Really had no idea what to expect; prices seemed to be good to be true to be right on the strip down in Hermosa, a few steps from the beach, but it was great value for money. They have a nice breakfast setup every morning, and if you can deal with the late night noise from the clubs nearby (they have earplugs if you need) then you'll love the friendly staff. Would 100% stay again if I'm ever in the area. Only 15 minutes from LAX and I think there's even an easy bus up there. read more

Everyone on staff is helpful & kind. Room & bathroom were clean The bed was comfortable & the view is amazing! this for 40 bucks.

Well I don't know about other Brunos, but the Bruno at ITH definitely is something to talk about! At check in Bruno personally guided me to my room to make sure everything was alright. When I mentioned I was concerned that there wasn't a locker he asked me to just wait a minute and he would see what he could do. To my surprise, he came back carrying a six foot metal locker! Talk about service! All the staff were friendly and treated me like we had been friends for years. Patrick cooked up hotdogs for everyone and invited me to come to the instant hot dog party there for all the guest. So this Bruno and the ITH staff all gave me something to talk about! read more

EXCELLENT Surf City Hostel Hermosa is hands down one of the best hostel experiences I've ever had. The staff is superior(shout out to Bruno!!!!!x10) and extremely accommodating to make sure you have a comfortable and happy experience There's a board with activities and or nearby local accommodations to make sure you have a truly hermosa(meaning: beautiful), Hermosa Beach experience Truly would recommend anyone looking to vacation stay here. Thank you ITH Surf City Hostel Hermosa Beach for a wonderful and heart warming experience. You are truly top tier read more

Ocean view, nice staff. They vaccum the dorm every day. Amazing stay. I will be back. read more

Hands down "Surf City Hostel" and its crew rock. The beach and ocean is right there and right next to, the jazz club. Best hostel stay in years. Cheers - Peter read more

I just want to clarify something here. This is NOT a hotel! This is a hostel... A pricey one but a HOSTEL. So keep this in mind if you stay here. It is not the Four Seasons or even a Motel 6 it's a hostel. They won't "leave the light on." My photo clearly show the name. Hostels are for kids backpacking and they sleep in their own sleeping bag. Located above Dragon near pier. read more

Surf City Hostel - Hostels Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

First stay in a hostel and it was pretty good! I got a private room for $80 a night and it had a full size bed and fan inside. It was definitely clean, just a little old. Also it is less than a minute walk to the beach! They also had private bathrooms/showers, and breakfast included. For breakfast they had bread, cereal, fruit, and peanut butter+ jelly. All in the kitchen which is free to use for anyone. The concierge was extremely helpful! We were able to check in at midnight and he also showed us we're to find free parking-only 7min walk! The only two cons were the room was right next to the bathroom and the walls were thin. The second was it was a little hard to find because it's tuck between two bars and the sign is not as big. read more

Shit customer service and made up some bull shit ass excuse that they couldn't sell me a room after just saying they could and saying that they had rooms for sales read more

I was in a 6 person room for 3 days. This was a complete mix of people- young and old, foreign and American. I'd have to warn you that upon frolicking at the beach, our feet were left with spots of brown oil residue that didn't wash off =( Regardless, I'm into cheap hotel rates and would definitely come back upon visiting Hermosa Beach. Pros: A very clean bathroom in a mostly empty dorm room and access to a spacious locker you can lock yourself. The front desk people, as well as the maintenance staff were very nice! Our roomies that changed day to day were also very enjoyable to meet. Cons: Wifi didn't reach our room, one night the lounge area completely smelled like smoke and no group activities planned to meet people within the hostel. Free street parking was a 10-15 min walk uphill. read more

Surf City Hostel - Hostels Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

The community is great.... the people that stay there are memorable and fun.... i paid for three nights... and they "lost my reservation"... their system is righting FIRST NAMES on an index card.... and use pencil to jot down how long you've stayed.... i then was accused of being a thief by the "MANAGER" because i "didnt pay"... even though i paid outright 135 for my three nights.... the individual that helped me was both drunk and stoned when i checked in and likely ran off with the cash that i paid for my room.... after my 2nd night and meeting great people i was asked to go to the bank and REPAY for the nights i already paid for.... INSULTING.... it was a JOKE of a situation of misguided leadership... on the other half.... Chris is the nicest guy in the world and will help you in any way that he can! There are great things about the place... and the location is phenomenal... but make sure you don't lose the tiny receipt or they'll try and double charge you read more

