Hostels are an inexpensive alternative to hotels, especially in urban areas. Here are the top three hostels in the San Francisco area based on price, amenities, and cleanliness. Each has a different neighborhood and social atmosphere to consider, but all are well-reviewed by visitors.
Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
This hostel offers a very social experience without being too party-oriented, and is rated highly by most visitors for its excellent customer service. It’s a small and very popular hostel, so bookings should be made well in advance. Thanks to its small staff, you’ll know every member by name. It’s also a great value due to the range of amenities the hostel offers, including free internet, tea and coffee anytime, free linens, free security boxes under each new bed, TV video lounge, and a new and fully-equipped kitchen. Located centrally in Chinatown, the Pacific Tradewinds Hostel is recommended as a safe, clean, and fun place to stay.
Green Tortoise Hostel
The Green Tortoise Hostel offers affordable female and co-ed dorms, as well as private rooms. They have a ten-day accommodation limit, though may be flexible in certain seasons and if you contact them in advance. The site boasts quite a few common areas from a computer room to a large ballroom with occasional dinners, game nights, and concerts. The large space defies what people expect of the traditional dive hostel. The ballroom's large art nouveau windows let in plenty of natural light. This hostel is larger than others in San Francisco, which is great if you’re looking to meet new people! Located in the North Beach area, the staff is known to go out of their way to help organize pub-crawls and other events for their visitors. They also offer free Wi-Fi and on-site computers.
Adelaide Hostel
This hostel is for travelers who hope to be in the heart of Downtown. Security lockers have power sockets inside, so you can charge your electronics safely while you’re out for the day. With this convenience location, visitors should anticipate that the hotel is located on a lane off the main city street. Though not excessively noisy, this location is not the quietest of retreats. The vibe of this hostel is more relaxed in terms of service and coordinated events. The Adelaide Hoste is a better fit for those not looking for large social spaces crammed with other travelers. Of the top three, the kitchen and common areas didn’t rate as high as the two previous hotels, but the majority of visitors still found the Adelaide to be highly recommendable.
Finally, there are a number of other great options for hostels in the San Francisco area. If you prefer a location certified through a national network, the two highest rated hostels from Hostelling International are the Downtown (Union Square) and Fisherman’s Wharf (Fort Mason) locations. Also worth recommending are the Orange Village Hostel offering extensive amenities and Friday Wine Nights in Union Square, the Europa Hostel with all private rooms in the SOMA district, and the slightly more expensive Dakota Hotel/Hostel in the Tenderloin neighborhood.
