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Hostels Guide > North America > USA > California > San Diego Hostels > Banana Bungalow San Diego

Banana Bungalow San Diego

San Diego (Pacific Beach), California, USA

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Hostels in San Diego

Address	707 Reed Avenue, San Diego (Pacific Beach) Map
Price	Dorm beds begin at $18 (low season) and increase to $25 (high season) Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

Their Description

Features

Free Breakfast
Kitchen
Lockers
BBQ
TV
Movie Library/Rental
Book Collection/Exchange
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Lounge / Common space
Travel information provided

The Hostelz.com Review

The first-ever Banana Bungalow correctly lives up to its reputation of a party hostel. If you're looking for quiet nights and spotless accommodations, you won't find it here! What you will find is a very social and friendly place.

The Banana Bungalow is in a great location on Pacific Beach, right on the boardwalk. The outdoor deck is basically on top of the sand and is a great location for socialising and drinking. Even during winter, the indoor and outdoor areas are happening places. The staff are generally very friendly and will happily hang out on the deck. Apart from the deck area, you'll find an indoor TV and internet room. Near the reception and kitchen area there is also a long bench for dining and/or watching the TV.

Dorm accommodations are pretty basic but comfortable for a beach location -- with an average of four beds per room. The shower areas are clean enough (if a little small) and never seem to be too busy. There are plenty of cheap lockers available and free parking out front. The free breakfast (toast) and coffee/tea is an added bonus. Internet access is also very cheap or free if you have your own laptop. The kitchen is well stocked and self-catering is easy with a 7-11 across the street.

There are always activities planned -- cheap trips to Mexico and drinking nights, to name a few. The Banana Bungalow is a great party hostel that attracts a young crowd. Common areas aren't designated as quiet areas until after 12 a.m., it can get pretty noisy. If you accept that and are willing to socialise, you'll have a great time.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review

Your Comments

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We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Gettin out of here, Speechless

March 2008

Save yourself
Look if you want to catch on fire or drown before you go swimming, the bungalow is the place for you. This place is filthy, despite the photos. The only reason people put up with this place is because it on the beach. The pictures and ratings are doctored. When you get there watch out for bugs of all sorts, men who want to get your women drunk and women who have already slept those men. Once upon a time a great place to have fun, now a awful mess. Get out while you're still uninfected and your clothes still washable. Please believe me, look for other hostels in this area -- there are others.

Comment by DC, English

December 2007

Surfer Bums and Marines.
The place is really dirty, the people are quite rude and unfriendly (unless you happen to be a chick or a surfer). I didn't spend much time in the hostel at all. It's a nice location, but having come from San Francisco I expected a lot more friendly atmosphere. It is probably quite nice if you're a surfer and want to stay there during the summer. It is probably quite nice if you're a marine -- there are lots of military types staying there. But I wouldn't recommend it for other travelers.

Comment by Inspecter Nalgitas, USA

May 2007

Party, Convenient, No Bathrooms
This is an extremely fun place to stay if you wanna be right near the beach and hang around a young, drunk international crowd. The place is not that dirty by backpacker standards, and they keep the common facilities and the deck quite clean. The problem is the extreme shortage of bathrooms. Each dorm (twelve to sixteen beds) has one bathroom, which is the standard toilet/shower one-person-at-a-time room. The common room is the only other option but it's the same -- small room with one toilet and shower. This means I had to wait every time I had to pee, and especially since the shower in my room broke and wasn't fixed, I gave up on taking showers the last couple days I was there. They should at least add on a small mens/women's toilet area which would also free up the showers a little. The staff organizes a lot of fun, inexpensive activities and there are kegs at least twice a week. They are generally helpful and nice, especially since they are dealing with such a large crowd of party people and occasionally dodgy people. You really can't beat the location though -- right near all kinds of food options and bars with cheap happy hour specials, night clubs, twenty-four-hour taco shops, supermarket, haircut place, clothing stores. All easy walking distance. Nice kitchen too, with two refrigerators. The #30 bus picks up a couple blocks away and can take you downtown in about twenty-five minutes. For good sleep an eyeshade is recommended, and if you're near the deck try some earplugs too. Beds are fairly comfy. I'd go back.

Comment by Ron, United States

May 2007

The location of this hostel can't be beat, it's right on the beach. Sadly, that's really all Banana Bungalow has going for them. The staff was not very helpful or friendly, some I may venture to say were rude. I had to wait about forty minutes before I was able to check in, no apologies, I wasn't even offered anything to drink. I went to one of their "parties," which were unbelievably cliqueish, some of the previous comments put it best, if you don't fit in a certain way you get an attitude. Anyway, after ten minutes of listening to some arrogant law student from Ohio talk about himself and how he's such a genius for ten minutes I decided to leave the "party" so I'd be able to hold down my dinner. If you need to go to the bathroom you may as well go across the street to Burger King. The rooms are filthy as well. The sink nearly collapsed after I set my toothbrush on it. Bottom line -- if you're one of those people that never really graduated high school then Banana Bungalow is the place for you. But, if you enjoy hostel travel because you generally run into a friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff, and intelligent, interesting, outgoing people, then Banana Bungalow will be a disappointment for you, as it was for me.

Comment by MR T, Australia

April 2007

I gave the four-star rating because if you are twenty-something and don't mind late nights and sharing a room with piss heads this place is ideal. When i stayed here i was in my mid-twenties and even then i was over it, especially have to listen to some Austrian lounge lizard work the pants off a drunken Brazilian girl in the adjoining room. He succeeded and for four minutes i had to endure the sounds of which can only be found in the worst porn films. Unless you are under twenty-five or extremely tolerant i recommend leaving this one for the kids.

