HI Las Vegas Tod Hostel (24th-29th March)

This hostel is a little gem right in-between the main strip and Old Downtown Las Vegas (just a few blocks from The Stratospher!) Its a great location for seeing all the sights and the staff are so friendly and helpful! The hostel even has its own swimming pool! I loved my stay at the Tod Hostel!

Location:

Some people complain on the website that the area the hostel is in feels unsafe, however I was travelling alone and I was completely fine. I walked to and from the bus stop late at night with no problem at all. I did have a few people ask me for money and there were a few drunk & homeless people around, but if you just walk on by them, they won't give you any hassle! Bob who works on the front desk of the hostel is also in charge of security and he is very eager to ensure you feel safe and comfortable during your stay so if you have any quires just go and see him!

The location is great, right in between the main strip and the old downtown part of Vegas. It is right on the bus line which runs up and down the strip 24 hours a day and costs $7 for 24 hours. It was nice to be a little bit away from the main area of the strip so you could escape from the insanity from time to time!

The Dorms:

The dorms were excellent! The rooms were 6 bed dorms and they were really spacious with a little kitchen area. The room had a fridge, lockers, a wardrobe and a bathroom. The beds were comfortable and you even receive a little bar of soap and bottle of shampoo on your bed when you arrive, which I thought was a really nice little touch and something you don't normally see in hostels! The rooms were clean and well maintained and there was a heater/cooler so you could control the temperature in the room.

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served daily from 9am-11am. Go and order one of Shelbi's amazing pancakes! Her pancakes are famous and she has even got a newspaper cutting framed and hanging in the kitchen, rating her pancakes the best in Vegas! The breakfast alternates from day to day, but you can have cereal, toast, fruit cocktail, pancakes, tea, coffee and juice.

Hostel Amenities:

Free Wifi, Laundry, 24 hour reception, free breakfast, kitchen, communal area, swimming pool!!!

Las Vegas!

Las Vegas is insane! Its an amazing place with a lot to see and do, but I was there for 5 nights and by the end of those 5 nights I was definitely ready to move on! I was a little unsure before I even arrived in Vegas if it would be somewhere I would like, especially travelling alone, but when I arrived I was overwhelmed with the amount of things to see and do! It was a fascinating place and it is definitely worth the visit! Hold on to your money though as everything revolves around spending in this place!

Go and see a Show:

If you are in Vegas, you have to go and see a show! I chose to see Cirque Du Soleil 'LOVE' which is a show based on The Beatles. I knew I wanted to see Cirque Du Soleil as I saw them last year in Toronto and loved them so much! I also love The Beatles, so it was a perfect combination - Acrobatics and The Beatles, what more could you want?! It was AMAZING and I actually considered going to see it again or to see another Cirque Du Soeil show (they have about 4 or 5 running in Vegas) but I was keeping a close eye on my budget! I went to buy my tickets the day of the show and I got a 40% discount at the Mirage hotel box office. I paid around $95 for the mid range seats and I couldn't have asked for a better view! I think the mid seats are actually in a better position than the seats right at the front of the stage as you are slightly elevated. If you ever have the chance to see Cirque Du Soleil I would highly recommend it! Not only will the performers amaze you, but so will the set, stage, and props!

I also went to see Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic show. I picked up a flyer for a free ticket at the hostel and took it to the box office at the Flamingo. They didn't have any free tickets left for the show but they offered me an upgraded ticket (from the free balcony seat to a seat on the main floor) for $10. I took the offer and it was well worth it! Nathan Burton was on America's Got Talent and has since gone on to have his own show. It was an afternoon family friendly show, with light hearted comedy and magic, but still it was a great atmosphere and it was great to see another show at such a low price!

The shows can be pretty pricey but try buying your tickets on the day of the show and ask if they can offer you a discount. Also you can try looking at Tix 4 Tonight where they have discounted tickets for same day shows (they also have discounts on restaurants.) Also keep your eye out for free shows and if you do buy tickets to see a show this could possibly get you cheaper entrance into other shows.

Walk Along The Strip:

Walk along the strip and take in the insane world of Vegas! From erupting volcanos and spectacular fountain shows to show girls and drunken nintendo characters - all whilst drinking a margarita from a yard glass - your eyes won't get board!

