lot in the middle of winter, especially when you're not allowed to use your own sleeping bag. If it wouldnt have been for this interaction with the staff at the hostel I would've thought it was a great place, now I still think it's a nice place but might consider going somewhere else next time. — Laura , UK (2009-01-05)