Hostel Habibi

The restaurants, bars, and grocery stores are all an easy walk away, which is unusual in car-heavy San Diego, and the price is hard to beat. I’ve been staying here one or two nights a week for a few weeks. It’s clean, and the staff are consistently friendly and helpful, even at a midnight check-in. I’ve only used private rooms and have no complaints. It can get a bit loud sometimes, as you’d expect in a hostel. Ask for a room by the terrace; the extra few bucks are well worth it.

The area is great, but a single bed costs far too much for what you get. The rooms felt scary to sleep in and were really dirty. The sheets were stained and had cigarette burn holes, and there was no hot water in the shower. Parking was nowhere to be found, even during the week. Every patio chair was broken, and one ripped a hole in my brand new pants. They kept my deposit even though I followed the checkout procedure. Don’t stay here unless these conditions are what you’re looking for.

For a hostel, it worked well for my business trip, and I’d return. It’s a good place to rest for a night without spending much, and it gives you a chance to chat and meet people from all walks of life. The hostel is in the heart of a great LGBT community with very friendly locals. Staff were friendly and good company for a chat or a trip to one of the local spots. It’s also well placed for dining and bars, all walkable, with many popular beaches less than 20 minutes away. One morning, a plumbing problem meant I couldn’t shower after waking up, which is why I’d give it four stars instead of four. Parking costs extra unless you find a meter, a paid lot, or a spot a few blocks away. That wasn’t too inconvenient, but the cost should be mentioned. The kitchen opens onto the showers and bathrooms, so a large curtain or low wall would help with privacy. Thanks, Hostel Habibi, for some great memories!

DeSean welcomed us and looked after us during our stay. He was friendly, happy to accommodate requests, and suggested places to visit and hang out at night. He even gave us chocolate chip cookies, and they were pretty good. My sister and I stayed at Hostel Habibi after a cruise because I wanted to explore San Diego, where I’d never been. This was much better than the place we tried in Hollywood the week before. The room and most shared areas were clean, it was quiet, and I enjoyed the decor. Prices were reasonable, and they rent towels cheaply if you don’t have one. We’d stay again. I took off a star because the common TV room smelled bad, mostly of body odor.