HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel

I really enjoyed the comedy show, my roommates, the kitchen, and the courtyard. I also really loved how close it was to the pier and lots of nice places to get drinks and food. The kitchen is really big and accessible. I appreciated the free bin! We did have an issue with a homeless person sitting out by the front of the hostel but the security and front desk staff took care of us and made sure we were safe by removing the woman from the property. They offered to give us an escort to ensure we made it safely getting to and from the hostel which was also a nice option to have.

It was a really clean and satisfying stay! Since check-in started at 3 p.m., I left my luggage at the accommodation and went for a walk along the beach. I wish I could’ve stayed longer, but if I come back again, I’d definitely love to stay here once more.

I have stayed at many hostels in the past year and this is by far the best hostel I have been to. This is more comparable to a resort and the only down side is that there is a 2 week maximum per year which makes sense for such a great hostel as it would be fully booked all year round otherwise. The location is perfect, the staff are amazing and the amenities are plentiful. Unfortunately I used up my 2 weeks at the beginning of the year so I will have to wait till next year to stay here again.

I had a great stay at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica! The location couldn’t be better, just a few minutes from the beach, the pier, and tons of restaurants and shops. The hostel is super clean, well-organized, and feels really safe. Rooms are spacious, beds are comfy, and the bathrooms are spotless. The staff were friendly and helpful, always ready with tips about the area. I loved the social vibe, it’s easy to meet people from all over the world, and they organize fun activities like tours, yoga, and even comedy nights. Overall, this hostel is the perfect mix of comfort, cleanliness, and community. Totally worth it and I’d definitely stay here again!

I usually only write reviews for restaurants, but I needed to make an exception here. Excellent location, good amenities, and a very nice kitchen. Also the service is very good from the desk staff and I found them to be extremely helpful and accommodating. Their company rules and policies seem to be very customer friendly. I needed to cancel the last night of my stay (leave 1 day early), and I let the front desk know about this the night before, and they were able to fully refund me the money for this night easily. I wasn’t expecting them to be able to do this. Also, they offer a service for $5 to hold your luggage after checkout till 10:00 PM, and you can still use all the facilities of the hostel during this time! You can chill out, shower, play pool, use the kitchen, etc. A great deal for $5.

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is hands down one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in! The location is unbeatable — just a short walk from Santa Monica Pier, the beach, Third Street Promenade, and all the best shops, cafes, and nightlife spots in the area. Whether you're a solo traveler or in a group, this place makes exploring LA easy and fun. The hostel itself is incredibly well-maintained. The rooms are clean, spacious, and well-lit, with secure lockers for your belongings. The beds are comfy, and even in shared dorms, there's enough space to feel comfortable. Bathrooms and showers are spotless, and the housekeeping staff does a fantastic job keeping everything tidy. What really makes this place special is the friendly and social atmosphere. There are plenty of common areas, including a large courtyard and a cozy lounge, where you can meet travelers from around the world. The hostel organizes activities like walking tours and group outings, which is great if you’re new in town or traveling solo. The staff is super helpful, always smiling, and full of local tips on what to see and do. Plus, the free breakfast is a nice touch — simple but enough to get your day started. If you're looking for an affordable, safe, and welcoming place to stay in LA, especially near the beach, HI Santa Monica should be at the top of your list. Highly recommended!

This place was great. Being an older traveler I wasn’t sure about staying in a hostel again but reading the reviews I decided too. Was fairly quiet, one night had someone in our room check in late when we were all in bed but apart from that, it was peaceful. I did bring a lock for the lockers but felt like I didn’t need to lock my things up. Would definitely stay here again. It was so close to everything, restaurants, pier, entertainment..place was very clean (especially showers and toilets) it was well organised and staff very helpful with anything you may need. So easy to get to on public transport from airport. Just one tip have the correct money for the big blue bus service or download the transit app to prepay on app. Bus doesn’t take cc cards which I wasn’t expecting as we do at home and they don’t give change if you rock up with a note like I did. From LAX get the metro connector bus from airport shuttle area. Then number #3 big blue bus at bay 4 & 5. The bus ride is quite long. Get off at 4th street and broadway and hostel is a few min walk. Thanks for the stay!