Peter Stack, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, January 4, 2001
©2001 San Francisco Chronicle
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From the wind-battered lighthouse at Pigeon Point, you can see 18 miles out to sea until the earth's curvature blocks the view. Gnashing waves thunder onto the rocks below, and low tide exposes the secrets of plants and stranded sea life among the crags and crystalline pools.
people. Most stay in dormitory rooms -- one for men, one for women -- but Pigeon Point has treasures that even veteran hostelers don't know about. They offer a few private rooms for couples and family rooms for parents with small children.
The other lure of Pigeon Point is that it's one of the few hostels anywhere with a hot tub. Perched at the end of the point, with waves crashing below and the lighthouse beaming above, it's one of the choicest spots anywhere to enjoy a hot tub.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ROOMIES
Experienced travelers know the tricks to successful stays at youth hostels. One is to keep an open mind.
"At first people might be reticent about sleeping with strangers in a dorm room," said Pigeon Point hostel manager Heather Grate. "But they quickly find they're among friends, learning about other cultures, getting a feeling of sharing that almost always becomes the most exciting part about staying in a hostel."
Even children can stay in the dorms, if a private room isn't available. Male guests stay with men, female guests with women (the latter usually have an in-suite bathroom, while the guys might have to walk down the hall).
There's another peculiarity about youth hostels -- they're almost always closed between about 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. That's because the schoolteacher in industrial Germany who helped found the hostel movement planned that visitors would spend the day outside. The hostel was only for meal preparation and sleeping.
Hostels have fully equipped kitchens where visitors bring their own food to make their meals. Cooking often turns out to be one of the great joys at hostels, a chance for camaraderie.
Accommodations are spartan in some hostels, but visitors rarely mind. There's always social interaction, games and books available. Forget TV, smoking and alcohol.
Most hostels require patrons to put clean sheets on the bed -- bring your own or rent them from the manager ($1 per sheet). Sleeping bags are OK as an alternative.
Persistence, but not pestiness, pays when it comes to booking. The best way is to call a hostel directly. Credit cards are acceptable.
Most U.S. hostels are linked by a telephone reservation system: (800) 909- 4776. If travel and hosteling are in your future, it's best to buy a $25 membership in Hostelling International. The saving is $3 per person on overnights, but membership also gives news and information in an invaluable guidebook. The Golden Gate chapter of Hostelling International and American Youth Hostels is at 425 Divisadero St., San Francisco; call (415) 863-1444. Details about hostels can be obtained online at www.norcalhostels.org.
A Selection of Northern California Hostels
-- San Francisco: Building 240 at Fort Mason. Accommodates 150. Stunning views, urban settings. Family rooms. A popular destination for international travelers, it's nearly impossible for Bay Area residents to get into on weekends. Try midweek during winter months. (415) 771-3645.
-- San Francisco: Downtown hostel, 312 Mason St. Accommodates 260. Forget it, even though they have family rooms. Virtually always full with international travelers, large groups. (415) 788-5604.
-- Marin Headlands: Building 941, Fort Barry. Accommodates 100 in two historic buildings near beautiful Rodeo Beach. Family rooms. Very charming. Packed in summers; easier in winter months. (415) 331-2777.
-- Los Altos Hills: Hidden Villa hostel, 26870 Moody Road. Currently closed for renovations, this is the oldest youth hostel in the United States -- it's on a 1,600-acre farm and nature preserve. Worth considering next year.
-- Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel: 210 Pigeon Point Road, Pescadero. Call (650) 879-0633 or e-mailpplhostel@southcoast.net.
-- Point Montara: Point Montara Lighthouse hostel, north of Half Moon Bay on Highway 1. Accommodates 45. Quaint old light station nestled against a bluff. Spectacular views. Family rooms. Very popular. (650) 728-7177.
-- Point Reyes Station: Point Reyes hostel, 1380 Limantour Road. Accommodates 44. Family rooms. A warm country cabin style, in the heart of the Point Reyes National Seashore area. Tough on weekends (in winter because of whale-watching activity). Weekdays best. (415) 663-8811.
-- Redwood National Park: Klamath hostel. 14480 Highway 1, Klamath. Accommodates 30. Far enough (70 miles north of Eureka) to be fairly easy to get into, especially during winter. Family rooms. Cozy. Redwoods the major draw; weather can be harsh. (707) 482-8265.
©2001 San Francisco Chronicle