MY 5 favorite HOSTELS IN LOS ANGELES
Last Updated: 3/16/20 | March 16th, 2021
In the last few years, a lot more and a lot more hostels have started opening up in Los Angeles and a city that was filled with only a couple now has dozens. While a lot of used be located in Santa Monica or West Hollywood, you’ll find hostels spread out all over the city now.
That’s terrific because LA itself is incredibly spread out and it’s a pain in the butt to get anywhere. Now, if you want to stay in a hostel, you’re no longer confined to just a few parts of town.
The city is your oyster!
I’ve been checking out LA for a decade and have stayed in dozens upon dozens of places. There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel. The top four when picking the best hostel in Los Angeles are:
Location – LA is substantial and it can take some time to get around. pick a place that is central to the sites and nightlife you want to see. All the hostels provided here are in central locations.
Price – In LA, you really get what you pay for, so if you opt for a really low-cost one, you’re probably going to get a hostel that is small, cramped, and doesn’t offer terrific service.
Amenities – Every hostel in the city uses complimentary Wi-Fi, and a lot of have a complimentary breakfast, but if you want a lot more than that, be sure to do your research to find the hostel that best meets your needs!
Staff – All the hostels provided here have remarkable staff! They are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. even if you don’t end up staying at one of the places provided below, be sure to look up reviews to make sure you end up somewhere where the staff is valuable and friendly! They can make or break a hostel!
To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the hostels in Los Angeles that I like the most. If you don’t want to read the longer list below, the following hostels are the best in each category:
Best Hostel for budget Travelers: Samesun Hollywood Hostel
Best Hostel for Families: Freehand Los Angeles
Best Hostel for Solo female Travelers: HI Los Angeles Santa Monica
Best Hostel for digital Nomads: HI Los Angeles Santa Monica
Best Hostel for Partying: Banana Bungalow Hollywood
Best overall Hostel: Samesun Venice Beach
Want the specifics of each hostel? Here’s my detailed list of the best hostels in Los Angeles:
Price legend (per night)
$ = Under $30 USD
$$ = $30-40 USD
$$$ = Over $40 USD
1. Freehand
This hostel/hotel features designer rooms with comfortable, a rooftop pool and bar with remarkable views of the city, a lobby bar, a restaurant, and even a fitness center. Over the last few years, the once barren downtown has become amazing again. DTLA is one of my favorite parts of town and, though far from the main sites, you can at least get on the metro to go wherever you want!
One thing to note: while this place is incredibly cool, it’s also big and trendy and popular with locals so you don’t get a standard hostel vibe here. That said, it’s the least expensive place to stay downtown!
Freehand at a glance:
$$
Rooftop bar and pool for hanging out and meeting people
Restaurant and fitness center
Near the metro so you can get anywhere easily
Beds from $39 USD a night
Book Freehand Los Angeles here!
2. HI Los Angeles Santa Monica
HI Los Angeles Santa Monica is located a block from the beach and near the popular Santa Monica pier. The hostel includes complimentary Wi-Fi, a stocked kitchen, and complimentary breakfast. It also single-sex dorm rooms. While the beds aren’t incredibly comfy, the hostel uses many indoor and outdoor common areas, plus daily complimentary activities and experiences, like pub crawls, walking tours, hikes, and more.
If you’re trying to find access to the California beaches and nearby Venice, this is where to stay.
HI Los Angeles Santa Monica at a glance:
$$
Lots of common areas so it’s easy to meet people
Free breakfast
Female-only dorms for extra privacy and security
Beds from $31 USD a night
Book HI Los Angeles Santa Monica here!
3. Samesun Venice Beach
If you want to be a part of the action on Venice Beach, Samesun Venice beach is the place. The hostel has both dorms and private rooms, a lot of of which include an ocean view. Dorms have four, six or eight beds (mixed or female) that have lights and shelves for each. The bunks can be a bit shaky, and the bathrooms are small, and there’s no elevator but, overall, it’s an amazing place to stay in Venice.
Your stay includes complimentary breakfast too. They also do a lot of activities to help ya get to know the city and others in the hostel!
Samesun Venice beach at a glance:
$$
Organizes tons of events
Free breakfast
Great place to meet other travelers
Beds from $36 USD a night
Book Samesun Venice beach here!
4. Banana Bungalow Hollywood
Housed in a former motel, the retro Banana Bungalow Hollywood has a friendly, lively vibe and views of the Hollywood sign. What sets this hostel besides othersisn’t just the complimentary vehicle parking (which is generally unheard of in LA) but that every dorm room has a kitchen and shower room inside the room.
The hostel also has a tiki garden with lounge chairs to soak up the sun, a sidewalk café, and tons of activities in the common room, like live music, comedy, and karaoke, plus a motion picture theater for when you’re not exploring everything that’s within walking distance, like the walk of fame and Chinese Theater.
They also coordinate group activities, such as party buses, tours, hikes, and more. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and coffee daily, complimentary BBQs and other complimentary food nights, and motion picture nights. because of all of the ways to spend time with others at the hostel, it can get loud at night and partying can go until late, so bring earplugs.
Banana Bungalow Hollywood at a glance:
$
Laid-back garden for hanging out and mingling
Organizes lots of activities (tours, hikes, pub crawls)
Party vibe so it’s easy to meet people
Beds from $29 USD, rooms from $99 USD a night
Book Banana Bungalow Hollywood here!
5. Samesun Hollywood
Samesun Hollywood, formerly The walk of fame Hollywood Hostel, is located in prime Hollywood location (you can actually enjoy the red carpet for the Academy awards from the upper floors of this recently renovated hostel). rooms here are clean, the beds are some of the most comfortable in town, and private rooms come a mini-fridge. There is only one shower room per floor (even privates have shared bathrooms), so it can get a bit crowded. Not all of the dorms have AC, so in the warmer months it can get hot. The hostel has an updated kitchen and serves complimentary continental breakfast daily.
The hostel also hosts nighttime activities and has a common room with foosball and pool tables.
samesun Hollywood at a glance:
$
Cheapest hostel in town
Organizes lots of activities and events
Free breakfast
Beds from $28 USD, rooms from $119 USD a night
Book Samesun Hollywood here!
***
There are not a lot of hostels in Los Angeles, but even from among those slim pickings, these are the best. They are spread out around town so you can find one in whatever part of town you’re staying in, and the prices are pretty economical too! check them out the next time you’re in town.
Book Your trip to Los Angeles: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search web sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the greatest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the greatest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses and low-cost hotels.
Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s detailed protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it lots of times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
Insure My trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want a lot more information on Los Angeles?
Be sure to check out our robust destination guide onLos Angeles for even a lot more planning tips!
Photo credits: 2 – Freehand, 3 – USA Hostels Hollywood, 4 – HI Los Angeles Santa Monica, 5 – Samesun Venice Beach, 6 – Banana Bungalow Hollywood, 7 – walk of fame Hollywood Hostel