USA Hostels Hollywood

Just a great place to collapse after a fourteen-hour flight
I have stayed at this hostel several times, over the years, including for two days each in March and September 2007. The staff are wonderful, the facilities all that is required, and the beds comfortable. The bathrooms are cleaned daily, as are the bedrooms and common areas. Lockers for each bed gives one the security to go out and enjoy the sights without worry. The organized activities and community meals are taken up by a large majority of the guests. And in times of need, the staff are not only friendly, but ever so helpful. Being old enough to be the mother of most guests and staff, and the grandmother of some, I really appreciated the help from Erin when I unexpectedly became quite ill. I would highly recommend this hostel to all travelers of any age.

Very good
a very good place to get in Hollywood! pretty clean, cool breakfast, really nice staff (except maybe one). got there to go to coachella. staff helped us out for everything, how to go there or there. didn't have much time to party but i guess it s cool. didn't manage to sleep well on saturday night because of drunk guys in the hostel. really good location in hollywood and L.A. many offers for city tours, amusement parcks, car rentals three minutes' walk and walk of fame within one minute. should come back!

Fun, clean place
I was impressed with the hostel. Personal bathrooms were nice and the whole place was kept in good condition. I did have problems with a leaking toilet, but it wasn't a big deal. The hostel was the only good thing about Hollywood, I hate L.A., mostly because I don't have the money to do all the expensive stuff there. I did however have the money to buy cheap drinks -- dollar beers in the lounge room upstairs. Comedy night was kind of funny, but most of it was pretty cheap and obnoxious. The staff got really drunk one night and sprayed champagne all over everybody. They said it was someone's birthday, but i think they just like to drink. Anyway, at the bar they don't check IDs, so all you underage travelers will have a good time. Random people (not guests) like to hang out on the patio, that was a little odd. Over all, good place to stay, I enjoyed it.

One of the better hostels
We were traveling by Greyhound bus so its location was great. The staff were friendly, I get the feeling we didn't have the most comprehensive of hostel tours (one of the staff will give you a tour of the hostel once you have checked in) but it wasn't important. We had a room with a new bathroom so it was really nice. Lockers are available in the rooms. The kitchen is nice but there isn't much space to cook anything. I liked the outdoor seating area in front of the hostel, it was a nice place to sit and have breakfast.

Me and my travel partner stayed here in late march-early april. we had booked a private room with en-suite. when we arrived, there was the usual sight of nearly the entire occupants of the hostel guests sitting outside smoking and drinking which is fine, the counter staff were very friendly and helpful and one of the staff members gave us a quick tour of the hostel and its facilities and was more than happy to answer questions about L.A. The room however was a bit of a downfall, one medium sized room with a bunk bed and absolutely awful bedding, a broken television set, and the shower and toilet was actually within the room's four walls. so if you wanted too have a shower or use the toilet either you had to kick out your friend or just let them lay on the bed facing the opposite direction. The toilets were always blocked and there are warnings about not putting much toilet paper in them because they keep blocking up, there's basically nowhere to put your clothes or your things, and staying in the room to chill out is not an option. However the hostel and rooms are perfectly safe, we didn't have a problem once. There is very reasonably priced high speed internet access downstairs, great priced international phone card specials, and the hostel offers all sorts of entertainment in the bar, and all-you-can-eat bbq nights for around $5 which is great, and the free shuttle to santa monica was awesome. if you wanna go to theme parks, check the notice boards as other guests always have spare tickets to sell, we saved a bundle on universal studios. The location is another upside, just off hollywood boulevard, and a five-minute walk to the hollywood/highland subway which takes you everywhere. there's no homeless or seedy people hanging around the hostel so you feel very comfortable about being there. honestly if you really like the surroundings and comfort that hotels have to offer just spend the extra money on it, cause the rooms and beds aren't that hot. but if you don't mind roughing it up i would absolutely recommend this hostel.

