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The boo.com lowdown
Where?
1 block from Union Square, near Chinatown and SoMA.
What?
Large hostel with 280 beds.
Anything else you need to know?
The hostel has a common area with a tv, games and library. Breakfast, bed linen and towels included in price. Internet access available. Lockers are provided. Reception open 24 hours.
FROM:
US$27
Check rates
Map
Reviews of HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)
HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square) has a rating of 81% from a total of 349 reviews and ratings, below are some reviews of HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)
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andylucas2399 says:
“ great location, not a very social hostel. hard to meet people. no social room as such. ”
Posted: on Mar 21, 2010 // Rated: |
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erinmorris57359 says:
“ The staff was nice but failed to do the math correctly and ended up almost ripping us off twice which took about 20 minutes to figure out. The rooms were A LOT smaller and older looking from the pictures online, we got oil on our hands from the door knob, it smelled of pee and later weed and the... more ”
Posted: on Mar 19, 2010 // Rated: |
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sdssa says:
“ very nice and helpful staff, breakfast was simple but perfect to keep you full until lunch. the room was very clean and the whole place had a nice friendly atmosphere. only downside was the water broke for a couple of days other than that it was great! ”
Posted: on Mar 16, 2010 // Rated: |
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sokercap4811 says:
“ impressive place. very clean and comfortable ”
Posted: on Mar 14, 2010 // Rated: |
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mariekueter4314 says:
“ Supergreat place with nice staff. Spent 7 days there and felt very comfortable! ”
Posted: on Mar 13, 2010 // Rated: |
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templeman says:
“ excellent location in downtown, great value for money also nice that breakfast was offered. someone was always at recpetion and all staff were always very helpful. ”
Posted: on Mar 8, 2010 // Rated: |
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fionakearney says:
“ This hostel is situated in an ideal location. You are close to the shopping areas and in walking distance to many of the main sights in San Fran. The only problem I had was the price quoted on hostel world is not the price you pay when you get there as the price quoted is for Hostel... more ”
Posted: on Mar 1, 2010 // Rated: |
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katmvickers8181 says:
“ Loved my stay. Location was perfect; it's nearby many restaurants and shops, and a quick walk to China Town and other attractions. The room was simple but clean and cute, and the bed was really comfortable. Also, the front desk people were consistently friendly and helpful, going out of their way... more ”
Posted: on Feb 25, 2010 // Rated: |
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farrellaisling4123 says:
“ I LOVED this hostel! Great location, only minutes walk from all the main shopping areas and transport links. My room was bright,modern and clean. The common areas were the same, and free breakfast in the morning was the best I've had anywhere! Staff were so helpful in pointing out where to go/not... more ”
Posted: on Feb 24, 2010 // Rated: |
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drikacarvalho says:
“ The hostel is very well located. I liked the facilities in there, such as the tv room and the internet area. The kitchen is pretty good, also the breakfast! The only thing bad was the bathroom. Some rooms have indoor and another ones don't. And the outside bathrooms wasn't really good. But, in... ”
Posted: on Feb 17, 2010 // Rated: |
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mikeandmyself says:
“ This hostel is way overpriced. Also plan on spending an extra $3 per night on top of what HostleWorld tells you. There is no bar at the hostel and you can't even drink in the lounge area - odd considering they situated the building directly next door to a liquour store. It's difficult to meet... more ”
Posted: on Feb 16, 2010 // Rated: |
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omsi20043465 says:
“ The room was over heated... Almost a sauna and I guess it is a centralized heating one cannot change. Otherwise location os perfect ! ”
Posted: on Feb 16, 2010 // Rated: |
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aftipus4426 says:
“ This was my first time in a hostel after many years in luxurious hotels. It was fun, staff was way more polite/tolerant/helpful than in many hotels (especially David). Your complementary tours are a bonus, the kitchen was shining clean! Internet service - excellent. I didn't use the elevator but... more ”
Posted: on Feb 14, 2010 // Rated: |
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celestejakubenko8232 says:
“ ok hostel. I came into conatct with 3 staff member 2 were extremely rude and thought they were much better than everyone else. There was only one nice guy who was smily and very helpful. I suggest you take a look into who you hire, as it reflects very poorly on HI's reputation. ”
Posted: on Feb 10, 2010 // Rated: |
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tamie says:
“ This was the BEST hostel, we have been staying in hostels all over the USA and this was is number 1 on our list. The location was excellent, close to everything.Staff were super friendly, the rooms were so clean, kitchen fantastic ”
