I love this hostel. Been staying here for over ten years when I visit San Fran and it never fails to exceed my expectations.

Stayed here for a long 4th of July weekend and had a blast! All female 4 bed room, has heating and then uts just cool enough to open the windows and turn on a fan so no ac needed (but building still has it). I thought the common room was a fantastic way to make friends, especially with $1 beer nights (bad beer, but for $1 cant complain). My only thing is that it claims to be a part hostel but there are literal families with kids here.....super uncomfy......and then the evening events arent that fun. I showed up for the acrobatic show, where it says they get you a deal on $90 tickets for only $20 and then you hage to buy 2 items (so you pay like $40 or $50 total, but I found out you can just buy $20 tickets to the show and not be forced to buy other food items. Just felt kind of scammed. Otherwise, I had a great time, loved that storing luggage was free on checkout day, and I made some great friends! read more

Don't stay here and here's why- -. The only good thing about this hostel is location. It's old, the rooms are outdated and smell like mold. Bathrooms are uncomfortable because they aren't properly ventilated. Usually cold and no common space to put items or hang toiletries as you shower. Now let's get into a real issue : The management here is incompetent and racists my opinion (which could be appealing to many, esp in today's climate) - Here's why - I booked a stay, showed up and my room was given to someone else and because of their mistake, THEY put me in a 3 bed bunk with two family members. Meaning one large bed unit that had 1 queen below and two attached bunks above. Weird. I never asked to be in this room, but according to them it's all they had and it was late so I went along. Upon entering the room, I was greeted by the family members (two brothers) the oldest of them seemed to be a bit off but the younger was cool. I knew by the demeanor of the oldest he didn't want me in the room but the youngest, completely tuned into me. I could barely get unpacked, he was very, very happy that I came into the room. Long story short I caught the brothers in an act and it all made sense why they would be sharing a bunk bed as brothers 18 and 27 yrs old. The older brother was leading very weird interactions with the younger brother who was of age but this had to be going on for a while, bc the younger brother thought it was normal, Until I brought it to light. I attempted to do what I could to disrupt this obvious pattern by calling out this behavior to both of them especially the older brother. Of course he got upset and had a grip on his younger brothers thoughts and decisions and the younger brother shut down but thanked me when he was alone. They were from another country, my hands were tied. Any who, I never mentioned anything else but almost 6 months later I go to return and was denied. Management not even telling me why just barely stating something involving a text from my previous stay. Basically accused me of sending "inappropriate" messages that I never sent. Not only that, never questioned or asked for truth or detail just made a decision based on hearsay. My response was and is, if I sent any text to a grown adult, that's my business and it would have NEVEr been in appropriate but again that's my business- furthermor I had to get the number to do that. So if someone really did receive a text from me as a grown adult person, why wouldn't they say something while there? How did I get the number? Why wasn't there and uproar or some issue while I was there? I'll tell you why- because the management at this hostel has always been envious and jealous of me any time I stay. I have a level of confidence that they don't like, complimented with my rich brown town and they can't stand it. I also mind my business and don't participate in the BS. They hate it. So any person that gave them any slight reason (although false) they took it as fact. Even if it was fact, again, we're grown adults not a daycare. AND this hostel should have known something was up with a 27yr older brother sharing a bunk attachment unit with his 18 yr old brother. That's not their business right? Yeah so why would a text be their business ?? Goofy people. Any how, spend your money and time elsewhere. I gave them time to respond and they never did so here we are. Be cautious, Stay elsewhere. read more

I love the Tortise in both SF and Seattle, but tonight they let me down. I'm a thru hiker, and they've been my go to in both cities. A year ago I rented a po box in San Francisco and left on a string of long distance hikes. I came back for a weekend to check in on friends and my mail, and it seemed natural to check in on my go to hostel as well, but then it didn't go so well. In order to fly and drive, before I left california I registered my driver's license with the PO Box I use for mail. The person responsible for checking people in told me that she needed to check with he boss after she took my card which seemed odd, but when she called him she told him that I had a san francisco address and asked what to do about me. Now... I know why the tortise has a no in city policy. I used to live here and I specifically come to them because they protect their global traveler vibe, so I'm not bummed that they turned me away. I'm bummed because I had a flight here and away that they wouldn't look at. I'm bummed that they wouldn't take 5 seconds to look at proof of residency in the state that I moved to. I'm bummed that this city has managed to break their will to commitment to backpackers. And I'm bummed that now I'll spend one more night in a yuppie hotel wondering if america can still be a place for true travelers. read more

