Name: HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel
Address: 1436 2nd Street, Santa Monica, California, United States of America, Santa Monica, California, US
Price range: $94–$273 per night
Rating: 8.9

What guests think

At HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel, travellers highlight a standout central location by the beach and pier, friendly staff, and a safe, social atmosphere with clean, well-kept spaces and useful common areas, kitchens, and regular activities.

Rooms are basic; some find them comfortable and spacious, but recurring comments mention squeaky metal bunks, limited privacy without curtains, warm or poorly regulated temperatures, and light from outside affecting sleep. Breakfast is simple and appreciated by many, though some note changes or limitations, and parking is off-site with costs; a small fee for post-stay bag storage is also mentioned. Expect a social, budget-friendly base in a prime spot, with a few trade-offs in dorm comfort and policies.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Well equipped common spaces (large kitchen, lounges, library/TV room and courtyard) and frequent activities or tours create a social environment. Parking is off site in a public garage and can be costly; post stay bag storage typically has a small fee.

Related guest reviews

6

John

Dec 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I love the HI hostel properties and had high hopes for this one given the location, which is primo. The only problem is that there is no parking nor is there ann arrangement with a garage in the area. I was told overnight parking directly across the street was $25 on the weekend — which is what it is. However, when I left after 12 hours, I was charged $40. What can you do? I mentioned it to the staff and was told “sorry”. Maybe my review is skewed a bit by my very positive experiences at other HI sister properties. My biggest gripe with this one (other than the parking) was with the beds. They are basically steel bed frames fashioned into bunk beds that squeak incessantly. There is also no way to shield your eyes from the bright light when you’re trying to sleep. The beds in New Orleans, for instance, are built in and have cubbies for your stuff, phone charger, etc. They also have curtains you can draw around the bed to block the light. This hostel was nice enough and had great break out areas, tv room and lounge. But just don’t drive there or plan on getting a lot of sleep.

10

Emmanuel

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Man, I did not think I would enjoy myself as much as I did. - So many random pop-up events. - Tons of friendly travelers. - Everything is walkable, bikeable, or scooterable. - There is a Parking Garage RIGHT across the street with security - The front staff is full of joy and extremely accommodating. - Two Cons - First, it can get quite warm at times, but that's typical of the humid Santa Monica climate. I honestly got used to it after 2 days. Second, the $5 is pretty barebones. Yes, it's only $5, but I would rather pay $10 for a waffle maker and premade batter like you'd see at a low-end Hotel. I will be booking again, had so much fun! I'm 6'5, Heavy weight, and was able to sleep comfortably on the beds, so don't worry about low-quality furniture.

10

Heather

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The hostel was tidy, well equipt and friendly. The activities were fun and easy to find the info about. The welcome day was good, the movie night and the comedy night. The kitchen was well equipt and kept so clean. The cleaning staff were amazing and thorough. Beds were comfy and all had sockets and lights.

10

Luzviminda

Dec 29, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

They provided guided free tours. They suggested several activities that travelers can enjoy. The place is convenient to go shopping, dining, and sightseeing. Their workers are very helpful and professional. And it's always clean especially the common areas.

10

Victor

Mar 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Pleasant common areas with a simulated open fire in the lounge room and a courtyard.

10

Amadara

Dec 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I booked this hostel as I needed a place to crash for a night due to plans changing last-minute and I was pleasantly surprised the experience was even better than I imagined! A nice, quiet, clean place to stay within walking distance of a mall, lots of places to eat, and Santa Monica Beach/pier. They even had things like towels and beach toys you could borrow for free which I thought was really nice! I was in a shared female bunk room but during my stay there was only one other person there and they left early, so I practically had the place to myself. I appreciated the courtyard and living areas/work spaces scattered throughout the property. Staff were kind and helpful. You can store a bag for $5 after your stay which I didn't mind paying because it was worth the peace of mind. I wouldn't have minded staying here for a few days if I had to. Felt very safe for a female solo traveler. I'll definitely be back if I need a cheap place to crash in LA!

8

Sadie

Oct 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

good location, solid amenities.

8

Kathy

Mar 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Probably the nicest hostel in LA area.Free breakfast but gets very busy and not enough seating in dining area.Get there right when it opens at 7:30am or before.Very clean everything is walkable.They have vending machines,pool table,library,tv room,common area outside,very large kitchen .Most people are from another country that stay there.Beach is very close and restaurants and shopping mall.Bus that takes you to Venice and Downtown LA is close by.Train station also walkable.

10

Sweetha

Dec 28, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome management and great facilities!

