Went to San Diego for a job and knew that I was going to be working 10 hour days. So basically I needed a place to hold my clothing, shower and sleep. Lucky D's Hostel was perfect with its location (very central in Downtown San Diego), colorfulness and artsiness. It was my first time at a hostel and it was fun. The receptionist/concierge was friendly and informative. They have theme night mixers like wine night & ice cream party. The receptionist gave me a key card and walked me to my room. He opened the door and it was a calming turquoise room with two sets of bunk beds. There is four built in lockers to hold your things. You can bring your own lock and towel (which I did) or rent one from Lucky D's. The first night there was 3 of us sharing the room. Cool roommates. I explored the different floors of the hostel In the morning there is a continental breakfast in the kitchen. I had tea, little oranges and a bagel with cream cheese and jelly. The guests at the hostel were friendly and nice. Having to share a bathroom and shower with everyone per floor was actually easy and never a long wait. You could also go up or down a floor to see if any were available. Great place. I'll definitely reserve a bunk bed again. read more

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Good location, but it ends there. It is in the gas lamp so know that the area is more of the party/bar area and there's unhoused outside. They won't bother you, just know be cautious. You climb to the second floor and that is where reception is. They close from 2am-7am so most of the time someone is there. The bad was the third floor and part of the fourth was under construction. The horrible was even with six toilets for three floors, only two worked. You had at least 30 people fighting for two working toilets on a weekend. There was a line for quite a while. Showers were okay, no soap so bring your own or hit CVS. The free breakfast was okay, bagels and cereal from 8-10. No community vibe, but that is pretty much every US hostel, just a basic place to sleep. There was a massive moth in our room that we had to get out. Overhead fan, but with an ac unit we could not use. read more

I needed a spot to crash for ~5 hours prior to a redeye early in the morning. I considered just going to the airport terminal and sleeping there, but figured sleeping in a (bunk) bed would be better for my back. Booked easily online and got to Lucky Ds. The hostel is filled with travelers who mostly seemed really friendly. I had a nice conversation in the kitchen with someone, while two others were cooking late night meals. Brought back memories of living at the dorms in a nice way. The room itself was basic with two bunk beds. There are outlets accessible for top bunk people and lockers to lock up your valuables. As you'd expect with sharing a room with strangers, there were some slightly unpleasant moments. My first room's door wouldn't open. The front desk tried for about 10 min and the sleeping resident was pretty annoyed having to wake up and open the door. In my second room, multiple people were snoring (myself included possibly). If you can't handle stuff like this, you should look for other options. My experience was pleasant. It's definitely not a luxury hotel, but if you're willing to compromise, it's a great way to save money traveling. read more

Lucky D's Hostel - Front entrance - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

From July 17, 2018: Friendly like they say! People walking down the halls smile and greet you. The offered breakfast is fun (bagel and fruits). Walls are decorated entertainingly and plentifully. I haven't tried its laundry room or Internet room. The TV room and reading room are nice and quiet for napping. The staff are considerate, patient, and helpful. I enjoyed that it's within driving distance (~10mins) to many tourist attractions and good restaurants. My buddy and I had a couple roommates on the other bunk bed - that was nice. I also like how they hook you up with the hostel's discounts (like San Diego Zoo entrance) and events (like pool party and Friday night club party). I arrived with the stomach flu, and staff member Zabina, I believe, who said she was from Germany, helped take care of me, even offering me hot water with nectar from Swedish herbs to try to help cure me. I felt very grateful and undeserving of her thoughtfulness and willingness. I believe she said she'd be in Room 407 if I needed anything else. I tried twice to knock on her door to thank her and bid her farewell the morning that I had to check out (July 15th). Cons: - Squeaky floors here and there - Only 2 bathroom per floor, basically only 3 floors (1st floor has like nothing but a bike rack), - Halls slightly dimly lit. - One shower faucet holder was broken, so the faucet kept slipping off and falling. - Bedroom windows have a lot of friction - apply strong force in order to get them moving before you can manage to close/open them. - Smokers by the entrance despite signs outlawing smoking within 20 feet. - Possible parking is generally either far and cheap or near and expensive (front door street parking $1.25/hr, whereas free parking at 8mins' walk away), except for at night when street parking is free, but by then (starting 6pm) people start claiming those spots up, so you can try your luck. read more