Always a great stay at the Green Tortoise. If you're looking for an affordable, cozy, and cool spot to stay in San Francisco you won't find any better than the Green Tortoise hostel. It has an amazing communal vibe, clean bathrooms, hot showers, and the most chill staff you'll ever meet. Feels like going to stay at your cool uncle or cousin's place. Large industrial kitchen and fridges for guests to use, bagels, coffee, and scramble eggs for breakfast. I come to town almost every year for the Game Developer Conference, and the Green Tortoise is my hidden gem I've found, just a short walk to the convention center and right by China town. I almost didn't want to write this review because I don't want everyone to know about this place, but they deserve it because they are so awesome 10/10 wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else when visiting San Francisco! read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - Common Area of the Green Tortoise, complete with Arcade machines, foosball, conversation pit, and pool table - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great, awesome, safe hostel. It's in a vibrant area in SF and walking distance to sights, cool neighbourhoods, restaurants, parks, bars etc. There are adult entertainment places nearby so be aware, but the bouncers end up keeping the entire area safe! Staff is friendly and knowledgable and the common areas are super welcoming. Kitchen & bathrooms kept clean and orderly. Splurged and reserved a single room & didn't have to strip the bed linens like you do for the common rooms. A little noisy cuz there are people out and about but Just remember it's not a hotel it's a hostel so know what to expect! read more

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I have been staying here regularly for the last 6 years. It is always a comfortable place to return to while in the city. The parking is terrible, so unless you want to pay for one of the unsecured lots in the area, I recommend parking in the nearby neighborhoods. The staff is always extremely pleasant and accommodating. You will encounter a very mixed bag of people in the dorms, but that is the nature of hostels. read more

Staff was amazing. Incredibly accommodating and kind. Very pleasant people to speak with. I stayed in an all female dorm and everyone there was super respectful. Made friends. I've never stayed at a travel hostel before and this first experience was very positive, 100% would recommend! read more

Love this hostal, we had a great time. Very nice lobby with live music, a very cute (tiny) photo room, lots of br/showers, kitchen, office spaces. Great location and atmosphere. I would absolutely come stay here again! read more

First time staying at a hostel--check-in was smooth, got a voucher for parking offsite for $25 a day, used Goki app for Bluetooth key opening of front door and dorm door. Lots of stairs! (4 flights including entrance). The 3-person dorm room was clean with firm mattresses, down comforter, a fan in the window, sink, 2 mirrors, individual reading lamps, and 1 chair. You have to bring your own lock for the lockers underneath. Single occupancy toilets and showers in the hallways. Lots of fun activities for people staying there, and free breakfast (get there early for more selection). Walking distance from public transportation, restaurants, bookstores,etc. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions about fun stuff to do locally. Late night noise just because of the area, but the window fan drowns out some of it if you need to get to sleep. Can't beat the price! read more