We heard about surf city from another traveler whilst in New York, after reading some reviews on Hostelworld we were sceptical. The hostels check-in is open (opperated by volunteers who work for board) until 2am, unfortunately our bus got us in late so at 5am we rocked up and were met with a locked door. We sat on a bench outside for an hour, the sun was coming up and already there were some locals about but eventually a guest at the hostel came down and let us in and luckily around 8ish we were allowed to check-in early. The lady who runs the hostel is a lovely women, helpful and friendly she really makes your stay welcoming. The cleaning is carried out by volunteers and at times wasn't the best, the shower rooms seem to just be covered in neat bleach which a friend I met there had had discolour their belongings they had left on the side whilst watching their hands. But never the less the cleanliness of the hostel is well maintained. The washing machine and dryer cost only $2.50 total and the machines are large so that's always a bonus. The local pubs and restaurants are inviting and this is the first hostel I have stayed in where I have kicked myself for going food shopping!! The local deals Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner (and drinks) are the best I have come across in the states and I can't stress enough how much food I wasted!! The only fault is how noisey it is, the lack of a real communal area forces people to chill in the stairwell ect which is loud for those sleeping not o on the people on the streets falling out of the pubs drunk. However I enjoyed my stay and met some great people. Loved Hermosa and did I mention you are right on the damn beach!!!! read more

Hostels are one of my favorite ways to travel and this one was right on the beach! I stayed in the 6-bed female dorm and found everything to be good. Nothing incredibly outstanding about it, but was pleasantly accommodated and found the rooms to be clean. Definitely not for the light sleepers but I had a blast staying here. read more

Pros: nice people and one block from a fantastic beach. Cons: literally everything else. Very run down, very expensive for the quality, right over a very loud bar that will play music as loud as they can until 2am (couldn't even sleep with ear plugs in), staff not very accommodating, extremely uncomfortable beds, very tiny rooms, no A/C or fans, no free parking or really any parking close by, and if you're lucky enough to get parking right out front, it will run you about $20 for 12 hours. Hermosa is awesome but this place just downright sucks. We ultimately decided to go find a hotel room because we were sick of not getting any sleep. Don't waste your money here!! read more

It's a hostel, not the Ritz. For a mere $25/night I got a bed (not very comfortable bunk, but not a bad place to rest your head), wi-fi and a place to shower. You're practically ON the beach (I mean.. I was watching people surf and stroll the pier while I showered!), the owners/staff are very nice and if you find yourself stumbling down the stairs you're at the pub. Or... if you're at the pub a bit too long, stumble on up and you're perfectly situated to simply sleep off the night's fun. No bug bites, no bugs or other critters. There was definitely some rowdy music playing downstairs to put you to sleep ;) Sheets were worn but servicable.. in all honesty it was like going back to college and crashing at a friend's dorm room. I would definitely recommend if you're on a budget, can deal with a communal setting and aren't a prima-donna. read more

Location location location Everything else is pretty standard: lots of interesting people, relatively clean, bars on the ground floor, nice staff and common shower rooms. read more

As far as hostels go, this isn't bad at all. The staff make all the difference here. Sure, the building is old and getting run-down but the housekeeping staff do a great job keeping it as clean as possible. The communal bathrooms were freakishly spotless. The kitchen (also communam) was well-used but was well maintained for the time I was here. Obviously, the location is the attraction here, hands down. It's literally steps to the sand and the front door opens out onto the Hermosa pub crawl. The downside is the noise. With live bands, multiple clubs and 1000+ drunks right out your window, actual sleep is hard to manage. The usual hostel shenanigans are to be expected, young half-naked drunken girls puking in the hall at 3am happened more than once. Then again, maybe that's a plus for some people. This place has stories to tell, oh yes. Overall, a pleasant albeit non-restful stay, with great memories. The free boogie boards, towels and bedding are a plus but the beds are miserably uncomfortable. They're all wrapped in plastic sheets, making them very hot and damp. The rate of $35 a night included breakfast - toast, cereal and donuts. Lots of donuts. Some fresh fruit here would be nice but the kitchen is well stocked with everything you need to make your own meals. The coffee is plentiful and euro-trash strong. Smokers beware, the pier in the front is strictly non-smoking and the numerous cops will ticket you, best hide in the back downstairs by the trashcans. Parking is not pleasant, with the only overnight spaces several blocks away. read more

