Have questions? Here are the answers to some of the most common inquiries we get. If you can't find the answer to your question here, then don't hesitate to contact us.
Hollywood FAQs
Las Vegas FAQs
San Diego FAQs
San Francisco FAQs
- What is a hostel anyway?
- Why do you have such strict check-in requirements?
- Do you allow children staying with parents at the hostels?
- Do your prices include taxes and breakfast?
- Do I need a membership to stay at your hostels?
- Is there somewhere secure I can charge up my laptop/camera/cell phone?
- Do you give student discounts?
- Do I have to bring my sleeping bag?
- What is your cancellation policy?
Q: What is a hostel anyway?
A: Traditionally, hostels offer affordable accommodations for people traveling internationally on a tight budget. Accommodation is usually in dorm rooms, which may have a bath in the room or down the hall. While hostels are a cheaper alternative to hotels that’s not the only reason travelers, especially young travelers, have been using them for years.
Hostelling is a great way to meet other travellers and learn about the places you’re visiting from people who have already been there. Beyond that, as hostels are becoming more popular, they are varying more and more. At USA Hostels we have both dorm and private rooms, include bed linens and daily pancake breakfast in the cost of your stay, and do not have curfews. For more specifics about hostelling with us, keep reading!
Q: Why do you have such strict check-in requirements?
A: We run our hostels in order to serve international, budget-conscious travelers. We require an international passport or out-of-state college ID to ensure that we are, in fact, serving this group.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate in-state residents, or relocaters, because we know they have many other accommodation options. That said, if we were about following all of the rules all of the time, we wouldn’t be working at a hostel. If you feel like you actually fit into our target group even though you don’t have the required check-in documents, please contact us and we’ll see if we can make an exception.
Q: Do you allow children staying with parents at the hostels?
A: We do not allow anyone under the age of 16, whether or not accompanied by an adult, to stay in dorm rooms. If you are traveling with a child under the age of 16, have extensive hosteling experience and are specifically interested in staying in a hostel, please contact the hostel manager about the possibility of staying in a private room. However, please be aware that the hostels are probably an inappropriate environment for very young children.
Q: Do your prices include taxes and breakfast?
A: Yes! Our prices include all taxes, all-you-can-make pancakes every morning and coffee and tea all day.
Q: Do I need a membership to stay at your hostels?
A: No membership is required to stay at our hostels.
Q: Is there somewhere secure I can charge up my laptop/camera/cell phone?
A: Yes! We have installed power points inside our guest lockers in our San Diego, Hollywood and San Francisco locations. As long as you lock up your locker, your electronics should be secure.
Q: Do you give student discounts?
A: If you stay in a dorm, you can get $1 off per night if you have one of the following cards: ISIC, IYTC, VIP, BUNAC, Nomads or a Gap Year MasterCard. Sorry, we can’t give discounts on private rooms.
Q: Do I have to bring my sleeping bag?
A: No! We provide linens, a blankets and a pillow and have bath towels available upon request. We actually do not allow sleeping bags in the rooms.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Cancellations must be made before 6:00 p.m. the day prior to your day of arrival. If you do not show up for your reservation, or cancel after this time your credit card will be charged for each bed or private room reserved for the first night of your booking.
