Banana Bungalow - The Best Hostel in the World (Banana Bungalow San Diego)

Member Name: fionamcg

Product:	Banana Bungalow San Diego
Date:	20/05/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location, people, activities

Disadvantages: Nothing... well it does have to end

The Banana Bungalow San Diego is a fantastic hostel with a real California feel to it. Set right on the beach the Banana Bungalow, although being a chain of hostels, has a strong sense of its own identity but is one of the most laid back and relaxed places to stay. I stayed in the Banana Bungalow in September 2008 while I was doing a round the world trip and although it may not have been the cleanest or have the best facilities, it provided the best atmosphere and has to be my top hostel.

The Banana Bungalow is very small compared with other hostels; it has approximately 8 people to room with about 6 rooms , a tiny kitchen with two large fridges, a small entrance area and a small area of decking which looks out onto the beach. This small deck is where everyone hangs out each evening for a little beer pong and a few kegs, there may even be a bit of competitive flippy cups with the Brits vs. everyone else! The hostel staff are mainly English travellers who fell in love with the uber relaxed atmosphere of San Diego and stayed and a few Americans and a Scot to spice up the mix. When I visited the majority of the guests were from the UK but there were a load of Irish, a few continentals and a couple of Canadians.

On my first day we went on a trip, organised and led by one of the staff - the legendary Kenny, to Tijuana which was a real insight to the tacky side of Mexico, a place renowned for underage Americans to hop the border and go for a few to many drinks. It is safe to say we sampled the local beer and had a thoroughly good day which ended up back at the deck for the keg party. As we had been on this trip we quickly got to know a good bunch of people who were staying at the hostel and a few who were in our room, which really is the point of the Banana Bungalow - get to know some people and have a good time.

The hostel puts on a meal each night at a small rate which is great although there is a Subway, a Burger King, a Starbucks and a supermarket just a block away if you want something else. The Banana Bungalow is a 15-20 minute bus ride from San Diego central but it is worth the journey to stay out at the beach. There are a few bars next to the hostel and a couple of nights we would all go as a big group to have a few drinks and a game of pool there, and then come back to the deck until the wee hours.

The bunk beds are extremely comfortable and although they may be a little old they add to the laissez faire attitude of the hostel. There isn't much space to move about in the rooms but there is everything you need. The hostel also puts on cereal and toast for the guests and will help suggest or plan excursions. The staff keep abreast of what is going on downtown and there were bargain tickets for the Fratellis at just £15 at the House of Blues during our stay.

The hostel isn't the cheapest with prices at: Winter $17, Spring $22, Summer $25 for dorms and Winter $65, Spring $85, Summer $105 for private rooms and occasional discounts. But if you want to experience an iconic hostel (since I have heard rave reviews from everyone who has stayed there) which epitomises San Diego then the Banana Bungalow is the place to stay.

Summary: Awesome, every backpacker should stay there - an amazing hostel.