Union Square Backpackers Hostel is not in very good repair. There doesn't seem to be any security and the place is rundown and dirty. The people staying there are sketchy at best and everything is disorganized. Staff try to be helpful but are not always the best informed about things to do in San Francisco.
The Location
The location is near Union Square but actually in the Tenderloin area, which is an area with homeless people. It is not safe to walk around during the night. The actual hostel is at the end of an alley. Within a few blocks are restaurants, shops, and public transportation. There is no on-site parking.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The bedrooms have mattresses with duct tape holding them together. Sheets and towels are not provided. The bathrooms are not cleaned regularly but management indicates that they are in the process of updating and repairing them. The dorm rooms are small and cramped with a bad smell and are located on various floors of the building. The stairs are steep and narrow, so it is hard to cart up lots of gear. There is no air conditioning and the windows may not shut completely. The entire hostel is in need of refurbishing.
Common Spaces
There is free internet and a small kitchen and TV room. It looks like no one has picked up or cleaned for a very long time. Dirty dishes and debris covers most surfaces. There are security lockers and a coin-operated washer and dryer. Right outside the hostel is a bike rental that is not affiliated with the hostel itself that rents bikes at the cheapest price in San Francisco.
Summary
The people staying at this hostel are middle aged men and seem to be long-term residents. The atmosphere is not especially friendly and the guests themselves are pretty dirty and rundown. There are better choices in San Francisco for safety, cleanliness, and hospitality. The standards are very low at this hostel. There is not a tours desk as such in the reception, so guests cannot rely on help from the staff to book excursions.
Review by S. Topf— Recensione esclusiva Hostelz.com
January 2009
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