Comment by cw

March 2007

i had a great time at the banana bungalow. Gets noisy but that what holidays are about. i was in the front room by the deck so sleep was pretty hard. the staff made me feel very welcome. i would love to come back in summer, but probably won't get there till next year. overall had fun meeting everyone and the staff were very friendly.

Comment by ccsu

March 2007

This Hostel as a lot of ups and downs to it. You honestly can't beat the location, it is on the beach and has parking (good luck finding one but sometimes you're lucky). It's a great place if you just need a place to crash. There are some really cool people that stayed there, i guess its really a luck of the draw, as far as guests go. I met some really cool people, but most of the staff, in particular the girls were really uptight and to be honest the older ones have something stuck up their A$$. Tracie has absolutely no customer service skills! This place seems to have cliques and if you don't fit in you really will get some attitudes. I noticed if you don't go their parties the next day start to get attitudes. But otherwise I really enjoyed myself some of the staff and the guests were awesome, and I really had a blast. I guess just go to their parties and you will be all set! I would stay there again even though I don't think they would want me to go back, but it's all good!

Comment by Bill

November 2006

This is a YOUTH Hostel. Great location on the beach, BUT it's very dirty and noisy. Stayed in a dorm room next to 'party porch' and was up til 4am with the loud chatting (got 4 hours sleep). Moved to a room in back, and was better, but beware of the gurggling coffee maker that starts up at 6am (got only 5 hours of sleep). Staff at night was loud (all night), mopping floors and whatnot. Bathrooms were SMALL and dirty (wear flipflops), shower was warm. Not much happening on boardwalk both nights, lots of bums and weirdos. Some roommates stay there 24/7 (live there) on some bunks. Most were loud and rude (noisy when I was trying to sleep--inconsiderate). Maybe Summer is better?? You need to be drunk or stoned to fit in I think, and get some sleep. I was ready to leave after 2nd night, I spent no time at the hostel, didn't want to. Plan on staying up til 12am-1am, since quiet hours is not until 12am in rooms and NO quiet hours in common areas. Not recommended for 'older' folk at all, all were very young. But, if your young and want a party (and just need a place to crash) it's the place for you.

Comment by holly

July 2006

i love banana bungalow -- san diego! Three of us arrived in san diego early for business and chose the bb to stay in -- we didn't want to leave. and we were headed on to the catamaran resort! i would have stayed there the entire week if i could have. met many great folks -- including staff. we had the private room -- couldn't have been better. never had to close or lock the door. didn't feel like going out in the evenings it was so much fun at bb. and all this coming from a fifty-something woman. we were the only three (except for marge) over thirty and it really didn't matter. i can't wait to go back.

Comment by josh

December 2005

excellent hostel! it's located right on the beach with a giant balcony. there's a real fun, party atmosphere and the staff hosts various activites. when i was there they did a nice roast chicken dinner for cheap. everything was as clean as i'd expect for a hostel and there weren't any bed bugs. if you're coming to san deigo to have fun, this is the perfect place to stay.

Comment by Victor

August 2005

I had a great time staying at this hostel. People were very nice. The staff will always help you if you stay at this hostel. Barbecue nights are great; you get a very, very big meal and a beer for just 5 USD. The location is great. Stay here.

Comment by Shaz

June 2005

BB is one of the best — if not the best — hostel I stayed in during my travels the last three and a half months! I stayed a week, which turned into two. BB was the icing on the cake as my travelling experience came to an end. It is incredibly fun, friendly and damn feisty! To all the staff who made myself and Ronan feel like part of the family — Michelle, thanks for letting us stay the extra days. You gave us the best conclusion to our holidays! To John, Jaime, Jeannette, Jy (you looked great in that dress for the school party!), Tracee, Matt, Eraq, Alicia, Alyssa, babydoll, Lauren, etc. etc., (sorry if I forgot anyone) and of course to those crazy military boys — you guys are an unbelievable, eclectic group of crazy mudaf**kers. I love ya's!! Hope I get back sooner rather than later! Love, Shaz (and Ronan) from Ireland

Comment by justin

June 2005

I came to this hostel two years ago in August. I was only gonna stay a night or two. Next thing I know, it's three months later and I still haven't left the join. The people I ended up working with were awesome. There were many good times. Most I can't remember. I will be back there in a week and I hope to get a chance to spend some time there. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking to forget half of your trip.

Comment by Marc

May 2005

This place has cleaned up nicely since I've been here last. The staff are from all over the world. There are more activities and tours available. I like their new clothing line. Management has cleaned things up and made it safer for us and more fun. My friends and I had great fun this time around. But be careful, you may end up staying longer than you thought. We did. We're coming back for the summer sun this time. I'm glad I stayed. I met my wife and best friend there. We had a blast. San Diegans have a way of making you feel welcome with out a lot of effort. We hope to have the same experience next time around. Thanks to management and staff for looking after us; you're family now. Head to the Bungalow in San Diego. The place is great! No other hostel in the world I've been to gives you this type of welcome and experience. In fact I miss it a great deal.

Comment by JJ

April 2005

This place is awesome! Unfortunately, I was only in town for one night, but I wish I could have stayed longer. It is a lot cleaner than some of these reviews make you think. If you had seen how clean the deck was in the a.m. after the party we had out there the night before, you would know what I mean. The people were absolutely awesome and so inclusive. Within 10 minutes of my arrival, I had already been invited to partake in the keg on the beach! Much love to the Bungalow, I hope I can make it out for a more extended visit this summer!

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