Orange Drive Manor Hostel

It was fine
I was here four days. It's in a good location if you want to see hollywood but not the beaches. Staff was very nice. Didn't run into any mean old lady or rude staff. I guess the new management really did change staff. I'd recommend doing Hollywood at this hostel for two days then run off to a beach hostel. Good stuff -- Great building, nice big room. Very cozy. Nice location. Easy to get to. Close to the action of Hollywood. Right next to metro so it's easy to get to universal, convention center, little tokyo. Lots of buses nearby too. Easy to get to the studios by bus/etc if you want to do the TV audience thing. Bad stuff -- There wasn't much of a common area. There was a TV room but that was it. I believe there might have been a couch right near the private rooms but I don't want to bother anyone there. The front door key has to be changed. It opens the door by key, not by unlocking then turning/pushing a knob. They give you regular key copy for it which means it's a flimsy key from the hardware store. Very first time I used it, it broke in the lock. They replaced it but the next key was bending a lot after only two uses. I was so paranoid about it breaking again. I didn't want to look like I was irresponsible but it really was the keys, not me. I tried as hard as I could to turn the key as carefully as possible but you're talking a heavy duty lock opening with a flimsy key. All they have to do is make a small investment in some other locking mechanism, maybe a code lock or something. In fact, I would love to stay in this hostel again but because I know this front door is like this, I won't. I'm too scared I'll get locked out with nobody around to open the door.

Fabulously Unique!
The location is Fantastic! Close to all that's important to see in Los Angeles. You can walk almost everywhere. The only things that are a forty-five-minute bus ride away is the Beaches, and Disneyland is far too, but there is a variety of transportation available to get you there. The staff are great! They are friendly and very helpful. The hostel is a old Mansion. It is bigger than it looks from the front of the house. It has a lovely garden in the front with a patio to hang out and socialize. Each room is unique, and cozy. It made me feel like I was at home. It's a quiet and relaxing experience. I would recommend this experience who wants to be where all the action is, and to anyone who likes unique antique type homes with a friendly and calm atmosphere.

Stayed here one night on 11/4/06. Excellent location, very quiet for those not into the party-type hostels. Had a private room that was very nice -- no ants. Shared bathroom/showers are very small but do the job. Kitchen was very small but didn't need to cook. If you use the shuttles on the Directions page get a price first. We used Best Way shuttle and were charged $20 per person instead of the listed $12.

Comment from the Hostel: Your comments and concerns are an important tool we take seriously and we do appreciate any and all feedback. We have taken steps to address the issues of concern amongest you traveler's. First, we are under new management. The current management has taken steps to ensure all employee's provide the most helpful, courteous customer service we can provide and are serious about ensuring that this occurs each and every time. Thanks to those of you who have brought this to our attention. Secondly, we have undergone an extensive renovation to update our rooms, dorms, and common areas. The Common areas: Kitchen has new appliances. New stove, fridge, microwave. TV room: Cable TV, VCR, (we are working on the DVD player) The Sleeping areas: The majority of the rooms have been updated with brand new hardwood flooring. Additional upgrades are in progress. Please visit our website at www.orangedrivehostel.com for additional information or feel free to contact me with any additional questions. Thank you for your time. I look forward to being of assistance to you. Sincerly, Laura Walton

The location is nice, but that is the only positive thing about this place. The staff (especially that Brazilian? guy) is rude, and not trustworthy. They even scammed us out on money!!! That is unacceptable, and they were very unprofessional about it. The staff member did not care at all, and laughed me in my face. Also, it is not very clen and the pillows were made of plastic. If you want a nice location, and get money stolen plus arrogant staff members, this is your place!!

I have never stayed in a hostel as bad as this one. Rooms were fine, but that was the only thing. Staff were rude and unfriendly and they certainly never ever heard of customer service. The kitchen is very dirty and you can't cook in it because there is no stove. I wouldn't even want to go back there if it was free.

I wouldn't exactly call the place perfect for the budget traveler, since a kettle and a microwave are the only cooking facilities whatsoever — no stove! But you can't beat the location. Walking distance is rarely found in L.A., but this is really close to the classic Hollywood sights. Oh yeah, I did see that old lady people mention, but unfortunately I didn't get to hear those old school anecdotes of hers.

Four years ago I was in this hostel. It's funny to read the reactions about the hostel. Not much has changed, I would say. I do remember a guy "sleeping" in a chair in the hall, the old lady always talking, telling visitors about celebrities that stayed in the hostel and some gossip about actors from her earlier days. I must admit I enjoyed staying there, though it was only two nights and the place was kind of crappy. I remember hooking up with some people who stayed there and smoking Chronic on the patio, drinking Heinekens. Not a great hostel but I loved the location and the atmosphere. It's an old school hostel for open-minded people if you ask me. I'm from the Netherlands but I survived so ;-)

This place looks amazing from the outside and the location is amazing for the price, but our room was overrun with ants. We complained and changed rooms, which was fine until we discovered that our new room was also overrun with ants. When we checked out early the next day we were told that it was our own fault!! This hostel is in a great location and it's cheap enough. It's perfect for those who just want somewhere to sleep, because the ants will keep you out of the bathrooms. It's such a pity because this place has so much potential.

This is a good, spacious hostel. Its location is excellent. It's just around the corner from the Chinese Theatre, metro rail and bus stops. It's on a quiet and safe street, and the staff are very helful. It's an excellent value for those on a budget.

Great atmosphere. This place was cool--at 50 yards behind the Mann Theatre, it is dead centre. I had a private room and it was perfect.

We booked an en suite room, but when we got here there were no en suite rooms left. They went by the policy "first come, first served," and didn't care about reservations for en suites. (We got the money we had payed for the en suite bathroom back.) The place smelled like a really old house (which it is), but it was clean and only 300 meters from the Walk of Fame and other things to see in Hollywood.

A pretty good value, being so close to Hollywood's most popular places. By the way, I hope someone is getting good value out of my bathroom stuff, which I left there.

It's a good hostel for its location. But it is very expensive for what it is. It has an old carpet, no fridge, and no DVD player. It has good employees, who are exploited by very greedy owners. And there's an old woman who's always complaining about everything. There's no fun inside this hostel; you have to turn off the lights after 11 p.m. because it's too expensive for the owner. There's no way you can cook something. The rooms are very dirty, and very expensive. I stayed only three days.

I have to say, I was impressed with this hostel. Its location is excellent - just around the corner from the Chinese Theatre and the railway to Universal Studios. I found the staff helpful and the place quaint. Although it is in downtown Hollywood, the street was quiet and safe. Although the cleanliness does need improving, it is like taking a step back in time because there is no proper lighting! Cute I think!! I would recommend this hostel to those on a budget as I found it great!