HI Hostel Santa Monica, Los Angeles
Expert reviews
“This great value hostel is adjacent to Venice and the famed Pacific beaches, and has 260 beds spread around colourful dorms, doubles and family rooms, plus kitchen, library and laundry facilities.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Santa Monica
- Top location
- Boutique style
All you need to know
Just two blocks from the beautiful Santa Monica Beach, HI Santa Monica hostel enjoys a superb location close to cafes, restaurants and movie theatres. The world-famous Third Street Promenade, known for its weekly farmers’ markets, excellent food, great shopping and engaging street performers, is nearby.
The largest purpose-built hostel in the USA, there is a capacity for 273 guests and a wide range of facilities including free breakfast, Internet access, a well-equipped kitchen and daily movies.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
16 October 2025
I loved my stay!!
It's a very high-end hostel because of the number of facilities they have. They also have different organized activities you can join each day. On my last night, it was a movie night. The hostel is well maintained and with very approachable staff. Very near the beach and the train station / bus stations. A few mins away from the airport as well. And oh!! I love the kitchen!!!
I would love to have a divider/curtain per bed to have some privacy. :)
16 October 2025
Exceptional
It was great for one stay. Room was clean with comfortable bed
15 October 2025
Exceptional
I liked the necessities along with free wi-fi that was important when helping me with my homework in my 3 day stay. I come to visit family and friends when I am in town along with business Adventures. The staff is amazing even the security.
The cleaning Maintenance has issues with knocking on the doors and walking right in. I experienced it with a male and female who comes in when I was their getting dressed or preparing to get dressed walked in without knocking saying"Sorry." I guess people do not believe in knocking before entering or saying house keeping. That was a red flag for me.
13 October 2025
Great place to stay with a friendly and helpful staff members. As a female solo traveler, felt really safe also.
Clean, convenient, easy access and safe.
9 October 2025
Amazing hostel as never!
The kitchen, the patio, the location!!
8 October 2025
Great time
Best stay. Safe, good value for money, great friendly staff, amazing kitchen, comfortable beds, shared bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Loved it!
5 October 2025
Fabulous
It was clean and the location is amazing
More events needed to gather people to socialize
5 October 2025
Very good
Good location and vibe
The breakfast was good but limited
4 October 2025
Coffee/tea station, no refill for 3 days. (Hot chocolate was out for 3 days, tea and coffee supply w
Ice was inoperative, so employee didn’t care when asked her if someone can fix it, she doesn’t seem care even it’s not working.
No curtains by the beds, whole bed make noise when you move each time.
2 October 2025
Well laid out and organised events a bonus
Location and clean
As said
30 September 2025
Very good
I didn’t stay long enough to experience the breakfast.
N/a
29 September 2025
A night in Santa Monica on the way to SFO.
It's a hostel (please note this) with a very good location. I'd like to highlight its cleanliness, close to the beach and the bars and clubs. The staff is very friendly, and the breakfast is affordable. I must congratulate them for keeping the hostel in such good condition.
Parking is not included; you have to pay per day (USD 30) in a parking across from the hostel. Breakfast is not included; you have to pay for it. It's a low price, and while it doesn't offer much variety, it's a quick option.
28 September 2025
Recommended!
Double private room, cleanliness, staff, facilities, location
27 September 2025
I’ll stay there every time I go to Santa Monica!
It’s perfect location, everything is very clean, guest usually so respectful and the staff really nice! I stayed there twice and I had a great time!
Nothing
24 September 2025
It is one of the best hostels I have ever been
Location, staff, breakfast, and facilities were all great
I think there must be curtain for beds
23 September 2025
Exceptional
Absolutely perfect
23 September 2025
Fabulous
The location is perfect, by Santa Monica beach. The hostel is very clean, and I love all the amenities (kitchen, courtyard, pool table, library, tv room).
I did not know that the breakfast is not included anymore, so that was a bit of a bummer. But I understand that due to US tariffs, they had to adjust their prices as they are an international structure. It is always hard to get good sleep depending on your roommates but that is what it is in the hostel. Sometimes some of the staff is not as friendly., but they are always helpful!
22 September 2025
It was an amazing hostel
Very clean bathroom, breakfast for 5$ and very complete, big kitchen !
22 September 2025
Awesome
Excellent relation between price and quality
Wifi is necessary
19 September 2025
Exceptional
Everything was great
18 September 2025
Fabulous
Spacious kitchen, you could cook anywhere you wanted there! Nice location, super close to the beach. Friendly staff, always somebody at the desk. Since drinking/partying is prohibited at the hostel, it's rather quiet! Very good if you want to visit LA. Reaching the city centre from the hostel via public transportation isn't super convenient, but doable. Good neighbourhood.
The beds weren't super comfy, they were pretty loud and shaky too.
17 September 2025
Definitely revisit if i get chance
it is hygienic and quiet
A bit far away from tourist spot like hollywood and dtla
15 September 2025
Very good
Location
Breakfast
13 September 2025
Exceptional
location, staff
12 September 2025
Fabulous
An amazing hostel in a perfect location! The style is simple, cozy, and gives off a real vacation vibe. The space feels open and relaxing, the bathrooms are very clean, and the rooms have wonderful natural light. Out of all the hostels I’ve stayed in, this is by far my favorite!
