HI - San Diego (Downtown) The Metropolitan Hostel

San Diego (Gaslamp Quarter)

7 of 11

Address	521 Market Street, San Diego (Gaslamp Quarter), California, USA Map
Price	Dorm Bed: $19-21.50, Private Room: $45.50-55.50 Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

This is a Hostelling International (HI) hostel. A membership card isn't required, but an extra fee will apply for non-members. You can get a membership card before your trip here.

Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Washing Machine (laundry)
Lounge / Common space
Travel information provided
Free Breakfast
Free City Tours
Phones (public or in room)
Elevator/Lift
Bike Rental
Currency Exchange
TV
Gameroom

Ratings & Comments

3 Average from 17 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Susan, USA

May 2008

Good location, nice pancakes
I really enjoyed staying at this hostel. Can't speak for the shared rooms, but the private room that we had was comfy and clean. The staff that I talked to had really good advice and there seemed to be a lot of information about things to do and how to get around. The hostel also organizes a lot of excursions that looked like a fun way to meet people if you are traveling alone. I also liked the idea of the pancake breakfast, where they provide the batter and you make your own. The kitchen was large with lots of space for eating and socializing. Overall, I think it is a great place to stay in San Diego. The only problem we had was an issue with the booking the second time we went to stay there, but it could have been the fault of the website we booked with. Fortunately, they still had a room and we had a place to stay.

Comment by Ben H, England

March 2008

Overall good
The facilities were great, en-suite bathroom in my dorm was cool. Free pancake breakfast in the morning was outstanding and the location is pretty cool. I'd stay there again, only one downside -- can be noisy on a friday or saturday night (unless you out enjoying the noise).

Comment by chris, USA

February 2008

Comic con folks -- use this hostel
I had a decent time here. I go to comic-con every year and usually I stay at the hostel down the block. I changed it up this year and I feel dumb that I never used this hostel. It's bigger, cleaner, and more comfy. Everything about it is better -- better kitchen, better rooms, better bathrooms. They invited me to an ice cream social as soon as I got there and they were all gung ho about people staying for the convention. I felt very welcome and like I was at home. At HI, everyone's there for the con so it's easier to socialize. Check in was horribly long, as was check out, since it was very busy, but that was a small price to pay for being comfy and paying such a low price.

Comment by Shelley Cherry, globetrotter

October 2005

Nice building, but the staff don't know what they are doing. I still have not received my HI points for my stay, as the staff did not know how to use the computer. The hostel let bag people and complete fruit loops stay there. I did not always feel safe, but the management did remove one nutter as it appears several people complained about her behavior. The location is great but it was so noisy even with my earplugs in. Lots of crime in the streets. The hostel did some communal meals, which were good value and we managed to get free tickets for a symphony so it was not all bad. I do not think I would stay here again.

Comment by Anonymous

May 2005

The hostel itself is pretty nice, structurally, but the staff are so pathetic. The head of the hostel clearly doesn't care about her employees or the local volunteers, and that attitude trickles down to how the guests are treated. I was there before this person was hired, and the atmosphere was completely different. When I returned, it was as if THEY were doing US a favor by taking our money and letting us stay there. Not a good place for relaxation.

Comment by Anonymous

March 2005

+ The location is great if you like bars (like I do :-)) and the hostel is located within walking distance of all the downtown attractions, including the harbor and Balboa Park. + The staff were really, really nice and helpful. + It was pretty clean (for a hostel). + Free breakfast. + Lockers for every bed in the dorm (but they charge a quarter every time you lock it). - Parking is a big problem. "Park on Market" is 9 bucks per day. There are free spots, about 5-10 blocks away in a pretty shady neighborhood. - The bathroom in our 10-bed dorm was locked and out of order (but there was a "public" bathroom on our floor and two upstairs). - Some guys were partying in the dorm (but that's not the hostel's fault).