I stayed four nights. I arrived early evening and checked in, I was then shown around by a member of staff called Jade who was one of the friendliest people i met during my time in the states. There's free pancakes for breakfast if you're up early enough to take advantage of it, its usually all gone by 9 a.m., but there is a very nice diner a few blocks down. there's two comedy nights a week in the bar upstairs as well as an open mic night and movie nights. I didn't have any problem with anyone smoking in there and had a great time overall.

Meh -- this was not the worst hostel or the greatest. I stayed a total of four night. I left for a couple days to meet up with a friend in another city, but the hostel would not let me take advantage of the full reimbursement from the airport, because the four days were not consecutive. The shuttle took two hours to get to the hostel and overcharged me. The hostel only reimburse me for what I should have been charged, not what I was charged. One night I rented a car and parked in the unloading zone (five minutes max), ran inside to ask where I could park that wasn't expensive. In the three minutes I was inside, I got a forty dollar parking ticket! No joke, it was as if the meter person was waiting for me to leave my car. Again, the hostel would do nothing about it even though it was their unloading zone. When I did repark my car it was ten dollars to park there over night and it was a block and a half away. They have some good organized activities, but sometimes the cost of them seems ridiculous because you don't understand what you are paying for (example -- a hike to the hollywood sign. Amazing, but why did I pay six dollars plus a bus fee. I paid for some guy who didn't talk much to show me the way to the top. i could have figured that one out myself). I met some interesting people. The pub upstairs was smoky and smelly. Rooms were a little cramped and people take the bed assigned to you.

I stayed at this hostel for nearly three weeks. The hostel is well kept and generally pretty clean once the staff get around to doing your room in the mornings. The only gripe i have is the cleaners come around with their vaccuum cleaners very early, disturbing any sleep you have. Also do not get a room on the left side of the hallway as you are woken up by very loud everything in the carpark next to the hostel around two to five a.m.! The kitchen closes at a very very weird time of the morning. i understand the need to clean but i would think the space for a late breakfast, early lunch before heading out should be changed! The front desk staff were friendly enough although i found they didnt have a clue how to get places, things to do in the area and any hopes of figuring out a bus route you would be better getting it off the net! The hostel is centred around its staff. If you dont belong to this "clique" it can be difficult. The bat upstairs is incredibly smokey. Although the comedy shows are really good i end up leaving the bar feeling ill without even having a drink due to smoke inhalation! A great location if you want to explore hollywood, universal studios, beverly hills, even the beach buses are easy to navigate!

I stayed here three nights and thought the staff were very friendly and helpful. Ok, Hollywood isn't that great but it's not the hostel's fault. The beds were comfortable and clean, and the semi-private rooms were great value.

I stayed here then worked here. The first day you arrive you think, wow this look nice, a Mexican look. But soon find out that it is very cold as they don't have heating or air conditioning. The place is basically made for the staff to enjoy, not the customer. They don't care about the customers and the place is very pretentious. With moody staff. There is no way of meeting anyone of the opposite sex as the staff are always trying and make you very uncomfortable if you try anything in their so called pub area upstairs which is disgusting. It is a smoke filled room where they don't allow to open the windows so you get very sick soon. The girls who go there don't go to this pub. If you want to pick up at any Hollywood Hostel then be prepared for disappointment as anyone who comes to Hollywood soon finds out it is a very scary and different place and will be constantly on guard. So any cute girl from overseas soon become untouchable. Plus all the pubs/clubs close around midnight and yes the yanks will charm her away if you take her. On the other hand the U.S. girls will like you. This town is basically built for the rich and to work in the entertainment industry. Most tourists get in then get out I have found. If you want to meet nice travelers, good times and free love then go to another country.