10

Nima

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great staff! Great amenities.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Most guests report very clean dorms, bathrooms and common areas with thorough housekeeping. A minority note lapses such as dirty bathrooms or poorly maintained shared spaces.

Related guest reviews

10

Sofiia

Aug 8, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

My niece really enjoyed staying there. She said it was very clean and gave a rating 10 out of 10.

10

Jessica

Apr 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I really enjoyed my stay at HI Santa Monica. The women’s dorm felt safe and clean and welcoming. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Breakfast was a great bonus! Area is close to a ton of stuff including metro and major bus stops, but walking around late at night as a solo women felt a little uncomfortable.

10

Hannah

Jun 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

HI Santa Monica Hostel was such a great place to stay! The location is super cute, it's central to everything you want to check out in Santa Monica, the hostel is clean and very well maintained. The bathrooms & dorms were very clean and sanitary and the building itself felt very secure. I will absolutely stay here again!

10

Heather

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The hostel was tidy, well equipt and friendly. The activities were fun and easy to find the info about. The welcome day was good, the movie night and the comedy night. The kitchen was well equipt and kept so clean. The cleaning staff were amazing and thorough. Beds were comfy and all had sockets and lights.

4

Joshua

Jan 23, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Common areas poorly maintained for cleanliness.

10

Antonella

Jan 29, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent option in Santa Mónica. Personal is super kind, the place is extremely cleaned (specially bathrooms).

10

Tracy

May 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hostel was absolutely amazing--100% clean and very nice and "newish". They provided a wonderful breakfast each morning, and I was able to go to the open mike and comedy nights which was fun. Everyone was respectful and lovely. I can't say enough about the location and my overall experience, I will be back:)

4

ANTOINETTE

Feb 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bathrooms stayed nasty! No clean towels! No toilet paper , hair on floor

6

Giselle

May 15, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The restroom was not cleaned

10

Natalie

Oct 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Bathrooms were very clean and the room was very comfortable!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are basic hostel style; some find beds comfortable and space adequate. Recurring issues include squeaky metal bunks, limited privacy without curtains, temperature control problems and light from outside affecting sleep.

Related guest reviews

6

John

Dec 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I love the HI hostel properties and had high hopes for this one given the location, which is primo. The only problem is that there is no parking nor is there ann arrangement with a garage in the area. I was told overnight parking directly across the street was $25 on the weekend — which is what it is. However, when I left after 12 hours, I was charged $40. What can you do? I mentioned it to the staff and was told “sorry”. Maybe my review is skewed a bit by my very positive experiences at other HI sister properties. My biggest gripe with this one (other than the parking) was with the beds. They are basically steel bed frames fashioned into bunk beds that squeak incessantly. There is also no way to shield your eyes from the bright light when you’re trying to sleep. The beds in New Orleans, for instance, are built in and have cubbies for your stuff, phone charger, etc. They also have curtains you can draw around the bed to block the light. This hostel was nice enough and had great break out areas, tv room and lounge. But just don’t drive there or plan on getting a lot of sleep.

10

Emmanuel

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Man, I did not think I would enjoy myself as much as I did. - So many random pop-up events. - Tons of friendly travelers. - Everything is walkable, bikeable, or scooterable. - There is a Parking Garage RIGHT across the street with security - The front staff is full of joy and extremely accommodating. - Two Cons - First, it can get quite warm at times, but that's typical of the humid Santa Monica climate. I honestly got used to it after 2 days. Second, the $5 is pretty barebones. Yes, it's only $5, but I would rather pay $10 for a waffle maker and premade batter like you'd see at a low-end Hotel. I will be booking again, had so much fun! I'm 6'5, Heavy weight, and was able to sleep comfortably on the beds, so don't worry about low-quality furniture.

10

Roel

Oct 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Short notice.. Glad they were able to accommodate. The best rate among all hostels in thr area of Santa Monica. Front office staffs ate friendly. Adequate space in the room.

8

Aileen

Dec 19, 2022

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed 3 nights in a private room with private bath. The hostel is clean and the staff was welcoming. We felt safe. Our only complaint was that the heat in our room wasn't working. We asked for maintenance, but the heat never worked and it was cold in the room. The front desk did provide us with extra blankets.

2

Pedro

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room, the AC was leaking water. Our bed was completely wet instead of upgrading us. They downgraded us and did not give us a discount.

10

Heather

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The hostel was tidy, well equipt and friendly. The activities were fun and easy to find the info about. The welcome day was good, the movie night and the comedy night. The kitchen was well equipt and kept so clean. The cleaning staff were amazing and thorough. Beds were comfy and all had sockets and lights.

