Latest News

5 Spots for Big-Money Views On the Cheap

jessica — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 23:36:52 +0000

By Marguerite Richards

Visitors often arrive to the Golden Gate City with visions of lovely Lombard Street, its steep hairpin turns dominating the mind’s eye. Navigating newcomers can be surprised by less-than-foot-friendly mini mountains to summit on their tours. But here’s the skinny on those hills: they’ll lead you to dozens of vistas all across the city, many with 360-degree panoramas. Locals pay millions for postcard-perfect picture windows to get these same views, but you don’t have to.

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Outdoor, Hiking, budget travel

Bike Travel 101 Workshop Coming Soon to HI Monterey

jessica — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:22:52 +0000

Location

HI Monterey Hostel, 778 Hawthorne St., Monterey, CA

In honor of National Bike Month, Hostelling International USA is connecting bicycle adventurers this May. Join us on Monday, May 18th at the HI Monterey Hostel for Bike Travel 101 - an event bringing together cyclists of all stripes to share ideas, skills, and stories in 10 minutes or less.

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Outdoor, fitness, Biking

Do the Mission Like A Local

jessica — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 00:00:40 +0000

If You Go

Tours run every Saturday, leaving from all three of our SF hostels.

Cost

free; pay for your own food & drink.

By Marguerite Richards

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walking tours, neighborhoods, Food + Drink, Outdoor

Mix & Mingle with Friendly Students Across the Bay

jessica — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 19:42:32 +0000

If You Go

Stay at HI San Francisco Downtown or HI San Francisco City Center, then hop a nearby BART train to Berkeley!

By Marguerite Richards

The University of California at Berkeley has been known to exert a sort of mythical power over people, and I am one of them. The first time I visited, I arrived on a holiday, at night, the campus empty. Even in the darkness, I was overcome by the impressive Beaux-Arts architecture, and felt the presence of great thinkers, inspiring professors, and burgeoning authors. It was a palpable tug.

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daytrips

Uncovering the Hidden Arts and Culture of Fort Mason

jessica — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:21:58 +0000

If You Go

Stay at HI San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf. Housed inside a reimagined army hospital within the grounds of the Fort Mason national park site, the hostel's a little green oasis in the middle of the city. It's also an easy stroll from all of the destinations mentioned in this post!

By Marguerite Richards

Fort Mason, the historic waterfront park that’s home to HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf, is a maze of winding paths, rows of repurposed military barracks, and grassy knolls. Thanks to its Bay views and urban oasis feel, the park is a favorite escape for locals and visitors alike. But even for the San Franciscans who frequent this place, I recently discovered there’s a bit of mystery to be found.

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Arts, Food + Drink, Outdoor, culture

Out and About in Oakland Part I: Lake Merritt

jessica — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:18:02 +0000

If You Go

Gather some new friends at HI SF City Center, HI SF Downtown, or HI SF Fisherman's Wharf, and ask the friendly front desk staff for directions to your nearest BART station!

By Marguerite Richards

"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." This is the infamous Mark Twain quote the locals will tease you with when you've arrived in shorts and skirts, prepared for a warm weather in San Francisco. Our chilly, often foggy, San Francisco days can catch visitors off guard.

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Oakland, day trips, Food + Drink

Exploring Sausalito, Tech-Free and on a Budget

jessica — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 20:47:33 +0000

If You Go

Stay at HI-Marin Headlands. Located on a beautiful piece of National Park land overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the Headlands are just a bicycle ride or easy drive away from Sausalito.

By Marian Schembari

I first traveled through Europe with nothing but a few torn pages from Lonely Planet, meaning I spent a lot of time getting lost and discovering hidden gems. But Today, whenever I travel, "fear of missing out" requires I bring a smartphone so I don't "miss anything."

But instead, I end up navigating, nose to the screen, missing everything.

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Sausalito, food+drink, budget travel

Get Friendly With the Locals Over a Home-Cooked Meal in SF

jessica — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:17:40 +0000

If You Go

Keep meeting new friends when you stay at one of our three San Francisco hostels

By Marguerite Richards

“Food is a thing that brings us together. It’s emotional,” said our chef, Rahul Dharod, as I sipped on the strangely satisfying masala soda drink. I felt energized. This couple, who had started as strangers, filled my belly with spice and my heart with a warm welcome.

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Food + Drink, budget travel

Action For Nature: In search of International Young Eco Heroes

Fiume — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:49:43 +0000

More Info

Action For Nature

Application Deadline: February 28, 2015

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Outdoor

A Hostel Home for the Holidays

jessica — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 16:29:31 +0000

You don’t have to be home for the holidays to feel the love this time of year. As anyone who’s ever spent Thanksgiving on the road, Christmas with strangers, or New Year’s Eve in a foreign land can attest, it’s often the people you’re with who make the season bright. And when you spend a holiday in a hostel, you may just find yourself forming a spontaneous family with whoever’s around, celebrating and laughing with new friends you’ve never met.

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holidays