Europa Hostel

You get what you pay for. The pictures say more than I can, so take a look at those. If you stay here, bring slippers, and good luck.

We got a very reasonable rate, and the place worked surprisingly well for what it is. It’s neither fancy nor spacious, but had what we needed, including a mini fridge and microwave. The small bathrooms, one of two on each floor, had recently been renovated and looked modern and tasteful. There was visible dust and plastic sheeting around walls and doorways from long term renovations. We stayed in a newly renovated private room, so I can’t speak to the older rooms or shared bunk rooms. Also, two homeless shelters are about a block and a half away, and people spend the day on the street there. Once you know which blocks to avoid, it’s easy to take another route to the trains and buses.

Carlos made the stay for me. He was understanding, kind, funny, and treated my boyfriend and me like family, making sure we had what we needed. I’ve moved around a lot since childhood and stay in hotels and motels constantly, so hospitality matters most to me. The place isn’t much to look at, and cleanliness could be better. Still, if all you need is somewhere to sleep while sightseeing, I don’t have much to complain about. Unless you’re just ungrateful and kind of suck.

The owner is so welcoming, helpful, nice, and always around when you need something. That, plus the very low San Francisco prices and a location within walking distance of so many places, is why I love this place and give it five stars despite the downsides. It’s a hostel, so it’s not very clean, and the bathroom and shower are shared at the end of the hall. Bring flip flops for the shower. They provided a hair dryer.