4

John

Nov 13, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Didn’t like that I paid the same price or more for the same bed without ever getting a new towel or new sheets. The rooms are hot and you’re not supposed to open the door. No curtains for the bed, so limited privacy. The laundry machines only take quarters so be prepared to use the atm then break a 20 into 5s at the front desk then break that 5 into 20 quarters for your laundry. Great spot if you like being treated like a middle schooler at summer camp. No drinking even in your own single room which the price was $200 for one night. Also, don’t drink on the street because it’s illegal. If you’re at this place make sure you only drink the massively over priced alcohol at the bars. 👍💯 Also, I hope you like sarcastic, nosy management and janitors! Thanks for the blanket, hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.😉

10

Marcia

Nov 2, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The beds are comfortable

8

Shlok

Sep 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The facility was great, one of the best I've been to in recent times. but the beds were super creaky making it difficult to sleep through the night without making a sound

6

Angela

Jul 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Cooling unit broken

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Service

Service is widely described as friendly, welcoming and helpful with easy check in and good security. A few guests reported unhelpful responses or policy frustrations.

Related guest reviews

10

Roel

Oct 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Short notice.. Glad they were able to accommodate. The best rate among all hostels in thr area of Santa Monica. Front office staffs ate friendly. Adequate space in the room.

10

Nima

Nov 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff

10

Michael

Jun 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

All the staff were helpful and knowledgeable on the area. This place hosted a comedy night while I was there, and I believe they do other events, which is a nice included benefit.

10

Kayla

Aug 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff was so nice and helpful and the area is safe. Transportation is very nearby which is helpful.

10

Steven

Dec 23, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The reception staff was friendly and gave complete instructions on the rules, etc. Very clean and close to transportation by rail or bus.

10

Matthew

Sep 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean rooms, amazing staff, pleasant breakfast and perfect location!!! Also best price in LA

10

Amadara

Dec 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I booked this hostel as I needed a place to crash for a night due to plans changing last-minute and I was pleasantly surprised the experience was even better than I imagined! A nice, quiet, clean place to stay within walking distance of a mall, lots of places to eat, and Santa Monica Beach/pier. They even had things like towels and beach toys you could borrow for free which I thought was really nice! I was in a shared female bunk room but during my stay there was only one other person there and they left early, so I practically had the place to myself. I appreciated the courtyard and living areas/work spaces scattered throughout the property. Staff were kind and helpful. You can store a bag for $5 after your stay which I didn't mind paying because it was worth the peace of mind. I wouldn't have minded staying here for a few days if I had to. Felt very safe for a female solo traveler. I'll definitely be back if I need a cheap place to crash in LA!

6

Michael

May 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Hostel booked my trip 1 week ago with no problem. Then on second trip says they can’t take Los Angeles residents and needed to cancel and refund. Rep was so nonchalant about their error as if travelers can just simply go to a new Hostel. Why did they let the reservation happen a week ago? Why did they let the second booking happen days ago? The room was clean but rowdy drunk people and very rude, talking loud and noisy thru night.

10

Nima

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great staff! Great amenities.

2

Joseph David

Feb 13, 2023

·

Stayed 7 nights

The staff was not accommodating, except when threatened with legal action.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Exceptionally central and walkable near the beach, pier, shops and transit, and many guests felt safe.

Related guest reviews

10

Hannah

Jun 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

HI Santa Monica Hostel was such a great place to stay! The location is super cute, it's central to everything you want to check out in Santa Monica, the hostel is clean and very well maintained. The bathrooms & dorms were very clean and sanitary and the building itself felt very secure. I will absolutely stay here again!

10

Ma. Corazon

Jun 23, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Great accommodation. Met some new friends. Walking distance to the pier

10

Daniel Jonathan

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Fantastic location and great facilities

10

Christina

Jul 13, 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

Beautiful space with welcoming staff. Best location with so much to do

10

Anton

Dec 5, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location

10

Taryn

Jun 22, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at. The building was easy to find and the staff was welcoming with a very easy check in process. The room was overall good and clean. Very simple breakfast. I love that they had different places to sit and relax around the hostel. Very eco friendly as well. The location is great, one block from the beach and in the middle of a bunch of stores and restaurants.

8

Kathy

Mar 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Probably the nicest hostel in LA area.Free breakfast but gets very busy and not enough seating in dining area.Get there right when it opens at 7:30am or before.Very clean everything is walkable.They have vending machines,pool table,library,tv room,common area outside,very large kitchen .Most people are from another country that stay there.Beach is very close and restaurants and shopping mall.Bus that takes you to Venice and Downtown LA is close by.Train station also walkable.

10

Roberto

Sep 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very professional staff and great location near the main tourist attractions

10

Ethan

Sep 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Good vibes and a fantastic location. Only negative was the towels that are provided are pretty threadbare and rough.