Lucky D's Hostel is a vibrant and eclectic space filled with creativity, color, and warmth. The staff go above and beyond every day to ensure guests feel welcome and cared for, and their energy truly sets this hostel apart. The location is central and convenient -- close to public transportation, local attractions, and plenty of food and entertainment options. The atmosphere is artistic and musical, with bright, funky décor that perfectly reflects the spirit of San Diego. I'm very grateful for my time and experiences here, and for the wonderful people I met along the way. Lucky D's is more than just a hostel -- it's a lively, soulful community that stays with you long after you leave. read more

Typically 'ya get what ya pay for' is an adage that works. For Lucky D's Hostel, one gets big experience for little money. I recently attended a conference at the Grand Hyatt - room rate discount was $1785 for the 4 day / 3 nights. NO WAY! That price & the pricing for nearby hotels was similar. Since I'm a fan of HI, I always look for their branded hostels when I travel in the US & overseas. I paid for a private room with A/C. I slept with the window open, so I never used the portable air conditioning unit. My room was clean with newer bedding. The mattress... BEST one I've slept on in years!! Add a chair & the room would be perfect. Towels available for rent & I didn't need to pack my own. There were 4 bathrooms on my floor -- 2 with toilets & sinks / 2 with showers only. Some improvements could be made here: add a small shelf in all private bathrooms to keep toiletries clean & dry; respond to clogged sinks faster; use a better quality shower curtain to keep water in the shower stall; get rid of the fabric bath mat & opt for a more sanitary way to keep the floor dry. Staff was very nice & helpful. Basic snacks, ice, laundry, body wash, & padlock were available onsite. There's safe storage for suitcases, if needed. Location is great & the very 'flavorful'. Building is older - historical - but maintained well. BTW... I saved $1400 by staying at Lucky D's Hostel. I enjoyed a 15 minute walk to the Hyatt and would def book again. #safe and #clean read more

Had a great stay here. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend this hostel to other travelers.

Thank you Stephan for your exceptional service and patience. Lucky's has an ecletic ambiance and is located in a prime location of San Diego. It's reasonably priced, clean, and the beds are comfortable. I especially enjoyed the common area which was a nice spot to watch the Karate Kid and play some jams on the piano. I'll definitely come back when I'm ready for another magical night in the Gaslamp Quarter. read more

Lucky D's Hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

The last time I stayed at this Hostel money was stolen. First thing I realized when talking with the guests, almost everyone staying there, WORKS THERE! I had my room to myself for the entirety of my stay (due to a slow season). However by the second day, most of my food was taken from the kitchen. Noticed my eggs were in the fridge reserved for STAFF. I mentioned it to the person at the counter and it was dismissed as if I said nothing at all. Then finally the last day, I had a large sum of money taken from my bag. I didn't say anything because it was my error for thinking my stuff would be safe in my room. There 's a weird vibe that exists at this hostel, almost like you're not welcomed as part of the traveling community. Most likely because almost everyone staying there, is working there which creates a "clique" amongst the staff. So there's no point to complain when you know that there's a tight-nit bond amongst the people there. Cameras on every floor, which initially I thought could be a good thing, but in turn can also monitor you coming and going. Especially knowing they enter your room to "clean" while you are away. Very disturbing and disappointing to say the least... Outside of the money taken - Great location but it's too bad you're unable to meet likeminded travelers during your stay because the guests ARE the employees. Lock your stuff and be very weary of the "clique" that's there. ALWAYS READ THE OWNER'S/MANAGEMENT COMMENTS ON PRIOR REVIEWS. THIS ALWAYS GIVE A CLEAR INDICATION ON HOW THAT BUSINESS HANDLES COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS, AND UNFAVORABLY REVIEWS. read more

Staff are rude, dismissive and way too involved in their own relations. I was treated like my quick question was an inconvenience, even after waiting several minutes for the receptionist to wrap up her conversation and even acknowledge me. read more

We booked our private room through Hostelworld, who which didn't communicate on their end to our Hostel so with us not having a room. Stefan accommodated us so amazingly. One of the best stays we could've had after our mix up! Soon as they realized the problem they were able to offer us just as good of an alternative. It was that much more appreciated because of the time crunch we were on to prepare and attend our concert. They were extremely accommodating and fast. We got into our rooms, got ready, made our concert that much more enjoyable with the stress avoided having to possibly change our entire plan. Hostelworld dropped the ball on this one. Stefan & I will be contacting their email to try to get me a refund on the initial deposit through their app. The entire staff was friendly and even continued accommodating us for Hostelworld's error. Couldn't have asked for anything better. Keep it up guys. People like you are what make these places that much more fun, enjoyable and relaxing. Thank you! SO MUCH! read more