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"Green Tortoise Hostile" Humm....It's been a while, I know, I know it's the end of the year pretty much and I must admit I been busy. But some say "Better Late than Never" and here I am bringing you just that. Now on to the "Green Tortoise Hostel" I love the whole concept of this establishment, I love the almost Europe in the Bay Area concept and feel of this establishment. If you aren't familiar with what a "Hostel" is, and no I'm not talking about that creepy movie, you're totally safe here. I'm talking about the dorm style, low priced version of a "Hotel" this place is pretty amazing. If you don't like meeting new people or sharing your space with strangers however this may not be the spot for you. So, at this point I'm going to share some pro's and con's of the "GTH" the abbreviation I'm going to use in this review.. "What's special about Green Tortoise Hostel?" Well, I will tell you, I like the fact that "Green Tortoise" is also a travel agency as well, if you're looking at planning a trip to different places in the US, they have a few locations and you could go through them for all your travel and in some cases "party" needs. So you're really getting a two for one special. In my stay I did meet plenty of people from across the US and other parts of the world. In my dorm I met a person from Texas and another one from Colorado. They have different events planned for everyday that you visit, and the atmosphere is kinda like a college one if you're into that. Another things to note is everything here for the most part is Coed, so you wouldn't want to be alarmed if you go to your room and someone of the opposite sex is roomed with you, if that isn't your type of hype, maybe you should skip the "GTH". "What you should expect...." You should expect decent service, basic amenities, everything of course self service within reason of course. Clean dorm rooms, cool people and a pretty convenient location. There is a restroom and shower on every floor (these are private) and every room can only be entered via using the provided code you get at the desk. Top or bottom bunks are assigned on a request bases so if you're particular, then you may want to make sure that you contact them prior to your visit. Also, if you live in the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California....I got lucky I was allowed to stay, but they will turn you away as they try and cater to mostly out of state guests usually and those from other countries. So bascially you can't stay here normally unless you perhaps visit one of their other locations in another state, something that wasn't stated on their website. So research ahead of time definately to avoid not being admitted. Or you could also call ahead to see what exceptions may apply. "Conclusion" Green Tortoise Hostel: The "GTH" sits off Broadway in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. It's near all that's happening in that area and close to other areas you may want to visit in SF, especially if you're an out of towner. Soma, South Beach, Russian Hill, Pier 39 and Chinatown are also not too far away. Service: Pretty run of the mill service, wasn't over the top, but also wasn't bad either. Was made aware of the policies after I booked my room but was given the acception which I was happy about, but also disappointed about seeing that the price and location was just right for me. Price Range: The price varies, the basic dorm room is $45 dollars a night, but you also pay a difference based on if you want more privacy and or you want to be housed with just men or women. On their website you get more details on that. read more

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I highly enjoyed my stay and think this joint is amazing. The staff here is down to earth and helpful!

Stay in downtown San Fran for less than $100 a night? Yes you can! I found this hostel on Airbnb listed as a private room for $96 but after the Airbnb Service Fee of $12 and Occupancy taxes $15 it was around $125. I'm guessing you can save a few bucks by booking directly. Check in is at 4pm but we uber'd over around 7pm. Make sure you notify them if you'll be checking in past 8pm, however know the desk is open 24 hours. The front desk was busy but quick and friendly. I was given a green lanyard key for the private room which also serves as your entry pass for the front desk folks as you go in and out of the building. They mentioned if you lose the key theres a $25 fee so just keep it on your neck! The private room was about 11x11 feet and was clean with a full size bed and TV. The bathroom and shower across the hall was also clean and I never had to wait. Note that there is a no eating or drinking policy anywhere besides the community hall. Its a big ballroom across from the front desk with a kitchen attached, pool table, piano, foosball table, and lots of eating space. Some last details, towels are available for $1 rent and the vintage details all across the building make it cool. There's stained glass windows, a skylight balcony, original black and white tile, crown molding, crazy rainbow carpet, and mini chandeliers. The street corner, like many corners in SF, can hold a few homeless people. There's a great cafe up the road called Caffe Trieste and an Asian fusion place across the street. read more

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It was a very wonderful place to stay in and was in great shape. I especially loved the common area the beautiful windows in the morning with some breakfast is to die for. Comes w a fan in the room and blow dryer. Also for parking we went to the north beach garage it's right next to a police station! read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I loved this location of the Green Tortoise. So many things within walking distance. The staff was friendly and helpful. The only thing you should be aware of is if you're mobility challenged you have to climb stairs. There's no elevator. Other than that a great place to stay for someone on a budget. read more

I love the Green Tortoise Hostel!! I stayed here in September 2010 for 5 days and am back this June for two nights. Not a lot has changed in this time. The staff is still very friendly, the atmosphere is fun and energetic, the breakfast is free, and the cost is low. It's amazing to be here - my roommates in this time have been from Greece, France, Australia, Texas, USA, and more! The bed is decent. Thin mattress but whatever. You can sleep okay enough. I stayed in a 4-bed dorm room. I love the storage units under the bed - I can fit one giant checked suitcase, one carry-on suitcase, and one backpack. Free breakfast includes: fruit (oranges and pineapple when I was here), toast, bagels, oatmeal, eggs, and yogurt + orange juice. The ballroom is a very large area with long tables, some booths, plus a large adjoining kitchen and pool tables. The cost is superb and slightly more than a couple other hostels and then cheaper than some others as well. But overall the value is great!! With the free breakfast and various free/inexpensive dinner and drink options - you got it made! read more

