Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hostel?
What is Hostelling International?
What is the Golden Gate Council?
What makes HI hostels unique?
How do I find hostels?
Is there an age limit?
Do I need to be a member?
What are the member benefits?
Do I have to sleep in a dorm?
Will I have to do chores?
Are hostels closed during the day?
Are hostels safe?
Are there kitchen and laundry facilities?
Are your hostels wheelchair accessible?
Do your hostels offer programs?
Who stays at hostels?
Can groups stay at hostels?
Do I need a reservation?
Can I make an online reservation?
Do you accept credit cards and travelers checks?
What do I need for check-in?
Still have questions?

What is a hostel?
A hostel provides a comfortable night’s sleep at a low cost in private or dorm-style accommodations in unique settings all over the world. Hostels come in all shapes and sizes, from historic buildings with 20 beds to renovated hotels with 600 beds, and often reflect the special character of the surrounding community.

What is Hostelling International?
HI stands for Hostelling International, a brand name that makes it easy for travelers to find a hostel they know will meet high standards of cleanliness, service, and safety. The nonprofit International Youth Hostel Federation adopted the HI brand name in the early 1990s. Now travelers just look for the trademarked HI and the blue triangle logo for quality accommodations. Hostelling International USA is an affiliate of IYHF, and operates a network of 70 hostel accommodations with 34 regional councils throughout the United States, including the Golden Gate Council.

What is the Golden Gate Council?
Hostelling International USA, Golden Gate Council is a regional council affiliate of HI-USA. The Council operates eight hostels in Northern California. Since its establishment in 1958, the Golden Gate Council has grown to become one of the leading networks of HI-USA hostels. For more information, see About Us.

What makes HI hostels unique?
HI hostels offer an opportunity to interact with travelers of any age, culture, background, or experience in a safe environment. HI hostels also provide free or low-cost programs, self-service kitchens, comfortable common rooms, and in many cases additional amenities. HI hostels are the trusted source for quality at a great price because (unlike private, for-profit hostels) they meet international quality standards for cleanliness, service, and safety.

How do I find hostels?
For HI hostels in Northern California, see our Hostel Map. For worldwide locations, visit the international HI website. HI also publishes an annual hostel guide that can be purchased from HI-USA.

Is there an age limit?
HI hostels welcome people of all ages and are no longer referred to as youth hostels. In fact, there are more and more families, couples, groups, and people 55 or older using our hostels. Bavaria, Germany, is the only area in the world where access is limited to travelers under the age of 26.

Do I need to be a member?
HI membership is not required by hostels in the United States. However, nonmembers may be charged an extra nightly fee of $3. Some European HI hostels will only admit members.

What are the member benefits?
HI members receive discounted overnight rates at more than 4,000 HI hostels in 60 countries around the world, in addition to free basic travel insurance, discounts on international phone calls, commission-free currency exchange, and more. For details, please see Membership.

Do I have to sleep in a dorm?
New HI hostel developments, as well as renovations to existing hostels, feature smaller dorms with four or five beds, as well as private rooms, and many offer private bathrooms. All of HI-USA Golden Gate Council's Northern California hostels offer private room options.

Will I have to do chores?
Daily housekeeping is provided at all hostels; there are no chores at large urban hostels, and chores are voluntary at other hostels. Chores are small cleaning tasks that take a few minutes to complete, and help to keep hostelling affordable for everyone.

Are hostels closed during the day?
Most major urban HI hostels are open 24 hours a day. Some smaller and rural hostels are closed during the day, usually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All of HI-USA Golden Gate Council's Northern California hostels are open during the day, except for the Point Reyes Hostel.

Are hostels safe?
Safety and security for guests and their belongings are a high priority at all HI hostels. Because space is often shared in dorm-style accommodations, common sense dictates keeping valuables and important documents in your possession at all times. However, all of HI-USA Golden Gate Council's Northern California hostels provide small private lockers for valuables and secure baggage-storage areas. Guests are advised to bring a padlock or additional money to purchase one at the hostel.

Are there kitchen and laundry facilities?
All of the Golden Gate Council hostels provide clean and fully equipped self-service kitchen facilities. You will find cookware, dishes, utensils, appliances, and refrigerator/freezer storage space. Guest laundry facilities are available at the Marin Headlands Hostel, Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, Sacramento Hostel, San Francisco Downtown Hostel, and San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel.

Are your hostels wheelchair accessible?
All of HI-USA Golden Gate Council's Northern California hostels are wheelchair accessible.

Do your hostels offer programs?
HI-USA Golden Gate Council offers a wide range of programs and activities that are designed with our guests in mind. In San Francisco, see the neighborhoods you might have missed on your own, hear local stories that bring the city to life, and get tips for the best meals and deals; for more information, see the Hostel Activities section of the San Francisco Hostels website. The Council also offers a range of outdoor education and intercultural programming for youth and student groups; please see Programs for details.

Who stays at hostels?
HI hostel guests have few things in common other than wanting accommodations that provide quality, value, and culture at a low price. A guest can be a man in his 30s who brought his family by car, a woman in her 20s who arrived alone on foot, or a school group on a community service trip. HI hostels are not just for young people, although the majority of visitors are between 18 and 35 years old.

Can groups stay at hostels?
School groups or social, community, professional, or religious organizations are welcome at HI hostels, but advance reservations are required. Many HI hostels have special meeting/event facilities or group programs. For more information, please see Groups.

Do I need a reservation?
For peace of mind, HI recommends that you make a reservation; however, walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Please see Reservations for more information.

Can I make an online reservation?
All of HI-USA Golden Gate Council's Northern California hostels accept online reservations.

Do you accept credit cards and travelers checks?
All Golden Gate Council-operated hostels accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB, as well as travelers checks.

What do I need for check-in?
Check-in requires a valid government-issued picture identification card (passport, driver's license, or state or military ID card. If you are an HI member and want to receive the member rate, you must also present your membership card.