Lucky D's Hostel - Hallway Sign - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

This hostel is in downtown area, great conscience. Large closet inside, bed sheets and blankets clean, few common areas. Mostly important to me is either female or private room available, very friendly staffs. read more

Once again I had a terrific stay at Lucky D, the staff and location are both perfect! Just like last time, Ayleen and Jessie were so helpful and professional in coordinating my stay and did everything they could to ensure that my stay was perfect. They went way out of their way to inform me of the evening activities going on and what the schedules for partaking in them were, I really appreciated their assistance. Everything was very clean and well-kept in all spaces throughout. The costs are incredible as well, for those who are keeping costs on their mind. I feel anybody would be able to handle the setup, the bunks are very easy to navigate, not difficult or hard to get in/out of at all. Overall, I have no complaints or bad thoughts in any way whatsoever, everything went so well for this most recent stay here. Jessie & Ayleen were so pleasant throughout the entire experience again & I highly recommend anyone who wants to spend time in this part of SoCal to go ahead with Lucky D. read more

I really enjoyed my time here. This place is clean, warm; and comfortable. Hot showers and good WiFi, what more could I want? Kitchen facilities are great, staff is always super helpful, the owner is a travel savvy sweetheart. They also do a great job of hosting events during the week, unlimited tacos at the bar nearby, $1 beer day, etc. the location means it can be a bit loud at night (downtown) but the noise didn't bother me at all personally. read more

Been coming down to San Diego to Lucky D's a few occasions now, and every time has been better than the previous. The reception person is always super friendly and helpful. Bathrooms and common areas always clean. Prices are right what I need. Advertise fun things to do as a group with the other hostel guests, or on your own! My go-to hostel! read more

Great staff, clean rooms, nightly activities, perfect gaslamp location, fresh coffee and waffles in the morning...what more could you ask for! Will definitely return next time I'm in San Diego. read more

My first hostel stay EVER and I'm so glad it was at Lucky D's! Super friendly staff, awesome residents, easy going vibe. Nice and quiet private room (you'll need ear plugs because it's in downtown), kitchen with everything you could think of (mini-fridge in a private room), easy access to bathrooms and showers. Clean, fun, easy. read more

Let's get down to it THIS IS THE REVIEW TO READ FROM A 15 YEAR HOTEL VETERAN. This is definitely a hostel. If you have any qualms about that, don't bother. If you are a hotel goer, don't switch. Trust me, you won't like it here. If you are cool for both, than this place will work. If you want quiet, which really isn't their thing, stay on the 4th floor. There's no common room areas up there except for the computer room. Hostel wise, it's awesome. There is a giant kitchen and utensils/pots pans etc. Also a big fridge. There is a common room for hanging out, a computer room, and a reading room. The staff is friendly. The place is clean. Now remember, as there are no private bathrooms, someone may have gotten in to one of the bathrooms/showers and it may still be a little messy. Hard to say, however they clean like a madman and you can see the 8-15 times per 24hr shift that they check on their cleanliness sheets. These are showers and restrooms with locks for single or double occ...not like a public restroom. I saw NOT ONE BUG OR CRITTER, AND TRUST ME, I CHECK. Also, my linen was fine and the bed was comfy. One thing for management, placing silencers on your doorgaps would be nice so you don't get woke up at 6am by the live in guy next to me with a CLANG! Remember, if you are a hotel goer with those set of expectations, i wouldn't go here. But if you are single or a couple and want to be able to stay in downtown for a decent rate, check it out. read more

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They didn't even bother to clean the room or change the trash out. It's very late night when we checked in and all we wanted to do was sleep. We didn't notice any of this until the morning. Walls and ceiling cracked. Floor is dirty. My feet were black when I walked barefoot. Toilet doesn't really flush so it accumulates lots of teepee. Right above a loud bar. Barely any street or paid parking especially late at night due to the bar. The only benefit was that there is food around. read more

Had a great time these past 5 days. My 4 bed female room was spotless and the bedding was nice and fresh. Each common area was very clean, even the bathrooms which i was surprised about. They provide bagels apples and bananas for breakfast 7:30-10:30 ( coffee and tea all day) and the kitchen closes at 11:59pm sharp. Each day they have a different group activities the patrons. Although the hostel is above a bar, it's really not that loud if you're used to city life. They are serious about quiet hours and do provide really good ear plugs if you need them! I would def return! read more

Lucky D's Hostel - Lobby - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

This is probably the best place to stay in San Diego if you really want to feel the vibe of the city. My and my boyfriend were having hard time leaving San Diego, cause we've loved it so much. The staff makes you feel as home, it's very clean and cozy. I am blissfully remembering my stay there. Go ahead and enjoy everyone! read more