11 September 2025
Exceptional
Best Location in Santa Monica even Los Angeles for staying Guys near the Beach near the Metro Station wich is really good to explore the City Thanks HI Hostel Santa Monica
Wee need Waffles or Pancakes for Breakfast jajaja
10 September 2025
Back in Santa Monica
My second time here and I really enjoyed it. Fantastic hostel that has a hotel feel to it, brilliant facilities with helpful staff and is kept very clean. The location to the beach, bars and metro station is excellent. The shower and toilet facilities are top notch for a hostel, with the library room, kitchen and courtyard areas all being well used and having friendly vibes.
A roommate snoring... but that is what ear-plugs are for I guess 😂
7 September 2025
An excellent base for experiencing Santa Monica
Conveniently located in the Downtown area one block from Ocean Boulevard Excellent set of amenities - large kitchen area, games room, picturesque outdoor courtyard for relaxing in Good continental breakfast option offered Great hostel-run pub tour on Friday evenings
6 September 2025
Exceptional
Eve
5 September 2025
Close to the Pier
The hostel is just one street away from the Pier which makes it super convenient. They hosted events at night and got to meet a few other travelers. They offer breakfast for $5 until 9:30 which is convenient on a budget, you can still use the kitchen.
3 September 2025
A great hostel experience!
The private room was spacious, clean and safe. The shared bathroom and kitchen were usually clean. We regularly saw staff cleaning the facilities. Great extras - beach towels/balls/umbrellas/chilly bins available for free use. The hostel had comedy shows and other free events for guests. Location was perfect, just off the beach and public transport nearby. The area felt safe.
The room wasn’t very soundproof, we heard a lot of street noises and guests walking the hallways, opening/closing doors. $5 breakfast was bagel/cereals.
31 August 2025
Great location, close to the beach. Friendly staff
Great location. Very helpful staff.
Comfortable mattres but creaking beds
31 August 2025
Very good
That there was breakfast to book and the showers
People weren't connecting that much but idk if the hostel can change that tbh :)
29 August 2025
Great! I’d come back and recommend to my friends!
Many considerate service such as keeping your luggage for 5 dollars, and allow access to the entire building but your dorm room until 10 pm the day you check out the hostel. No hotels or airbnb will even have that for you.
Some people in the bathroom are just not careful about their hygiene, a few people didn’t flush their toilet after using, and some have lots of hair on the shower floor and wall.
29 August 2025
Fabulous
Modern, clean and excellent location. Would return again.
29 August 2025
Great, would recommend
Facilities were very clean and had everything you could need. Had laundry machines and dryers which are a plus and lots of areas outside the room to relax and meet people!! 24 hour reception is great too!
Only negative I can think of is the beds could use with some privacy curtains!!
28 August 2025
Close beach access. Friendly staff.
I felt like people were a bit more engaged, social at this property. I enjoyed playing pool, I like that they offer different activities throughout the week and the guest seem more engaged. Having breakfast at your convenience is great and very cost efficient. I would highly recommend staying at this location.
N/A
27 August 2025
Fabulous
I had two successive bookings, but unfortunately I had to leave at 11am and check in again at 3pm! This disrupted my day
26 August 2025
Exceptional
It was really set up with everything you would expect to have or use. Very well planned. The staff was on their A game. Very clean with lots of showers and plenty of towels.
Nothing
26 August 2025
Great value for money and friendly atmosphere
I felt safe going around and leaving my stuff in the room. You are given your own locker and can attach a lock if you want to be extra safe. You have coffee and breakfast included which was a lovely touch. You can chill at the hostel or explore around santa monica with it being so central
Nothing i could note down, it was a very fair price for a good bed and area to stay in.
25 August 2025
Very good
Room was fine, view was none
Like everything in California, you feel under survailance all the time, and this place ia not an exeption
25 August 2025
Awesome!
I thought the breakfast was fair for the price paid, but not the best, but it was good. The location is perfect, the staff are very kind and proactive and the cleaning is great.
I didn't like the lack of awareness regarding noises during the night with the guests in my room, I know it's a hostel and the intention is to interact with each other, but conversations inside the room after 1:00 am I found totally disrespectful.
25 August 2025
Exceptional
They have a lot of fun options on what to do in the area. It's located near a cool location. Which is the beach and walking distance to the pier.
Got nothing negative to say.
24 August 2025
awesome location, clean with super staff.
food was good, location was excellent, super clean and easy to use bathroom and kitchen. Staff were excellent to deal with. Most comfortable bed on my 4 month trip.
Had to have a top bunk but this was okay just would have preferred lower.
22 August 2025
Overall it was a nice stay.
Room was clean, people friendly
Brainless LGBTQ+ propaganda, junkies in front of the hostel.
22 August 2025
Amazing hostel with fab facilities and great location!
We had a private room but were pleasantly surprised when we got checked in as we had a private bathroom also. The room had what we needed and was very spacious & clean. The breakfast included was great - a choice to pick from. The hostel also hosted nightly events for the guests, there were a few communal areas and good facilities to do laundry.
21 August 2025
Pleasant stay in a great location
See previous review
See previous review
18 August 2025
Exceptional
Location, breakfast, friendly staff. Excellent location. Very good air conditioning.
Some guests were rude staying in shower for an hour. Mild competition for shower spots.
18 August 2025
What a gem of a hostel
Everything! Not my first time staying here. I absolutely love this hostel!
Hotel facilities
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Luggage storage (additional charge)
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Lockers
- - Invoice provided
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Outdoor furniture
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Lift
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Vending machine (drinks)
- - Vending machine (snacks)
- - Shared lounge/TV area
Activities
- - Hiking
- - Beach
- - Stand-up comedy
Cleaning services
- - Daily housekeeping
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
- - Higher level toilet
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

16 October 2025
Very good