I have mixed reviews here....Stayed one night and glad it was not for longer I had reserved a 6 bed dorm room, all female...my roommates were two young girls, and an older woman like myself from overseas....the young girls were nice enough, but they were travelling with a group of friends, staying in other rooms and they would constantly come knock on our door and come in and out as they pleased.....Sunday morning I had gone out for a walk along the beach and came back into my room to change, only to find one of their male friends taking a shower in my bathroom...I was upset and told the management, her reaction was they are young and she cannot control everything that goes on there.... I will say, that some of the staff was nice, and the other guests I had met were lovely...but I did not feel supported there and would not stay there again, nor would I recommend it to anyone else...... read more

Location can't be beat if you are wanting to be in the heart of Hermosa Beach, and want to be close to the strand. The solo rooms have much to be desired, but it's to be expected as it is a hostel. The shared rooms are fun, and have made great friends staying here in the past! Parking is up in the residential area, so if you're bringing a car it can be a pain. This place ooozes charm! Just sayin. read more

The location is everything. The staff and rooms leave much to be desired. But for $30 / night I had an ocean view. You have to contend w music and bottles being dumped in the alley until 2 AM so not for light sleepers. read more

The stay was fantastic. The rooms are literally on the beach with a view of it. The accommodation is good and is comfortable. They also provide surfboards and cycles on rental. Things are bit overpriced, not just the hostel but the surroundings. But, the location beats everything. It is literally on top of the lighthouse cafe. Staff were courteous and let me put away my bags until evening after I checked out. read more

My girlfriend and I stayed here and were VERY disappointed. After checking in we went out for dinner and drinks. Came back around 12am and found a pubic hair in the sheets when we went to goto sleep. It was clear the sheets had not been changed and the bed was no clean. She was disgusted and would not stay there. There was no one at the front desk and we had to goto my sisters at 1am. In the morning when we spoke to the front desk they told us that they were going to charge our credit card and would not give a refund. I will never stay here again and I advise anyone who reads this to also think twice. Over 100 bucks a night for a dirty bed and then the balls to not refund the money when we did not even stay there. BAD BUSINESS!!!! read more

I went into the Surf City Hotel when some friends from Australia were going to be staying there. This is a hostel and the place looked like a slum inside, and we got talking to the guests that were staying there. They complained about bed bug bites all over their body from the mattresses. We ended up checking them out immediately. read more

Second hostel I've stayed at in Cali and I love it. This is for the young and young at heart adventurer. If you are looking for a silent, boring place then keep moving. The manager/owner is a wonderful French woman who is kind but can be very firm when it comes to shenanigans (no better word for it!). I only paid for one night and for many days after kept extending my stay and she had no problem with it. You can hear/feel the music on the first floor rooms, which I found annoying my first night but got used to it. Also, usually I'm out there partying/hanging out so fine by me. It looks a little "run-down" but it adds to the appeal to me. It's like a well seasoned place full of history and fun. It is RIGHT ON the beach and right above all the bars and restaurants. The location could not be better. There is someone cleaning everyday and laundry always going see everything is clean. I absolutely loved the experience and will come again. read more

The place was just fine for $27 a night. For that price I got a bed in a room with several other people. For the most part they were young people traveling from Europe. They also offer single or two person rooms for a higher rate. All the rooms come with free wifi. The place is right on the pier in Hermosa Beach. The beach is practically your front yard. The hostel is surrounded by shops, bars, and cafes. They offer bike rentals, paid tours, and I think they mentioned that they either loan out or rent surf or body boards. I stayed on the second floor of the hostel which is the third floor of the building. From my room the noise from the bar and the pier wasn't too bad. According to the website you need an out of state ID or an international passport to stay at the hostel. I guess that's to keep out the homeless drug addict crowd that may otherwise be attracted by the low rates. Overall it's a decent value. Would stay again. read more

Pros: its cheap, and right near the beach. Cons: it's over a bar, if you want to sleep before 3am look elsewhere. The hostel is run by one nice french woman and many fuckwit younger people. Rooms are rundown and you will have people literally yelling outside your room at 4:30 in the morning, the staff don't care. I've been to a lot of countries and exclusively stay in hostels, this is easily the most expensive and worst hostel I've stayed at. read more