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The most amazing hostel in all of San Francisco, hands down. It has a lot of history, the staff are all experienced travelers and it's the best place to be with the rates and the area of North Beach / Chinatown with lots of great restaurants close by. You can stay at the Hostelling Internationals in the downtown area and it will be crowded, and noisy. The Green Tortoise is in a true San Francisco historical building , gives free breakfast, has plenty of space , oh and did I mention a Sauna as well? Just stay here already. Can't beat $33 a night really. read more

Great staff! Daniel, Ness, and the kitchen Italian chef Eldilio (spell?) made it so special! Ness was courteous, Daniel kept me company one late night and helped give me ideas for 80's music before my event the next day, and the cook was unforgettably the epitome of the what the hostel was, old timey, good food, and just sooooo friendly. I hope the hostel appreciates him. :) read more

I got a review response on my comment from Green Tortoise representative. He made some comments, which i must respnd to. As a backpacker, i've stayed in hostels in Vancouver, San Diego, Denver, NYC, DC, and more. But the point is, I don't really bother resondong and living bad reviews on Hostels, period. On this occassion, as a backpacker, i felt i had too. Clear: i walked over to the Green Tortoise Hostel, and spoke with the supervisor. I hope that my 15-20 minute chat with that supervisor was recorded. I am confident that a camera can show me walking in, and talking with that supervisor. Rep. says that they can, without reason to the customer, call and advice to reject an already set reservation. Apparently, you like good reviews. You sure don't like bad reviews. Good try, but the service to call behind my back, after asking me where i was going, and intentionally advicing to cancel my reservation, is a lousy attempt to show good customer service to backpackers. Yeah, i am a backpaker, and yeah, so far, the only real issue has been with your hostel in SF. Good try again. read more

*No bed bugs, no gross bathrooms (I saw housekeeping people and carts around quite often) *Cheap women's dorms *Reasonably helpful staff (different types of folks working the front, each with their own disposition, but tolerating and helping me when I got panicky after losing my phone gives them a five star rating) *I never had to wait to use a bathroom (plenty of bathrooms with showers on each floor) *GT has free breakfast w/out vouchers! *Safe (Yes, it's smack dab in the middle of sex shops and strip clubs. Yes, there are homeless folk all over the city. But I was never menaced by anyone malicious despite being a lone lady late at night, and the neighborhood felt fine and was central to many local attractions) That's all I truly care about, but here are some other tidbits about the hostel. Check in and check out was a breeze, stripping your bed when you leave turned out not to be stressful at all. I had a room facing the atrium, and the noise wasn't too awful. I wound up not using the hoard of ear plugs I brought. The room could get miserably hot, though. Ask for a fan if there isn't already one in there. Every bed has its own reading light, and people come and go at all hours, so I found an eye mask essential. The industrial kitchen is great, and you gotta dig the GT three step dish washing process. I thought their system of using green key lanyards for identification/late night entry was reasonable and kinda fun. In short, I'm an introvert who just wants to use the can in peace, and even I really liked the Green Tortoise hostel. read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - Sturdy bunk beds, deep lockers, random sink. What more could you want - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Green Tortoise: ! O, yes! It is the place for coming home from the wilderness, raw, cut and haggard. I do not feel to0, self-conscious here, as I adjust, nor will you. Even if your mind is still feeling the silence, and seeing images of streams, cliffs, trees and the animals. Your nose still filed with the scent of the earth...... memories of the sun's warm and the winds chill, the touch of new leaf. Here though at the Tortoise ---new scents, new ideas, new people and another glass of beer. Youth runs the scene, and the young of heart drink well of the times. From the woods to the city, is a change of magnitude. On a busy day, young eyes move about, the world still fresh, the meanings still open for debate and music still moves feelings, emotions and passions! Travelers talk, goes on, brag points travels, plans and who has shagged who or what is available Honestly, this Youth Hostel allows for a good amount of free ranging meetings and movement. **State Parks , You can easily get to from the Tortoise*** -------------------Mount Tamalpias State park via public transportation --------------------This Park is in walking Distance of Muir Woods: enroute camping 1) Golden Gate Ferry Bus: # 70 to Marin City 2) Take the Marin Stagecoach Bus # 61, the bus driver will drop you off at the trail head of Muir Woods 70 bus link--------http://goldengatetransit.org/schedules/current/route_70.php 61 bus link ----- marintransit.org/routes/... 3) Buses that will get you to the 61 Stagecoach ---70 10. buses leaving from SF more frequently ( SF Golden Gate Transit ) -------------------Samuel P Taylor State Park and Point Reyes National Park via Public transportation: 1) From Pine and Battery Streets: The 24 will take you right to Fairfax where you can pick up the 68 Stagecoach 24 bus: goldengatetransit.org/sc... 68 Shuttle bus: marintransit.org/routes/... For frequent buses take buses Golden Gate Transit: 70,, 10, 101 to San Rafael downtown bus hub. then pick up the 68 Stagecoach from there. Note in Fairfax is FROGS HOT Tub : frogshottubs.com - China Camp State Park Public transportation: 1) From SF, take Golden Gate Ferry Transit buses: 70, 101, 10 to Downtown San Rafael 2) Then Pick up Marin Transit shuttle # 233, to the end of the line. marintransit.org/routes/... 3) From here you need to walk about 1.25 miles or ride a bike. ---------------------By Sea And by Land to the National and State Parks 1) Go to the Ferry Building a 15 minute walk from the GREEN TORTES and get on the Larkspur Ferry: goldengateferry.org/sche... ----Remember Across the White Bridge at the Larkspur Ferry Landing is the Marin Brewing Company if you need food and beer. 2)- (For China Camp )or (Samuel P Taylor) take the # 29 Bus to Downtown San Rafael. marintransit.org/routes/... ( The Ferry Link below 10.50 one way) KNOWN as one of the BEST FERRRY Rides in the World ----don't mess it -- 15 minute walk from the Green Tortoise !!!! 3) Larkspur Ferry Schedule - Golden Gate Ferry goldengateferry.org 3) For (Mount Tam), From San Rafael, Take the bus # 17 to Mill Valley or just take bus numbers : 70, 80, 10, 36, 71 to Marin City and catch the stagecoach there. goldengatetransit.org/sc... Note: On the Freeway are Bus Pads, by your map you should be able to walk there fast, more buses there---all the major ones. -------------------------Santa Cruz via public transportation: 1) Take the Caltrans train from the ball park to San Jose downtown station. 2) From San Jose pick up the Highway 17 Bus: scmtd.com/routes/schedul... 3) This will take you to Downtown Santa Cruz, the Youth Hostel is a 15 minute walk from here. ---------------------------------------To Monterey Take the CalTrans Bus all the way there: 1) tickets.amtrak.com/itd/a... -----------To Big Sir, From Monterey mst.org/wp-content/media... read more