Lucky D's Hostel - #LuckyD's hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

My first impression of Lucky D's was not good. But I've warmed up to the place. After a night of very little sleep in Las Vegas, I flew to San Diego and my delayed flight caused me to arrive at Lucky D's at like 10pm or 11pm. I was super tired, and just wanted to check in and pass out. There were two girls in front of me checking in, and the guy behind the desk had a super hard time checking them in. I'm not sure why. He had to call for help like 8 times. Finally I was ready to be checked in, and eventually I made it to my room. I asked for a 2 bed dorm, and was given a 4 bed dorm. Uhhhhh.... went back downstairs, and waited far too long again to have the problem addressed. After looking in the computer and having one of the guys check out the room, he determined that it WAS a 2 bed dorm but just had an extra bunkbed for no reason that they wouldn't fill. I'm fine with that, but I wish they would have known that when they first checked me in rather than be super confused. Moving past check-in issues, everything has been fine. The staff are friendly, they have food & activities scheduled, and the location is perfect. I paid $28/night for weeknights and $34/night for a weekend, which is a great deal for downtown San Diego. The other bed has been empty, so it's essentially my own room thus far. It's not the nicest or the cleanest hostel I've ever stayed at, but it's read more

This place is awesome:) its clean, decorated well, and all members of the staff were super sweet and helpful. I love that they offer breakfast and themed dinners! Theres a tv room and a computer room, AND its within walking distance from all of the bars in the gaslamp district:):) Definitely going back read more

Place is very run down, staff is intimidating and looks as if you're bothering them when checking in. Definitely needs to be improved. Location is all it got going for itself read more

I would stay here every single time I come to SD. Soooo much character, so much fun, and just a really cool vibe. It's right in the middle of the Gaslamp district and you can walk to everything. I came here with a group of 4, we had two bunkbeds, which just made it much more fun than an average hotel room. A lot of the people there are international students that are living there for a few months. Anyway, I think it was $75-100 for 4 people on a Friday night. Not too bad because it was such a fun experience. They offer breakfast on the 3rd floor - cereal, waffles, thats pretty much it. They have a hypoallergenic mattress, and when you check out you have to strip the bed of its sheet, duvet cover, and pillow slip and bring it to the front desk with you - on the plus side, at least you know they wash their stuff! PS, the artwork is so fun!!! AND they have a commons room! read more

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Fantastic hostel! The staff is super nice and welcoming and there's always fun stuff going on there. The location is really good too. There are grocery stores that are close by and it's just a couple blocks away from bars and clubs. If you're looking to have a fun time I definitely recommend staying here! read more

I stayed in a private room. The staff were nice enough, and the room was fine. They don't have towels, FYI. The hostel itself was quiet, but the noises from the street were obnoxiously loud over the Fri and Sat nights. The location is pretty convenient for getting around town, but a little sketch in some places. If you're young and planning to go out in the evenings until closing this is totally the place for you. Otherwise, definitely stay somewhere else as you won't get much sleep and you'll have to dry yourself off with extra pillow cases. read more

Lucky D's is by far the worst Hostel in San Diego ! They have horrible customer service ! Lucky D's hostel has bed bugs and roaches! Filthy hostel! Not sure why the city hasn't shut down this location it's extremely disappointing. I do not recommend staying at this hostel! read more

I stayed here for two night. It was my first time in a hostel. I'll start by saying you definitely can't beat the price. I stayed in a 4 bed room. There were 2 bunk beds in the room and 4 Giant lockers in the wall and 4 Smaller lockers. Each level of the hotel has two shower rooms, two bathrooms and a giant room with sinks and mirrors. They have a tv room, common room, full kitchen where you can cook your own food, they also offer a free breakfast which includes bagels, granola bars and fruit. The hotel is kind of run down and smells old but it was a fun experience. read more

I was staying at Lucky Ds Hostel when I found out that my older brother Anthony Nobles had died. I found out on Facebook, made a post of sadness and immediately the peeps at Lucky Ds poured out kindness NOT SYMBOLIC SYMPATHY BUT TRUE KINDNESS! I was depressed, they saw it and treated me like they'd lost a family member. I'll never forget that. Three years ago today I'd just landed in Chicago to bury my brother in two days. I always get depressed around this time of year but being at Lucky Ds, walking down the ever so interesting hallways, seeing Jackie, Pete and all the new peeps I've met since being back, truly makes the pain and sorry go away. I even saw David who was the first to put his hand my shoulder and say "sorry for your loss". If you ever wonder what this hostel is like, all I can say is that it's truly family... read more

