PodShare Los Feliz — Hotel in Los Angeles

I have read the other reviews. I do share the angst about the hostile attitude of the receptionist/ caretaker of Los Feliz, i.e., Michael. Michael was extremely rude. I did feel mental issues going with Michael while communicating with him. I guess it was mostly related to the time span of my stay. This happened by design due to the check in - check out time communicated over their website / hostel world website. While almost all other similar accommodations in the same area clearly state check-in time at 3 pm, Los Feliz perhaps smartly mention it as 12 pm. It was one of the primary reasons I chose this location given my LA landing schedule. After booking my accommodation here, I emailed to them if I can keep my luggage till 3 pm for next day check out and they clearly stated that I am allowed to do so in their locker. Smartly they skipped the part stating how small size their locker is. Believe me I have seen much bigger locker facilities in similar accommodations. They just asked me to that I have to leave my bed by 1 pm. I agreed to that.

When I arrived back to Los Feliz at 1 pm, Michael asserted that I have to check out in quick time. I politely reminded him that in email communication PodShare have allowed me to stay till 2 pm. Upon hearing this, Michael said "You can stay no more after 3 pm" in absolutely dismissive manner while explaining that he would leave the place after 4 pm. Between 1 pm to 1:55 pm, I had a short meal and just sat at the table in ground floor. At 1:55 pm, Michael almost snapped at me and rebuked me for not already leaving the property. He started lecturing me that I was given early reception (that occurred at 2 pm the day before) and now I overstayed. Please keep in mind that their website suggests check-in time at 12 noon and luggage storage time till 3 pm (this particular info was shared to me over email). I felt unsafe in cross debating him. Before leaving, I said "Thank you" to him for the cleanliness I had at PodShare. HE absolutely ignored that. In between all of this, I checked that only one bed was occupied, and rest were empty implying that this hostile attitude wasn't out of the accommodation being full beyond capacity.

It left really really bad aftertaste to me even while observing good facilities within the PodShare accommodation.

I am sharing the screenshot of emails exchanged with PodShare and their website information on Check-in time. It would be great if the management can sort out these managerial issues as I did feel that Los Feliz have many good things about it. Also, the bedsheets felt quite old and used too many times, although those seemed washed before my...

Whew. Okay.

I had been staying at the Venice Podshare (which is quite nice except for a few confounding details) for several weeks when I decided to check out the Los Feliz location for a few nights. Big mistake. First things first, this is not the 'Los Feliz' or 'Silverlake' you are picturing in your head. While it is relatively close to both, it is decidedly not in either. Instead, it is located just off one of the most undesirable intersections between mid-city and downtown (filled with little else but fast food chains). Secondly, the Podshare itself is incredibly claustrophobic and dreary.

At the time of my stay, the Venice and Los Feliz locations cost the same per bed, per night. Whereas Venice has a massive outdoor space and a bright, vaulted loft, Los Feliz has neither. It's the kind of place where you feel... trapped. I stayed for less than 15 minutes before I called Podshare and asked to be transferred back to Venice. The only reason I'm giving Los Feliz 3 stars instead of 2 (or 1) is because their customer service was really great. Within 10 minutes I was on my way back to the west side, no questions asked.

If I could give one piece of advice to the Podshare team, it would be to ensure more consistency across the network—consistency of spaces, consistency of amenities, consistency of details, consistency of pricing. I really do like the Venice location a lot (although I think the new $1400/month price is morally antithetical to the stated mission of the company). However, my brief stay at Los Feliz makes me not want to try any of the network's...

This is my second time staying here, and both visits have been excellent. Keep in mind, this is a hostel—you’ll have a bunk in a shared room—but it’s a great experience if you know what to expect. The mattresses and pillows are surprisingly comfortable, the staff are friendly and laid-back, and every guest I’ve met has had a positive attitude and been respectful of personal space.

If you tend to get cold, consider bringing an extra blanket or sweater. Each pod comes with two blankets and a towel. The location is convenient—Vons is nearby for any essentials or snacks you might need, and Los Feliz has plenty of great bars and restaurants to explore. Of course, this is LA, so expect a moderate to long walk for most things. That’s just being in a massive city with big neighborhoods.

I’ve stayed in many hostels, and this one is a favorite. I’ve also stayed in various parts of LA, and Silver Lake and Los Feliz are at the top of my list. Take that as you will. Thanks for the great stay, PodShare!

Edit: Almost forgot to mention—I decided to stay an extra day and booked through Expedia, which is where I usually book. If you’re extending your stay (or honestly, just booking in general), it’s worth booking directly through their site. The staff mentioned that Expedia takes a big cut—not surprising—and while they gladly accepted my rebooking and were super helpful, they did mention that they prefer direct bookings in the future. In retrospect, the pricing is the same, so it doesn’t really make a difference for the consumer. Just a...