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I lovvvvvvvvvvvved this hostel. The rumors are true, the people, they are friendly! The hostel, it is the awesome! Maybe that's just what San Francisco draws to itself. Or maybe it's just the result of a great atmosphere. Most of the rooms I saw were really nice, comfortable beds, clean linen. I got like hotel quality sleep in these bunks! The staff is friendly. The free dinner tasty and good for keeping to a travel budget. And the characters I met were crazy in that very best kind of way that gives stories to tell for years to come. Oh and there are a lot of strip clubs in the area. If that's the kind of thing you're into. ;-P But, no matter what you're into. It's probably in walkable, Bart-able or MUNI-able distance! Also, the hostel is super close to Chinatown. *hearts* read more

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This review is over due. I stayed at the GTH in April on the 19th and 20th 2013. I live in San Jose and had several events I was attending over that weekend and I wanted to stay in the city instead of driving in and out. I also had a tight budget. I had never stayed at any place like this. First off if you don't mind the bunk situation and pack light, don't mind cooking your own breakfast and enjoy being social, this is the place. Clean, secure, close to public transit, friendly staff and people from around the world! Tours in the city and group events planned. Price point is the best in the city for quality of place to stay. It felt like a home away from home. I see why places like this are popular. I stayed for two evenings. After dinner hour the dining room is open for social time until 1 or 2 am. You can bring in some beers and chat with others staying there, play games or read. I spent some time here, but was out most of the day. Bonus for dinner you can get food at local markets and save eating out and do something home cooked! Hey have shared fridge space. Also they have a few dinners a week. Would I go again? Absolutely! Would I recommend to others? Yes! All kinds of other things available to guests I didn't experience due to limited time stay. Remember this is not a hotel! So you are required to clean up after yourself (strip your bed after your stay and wash your own dishes). The lack of service is what makes it cheaper. read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - View out my window on the 3rd floor was onto the atrium. Natural light galore! - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