Posted: on Feb 7, 2010 // Rated: |
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sancarlo12418 says:
“ way cool for strangers that are friends now. keep upward looking. ”
Posted: on Jan 31, 2010 // Rated: |
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jueast says:
“ Lovely hostel right in the centre of downtown...great, safe neighbourhood. It served its purpose but if you're looking to meet people it is very difficult. The downside were some (not all) of the staff had 'attitudes' and I found to be rude - in particular the 'too cool for school' asian guy.... more ”
Posted: on Jan 30, 2010 // Rated: |
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samrobertson67183 says:
“ The Hostel is one of the best and cleanest which I have stayed. The location is safe and in a great area of the city in Union Sqaure near all major retailers. I would definitely recommend staying here for all ages. ”
Posted: on Jan 27, 2010 // Rated: |
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yej0303401 says:
“ i've never seen such a great hostel like here. easy to find, good security. specially kitchen is so nice. there are brand new kitchen tool so that you can use anytime. breakfast also very nice. ”
Posted: on Jan 24, 2010 // Rated: |
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party-rocker says:
“ My first day there the guy on the desk was really funny with me when I tried to check in early. The location is better than the other HI hostel that is just a few streets away but the other one is much nicer. Better atmosphere, cleaner and more character in the building. ”
Posted: on Jan 18, 2010 // Rated: |
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snowapril6781 says:
“ This is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at - very clean with friendly staff. My only critique: It would be helpful if the kitchen was open later than 10pm. Also, more lounge space would be great. The lounge filled up quick and I was left with no space to hang out, since my... ”
Posted: on Jan 17, 2010 // Rated: |
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hostelworld3589 says:
“ Really great hostel, accept for the dirty toilets. ”
Posted: on Jan 3, 2010 // Rated: |
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colakiwi says:
“ Great place to stay, staff went out of their way to help. Location is great! Only downside would probably be the showers arent that great! ”
Posted: on Dec 29, 2009 // Rated: |
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derob says:
“ The Staff was always ready to answer any question, and very willing to help. Breakfast was good and charming, also nice to chat with people. ”
Posted: on Dec 25, 2009 // Rated: |
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Rulz2 says:
“ Was only there for one night because I had to visit the embassy to get my french visa, so I didn't really get a feel for the ambiance of the place but it was clean and comfortable and a simple breakfast in the morning ”
Posted: on Dec 23, 2009 // Rated: |
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Bmada says:
“ really nice and helpful staff, awesome kitchen, but toilets were not very clean. ”
Posted: on Dec 23, 2009 // Rated: |
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littlemisskatrina3670 says:
“ Very helpful staff, great location, fun organised activities - will def stay here again!! ”
Posted: on Dec 16, 2009 // Rated: |
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hostelworld9634 says:
“ The room was HUGE! But, the street noise was very bad. Also, the shower had low water pressure and never got hot. The three HI wireless connections were all incredibly slow and essentially unusable (3+ min page refresh times). I love this hostel, but mostly for its staff. Next time I'll stick... ”
Posted: on Dec 15, 2009 // Rated: |
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mikeyroy says:
“ I'm giving this place a 100 cause it deserves much better scores than the Tortoise place which I have also stayed at. This is in a downtown area, so there is a bit of street noise (free earplugs), I could have been happier if my room wasn't below the kitchen when breakfast starts up, but again,... more ”
Posted: on Dec 15, 2009 // Rated: |
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esther-campbell2448 says:
“ I believe the information said that every room had a bathroom - mine did not. Wished there was a place I could brush my teeth and look in the mirror that didn't require turning on the light as my schedule was completely different than the others in my room. I would stay again and recommend it. ”
Posted: on Dec 14, 2009 // Rated: |
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marc-v-250 says:
“ there are many floors with restrooms at hallways, shared restrooms at rooms, common area, nice kitchen with big windows and good view. ”
Posted: on Dec 7, 2009 // Rated: |
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aaronmax says:
“ This was a very nice hostel. The staff was very helpful and friendly. It is very centrally located, though you probably want to be careful if you're walking around really late at night. Only thing we didn't like was there was someone with a pet dog in the hostel/kitchen area, and that is... ”
Posted: on Dec 5, 2009 // Rated: |
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gideoncaspi3475 says:
“ Everything in the hostel was great, including some recommendations for things to do in the area... The breakfast was really good too for a free one =) Could be slightly cleaner, but really not a big deal. Good stay overall ”
