Orbit Hotel & Hostel

The Orbit Hotel Hostel offers a very fun and social atmosphere to its guests. There are several common lounges where travellers can hang out to watch television, catch a movie, smoke, or eat dinner together. The hostel is very smoker-friendly with a smokers patio and porch. Unfortunately, the adjoining rooms tend to receive some of this smoke through the glass-sliding patio doors. But to be fair, there are only a few rooms that connect directly to the patio.

The hostel is located on Melrose Avenue, which is just three major blocks from LA's famous Hollywood Blvd., where you will find the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre, and the Kodak Centre. Sunset Blvd. is only 2 blocks away, where there is excellent nightlife. On Fridays and Saturdays the hostel runs a one-way shuttle up to Sunset Blvd. for $3.00. Food markets, and retail outlets are all a walk away, with the closest ones on Fairfax Ave. The hostel is a $35 cab fare from Los Angeles International Airport, but the hostel runs a shuttle bus Mon-Sat that offers free pick-up and $6 drop-off. Additionally, the hostel offers a number of organized tours and packages for its guests. Finally, the hostel's location on Melrose makes it readily accessable to LA's three major public transportation networks: DASH buses, the MTO and Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus. If you are interested in frequenting the beaches of LA, then Banana Bungalow is somewhat out of the way (35 minutes by car and over an hour by bus).

The building itself is generally clean and is kept in good condition with a daily cleaner. With only a small microwave available to travelers, the kitchen is not geared toward the do-it-yourselfer. There are however, two fridges for common use. Be prepared to eat a few meals from the kitchen, as the food is quite good, and servings are generous. Breakfasts vary between $2.50 and $5.00, and lunch/supper is $5.00. Very good prices as far as Los Angeles is concerned.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
January 2004