I've stayed here twice.The good things about this hostel are that it's in a good location, it's reasonably priced, the bar upstairs is cheap, they do two free comedy nights a week and they do a free breakfast. The dorms are ok, kept clean as are the en-suite bathrooms. The problem is with the staff. Well, the reception staff. It's already been indicated that they are less than competent. This is true. They will chat and make you wait before checking you in. On checking me in, one guy took something like ten minutes! Staff seem to have no idea about the local area, where anything is or how to get anywhere. They do tend to give you a certain 'look' as if to say "Hey, what the hell do you want?" My friend was given contradictory information about the room he was staying in -- he could stay there/he couldn't/it was a couples room etc etc. All in all, this hostel is ok, if you can put up with the primadonna reception staff.

The location: great and the surroundings were agreeable. However... The person showing us around the place insisted us to 'chill out' so often that we felt stressed before we had even seen our bunks. Eight people were cramped into a very tiny room with NO airconditioning. The hostel didn't offer free parking space, and parking in the surroundings was very expensive. The bathroom was okay, but they didn't really keep it clean. Breakfast was okay (pancakes galore), but the kitchen was tiny and crowded. Internet was kind of expensive.

I stayed here with a friend in September this year and you couldn't beat the location if you want to stay in Hollywood. The place was clean and well organised, the only let down was some of the reception staff, especially the short guy that spoke limited english who works the night shift. We checked in and went to dinner, then came back that night to go to bed and found a girl was in one of our beds. (Must have been Jess as posted in September) We went back down to reception and the manager was knocking off so she said she had to meet her boyfriend and didn't want to deal with it and that she was already working back late. She sent this guy who rudely told the girl to switch rooms (he actually wanted us to tell her but we said it wasn't our job) and then when we asked for fresh sheets he didn't want to give them to us! All of the rest of the reception staff were great, and I'd stay here again as it was good, cheap accommodation, just don't expect the night guy to be any help whatsoever. Oh, and if your sleeping in the girls dorm bring earplugs as the carpark next to the hostel comes alive at about 3am.

This place has a great location and all the requirements of a great hostel. However, it is let down by the rudest and most incompetent staff I've witnessed in a year's travelling. This is why it gets 1 star. Firstly, there is one person behind the desk so a wait is inevitable and frequently arduous. They also do not care or make the effort for you to get the most out of the city. While there are frequent tours, the one we went on, to the Hollywood sign, was given by someone so unsmiling and mirthless that we wish we went alone. We also did the pub-crawl — 5 dollars it costs, including free drink — however this was merely straight vodka from a cup and the tour guide (a different person) was completely unhelpful. He even told me off for making a light bit of banter, saying there's always one person who gives him hard time. He also complained that he'd rather be with his friend and actually left most of the group at the second bar and we didn't see him again. This for 5 bucks. They also charge for doing simple things like booking shuttles to airports and their information is outdated. Twice the Greyhound prices and schedules were archaic, and on the day of our trip to Disneyland there was an additional charge from the shuttle company for $8 to stay till 10 p.m. We were not informed of this charge on the information board or by the hostel, who booked it for us. The place is generally clean, however the "free breakfast" of pancakes is bad and the frying pans stick. Bafflingly, they also close the kitchen at 10 a.m. so you have to get up, in and out very quickly if you're to make the most of it. It doesn't seem like the most agreeable time to do this. Finally, at checkout time at 10 a.m. when I left, I didn't have my keycard so couldn't get my deposit. I was relieved to discover my roommate had actually handed it in the day before when he had found it in the door. However, this did not alter the situation with the receptionist, and she could offer no explanation or apology why I shouldn't have my money back: "*sigh* You can speak to the managers if you like"..."Where are they?"...."I don't know." End of exchange. Useless.

Before I whinge (complain) I must say the backpacker staff (cleaners and hosts) did a fantastic job and were lovely. However, the reception staff were rude, unhelpful and made you feel you shouldn't be bothering them. On our last night, we were in bed at about 11 p.m. when we were asked to change rooms. Two other girls should have been in our beds as the receptionist made a mistake. When my friend went down to speak to the manager about it he was really rude. He didn't apologize and just said, "Look, just change beds ok?" If he had apologized and explained it would make their life easier etc., etc. We wouldn't have minded half as much. Instead we were made to feel like an inconvenience. Again.