A few things to look out for along the strip:

• The erupting Volcano at The Mirage - Erupts every hour, on the hour between 6pm-11pm.
• The Fountain Show at the Bellagio - Every 1/2 hour in the afternoons and every 15 minutes between 7pm-midnight.
• The Statue of Liberty, skyscrapers and a roller coaster at New York New York.
• The Eiffel Tower at Paris hotel.
• Magic Shows at Circus Circus - Free entry.
• The scary Thrill Rides, observation deck and sky bar at the Top of the Stratosphere.
• The gigantic Sphinx outside the Luxor
• 'Drunken' cartoon characters!

Explore the Casinos & Hotels:

Spend some time walking along the strip weaving your way in and out of the hotels and Casinos. You will be amazed at the things you will see inside these places and how much money has been spent! My favourite thing I came across was the Spring garden in the Bellagio, which was a Netherlands themed garden inside a huge conservatory. The room was filled with tulips and poppies and smelt amazing! It also had beautiful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, a huge pair of wooden clogs, a turning carrousel and a windmill! There are lots of free attractions to see inside the hotels and there are also exhibits you will have to pay to see!

As well as the beautiful and amazing sights to see, there is of course the casinos, full of slot machines and gambling tables! If you are in Vegas, you will probably gamble at some point, so good luck! Try not to get too sucked in though, you see people drinking, smoking and gambling at 10am staring blankly at the slot machines, hitting buttons and they look like zombies!

The hotels are also full of expensive shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. They are like villages built within the walls of the hotels!

A word of warning - the hotels are like mazes, built to keep you inside and spending money, so try not to get lost and keep track of time!

Visit Old Downtown Las Vegas:

A must is to go and spend an evening at Fremont street in Old Downtown Las Vegas. You will be amazed by the lights and entertained by the street acts! You can even zipline from one end of the street to the other for around $20!

Take a trip to The Grand Canyon:

Get out of Vegas for the day and go and visit The Grand Canyon, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world! I took a tour with Sweetours, which I arranged at the front desk at the hostel. The tour cost me $120 and was well worth every penny! I was picked up at 6am and given a breakfast of a pastry, a banana, a cereal bar and an orange juice. We were then driven to Hoover Dam, with a guided tour and lots of information from our driver along the way (although I slept through most of it!) We had 15-20 minutes at Hoover Dam to look around, take photos and have a quick rest break. On we went stopping twice more along the way, one of which was at a small gift shop on route 66 where you could take photos or buy souvenirs. The drive is very long so it was nice to have these breaks along the way and we were also given a lunch box containing a very nice deli sandwich, a bag of chips/crisps and a cookie. Bottled water was also provided as much as needed throughout the day. We finally arrived at the Grand Canyon, south rim, at around 1.30pm and driving in through the gate we saw a heard of Elk! We had 2 choices, either to be dropped at Mather Point where it is a 2.5 mile walk to the pick up point at Bright Angel Village, or to be dropped at the pick up point and to explore from there. I decided to walk the trail from Mather Point to the Village and I would definitely recommend it! The views are amazing and breathtaking, its hard to describe and I think its something you need to see for yourself! It takes between 1.5 - 2 hours to walk the trail, depending on how often you stop to take photos! Its an easy walk with a flat pathway and you are given 3 hours free time so plenty of time to do it. At the end of the trail, there are lots of places to buy food, snacks, drinks and souvenirs before boarding the coach. The journey home is a long one! There is one stop on the way where you can buy some food if you would like to. I didn't get home till about 11.30pm as my hostel was the last drop so it was a very long day, but well worth it!

The Food:

Well I don't think I have ever abused my body as much as I did the 5 days I spent in Vegas! The food is mostly junk food, from pancakes and cheesecake for breakfast to pizza and sandwiches for lunch to burgers and burritos for dinner, and thats without mentioning the mammoth sized margaritas and endless amounts of drinking! I left Vegas craving fresh fruit and water!

One place I would recommend visiting is The Cheesecake Factory in Caesars Palace. I haven't actually eaten from their food menu, but their cheesecake is amazing! (I have heard their food is good too but I have no idea how anyone could eat a meal AND a slice of cheesecake!?!)

Hostelling International Santa Monica (19th-24th March)

The Santa Monica Hostel is in a perfect location and has an amazing atmosphere which is chilled out and relaxed in the day and party time in the evening. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the hostel is clean, relaxing and comfortable...AND its only a 2 minute walk to the beach!

Location:

The location of this hostel is perfect, in the heart of Santa Monica and only a 2 minute walk to the beach and Santa Monica Pier. Just around the corner you will find 3rd Street Promenade full of shops, bars and restaurants. On Main street, just a few minutes walk away you will find the farmers market, full of fresh and local food! It is also close to the main bus lines so it is very easy to get around and see the sights from here and also convenient to get to LAX airport using public transport. There is also a tourist information centre attached to the hostel where you can get discounted sight seeing tours and all the information you need for your stay.

