Culver City Hostel

BED BUGS! I was here for a few days on a business trip. At first it seemed okay, then on my last day I noticed bites that looked like mosquito bites. More kept appearing, and I found bed bugs in the room. I’m certain I got them here. Days after checking out, I’m still covered head to toe, including my face, in bites. It was almost midnight after three 12 hour days, and I was exhausted. The owner offered only a 50% refund. I asked to move rooms and for a full refund, since I’d have to spend hours cleaning clothes, miss work to sanitize everything, and might have to replace over $1,000 in belongings, including a new $300 backpack and new $300 suitcase. The kitchen was gross, with rat poop in the cabinets. They were also checking people into the room I’d been moved to as quickly as possible after I checked out, without first clearing it for bed bugs. The manager was nice, and apparently the ownership is very new, but I’ll dispute the charge and won’t stay again. It’s a shame, since the living room was nice, the location was good, and the place had potential.

This is a hostel, the kind that’s popular in Europe and Canada. You have your own room for privacy, plus access to a main room with all the needed conveniences. The rooms are clean but very modest, and it’s quiet at night, with a homey feel. Your bed is clean even though they use a regular washing machine. You can call the owner any time, day or night, if you need help. It’s great for travelers arriving early or late.

We’d seen some negative comments and were a little concerned, but the place turned out to be great. Our room, kitchen, and bathroom were all very clean. The housekeeping lady was friendly and glad to help, and we’d stay again. The only downside was that there’s no guest laundry. Parking is on the neighborhood blocks.

For the price, it’s not a bad place, and the cleanliness was about what I expected. You get what you pay for. Some rooms are missing windows, and in my room the lamp had no plug and there wasn’t an outlet in the wall for it. The bathroom had no toilet paper, and the room lock combinations aren’t changed between visits.