BED BUGS in bed 2B!!! I have never left a 1 star review before but after jumping out of bed early in the morning from itching my legs to find eight bed bug bites I definitely will not be returning here. Fyi I shower just before going to bed every night and there was absolutely nothing on either of my legs. This didn't seem to be an unusual occurrence as the front desk staff gave me a whole rundown and knew exactly how to deal with the situation, however, refused any refunds as they were "unable to locate any bugs"?! I guess the bites on my legs weren't enough evidence? It probably also doesn't help that the whole place is covered in old carpet for any bugs to travel across the entire hostel. Although staffs were friendly the itch and redness from the bites will last weeks and the whole experience is not worth saving a few dollars compared to alternative places to stay. read more

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This place FN rocks! Wild and fun area filled with great restaurants. Short jaunt to the pier. Free breakfast and dinner... $70 per night Double Occupancy. Not for conservative people. Great for those who want to live a little and catch a great experience. Rekindle that high school flame like the days when you were broke. Highly recommended! #vino2ultimate #vinosquared read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This Hostel was a lot larger than I thought it would be. I went to the door thinking it was going to be this little place with a few rooms, and opened the door to reveal a huge and expansive hostel with a ballroom, large computer area, giant kitchen, and lots of bedrooms. The front desk area is welcoming, and the staff was very nice. I checked in and gave the $20 cash deposit for the room key (refundable at check out if you return it and bring your bed linens down to the laundry area). I slept in a female dorm room, and there were 3 bunk beds in there, along with a small sink area. All the beds got a separate locker underneath the bed (so remember to bring a lock) which had PLENTY of room underneath to store everything. I had a top bunk in the corner, and the placement of the bunks made it a little difficult to climb up. As an adult I'm not used to sleeping in a bunk bed, so this took a little getting used to. The hostel serves a great breakfast every morning: bagels, fruit, coffee, tea, and juice. There is also dinner in the ballroom three nights a week, and everyone is encouraged to help cook for it. You must wash you own dishes after each use. There are also recycling and compost bins everywhere in the hostel and you are expected to put things in the correct areas. Coming from a town that doesn't have many official recycling areas, that was one thing I loved about San Francisco, and this hostel in particular. There are several bathrooms on each floor, and although they are kind of tiny, I never really had to wait very long to take a shower. Bring some flip-flops for the shower. While clean-looking, I don't trust public showers. The front desk staff at the hostel was so wonderful at helping me find things to do and giving me information on how to get places. They made my stay so much easier. The computer area was great, although many times they were filled up with people and I required a wait. Not really a problem for me because I have my smart phone to check email and facebook on, but if you are needing to use a computer there might be a bit of a wait. The hostel throws activities many nights, and I went on a pub crawl while we were there. We went to several local bars that were offering $1 drinks for hotel members (we had special wristbands to identify us). Just remember to tip well! All in all, I would definitely stay here again!. read more

Green Tortoise Hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had only 24 hours to spend in San Francisco and decided to stay at the Green Tortoise on a Saturday night. I got myself a private room, which was on the 3rd floor (no elevator, so be prepared!). They have a parking spot in front where you can park quickly to bring your bags inside (and keep them locked in the luggage room) and then they have a deal with a parking garage that is about a 10 minute walk away for $20/day. NOTE: the parking garage closes at night! I was unable to leave the parking garage until 10am on Sunday which made it a close call for me to catch my flight! The staff is really friendly and requested a $20 cash deposit for my room key which would be refunded when I return the key at the end - I was unaware of this when booking. Complimentary breakfast includes bagels, muffins, fruit, and eggs that you cook yourself. You must also wash your own dishes when done. A towel was provided to me since I had a private room and there was also a hairdryer in the room. They had fun events planned for each day, but I wasn't able to attend. The building itself is old but the decorations are quirky and it has character. I was able to open the window in my room and get a nice breeze. When I wanted to shower in the morning, all the showers were occupied so I did have to wait. The bathrooms were kept pretty clean and shampoo/conditioner/body was was provided. The hostel is on the same street as strip clubs, which was offputting to me, but I never felt unsafe (even at night). I was able to walk to China Town, Union Square, and a comedy club from there. The bay is also only an 8 minute walk if you want to walk on the pier. I am glad that Green Tortoise offers a way to stay in San Fran without completely blowing the budget. NOTE: book directly though them for the best price. I paid a $17 deposit to HostelWorld and found out that Green Tortoise doesn't get any of the money. read more

