Hi San Francisco Downtown Hostel

Positives: - The bed was really comfy with lovely soft sheets, nice spacious room. - The breakfast every morning was great, really nice bagels and a clean kitchen. - Great location, easy to get to most places - just don't take a wrong turn and accidentally go into Tenderloin as it's close! - The free tea and coffee in the lobby was a nice touch

Negatives: - For someone who's stayed in a lot of hostels throughout the years, I found the reception staff suprisingly unfriendly and I was quite shocked at the poor level of customer service from most the staff (not all, but none were overly friendly). It doesn't take much to smile, and for travellers who've just had a long plane journey, seeing a smile and a friendly face can really make a difference to your stay. I had to ask one lady to get my food from the fridge one morning as I was headed on a tour to Yosemite (leaving 6am and the kitchen opens at 7am), and she actively seemed to try and make me feel guilty for it. She was moody, didn't give eye contact and barely spoke to me as she thrust the bag into my hands! - Check-in took a very long time, and I had no acknowledgement while I was waiting. - The toilet situation was frustrating. I had to get out of bed extra early every day to make sure I'd be able to shower. There were only two toilets and showers on each floor and there were usually people lining up for them, even at 6.30am. I understand it's in an old building and they're limited with the resources they've been given, but it really wasn't ideal for the amount of guests staying in the building. - I don't think I've ever stayed in a hostel where NOT ONE other guest smiled at me - or others, from what I could see. There was an odd, 'don't bother me' vibe going on. I would say this isn't the fault of the hostel itself but the guests initial interactions with the reception staff while checking in probably didn't help with setting the tone...

Location and Value for money are great

Somewhat cold at night in the room