Monterey Hostel — Hotel in Monterey

My partner and I booked two nights in a private room at the hostel. Overall we had a great experience, but wanted to provide some feedback.

Pros: Location. Very centrally located, and only blocks away from the aquarium, restaurants, etc.

Clean. The grounds are well maintained and attractive. The bed and linens were comfortable.

Cat & Cloud coffee in the kitchen for all guests to use! I consider this a huge perk. I’m used to having to explore for a good cup of coffee, and I appreciate that they have gone above and beyond to provide beans from a local company.

Cons: Kids? I assumed after reading the website that everyone staying in the hostel had to be 18+. We ended up being there at the same time as some families with very young children. I love kids, but did not expect to be woken up by them early each morning and to walk over their toys at night. I don’t expect solitude and tranquility at a hostel, but I would have appreciated some clearer messaging before booking if children are indeed permitted to stay.

Staff? Check out is at 11, and we were running behind. At 11:05, we were gathering our bags in the room preparing to head out the door when a staff member opened the door unannounced and seemed very annoyed we were still there. I take responsibility for our lateness and would have been happy to discuss a late checkout fee, however most accommodations provide a grace period, and at the very least, would know to knock on a door before entering a room. We were really put off by this. We had pleasant interactions with other front desk workers, so this doesn’t apply to all staff.

Things to know: Sinks and showers are button activated and only provide a few seconds or minutes of water at a time. A bit annoying to have to keep pressing, but I support conserving water and realize some people run their showers/sinks in excess.

Parking is $10/day Thursday - Saturday. Worth it...

Great hostel! This was our first time using a hostel and this place did NOT disappoint! Great location in Monterey. The drive is around 2 hours from San Francisco/SFO! Great views and everywhere you look. It self super safe. The hostel was very clean and organized! Loved the theme. Each door was named about one of the popular Cali tourist attractions! Very colorful and fun. The staff were super nice and friendly! They gave us a parking slip to show we did pay for parking. It’s $10 on Thurs- Sat for us. The rooms were super nice. Pretty spacious for two people. We did book the private room with one queen and two bunk beds. We did not use the bunk beds other than to put our suitcases on it. There was two sinks, hair dryer, fridge, and fan for us to use. The bathroom was nice and simple and clean. The shower is on a timer ~2 minutes to save some water. The lock on the door is super easy to use and made the room feel secure. There is also a lock at the front of the building. So the hostel feels very safe and secure too. There is quite time at 10pm which is great. There is a shared living and kitchen space. We did not use but was nice to have incase! The beds were very comfortable to us. We slept very well. The pillows were comfortable but a little too plump. The only one negative I did not like about the hostel is the used of incense. There was one in the room and it was very very strong. And as someone who is super sensitive to scents it caused me to get a headache and nauseous. The window was able to be opened and closed with a roll handle. So that helped with ventilation.

Overall a really good priced hostel! 100% recommend and...

Long review. TLDR: Great Hostel!

I last stayed here in 2017, and I am BLOWN AWAY by the difference post-remodel. They completely gutted the interior and have turned this 78 year old structure into a truly modern building. From the foundation to the insulation... it's all brand new! Spared no expense.

I have a background in Building Maintenance, so I can't help but notice things like caulking, grout, etc., and this this place is near immaculate. They also clearly put a lot of thought into long term maintenance with things like custom made stainless steel fixtures. The energy efficient choices like motion sensor lights, timer faucets, and on demand hot water are smart and not in any way an inconvenience. I thought the shower temperature was just about perfect, probably a good 120. My girlfriend takes skin melting showers at home, but she said it wasn't too cold for her.

That all said, this is still a hostel. If you've never stayed in one before, manage your expectations a bit. If you're in a dorm, expect there to be other people sharing the room. If you get a private room, don't expect to have a mini-fridge, microwave, tv, and all the other amenities of a hotel because this isn't a hotel.

There is likely going to be a bit more noise than if you chose a hotel, but the quiet hours seem to be well enforced. Things quieted down around 10 on both nights we were there, but if you're a light sleeper consider ear plugs as a proactive step. That's just the name of the game.

Having stayed in US hostels from New Hampshire to Oregon to Utah and beyond, and I think this is the new post-Covid...