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Stayed 6 nights at Green Tortise Hostel in San Francisco and had an amazing time. Staff was friendly, approachable and welcoming. Free breakfast was offered every morning and was a simple toast , bagels and fruit but nice to have. There is kitchen access which is nice to make your own meals in as well. Free dinners were available 3 times a week and were vegetarian, filling and tasty. Hostel staff organized fun social activities every evening and provided great opportunities for organized day trips. Located on a busy street with lots of strip clubs and bars. Easy to get to financial district, china town and fisherman's warf. 4-5 private bathrooms per floor. Bedrooms are small and there is an extra $5 for the locks. We were charged more for our stay and weren't quite sure why. Other than that we met great people and had a very memorable stay ! Thank you green tortise ! read more

I just love this place. A really friendly atmosphere. A community dinner several nights a week, breakfast every morning. Enough bathrooms in the building that you can eventually find an open one even during peak bathrooming times. I just love the big common room. Kinda sucks that they now charge you to use your credit card to pay, and does cost a little more than the other hostels around, but worth it, I think. read more

Woohoo! The hostel of all hostels! Green Tortoise is all you could want from a cheap place to stay in San Fran. Comfortable rooms (even the dorm rooms), nice bathrooms, free breakfast, and a surprisingly great location. At first I was a little turned off by the neighborhood, but I ended up having a fantastic time exploring the area and found some great restaurants and bars. The staff is very nice and almost paranoid about security, so I always felt safe and comfortable leaving my stuff in my room. If you're on a budget and want to stay in the city, I would highly recommend Green Tortoise! read more

A funky, clean hippie hostel that's very well organized, right on the edge of all the great food and drink in Chinatown and North Beach. Pros -- comfy beds, bunks that don't squeak, hot showers, clean facilities, decent brekky if you don't mind cooking your own eggs, huge common area, group activities every night, next to 5+ bus lines that go everywhere in the city, only 1% tax if the rate is under $40. Cons -- doors start slamming at 7:30 each morning so don't expect to sleep past then. Tips -- request a room facing away from the street and not across from a bath. Bath sizes vary from tiny to large so look around. For bike rental discounts, check Groupon. For Blue & Gold bay cruise discounts, check GoldStar. For hostel discounts, book direct on the hostel's website. While there are other good hostels in SF, their locations do not have easy access to affordable food and drink and can be dodgy at night as many businesses are closed and the homeless come out. read more

Loved this place! Great vibes, great artistic design, great food! Clean room and showers. Overall awesome experience. I recommended staying here to a friend and she couldn't stop thanking me for it! Will definitely be back! read more

So far the BEST hostel I got to stay in. The rooms are very cosey, there's enough room for all of your things even in the most crowded rooms. The bathrooms are always very clean and well equipped. The staff is probably what made the stay so good. They are super friendly, always smiling and will do the most to make your stay pleasent. The lounge and lobby are very big, and it's a great place to meet travelers from all around the globe that stay there. The hostel arrenges special night-outs for the guests, such as beer-tasting or clubbing. They also make special cooking nights where you can help the cook make dinner! 10/10 for sure. read more

Green tortoise is definitely a great place to stay either for solo backpackers or for a group of young friends who are able to live together and save a lot! Not only did the service and staff very nice, but they provide a lot for a new comer to explore in the city. The most helpful features for me is: 1. They organize discounted local activities such as I joined a group of friends to a noodle restaurant and enjoyed a great comedy show for only $11! 2. They sell and send postcards for me 3. They provide free breakfast of very good quality as well as free dinner on certain nights of the week 4. The restroom is private with access for one person only at a time 5. The bed is very comfortable and 4 people per room is quite manageble 6. The location is very convenient with several bus stops connecting to most places of the city 7. Meet friends from all over the world and be brave to communicate 8. I am a fan of greenish staff and everything here is green :) All in all, I really enjoy the stay here! A few more suggestions for the incoming visitors are: 1. better bring your own little lock if you don't feel safe, although they sell a kind of key-lock (not a password lock) at $10 per each 2. ask yourself if you could handle situation of sleeping in a room with foreigners with potentially unpleasant behaviors such as snoring or getting up way earlier than you... (I met some in other hostels...) 3. Oh! They don't have elevators so be aware 4. Better bring your own towel as well Good luck and enjoy your stay at the hostel! read more

