8th and Ardmore

The manager sorted out my problem within minutes and replied fast. Rooms, toilets, and showers were clean, and the rooms were fine. It’s in quiet-looking Koreatown, which felt safe to me. Good value for the price.

The rooms were hot, the fridge smelled awful, lockers were too small and had no locks, and the restrooms were filthy with people's things left around. The whole place smelled like fried fish, so I covered my head to make sleeping less awful. There were no chairs in the room either. I stayed here twice, four years apart, and had the same terrible experience both times. No one in charge was on site, so the rules seemed to mean nothing. In a room with four other women, two who seemed related took over the shared bathroom and kept us waiting outside for almost an hour. They made noise and left the lights on after quiet hours. Why follow rules when the manager isn't even there? Terrible management. Never again.

The bathrooms have always been clean during my stays, and I’ve met a lot of nice people here, including friends I’ve stayed close with. Most roommates are friendly or at least keep to themselves, usually. It does get very noisy outside at night, though that’s hard to avoid in LA. This is my second stay, and it’s a good choice if you want to be in Ktown. I’d recommend it to visitors.

The people made the stay especially fun. Guests were friendly, there was always something going on, and I enjoyed the people I met. The rooms were very clean and had a social feel, while the whole hostel was clean and well maintained. The manager JG was kind and looked after everyone's needs. I also used the vending machine and driving service. It’s a handy vacation base, only a short drive from Hollywood. I had a great experience and would come back.