Venice Beach Cotel

Ian was so welcoming, especially since I had just gotten off a long-haul flight. The staff were super friendly, which I always appreciate. The hostel's northern location is a 20-minute walk from the beach. I've stayed in lots of hostels for $30 per night, apparently their lowest rate of the year, and expected a bit more. It needs some investment and tidying up. The single, very cranky beds were left in the middle of the room, and the mattresses were too soft with scratchy bedding. I didn't sleep well.

There was a club attached to the hostel, and it could get VERY loud. After I switched hostels, my friends who stayed there told me there'd been a shooting nearby, so I wouldn't recommend going out alone. My room had no A/C or windows to the outside, and I didn't feel comfortable sleeping there. I told the front desk lady, the manager, and asked about it. Rather than show any empathy or kindness, she went to the room to ask everyone else if they were fine. They said yes, but I wasn't, and she showed no consideration for my situation. The hostel was fully booked, so I was lucky to switch elsewhere. For me, the rooms and customer service were terrible, and the location felt sketchy. If you care about service or room quality, this isn't the place for you. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this was unacceptable and I can't recommend it. I switched to HI Santa Monica, which was 100X better. Hope this helps you choose where to stay.

The location is perfect if you want to explore Venice and Santa Monica. The hostel is right by the famous VENICE SIGN, one block, just a few steps, from the beach and Venice boardwalk. There you can find the local market, local artisans, the famous skate park, the Public Art academy "Arnold Schwarzenegger", events, and more. A few blocks away are Main Street and Rose Ave, with lots of bars, restaurants, breakfast spots, and happy hour places with more affordable beer and drinks. On the other side are the Venice Canal and Venice pier. Santa Mônica is just a few minutes from Park Pier Santa Mônica, and you can get there by bike, scooter, or a nice walk along the boardwalk. Venice Sign is a dead-end street that ends at the promenade. In summer it's busy during the day, and on weekends it's very noisy at night, so be prepared, you're in VENICE BEACH! Enjoy it and don't be blah blah. I stayed more than 10 days in a female shared room, so keep that in mind. The room was large, and I was comfortable with the 2 large suitcases I'd bought. It was cleaned every day, and the cleaners were extremely polite and friendly. I felt safe throughout my stay of more than 10 days. I even left my bags open without a padlock and everything was fine. The other travelers coming and going were incredible and had lots of stories. The street noise got a little annoying one or two nights, but everything closes at 2am. If that doesn't work for you, this might not be the place. Like about 80% of the buildings and houses in the area, the building is old and fairly well maintained, but hasn't had major renovations. It's rustic and reminds me of the area's diversity. Breakfast is simple, so don't expect much, but coffee and tea are always available. The kitchen is kept clean and organized, and the cleaners wash the floor and utensils every night. Yoshi was lovely and kind throughout my stay. I didn't speak English very well, but he made an effort to help me. Cory and all the employees were kind and helpful too. We had a problem when one of the girls clogged the bathroom sink, and it was fixed quickly. My only negative was that I couldn't understand why I couldn't stay longer, though I understand these are city-wide rules. All in all, it was a good experience, and I hope to come back soon. A hug and thanks to everyone who made the stay pleasant and peaceful.

Back in 2004, the old man watching the surveillance cameras handed me the key to my private room because I had internet access there. He did it without asking. Apart from that, it was a great stay. A Black guy in a leather jacket and chains gave me a ride to the airport, chain-smoking the whole way and introducing me to Journey, the band.