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Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. From the extremely friendly and extremely stoned staff at the front desk (not to mention the throwback to the mid-90s vibe - and I'm not being facetious, it's the coolest thing ever) to the characters in this place, to the price and location, this is a story beyond a story. Classic. read more

Let me tell you my cautionary tale of Green Tortoise San Francisco.... A little background, my girlfriend and I had stayed at the Green Tortoise in Seattle a few years ago, and aside from some guy snoring in our dorm room (which of course you should be prepared for in any hostel), the experience was perfectly normal (perhaps even a little better than your average Hosteling International place). So we check into this place, then head out for the evening. When we arrive back to our room, we quickly noticed that the loud party going on in the Hostel's ballroom downstairs was CLEARLY audible in our room. And by "loud party," I really should say "mini-rave," since there was amplified techno music, people screaming into microphones, etc. So I go down to complain, and the guy at the desk basically says "yeah, they'll probably be done in a few hours." This was 2 AM. And we actually had stuff planned for the next day! So we got a few hours rest at best, ruining our next vacation day. When I talked to the neckbeard behind the counter the next morning, I was informed that it is OFFICIAL HOSTEL POLICY to just allow whomever to party however long they like. And of course, the guy looks at me funny, like "what the hell is your problem"? And hey, I don't care if they're partying down there, but if the music's loud enough to make the walls vibrate, I have a problem. And I think most people would as well. So if screaming Iggy Pop lyrics into the mic at 3AM sounds like fun for you, then by all means this is the place. But if you'd rather not try to fall asleep to this siren song, perhaps you should seek other accommodations. read more

This is a wonderful hostel with a fantastic location and the staff are friendly and accommodating. It's right in the heart of North Beach at the foot of the Kearny St. hill and very close to Chinatown. Vesuvio's Cafe and the City Lights Bookstore are about a block away, and there is a wonderful cocktail bar/restaurant called 15 Romolo Place tucked into an alleyway one street over. I'm 68 , but felt right at home here even though most of the other guests were much younger. Had a private room about a block and a half from the main building-it was like having my own apartment in San Francisco! Can't say enough good things about this hostel- will definitely be back.- Forgot to mention that Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill (home to the wild parrots) are within easy walking distance. read more

THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN SF! This place is a traveler's paradise. I have stayed in hostels in Union Square that have nowhere near the kind of atmosphere that the Green Tortoise does. They have a huge kitchen, events, and are in the heart of North Beach - MUCH better than downtown SF. To top it off, they run very affordable trips to National Parks all over the country! The Northern Pioneer/National Parks loop was one of the best trips I've ever taken. There's no way to see these parks than going with a group of friendly Tortoise travelers (and drivers!). I've traveled all over the world and traveling with the tortoise is the absolutely best way to go. The company, food, and locations cannot be beat! read more

I stayed here during October '13 on Consulate business. This hostel was the best out of all the hostels I stayed in (with the exception of the black dude who thinks he is the hottest thing who walked the planet) and comfy. THE GOOD: -The beds were comfortable. I seriously did not want to get out of bed in the morning! - Breakfast offered every morning ( bagels, nutella, tea, orange juice, fruit) -There is a sauna and it does get really hot. Bring a swimsuit. - Tea any time I want and a good selection of them too (not the crappy Lipton kind) - Staff was awesome!!!!! I liked the Italian guy who would often talk to me when I was sitting alone in the eating place. -microwaves for those on a budget THE BAD -There is loud music coming out of the men's club next door all night read more

This place is an experience. If you're about to go on a GT trip or are looking to meet travel buddies, this is a great spot. The hostel could be a little disorganized with check-in and check-out, but everything gets worked out easily enough. If you're looking for an easy overnight or aren't looking to make a new BFF, you're not going to be charmed by this place. I ended up here after going on a couple GT trips, so I'd already become part of the community. The free food means that people end up hanging around the hostel and bonding. It's a little crazy how much time guests end up spending in the hostel. I've met - and kept in touch with - a lot of people I've met through the GT over the years. My love for this place may be irrational, but I'm hardly the only one who feels that way. read more