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.