ITH San Diego Beach Bungalow Surf Hostel

We LOVED staying here. We got a private room that was very clean and had a really comfortable bed. The people at the front desk were very nice and accommodating. The location is amazing. Way better than the hotels we were looking at. Highly highly recommend.

Unfortunately very dissapointing experience. First the good things: - Location can't be better, right at the beach, and for me Pacific Beach is the best place in San Diego - Staff is friendly Negative: - It is completely worn down, it's a hostel so I don't have the highest expectation, but even the bare minimum it does not reach. Doors look like they've been broken into multiple times. - The noise. I have stayed in many hostels over the years, but something like this I have never experienced. The place is extremely noisy till 3AM as a standard. There is no quiet hours, and if they exist, they are not enforced by the staff at all. It is not only music, but also screaming and shouting that is apparently accepted. One night people were banging on all the doors between 2 and 3 am. It cannot be that the staff did not hear that, but no action was taken at all. So my advice is to only take this hostel if you plan to always stay awake till 4am. Sleeping before is unfortunately impossible (no, the ear plugs that are provided will not be enough to cover for the noise this hostel makes). In the end I checked out a day early, they did give me a refund for that night. So that is why I give 2 stars instead of 1.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars Highly recommended We stayed 5 days in San Diego, together with a friend, and it was truly a fantastic experience. The hostel is in an amazing location, just steps away from the beach, which already makes everything better. Breakfast with pancakes is available, there are always activities to join (even when it was raining a bit), and the overall atmosphere is incredibly warm and welcoming. What really stood out to us was the staff: there are so many people working there, and everyone is genuinely kind, friendly, and approachable. We’ve traveled to many cities, but we’ve never felt so “at home” in a hostel before. It’s also impressive to see such a large and present staff in a relatively small hostel — that makes a huge difference. We stayed in a 4-bed dorm and felt very comfortable. Everything was well organized, social, and relaxed. Honestly, one of the best hostels we’ve stayed at in the United States. Of course, San Diego and its lifestyle help a lot, but this place really elevates the experience. If we had to give a small suggestion for the future, it would be amazing to see activities like a group trip to Tijuana or guided explorations of San Diego with locals starting directly from the hostel. But these are just small ideas — everything that was offered was already very, very good. If we ever come back to San Diego, this would 100% be our first choice again. Thank you so much for everything. Gianluca & Beatrice 🇮🇹🇷🇴

I’ve never stayed in a hostel like this before. It really is an actual bungalow, the building is very worn down, to the point where you wonder for a second if they made it look run down on purpose. I heard a rumor that the owner of the building is going to sell it soon so he’s not fixing anything. But as long as you don’t have high standards and look past the oldness of the building, this is an excellent hostel. There’s a nice social atmosphere with plenty of events, and the hostel itself has a real homey feel to it (I’m sure the free pancakes in the morning helps!). But probably the best thing about this hostel is the location. You are right in the middle of everything you want to see and do in your stay in Pacific Beach… and right on the ocean! You can fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The existence of this hostel really is a beautiful thing, and I will remember my time here fondly.

❗CAUTION: Only stay here if you want to have the BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE!❗ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m convinced this place is some kind of magical portal where strangers become family in 48 hours and you forget real life exists. Every single person there made this trip unforgettable! Shout out to Ziggy, the certified OG, for being the best manager. Somehow everywhere at once and always chill. Shout out to Diego, the best guest, for being pure good energy, hilarious, and kind. Thank you to our host Aidan for setting the whole vibe with good music, showing us shortcuts around town, and carrying our firewood! Shout out to Sergio for celebrating his birthday with us! That guy always has a smile. Huge shout out to Bailey, who I didn't get enough time with, for having a beautiful soul! And Justine, from my last stay, who is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She took us surfing at sunset last time I was there and it was honestly one of the best memories of my life. And to the random guy who shared his ramen with me… that was the best ramen I’ve ever had, no exaggeration. The whole place just radiates community, warmth, and that indescribable “hostel magic” that makes you wish you never had to leave. Every time I come here, I leave with new memories, new friends, and a little more faith in people. They also have free pancakes in the morning. 🫶