10

Guadalupe

May 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I liked it because it is in a super convenient area

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Dining

Breakfast is simple and convenient and praised by many, though availability and quality seem to vary and it can get busy.

Related guest reviews

10

Emmanuel

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Man, I did not think I would enjoy myself as much as I did. - So many random pop-up events. - Tons of friendly travelers. - Everything is walkable, bikeable, or scooterable. - There is a Parking Garage RIGHT across the street with security - The front staff is full of joy and extremely accommodating. - Two Cons - First, it can get quite warm at times, but that's typical of the humid Santa Monica climate. I honestly got used to it after 2 days. Second, the $5 is pretty barebones. Yes, it's only $5, but I would rather pay $10 for a waffle maker and premade batter like you'd see at a low-end Hotel. I will be booking again, had so much fun! I'm 6'5, Heavy weight, and was able to sleep comfortably on the beds, so don't worry about low-quality furniture.

10

Jessica

Apr 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I really enjoyed my stay at HI Santa Monica. The women’s dorm felt safe and clean and welcoming. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained. Breakfast was a great bonus! Area is close to a ton of stuff including metro and major bus stops, but walking around late at night as a solo women felt a little uncomfortable.

10

Nurul

Nov 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

love the atmosphere and breakfast is great

10

Elizabeth

Nov 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

They have gotten rid of free breakfast, there’s still coffee and tea available. A real disappointment when prices have remained the same. The beds aren’t the most comfortable as just open metal bunks but two pillows and the sheets are nicely crisp.

10

Kellie

Sep 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I’ve stayed at this hostel many many times over the years and it is still fantastic! super clean, really friendly staff nice atmosphere. you get a free breakfast, it’s Nothing fancy but it does the trick. I’ve never had an issue staying here. I highly recommended it! My only Disappointment in my last stay after paying for 3 nights I needed to put my bags in storage for less than two hours, and they wanted to charge me for that.

10

Matisse

Oct 24, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Best place to visite Venice - LA and California Breakfast is perfect to start the day

10

Tracy

May 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hostel was absolutely amazing--100% clean and very nice and "newish". They provided a wonderful breakfast each morning, and I was able to go to the open mike and comedy nights which was fun. Everyone was respectful and lovely. I can't say enough about the location and my overall experience, I will be back:)

10

Taryn

Jun 22, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at. The building was easy to find and the staff was welcoming with a very easy check in process. The room was overall good and clean. Very simple breakfast. I love that they had different places to sit and relax around the hostel. Very eco friendly as well. The location is great, one block from the beach and in the middle of a bunch of stores and restaurants.

8

Kathy

Mar 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Probably the nicest hostel in LA area.Free breakfast but gets very busy and not enough seating in dining area.Get there right when it opens at 7:30am or before.Very clean everything is walkable.They have vending machines,pool table,library,tv room,common area outside,very large kitchen .Most people are from another country that stay there.Beach is very close and restaurants and shopping mall.Bus that takes you to Venice and Downtown LA is close by.Train station also walkable.

10

Vanessa

Jan 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

My first time staying at a hostel and was traveling alone. The staff was very helpful and I felt very safe staying here and everyone was very nice that I met. Free Breakfast was an unexpected nice bonus. Would definitely stay again if I were in Santa Monica.

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Month	Average price
January	$133
February	$144
March	$164
April	$162
May	$144
June	$251
July	$210
August	$175
September	$166
October	$157
November	$131
December	$113

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $136	15 $136	16 $134	17 $131	18 $153	19 $155
20 $94	21 $94	22 $94	23 $94	24 $116	25 $115	26 $200
27 $94	28 $98	29 $169	30 $171

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $151	2 $121	3 $209
4 $94	5 $94	6 $245	7 $96	8 $100	9	10 $182
11 $94	12 $127	13 $98	14 $131	15 $240	16 $218	17 $273
18 $164	19 $154	20 $232	21 $161	22 $169	23 $185	24 $178
25 $125	26 $127	27 $132	28 $147	29 $156	30 $168	31 $183

Select dates to see prices and availability

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Private Twin Room

Bed in Women's 6-Bed Dormitory Ensuite

Bed in Women's 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Men's 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Women's 8-Bed Dormitory

Bed in All-Gender 10-Bed Dorm Ensuite

Private Queen, Ensuite

Bed in Men's 8-Bed Dormitory

Private Double Room

Bed in Men's 6-Bed Dormitory Ensuite

Bed in Women's 6-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Men's 6-Bed Dormitory

Guest reviews

Fabulous

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel

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Prices for upcoming dates