Hillcrest Hostel 3833 8th Avenue At HillcrestHostel.com, San Diego, CA 92103

"Closest Hostel to Balboa Park and their famous Zoo! This International House of Travelers offers the most fun cultural exchange and party combination of any San Diego hostel experience. Located in Hillcrest, just 5 minutes left to Gaslamp airy the most eclectic neighborhood bar and restaurants 1 block away!"

"This is the most excellent "Hippie Home" in the City! Now available for Private Booking, you can host your own Group Event here! Contact @HillcrestHostel on Instagram to inquire and book our private oasis for night or weekend adventure get away for your Birthday Crew, Bachelor or Bachelorette Party! Enjoy our Hot Tub Jacuzzi and BEST Hillcrest Location!"

"The moment we arrived, Gabriel offered to cook us dinner! Unlike a lot of hostels, there is a home-y vibe where it's easy to talk to everyone. Drew is super adorable and upgraded our room. Sophie went out of her way to invite me to a Clothing Swap party at her amazing shop (go visit if you need a stylist). They are so chill, sweet and thoughtful. It's very much "my house is your house." We are non-smokers so we were a little worried that it would be a hot box (no judgement). But for a 420-friendly place, it didn't smell like 420! (But had fun, easy, laid back 420 vibes.) We were only passing through for a night but I'd like to return with friends to stay a while longer. Oh, and the bathroom was CLEAN!! Rare in hostel situations. Plenty of towels and shampoo although we brought our own since it was such a great value that we wanted to support in any small ways we could."

"Loveddd this place! They decorated the place with really unique and cool hangout areas with beautiful artwork hanging everywhere. They really made this place super welcoming and comfy with all friendly/good vibes. Great people I met from just one night of staying there. Would definitely be back and highly recommend to anyone. Thanks again for a good night!"

"An evening in an average USA hostel, circa 2019: A few people passed out in (what are often) sprawling bunk rooms, while the rest of the folks in the main public area silently scroll through their computers/phone while a TV drones on in the background. And maybe a few outside get drunk and have gropingly forgettable pseudo-conversations. No matter how nicely furnished, I find such places not worth whatever was saved as compares to a solid Airbnb. In other words, there's no value added - it's just a cheap place to stay surrounded by weary/distrustful/jaded travelers passing in the night. There is no communal aspect, it's just a bunch of people being lonely together in a new city. That at least, has been my typical experience. Hillcrest, on the other hand, is decidedly atypical. It's a home, and it feels like a home, with all the personal touches this entails. These touches signal a lot of thought and attention to detail - to creating a different kind of atmosphere (as a writer I noticed the bookshelf most - while the rest blended together to create the overall warm gestalt). And so from the ground up, it feels decidedly different. I woke up in the morning to the pleasant murmur of conversation - actual conversation! - coming from the kitchen. The guy who was on the couch across from me came in a bit later and we struck up an impromptu hour plus chat, after which I took a shower, and as I packed up I overheard yet another interesting conversation going on from the kitchen (while Drew prepared the THC for the day). If we were in some large impersonal bunk room (or small cloistered one) I doubt such conversations would have even had an opportunity to take off the ground. I think too often structural settings are under-appreciated in terms of how they can open up opportunities for serendipitous moments to occur (or not). And these did not have the feeling of halting "obligatory" conversations that often take place in such contexts - and again I think that the setting in a home helped set the tone for that. It almost reminded me of the feeling one has in a house during the holidays when extended family are packed in together (that I visited in mid-December may have contributed to that impression) - a kind of freewheeling affair, but one with a warm geniality to it. My interaction with Drew was brief, but he was chill, friendly and attentive. The couch was super comfy. It's right next to a cool busy neighborhood (but not so close that the noise spills over to the house at night - it was quite peaceful when I passed out at 2AM). I recommend Hillcrest without reservation."