Lucky D's Hostel - Hostels Near Me - San Diego, California

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Do not book this hostel, I felt very sexually harassed and unsafe in this place. I didn't have my ID, that's on me, but I had a picture of it with all necessary information for their record-keeping upon trying to check in. An intentionally intimidating, large sexist male was extremely rude to me, then turned me out on the street, as a single female traveler at nearly 1am. As a traveling businessperson, I would be extremely embarrassed to have such a rude and clearly sexist person representing my business, and putting female guests in such an unsafe position. Shame on you. read more

Dirty and old place. Do not stay here. The manager of this place is something else. Denied me at 11:45pm when check out is 10am. Unprofessional business read more

We had a wonderful experience at this hostel. The staff was friendly, everything was very clean, and our private room on the 4th floor was a great place to come home to after a day of exploring San Diego. They provided free breakfast every morning, coffee throughout the day and there was someone always staffed at the front desk to answer any questions. Our stay was in October and the whole entrance stairwell was covered with Halloween decor; this was a great first impression! Definitely a young crowd that enjoys partying but we were slightly removed from that option, which was just what my boyfriend and I wanted. The location was AWESOME. Just a few blocks from Petco Park and only two blocks over from the heart of Gaslamp district, it was convenient to everything we wanted to do. Our experience with Lucky D's was ideal, we definitely will stay here again next time we're in town. read more

LOCATION CAN NOT BE BETTER! What a GREAT experience! We stayed at Lucky D's for the first three nights of our trip to San Diego. The people were all extremely friendly! The staff, extremely helpful! The hostel was extremely clean! Free breakfast every morning and fun community events at night! Walk right into Gaslamp everyday for tons of bars, restaurants, etc! Walking distance from Petco Park too! And so easily accessible to the bus! Had such a wonderful time with Amica! She was the most helpful of the Lucky D's crew! She took us out on a bar crawl one night and boy did we have a great time! She continued to help us the following days and truly made us feel at home in San Diego! Lucky D's should feel great to have someone like her on their team! The only complaint would be having no A/C during a heat wave - but for $25/night- even that can't be a true complaint! read more

My room was infested with bedbugs. When I tried to cancel the rest of my stay, I was told the $300 was not refundable.

Amazing ! The place was VERY CLEAN which is super important. It's a party hostel so at night on the weekends the bass from the music beats in the wall. My room was specifically located over a bar. Staff was friendly and I would def come back. Only cons are that they don't give you a tour of the place. They just tell you where everything is. And also they don't do everything hey say they do on the site like trips to Tijuana and shuttles to the beach. Other than that I was very happy with my stay and the people that I met read more

Absolutely great atmosphere. Everyone working there was super friendly and helped me to get accommodated. Being from a small town I wasn't used to the public transportation system in San Diego and they didn't hesitate to help. The sense of community at the hostel is a great one. I enjoyed fixing breakfast in the kitchen and talking to other morning birds, it was a great start to my day. Also, bike rentals are super cheap so that was a plus when I didn't feel like taking the bus. The location is right next to many restaurants, bars, and the Padres stadium so I enjoyed that when I had the spare time. The hostel manager, Stephan was an amazingly social and fun dude to be around who helped me make connections and truly enjoy the 4 weeks that I spend there. read more

Great hostel with incredible artwork, so much character, centrally located in the heart of historical gas lamp district. A short walk to Balboa park and the zoo , a 20 min drive to the beach, best value for your money and attentive staff and wonderful management ! If you are traveling to San Diego, stay at LUcky D's. read more

After reading some good stuff on here, and spurred on by Ellen's review, I decided to try this place out. 1 night of madness and fun - we were up drinking until 5am, and the staff even bought us pizza. I can't say much about the free meals or other nights of the week, but last night was wild. We went on a mad rampage of the city on Helen's bar crawl, and got messy on beer provided free of charge by some Navy guy who loves beer pong. A must-try if you're into the slightly wilder side of life. read more

The whole feel of this place is like a fun east coast punk rock house that has great shows in its basement. I can't find a better compliment. This is THE BEST thing I found in San Diego. It has style, it's affordable, perfect location, it's COMFORTABLE, it smells great in the morning during breakfast, they play GREAT music, and it's fun to be in. The "find it where you can get it" parking is a bit of a pain but I would gladly do it over again to stay here. read more