The Dorms:

I spent the first 2 nights of my stay in a 4 bed female dorm. The dorms are simple but well kept, clean and comfortable (everything you want/need in a hostel!) You have an assigned bed and locker in the room and you also get your own personal little shelf with your bed which is a nice touch. There are plug sockets dotted around the room and a mirror. Washrooms are communal, just down the hall, and are clean with plenty of showers, toilets, sinks and mirror space to share round!

Private Room:

For the last 3 nights of my stay I was in a private room. It was spacious, comfortable and relaxing. I had a big comfy double bed, a table and chair, space to hang my clothes and a TV (luxury!) It was nice to have some space to myself again and I really liked this room. Again the washrooms were communal.

Activities & Events:

There are activities and events everyday of the week, from tours of the local areas, pub crawls, comedy night, museum tours to all you can eat pasta/burger/mac & cheese nights. Its a great way to meet other guests and gives the hostel a fun and exciting atmosphere.

Breakfast:

Breakfast was served daily from 7-10 and included toast and bagels with your choice of topping, cereal, sliced peaches, yoghurt, fruit juice, tea and coffee. It was always busy at breakfast and with large tables its a good time to meet other guests and talk about your travels.

Hostel Amenities:

Laundry, wifi, 24 hour reception, activities & events, outdoor court yard with tables and chairs, lounge areas with sofas, free breakfast, kitchen.

Some of the facilities were closed during my stay due to maintenance work but the hostel also has a TV area & computer facilities.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles:

Los Angeles is a beautiful and vibrant place with lots of interesting areas, and of course many famous places to visit! It is a very big, very spread out city so be prepared for long bus rides and transferring between buses to make your way around!

Santa Monica:

Santa Monica was a great place to stay, its right by the beach and is a really lively area with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. Maybe it was because I was staying in the area, but it was my favourite part of LA. I really liked the 3rd street promenade and the farmers market, where you can buy fresh fruit and veg as well as yummy cakes and pies! The Santa Monica Pier is very touristy but really nice to have a walk along and you can take a ride on the famous carousel or ferris wheel. The beaches are a great place to chill out in the day and there is a cycle path all the way along the beach front so you can hire bicycles or roller-skates and take in the views as you explore! The Cirque Du Soleil were here during my stay and their big top was very impressive next to the pier!

Cycle to Venice Beach:

Hire a bicycle for the day and take a ride along the cycle path that follows the beach front all the way to Venice beach. It only takes about 20-30 minutes in total and is a very flat easy cycle. You will see the famous muscle beach, surfers and skate parks along your way! Venice beach is a really interesting area with lots of interesting characters to watch out for! You can take a stroll along the promenade and look at the trinket stalls, graffiti and take in the interesting people you will come across! There are plenty of cafes you can relax in or pack a picnic and spend your day on the beach watching the surfers! There are a lot of homeless people in this area and you will be hassled to hand over your pennies, so be prepared for that! And if you are hiring a bike, make sure you have got a lock to keep it safe whilst you relax on the beach. You can also cycle in the opposite direction from Venice beach, along Santa Monica beach and this will bring you to a much quieter part of the beach.

Visit Hollywood:

It's a must when visiting LA, however a little disappointing in my eyes... I had imagined a huge and glamourous place, when in reality its a very small area full of tourist attractions and people dressed up in (not very convincing) outfits of superheroes and movie stars asking for money in return for a photograph! However, its part of the fun I guess and I would recommend going to see the Chinese Theatre, the hand prints and the walk of fame. You can also see the Hollywood sign from the Hollywood Highland Centre, however it is from a distance! There are some museums, like Madame Tussauds and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, so if you are interested in that kind of thing you could explore these!

Do A Tour:

A good way to fit in all the sights is to do a bus tour. There are lots of tour companies selling different types of tours. I did a City Tour of LA which included Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Stars Homes, Hollywood, Sunset strip, Rodeo Drive and Bel Air. The company I used was Los Angeles Sightseeing and you get a discount if you are staying at the Santa Monica HI Hostel!

Shopping in Melrose:

I spent a day shopping in Melrose, which is where you will find lots of vintage shops, boutiques and independent shops and cafes. I got there about 11am and it was very quiet. It is definitely an afternoon place and many of the shops won't open till 12 noon. Once the shops open up its a lively and interesting area to explore! To get there I took the 704 bus from Santa Monica & Ocean to Santa Monica and Fairfax. I then walked south down Fairfax to Melrose. At Melrose take a left and walk a few blocks along to reach the start of the shopping area.