Posted: on Dec 3, 2009 // Rated: |
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olliolli6972 says:
“ Nice hostel. I will go back. ”
Posted: on Dec 1, 2009 // Rated: |
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shanz885 says:
“ Clean and tidy. Good breakfast. Helpful staff. Great location. Would stay there again for sure! ”
Posted: on Nov 26, 2009 // Rated: |
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Mangu says:
“ Excellent location. Friendly, efficient and helpful staff. Clean. To obtain better reviews and improve stay, I propose doing some work on the bedroom windows to better isolate from street noise. Congratulations !! ”
Posted: on Nov 24, 2009 // Rated: |
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bekquinlan says:
“ The room was advertised as 4 beds, and there is a big comment on the hostel's page that states that there is no more than 4 beds in a room, however we were in a room with 6 beds. It can be quite noisy but that comes with being in a city centre. It also felt more like a hotel in that you could get... more ”
Posted: on Nov 23, 2009 // Rated: |
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karenlevel8674 says:
“ alright as hostels go but not as good as the H.I. on Ellis street. Has no character. ”
Posted: on Nov 23, 2009 // Rated: |
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claire-k8 says:
“ We arrived at 11.30 and didnt get checked in for at least forty minutes because of the massive amount of people trying to check in, perhaps they could put more staff on over this shift. Apart from this the hostel was fantastic, great location, free breakfast was good and went to a comedy club on... more ”
Posted: on Nov 18, 2009 // Rated: |
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davejfitz9888 says:
“ Fantastic location, spacious rooms and an excellent free breakfast. Although i would still recommend this hostel it is let down by a couple of the male staff. One of the guys (M**t) had so much attitude i was nervous about asking him any questions. Hospitality needs just a smile and no sarcasm... more ”
Posted: on Nov 15, 2009 // Rated: |
Been to HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)? Tell boo what you thought Add a review
Facilities at HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)
- Food & Drink
- Guest Kitchen
- General
- Iron/Ironing Board
- 24 Hour Reception
- Hairdryer for Hire
- 24 Hour Security
- Washing Machine/Dryer
- Tours Desk
- Towels Hire
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Elevator
- Luggage Storage
- Communications
- Card Phones
- In Room Facilities
- Linen Included
- Key Card Access
- Security Lockers
- Sport & Leisure
- Cable TV
- Common Room
Description of HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)
Hostelling International's San Francisco Downtown Hostel offers a first-rate location at a rock-bottom price! Stay in the heart of San Francisco's tourist district, one block from Union Square and steps from Chinatown and SOMA, in a vibrant neighborhood filled with clubs, restaurants, bars, theaters, and art galleries. Of course, you'll also have easy access to Union Square's famous, world-class shopping. With scores of flagship department stores and trendy boutiques at your doorstep, you're sure to find that perfect souvenir -- and with the money you save by staying with us, you can afford it! Housed in a renovated hotel, the HI-San Francisco Downtown Hostel has all the modern-day comforts you've come to expect. The hostel offers both private rooms and dorm rooms, with a MAXIMUM OF 4 BEDS PER DORM. Lockers are available in each room, and many rooms come with their own private bathrooms. Free linen and towel service, as well as daily housekeeping, are included, and laundry facilities are available on site. FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTS are provided every morning, and a guest kitchen is available for self-service meals. The guest lounges are newly renovated, and the hostel boasts a brand new THEATER-STYLE MEDIA ROOM with wide-screen, satellite TV, and two movie screenings nightly. High-speed Internet facilities and FREE WIFI are also available. Guests are also welcome to join in the FREE OR LOW-COST ACTIVITIES the hostel organizes daily, including pub-crawls, walking tours, and day trips out to the Napa Wine Country or to the gorgeous Yosemite Valley. HI-San Francisco Downtown is easy walking distance to popular attractions including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Beuna Gardens and Center for the Arts, the Metreon entertainment complex and IMAX theater, and the enormous new Westfield shopping center. You can also catch the cable car three blocks from the hostel's door, and cruise your way up to North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. Along with the cable cars, the hostel is close to other public transit -- 1 block from major MUNI bus lines and 3 blocks from BART trains which run to/from the San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland International Airport. HI-San Francisco Downtown is your home in the heart of the city! 'Just a block from Union Square, amid five-star hotels at a tiny fraction of the price.' -- Lonely Planet, USA & Canada on a Shoestring 'The cleanest and most central hostel, and, consequently, the most popular.' --Rough Guide 'A budget traveler's dream in the land of pricey downtown hotels.' --San Francisco Bay Guardian HI-San Francisco Downtown is operated by Hostelling International, a nonprofit membership-based organization. Non-members will be asked to pay a $3/night non-membership fee upon check-in.