Comment by Anonymous

March 2005

I stayed here at the end of December. The location has the downside that you cannot park anywhere close unless you want to pay for it. The closest free parking that we have found was about four blocks east. They have a nice, clean kitchen and a good breakfast for free (toast and muffins). The architecture is a little strange. I had to search quite a while to find an exit without using the elevator which leads into the reception. It could also use some more bathrooms, but that was no problem at the time I was there. But the bathrooms were not clean anymore after some time. There is only a little atmosphere. You can definitely stay at this place but it is not a "you have to stay here."

Comment by M

March 2005

Fairly good dorm room, great breakfast and helpful staff. Great location for exploring downtown, but that can't take too long, though. San Diego is definitely more about the beach, which is quite a bus ride away from this hostel.

Comment by Maureen

March 2005

Great location in the Gaslamp Quarter. There's a market down the street, a bit of a walk. You have to pay for parking if you have a car. There's a run-down feel to the place. We stayed in a family room and it was poor quality. Large, dorm style hostel...not family oriented. It had nice common areas and kitchen, providing an easy opportunity to meet fellow travelers.

Comment by Anonymous

February 2005

Annoying situation. My roommate LIVED in here and kept me awake all night talking about whatever. Plus there was no air-conditioning and it was over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I left and went to Motel 6.

Comment by Anonymous

February 2005

The best part is the location. The accommodations are mediocre and when I stayed it was very hot and there was no air-conditioning. I got sick and was laying miserable in my bed. The staff came in and rather than express any concern said I had to "clean myself up" (I was so weak I could barely stand) or I would have to leave. I did when I felt better. I went to a motel. Never again.

Comment by Ollie Taylor

November 2004

I stayed here late August 2004. Location-wise, this hostel is great, slap bang in the middle of the historic Gas Lamp quarter, clubs, bars, etc. and right next to the baseball stadium of the San Diego Padres, where I saw my first game of live baseball!! The hostel itself, however, was a little bit naff. Everything seemed to be a little rundown, there was no sparkle to the place, and the staff and clientele all seemed a little cliquey, i.e. too many private jokes etc. and not a very inclusive atmosphere. Also, the fact that I felt I never clicked with anyone here probably made a difference. Give it a miss if at all possible.

Comment by Anonymous

September 2004

I stayed here after the first hostel in San Diego was too crazy; some guys started smoking pot in our room while we were sleeping!! It's very clean, in a great location, and has friendly staff. I would definitely stay here again!

Comment by max, Ukraine. Currently a student in the US

July 2004

This place is fairly easy to find: its façade faces the street. Don't plan, however, on finding off-street parking. You'd have to shell out $6-9 per night to park in the city parking garage just a block or so away from the hostel. The garage stays open till 3 am and doesn't open till 8 am in the morning. Truly, this place is in a great location: right in the middle of a hopping district, with yuppie bars, clubs and moderately-priced restaurants. There's also a shopping center (with an Internet café) within a 5-min walk from the hostel. Because it is in the middle of this hopping place, do not expect to get any rest on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights: music from the clubs is just as loud within the hostel as it is in the bars. On a brighter side: the hostel staff will sell you earplugs for a buck. The hostel looks pretty nice from the outside with a fresh coat of bright funky paint. On the inside it is OK, clean but not a Hilton, certainly. I first checked into a 4-person room, but felt rather claustrophobic in there. The 10-person rooms are much more spacious and are never full anyway. Each room has a whole bunch of 25c-operated lockers. There are also in-room bathrooms. They are not the cleanest, but certainly usable. I can't imagine anybody taking a relaxing bath in the tub, but they are OK enough to get buy if you bring a pair of rubber sandals. The staff was young and pretty helpful. Pancakes with some fruit and (absolutely horrible) coffee are made every morning. Get to the kitchen early: first you won't have to wait, and second – there is a sweet old woman with maps and booklets to help you plan your day trips, give you tips on getting around, etc. She was there every morning around the breakfast time.

Comment by Anonymous

May 2004

The bathrooms were dirty back in June 2003.

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