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HI-San Francisco Downtown (Union Square)

312 Mason Street, San Francisco, USA, Distance from city centre: 0.2km

Rating: 86% from 92 reviews

Real reviews from fellow travellers

These are trusted reviews from guests who have actually stayed here. We hope you find them helpful.

“ I have stayed in several international hostels, but this was my first US native hostel and I was very impressed with the staff and accommodations. Location was excellent and ideal for first timers traveling to San Fran. The hostel setting made it easy to meet others and come and go as you pleased. Definitely a place I would suggest to travelers of all ages and sorts. ”
89%
22 April 2013 Anonymous USA

“ All the free stuff here is cool, and the activities they organise are also a bonus, but theres not a lot of atmosphere. Probably because the place is so big. It felt more like a hotel to me.... ”
86%
19 March 2013 Anonymous Australia

“ Fourth time to SF and I lived in San Francisco International Hostel before. Accidentally, I booked this hostel and it really surprised me. Excellent location and convenient transportation! They enven provide white clean sheets and the room is really big. Anyway, I like this hostel very much and will choose to live there later. Highly recommend!! :) ”
97%
8 March 2013 Anonymous China

“ Every time I go to SF I stay there, it is the best place you can stay in in the city, right by union square and market, take the tram to get to fisherman's wharf and to castro, breakfast is good and the staff is great. Love it ”
100%
22 January 2013 Anonymous Mexico

“ The location of the hostel was good and facilities were clean. For the breakfast, bagels and fruits. no cereal. if you prefer quite room, not recommended. WiFi does not work very well and only few outlets available in the room. ”
60%
7 January 2013 Anonymous South Korea

“ Location is awesome. Hostel is just one block far from the union square, so really convenience to go anywhere in downtown. My bed was a little bit noisy, but overall condition of room was good. And the facilities are very nice and especially the kitchen was very impressed for me. If i have a one more chance to go San Francisco, I will choose Hi-San Francisco again. ”
89%
5 January 2013 Anonymous South Korea

“ Very good all round. Friendly staff who were able to answer my questions and the group activities were very fun. Only complaint was that the wifi signal was weak in the rooms. ”
100%
3 January 2013 Vince Australia

“ Excellent hostel, however while the location is central it is also one of the noisiest streets downtown, we had an average sleep of 2-3 hours per night. We were moved to a 'quieter' room by friendly staff, however there is not much more they can do when you're still on the main street near clubs and pubs. Therefore I wouldn't stay here again. ”
77%
26 December 2012 Anonymous

“ I really liked my stay in this hostel. The staff was very helpful, the atmosphere was very friendly and I loved the location. The hostel is in the center of the city for a reasonable price. I am going to recommend this hostel to my friends who are planing to visit SF. ”
91%
20 December 2012 Gulshan Azerbaijan

“ The bedroom situation was horrible. They squeezed two reg size bunkbeds in the tiny room for max 2 people normally. I was very surprised at HI for such a dirty trick. I was very, very unhappy about the bunkbeds. Ice cold water for showers in the am and no sinks outside of room. This stunk!! I have never been so dissatisfied with the accomodations in any other HI and even before here at the Union Sq HI, SF. Sorry HI. Alana W. ”
97%
20 December 2012 Alana USA

“ Thought it was a good hostel, very clean which is my biggest priority with a hostel. The one thing that was a little straining was the floor heater in our room wasn't adjustable so we woke up sweating quite often, there was a window too but not enough circulation to really do anything. The location was a little shady, in the Tenderloin which is the second poorest district in San Francisco, walking around at night was pretty nerve-wracking but just your wits about you :) ”
91%
12 December 2012 Anonymous USA

“ The Staff members are great! Steven, James and the best Marquita (sp). What a deal! I arrived Dec 8th and stayed till the 18th. I first had a private twin suite and it was great. After my traveling mate left, I transferred to a queen size private. Again great! The beds are great. Very Ikea! The kitchen was clean and the breakfast of bagels, coffee and fruit excellent. Wifi was ok on top floors. One recommendation, get and ice machine. That is my one and only negative. ”
100%
8 December 2012 Anonymous USA

“ This was a very good hostel. It was very affordable and offered cool activities. Security was excellent and all of the staff were quite friendly. I was very satisfied with my stay and will most definitely be staying here again. If you are looking for a place to stay during AGU this is an excellent choice. ”
100%
1 December 2012 Anonymous USA

“ Great experience, other than a loud snorer roommate (obviously not the hostel's fault!) I would definitely stay here again. One of the cleanest hostels I've ever stayed in. ”
86%
30 November 2012 Erika USA

“ Very helpful staff. We went on 2 free walks that we're excellent; very informative. Activities offered every day. Great way to make friends. Lent ”
89%
22 November 2012 Eilis Australia

“ The front-desk staff all seemed to hate their jobs and didn't mind showing it. They exhibited nothing but distain for guests, regardless of the specific interaction. They openly resented everyone who walked up, even if we waited silently and politely for them to call us forward. Without provocation, they would sneer that they had a lot to do in a fake-polite tone that made us feel we had to walk on egg-shells. Please hire folks who want to be there and don't hate people. The atmosphere was toxic ”
77%
17 November 2012 Rachel USA

“ Loved this hostel! Very clean, and the staff is helpful and fun. They have all sorts of free and cheap activities - like pizza night and wine tasting! The kitchen is awesome, large, clean, and with everything you could need. Free bagels, toast, cream cheese and fruit for breakfast. One downside is that since the area is full of hotels, the closest grocery/liquor stores are SUPER expensive rip offs. But if you're willing to take a walk (with beer and grocery bags) there are cheaper stores. ”
86%
15 November 2012 Anonymous USA

“ Everything was great ! This is a nice, quiet, and very clean hostel. I stayed here while attending a conference at the Hilton across the street, something I couldn't have done had I stayed at the party hostel just two blocks down. The complimentary breakfast was wonderful as was the complimentary coffee. The only downside was the lack of hot water for the showers regardless of the time of the shower - I'm all for conserving energy and all but a hot shower does not seem to be too much to ask. ”
91%
13 November 2012 Chantal Canada