Food:

One place I have to recommend is Musha, which is at Wilshire and 5th, Santa Monica. I was introduced to this place by a local guy I met on the airport shuttle on my way into Santa Monica and it was definitely worth the visit! The food is amazing and its very reasonably priced. Also you can sit at the bar and watch them prepare the sushi, which is especially nice if you are dining alone! I would recommend trying the Kakuni (4 hour pork served with potato and egg) and the lobster roll. I also tried the tempura shrimp which was also excellent! They also have nice little touches like bringing a segmented orange with your bill and giving you a home wrapped pack of sweets when you leave.

HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel (16th-19th March)

The Downtown hostel is modern, clean and in a brilliant location! The atmosphere is fun and welcoming and the staff are excellent. I love this hostel!

Location:

The location of this hostel is excellent. It is right in the heart of downtown and easy walking distance from the shopping areas, China Town, bars, restaurants and clubs, the cable car stop and all public transport. Although it is in central downtown I didn't find the hostel noisy at all and I felt very safe. I found the hostel to be a very comfortable and relaxing place with lots of chill out areas, like the lounge on the 2nd floor and the movie room on the 4th floor. There are lots of bars and restaurants in the local area and just round the corner you will find the main shopping area, Union Square.

The Room:

I was lucky enough to stay in a lovely private room during my stay here at the Downtown Hostel. It was a blessing after sleeping in dorms since January! The bed was amazingly comfortable and the room also had its own sink and wardrobe so I made myself at home. I think I could have slept forever in this room, I didn't want to leave!

Activities and Events:

There are activities and events being run almost everyday at the hostel and are organized by the activities coordinator Jesse James. The events include pub crawls, cheese and wine tasting, walking tours, bike rides, movie nights and free pizza! Jesse is a lot of fun and a great person to be running the events! Sign up for the events at the front desk and go and meet fellow travellers!

Breakfast:

The breakfast is served daily from 7-10 and includes fresh bagels & toast with your choice of topping, fruit, tea and coffee. The dining area is a very social place and you will share tables with other guests so it's a great time to meet others and share your travel stories and gather tips and ideas!

Hostel Amenities:

Events, free breakfast, wifi, kitchen, laundry, lounge, cinema room, computer room, 24 hour reception.

HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel (14th-16th March)

HI Fisherman's Wharf is a retreat away from the downtown city centre and my favourite thing about it is the stunning location. Walk just outside the front door and you are in Fort Mason, a national park with views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge! The atmosphere at the hostel is very friendly and relaxed and the front desk staff were very helpful with lots of tips and information!

Location:

If you are looking to get out of the downtown city centre, away from the noise of the city, then this is the place for you! The area is very quiet and peaceful and you feel miles away from the city, however it is actually very accessible! Fisherman's Wharf is just a short walk away and you can walk down to pier 39 and the Alcatraz dock within about 30 minutes. The walk along the Wharf is really nice with beautiful views of the bay. You can also catch a bus into the downtown area very easily. The feel of this location is very 'outdoorsy' and almost feels like you are camping in an cabin!

The Dorms:

I stayed in an 8 bed female dorm and it was great. The dorms are very simple with wooden bunks and a locker for each bed. There are plug sockets dotted around the room and the windows are large and can be opened up to let the fresh air in. There are not individual reading lights with each bunk but you can request a torch from the front desk if you need one! Again it gave me the feeling of camping out in a cabin. The rooms were clean and tidy and the beds were comfortable. The washrooms are communal and were kept clean.

Activities & Events:

There are activities and events at the hostel almost everyday that are organized by the Activities coordinator Erinne. These range from bike rides and walking tours to free pizza night, $3 pasta night and pub crawls. During my stay I joined the $3 pasta night and the pub crawl which were both lots of fun and a great way to meet other travellers! It is also a bonus that the 3 HI hostels in San Francisco all meet together for 1 big pub crawl so you will get to meet lots of people who are staying at the other hostels too!

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served every morning in Cafe Franco and includes a bagel or 2 waffles with your choice of topping, coffee, tea and fruit juice. Breakfast is eaten around a long table and its a great time to sit and talk with other guests at the hostel!

Hostel Amenities:

Large guest kitchen, cinema room, free wifi, communal washrooms, large lounge area with comfy sofas, fire place & park views, free breakfast, computer room, laundry, 24 hour reception.

