In a city known its fancy hotel hospitality, recent accolades were handed out not to any of the spa-studded, four-star monoliths but the residential-style red building on a quiet street in one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods.
Point Loma Hostel was recently voted Friendliest in the World by 12,000 customers in the International Federation of Youth Hostels (IYHF). With a score of 93 percent, the hostel was tied for first place with a sister facility in Nimes, France.
Comfort and affordability are hallmarks of the Point Loma Hostel, tucked in the mixed-use neighborhood on Voltaire Street west of Loma Portal and east of Ocean Beach. The neighborhood’s easily accessible and well-maintained amenities “” public library, mass transportation, abundant grocery shopping, banking, beach and nature “”provide a “When in Rome” experience that beckons every imaginable type of traveler, from individuals to Girl Scout troops to writers groups.
Aside from its red-colored exterior paint, the porch sign of a blue triangle, tree and hut that are the trademark of Hostelling International, the hostel is pretty much like any other home in the neighborhood. It boasts a kitchen, dining room, library/TV room and patio on the ground floor, with bedrooms and shared bathrooms upstairs.
“The hostel is a family-friendly, quiet, cozy, relaxing home away from home,” said general manager Jenny Wise.
The 16 bedrooms range from private bunkrooms to “doubles” ” rooms with two bunk beds ” to eight-person dorm rooms. Hostel rates range from $20 to $52 a night but even less for IYHF members. Compare this with the average daily room rate in San Diego County that ranges from $140 to more than $200 a night in the more tony neighborhoods like La Jolla. There are 54,851 rooms in 454 hotels throughout the county, according to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In the newly remodeled industrial-size kitchen of Point Loma Hostel, guests ” 60 percent Americans and 40 percent internationals ” can enjoy complimentary make-your-own pancake breakfasts in the morning. Pitchers of batter, chocolate chips and butter are set out, or travelers can bring their own food to cook in the kitchen. Dinner is offered on weekends. Friday night is barbecue night at the hostel, with all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers. Saturday is pasta night. Both dinners are just $3 per person.
The oversize dining room table doubles as a workspace and place to hang out. One recent evening, the table was bustling with the chatter of a writers group pecking away on laptops. Michael Neff of Virginia brought the Algonkian Writers Conference to the hostel because, he said, “I heard it was a great place to stay and it had everything we needed for our group of 15 writers.”
In keeping with its honor as Friendliest in the World, the hostel has rules. The maximum stay is 14 days and there’s no smoking, alcohol or drugs. Quiet hours are observed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Wise, who says “it’s best to blend into the neighborhood,” tried hosting concerts on the patio but moved indoors when neighbors complained about noise.
Hostelling International USA is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1934 to promote international understanding of the world through hostelling. HI-USA is part of the Hostelling International network, which offers more than 4,000 hostels in over 60 countries.
While residents are welcomed at area hotels and at the hostel in Nimes, there’s no room at the inn in Point Loma in the same sense. A strict no-locals rule keeps rooms available for out-of-towners. For more information, visit www.san-diegohostels.org or www.hihos-tels.com.”,Sign-up for the 5k walk or jog event starts at 7:15 a.m. at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay Park
