Usa Hostels, great backpacking hostels in Hollywoord, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas
USA Hostels will celebrate its 15th anniversary in April of 2009. Originally started in 1994 as the Grand Pacific Hostel in San Diego’s then redeveloping Gaslamp Quarter, the company has since grown to include locations in Hollywood, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Each of the USA Hostels is run for travelers, by travelers. Guests can expect to find friendly, helpful international staff who understand the ins and outs of traveling in the USA.
Known as the ‘party’ hostel, their Hollywood location is always busy. Activities abound including Beverly Hills, Hollywood Sign and Runyon Canyon walking tours, free Open Mike Nights and free Comedy Nights featuring comedians who have appeared on 30 Rock, Punk’d and Last Comic Standing. The hostel is also located next door to Opera Nightclub and walking distance to Le Dux, Mood and Cress nightclubs all of which were featured on “Gossip Girl” and “The Hills’ TV shows. A little-known but popular locals’ dive bar called The Powerhouse is a great location for spotting stars trying to be incognito.
Besides its central location and tons of activities, backpackers looking for a deal stay at this hostel because the airport shuttle is free with a 2 day stay and the hostel provides a free shuttle to Venice and Santa Monica beaches three days per week.
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USA Hostels San Diego location is a staff favorite not only because it’s the company’s first hostel, but because it’s the coziest at only 100 beds. This former brothel is rumored to be both a haunt of Wyatt Earp back in the Wild West days and actually haunted with guests reporting mysterious breezes and sounds. Recently refurbished, it boasts a Mexican hacienda feel, but also still sports wild artwork painted by guests over the years.
A favorite activity of guests here is to join the weekly Tijuana tour to pick up fun souvenirs and lots of drinks! San Diego can easily be done on the cheap for backpackers on a budget thanks to $2 Taco Tuesdays (also with $2 margaritas!) at a favorite local watering hole, Wednesday pub crawls and Friday happy hours tours. The local museums also have free Tuesday admission and the hostel sells discounted tickets to Sea World and the world famous San Diego Zoo.
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USA Hostels’ first affiliated hostel is located on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The home of the original casinos in Vegas, “Old Town’ still offers lots of deals for the frugal traveler ranging from budget priced but gourmet-laden buffets to the cheapest gambling in town.
Las Vegas is a great base for trips to the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and other national parks and the hostel offers discounted trips to these and lots of other locations. The staff also runs a weekly limo tour of The Strip and lots of on and off-site activities. But perhaps the favorite thing for guests to do is lounge around the hostel’s pool and soak in the hot tub while enjoying a poolside barbeque.
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USA Hostels’ ‘crown jewel’ is also their newest hostel which was relocated from two smaller buildings into one large facility at the end of 2006. In the two years hence the hostel has been renovated from top to bottom. Flashpackers enjoy the all new furnishings, mattresses, and décor not to mention the newly opened 50-seat theatre, enlarged kitchen boasting 8 fully equipped cooking stations, large lounge with free billiards and foosball, newly opened library and intimate dorms of only 4-beds each. All the common baths were renovated with marble appointments and ‘green’ oriented low flow showers and toilets. 2009 will see all new baths installed into ensuite rooms. Backpackers and flashpackers wanting to get the most of their San Francisco trip should be sure to take Dylan’s City Tour. Hosted by a life-long local, Dylan takes his guests to all the most famous San Fran spots, the little known locals’ haunts and to Muir Woods to see the famous Redwood Trees. After getting a city overview, guests can then conquer the city by renting a bike and getting around like the environmentally conscious locals do.
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While each of the USA Hostels boasts it’s own look, vibe and activities, they all share some common features such as all-you-can-make pancakes every morning, free coffee and tea all day, free wireless internet, free laundry soap, towel hire, key card entry to rooms and, a great new security feature, power points in all lockers so guests can securely charge up their electronics.
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