San Francisco

I am just coming to the end of my 5 days in San Francisco and boy have I crammed in a lot! I flew in from sunshine, blue sea and white sand to rain, wind and fog...but that didn't put a dampener on my time here! I crammed a lot into my 5 days and managed to see and do almost everything I wanted to do. The only thing I didn't manage to squeeze in was a ride on the cable car, as the day I went the line up was crazy so I decided to pass. Here are some of the things I got upto:

Alcatraz:

I would definitely recommend a trip to Alcatraz and my advice would be to book your ticket online in advance. The trip is very popular and can sell out quickly. The tour costs $26 for an adult and includes an audio tour once you are inside the jailhouse. It also includes a short documentary film and the ferry there and back, so I think this is very good value. The audio tour is really interesting and you hear stories from inmates and wardens who were at alcatraz during its time as a federal prison. You hear stories about 'famous' inmates such as Al Capone and also of the escapes from Alcatraz. I spent about 2 hours on the Island in total, however you can spend as much or as little time as you want exploring the Island and Jailhouse.

Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39:

Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 are very touristy areas full of chain restaurants and novelty shops, however I think its worth a visit. The walk along the wharf is really nice, especially if you head up to Fort Mason (which is away from the touristy stuff.) Go and see the Sealions at pier 39!

Bike The Bridge:

A must do is to cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge to Saulsolito! This was my favourite day of my stay here in San Francisco! It was the first day the sun was shining since I arrived and it was the perfect day to cycle over the bridge. I rented my bike with Blazing Saddles who have a deal with the Hostelling International Downtown hostel. It was $18 for the day and included the bike, a helmet and a lock. I paid an additional $4 to insure the bike for any accidental damage and I also bought my ferry ticket back from Saulsolito for about $10. The bike ride was amazing, and the views all the way from start to finish were incredible. I was also lucky enough to spot a couple of Dolphins as I was crossing the bridge!

Have Lunch in China Town:

Go and explore China Town and eat Dim Sum. Its yummy and its ridiculously cheap! I found a place serving Dim Sum off the main street which was full of locals, rather than the touristy places on the main street. It cost me about $2 for a BBQ pork bun, a Chicken bun and a green onion flat bread. It was delicious and a gigantic portion that was big enough for 2!

Vintage Shopping in The Mission & Haight Ashbury:

I am a self confessed dress addict, shopaholic and lover of vintage & thrift shops! The shopping in San Francisco was amazing and I spent a whole day hunting down quirky stores and thrift shops in The Mission & Haight Ashbury districts. Firstly I went to The Mission where I stared at Mission and 16th and walked up to Mission and 24th. I then crossed over to Valencia St and walked down to Valencia & 16th. You can then catch the 22 bus on 16th to Haight st and transfer to the 71 bus which will take you along Haight to Masonic Ave. From there walk down Haight St and check out all the amazing shops along the way. I found that the Mission was a lot cheaper thrift stores whereas Haight Ashbury was more vintage shops which had selected more specific items and were more pricey. There are also a lot of really nice boutiques in the Haight Ashbury area! Shopaholics hide your credit cards because San Francisco's shops are waiting for ya!

A small selection of shops to check out:

-Thrift Town: 2101 Mission St.

-Mission Thrift: 2330 Mission St.

-Painted Bird: 1360 Valencia St.

-Community Thrift Store: 623 Valencia St.

-Buffalo Exchange: 1210 Valencia St. & 1555 Haight St.

-Ambiance: 1458 Haight St. at Masonic

The Food:

Eat Mexican in The Misson! Everyone I spoke to told me to try a Burrito when I was in The Mission so I did! I stumbled upon a great find and ended up in a little place called Taqueria Cancun (2288 Mission St.) When I went into the restaurant there was only a small line up at the counter, but by the time I left the line up was out the door! And if the mountain of chopped onions was anything to go by, this place is popular! I ordered the 'Super Burrito' and a diet coke. I was given the biggest burrito I think I have ever seen, a plate of Chips and dip and my diet coke, all for under $10...trust me if there are 2 of you, SHARE!!! The burrito was so good, it was full to the brim with chicken, avocado, rice, beans, sour cream, salsa and cilantro (coriander.) When I was eating I over heard someone in the line up saying "This place does the best burrito in the city!" I think they were telling the truth...Go get a Super Burrito!

Try the sourdough bread bowl with clam chowder at Boudin! Also another stumbled upon find, I ended up in Boudin at Pier 39 (there are lots of them all over the city) and ordered the clam chowder in the sourdough bread bowl. Since then I have been craving the sourdough every single day! You can also get it filled with Chili, Chicken Pot Pie and some other soups.