A Home away from Home in a Magical city... (Youth Hostels in San Francisco in general)

Member Name: Jersey-Soph

Product:	Youth Hostels in San Francisco in general
Date:	08/09/03 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location, Funky Friendly Atmosphere, Free Internet

Disadvantages: Small-ish Bedrooms, Lots of stairs

Pacific Tradewinds. Even the name is funky. I have recently spent a year travelling around the world and have stayed in a LOT of youth hostels....this one is definately up there with the best of them.
I initially booked the Pacific Tradewinds on the useful website www.hostels.com where it is necessary to pay a small deposit using a credit card. This does confirm the booking, but you could avoid this charge by phoning the hostel directly, although booking in advance is highly highly reccomended especially during the busy summer months where it can be virtually impossible to find a bed in any San Fran hostel.
The hostels location at 681 Sacremento Street is perfect. San Fran is a fabulous city, but like most cities around the world it does have its dodgy, and very dodgy, areas. Unfortunately this is where many of the cheaper hostels tend to be located (around and south of the Market Street area). Pacific Tradewinds is however in the heart of Chinatown, and within walking distance of Union Square, Fishermans Wharf, the Embarcardo, and on a good bus route. It is a couple of blocks from the BART subway.
The price is $23 a night for a 8 bed dorm room (there are no private rooms) and this is fairly reasonable considering you are in one of the coolest cities in the world. There are definite perks such as unlimited free fast internet access (once travelling for a while you will reslise how important this is!) and free tea and coffee.
The thing I liked most about Pacific Tradewinds was the super friendly atmosphere. A lot of European reception staff who make you a cup of tea on arrival and are always happy to help, sets the right mood for the place, and travellers chill out and chat on the top floor common area.
The hostel security is excellent, you cannot get into the place without saying hello into a door microphone. It is a place for those who fancy a work out on the ol legs, the reception being on the 4th floor of a narrow tall building
(with no lift). They do have rooms on every floor of the building though so if you have a slightly gammy leg you could request one nearer the ground floor maybe. The dorm rooms are small and there is not much room to store bags, but I have certainly known a lot worse.
I have also stayed in the YHA near Union Square which was nice but rather sterile, and the Central hotel and hostel which was simply appaling...and Pacific Tradewinds would be my hostel of choice for every future visit to San Fran.

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