Great Hostel. It's right on the pier and you can see the ocean from the window. They give you a bunk bed, clean sheets, pillow and towel. Right smack in the middle of the nightlife. It can get a little noisy with all the bars open until 1:00 am or so, but if you're not into that kind of thing you wouldn't pick a place right next to it all. read more

For my first hostel experience I have to say I had the time of my life. O went solo for my 25th birthday up the coast, and what was supposed to be a 2 night ended up being 3. I didn't want to leave, the staff was amazing. Did a great job making sure everyone was having a good time and felt included. The bathrooms were always clean. You can't beat that location just steps from the beach. I'll always remember my stay there, more importantly the people I met. read more

This is not the best looking hostel out there, there's nothing fancy here. But spend a day here and you'll know it's the perfect place to stay at in Hermosa Beach. Somehow the staff here have created a perfect ambiance, a friendly feel like nowhere else. The location is ideal. Staff keeps everything clean at exactly the right times. Stay here for a few days and you will never want to leave. read more

See all

Had a great time staying at this hostel, staff are very friendly and the place is clean. Located at the beach and with a lot of restaurants and bars to go to. read more

pros: location is great, right next to the beach and restaurants. cheap place to stay. free street parking within walking distance. cons: noisy at night. cleanliness...disgusting bathroom in 6 person room. read more

Okay so this was my first hostel and I can honestly say you get what you pay for there were bugs and just unclean things. It was mega loud due to the bar downstairs, the only thing that was good was the beach. read more

I regret coming there: the hostel is filled with cigarette smoke (which I believe is against the law in California); as a person with asthma I had to be subjected to second hand smoke in all common areas. Also, the hostel is not women-friendly and harassment of women is okay there apparently--it's filled with weirdos who're drinking all over the place, some of whom look like homeless and they harass solo guests, Disgusting place. The bathroom was shared male and female with toilet stalls being in front of shower stalls, and no separation at all. Try to go to a safer place.... read more

The Surf City Hostel is a really fun place to meet people. I was visiting a friend in L.A. and chose the Surf City Hostel because of its location and the fact that it's only $27 per night. I was traveling alone and made great friends in the hostel almost immediately (still stay in touch with my roommates). The location is amazing... right on the boardwalk, literally a step from the beautiful beach and the pier, and next to some really cool bars and pubs. If you're expecting a five star deluxe room, then obviously it's not the place for you. But if you just want a place to crash, to have fun without worrying about curfews, DD's and what not, it's perfect. The staff is friendly, there's a common room and a kitchen which you can use to cook whatever. The breakfast offered is some cheap sugary donuts and cornflakes, which I wasn't going to eat - but the supermarket is 5 minutes on foot, and we just bought some granola, tea and eggs. I recommend renting a beach cruiser bike from the hostel ($10) and biking along the beaches to Santa Monica (past Manhattan and Venice Beach). All in all an amazing stay :) read more

I'd give no stars if I could. I mistakenly made a reservation for the wrong night and arrived from Arizona for the night I MEANT to put. All I got was "there's nothing I could do," from a blonde bitch who didn't speak clear English, when I asked for either a refund, to speak with a manager about my situation, or even to PAY for another night. Worst customer service I've received in a long time and now I'm left sleeping in my car for the night. I will never waste my money here again read more

The best hostel. In the best of LA's beach cities. Carefully priced low. La maitresse Madame est si vraiment tres gentile. Management and staff are polite, helpful -- it's easy to make arrangements. Hermosa -- the name means 'beautiful', in Spanish -- is beautiful: clean, calm, vigorous, visited by beautiful women and strong men from all over LA. Pleasant bar-restaurants line the car-free pedestrian mall that leads to a long pier that pushes out into the ocean. Spectacular location on Santa Monica Bay. Close to everything, yet away from too much. Keep in mind it's a budget hostel. Then: Go! read more

Great vibes, close to a grocery store, the staff was friendly and very helpful. The free breakfast was amazing

Before trying out Surf City Hostel, I had never previously stayed in a hostel, so I can't really compare it to any other. Being it was cheap, and was in a great location in Hermosa, I don't have much to complain over. My friend thought it was a little dirty, and some of the staff made her uncomfortable from their stares. If you need a place to stay, it does the job. The only thing that really bothered me that I will complain over is them giving out my phone number to a cab driver who basically harassed me with phone calls. read more