Fort
Mason Hostel
San
Francisco
The Green
Tortoise
- NOT Recommended...
Fort
Mason International Hostel
162 bed hostel right on the S.F. bay in a park. This
is S.F.'s best and most popular hostel.
Area rating=A+. Quiet hours at midnight
$19-$22 per night (as of March 2000)
Fort Mason's Building #240. Marina
Blvd @ Laguna Street
Book Online for Best Rates!
Frank writes
in September 2001, "Hi, I stayed at the Fort Mason Hostel
twice, in May 2000 and in
Feb. 2001. I really enjoyed the safe and clean neighborhood and
fantastic views, wow! The hostel has really a beautiful restaurant
and a very nice and clean kitchen. But I must say that the people
who work there know nothing about respecting others and have absolutely
NO communication skills. They are not very fiendly or motivated.
They are not ready to talk problems through and to satisfy the needs
of the internaional traveller. Okay, it's not a hotel, but it is
something like a visiting card of the city: The hostel should be
cleaner, they should smile more often and use the word "please"
more often! When I stayed there in Feb. they had just put
a sign with the word "Nope" on the fireplace. Okay
it's only one detail but it's an example of their way of "communication".
If I would make a sign like that it would start like this: "Please
note...". I'd love to return to San Francisco and also to this
hostel, if... you know what!"
J. writes
in August 2001, "I visited SF in May 2001. Attracted by the
location of the Fort Mason Hostel, I made reservations for 2 weeks!
I left after the first night there! The staff were very unfriendly
and unhelpful. Check-in and check-out time took almost 20 minutes
each time! I was in a female dorm of 12 people located in the basement.
The moment I walked in, there was a lurking mild dew smell. I did
not open the windows as they were facing the a small lane that had
passer-bys walking pass. In fact, people could climb into the room
if the windows were left open. Each person's locker was located
at the bottom of the bunk! Mine was dusty and dirty! Since the beds
were located within 2 feet of each other, everytime I dragged out
my luggage, it would reach the other bunk!
Feeling unsafe
was also an issue for me! All hostelites had to carry a gigantic
receipt with him/her at all times. When entering the hostel, it
had to be shown to the front desk. There were times when I walked
pass the front desk without showing the receipt and no staff stopped
me or requested from me prove of stay at the hostel. In fact, when
I voluntarily showed my receipt to the front desk staff, they appeared
annoyed, like I was interrupting their chat or line of work! I definitely
do not recommend anyone staying there if you value privacy or need
a quiet environment to rest in! The only good thing I can say about
the hostel is that if you check-out earlier than what was stated
on your reservations, you get a refund for the number of nights
unused."
Our readers
write-- "...this is one of the great travel bargains. Perched
on a bluff above the bay this is a truly magnificent location. The
rooms are your basic clean hostel fare. The crowd here is more sedate
and cultured than the other hostels in the city. Conveniently located
near the Marina District and Fisherman's Wharf, the one downside
is crowded rooms and long bathroom lines. " R.D. 8/96
K.M. writes
in 10/98, I stayed at the Fort Mason hostel last fall. It has
a good breakfast, which even includes juice. Parking is available
on-site. It's a short walk to Safeway. The view is unbelievable,
because Fort Mason is right on the Bay. The hostel is a bit isolated,
because it's so far out there, but one of the buses that passes
nearby goes to the Mission. This area around this hostel is nice
and quiet, whereas at a hostel like The Green Tortoise, city noises
will lull you to sleep.
J.C. writes
in 2/99, "The location is very strong: overlooking
the Bay, very quiet, and walking distance of ferries, the Marina
District, bicycle rental shops (and, by bike, the Golden Gate Bridge
and the biking trails of Marin County), and galleries and a restaurant
or two in Fort Mason itself (including Greens, one of America's
best vegetarian restaurants).
Buses and the cable
cars get you into town easily for transit to other parts of the
city and region. And the location suffered from none of the
unattractive seediness I noticed in the Union
Square area (site of the other city AYH hostel) and in the area
around the Green Tortoise Guest House. My room was crowded
with eight people in it, and there wasn't a whole lot of socializing
going on in the common areas on the days I was there (except maybe
in the kitchen/dining area, where I spent no time). Overall,
though, I recommend it, especially for the beauty of the site and
the proximity to things I enjoyed. Get reservations
in advance; it fills up fast."
C. complains
in February 2001, "Walked in and was instantly hit by the smell
of cat urine and a totally uninterested American bloke on the desk.
Not a smile was seen from him all stay and in fact the cat behind
the desk couldn't even be bothered to look up at us much less go
outside for a pee. Not a very welcoming hostel.
As for the area being safe two travellers had a gun pulled on them
in the surrounding streets the night we were there. The distance
from the hostel door to the street is large and poorly lit.
I have stayed at Pacific Tradewinds twice and recommend it over
Fort Mason every time."
A family
with children writes in Spring 2001, "We asked
for and luckily received a family room with 4 bunks and a closet
overlooking the back of the hostel and the bay. There seemed to
be about 1/2 dozen or so small rooms with 4 bunks and then larger
rooms with 10-12 bunks. They have same sex and co-ed dorm style
rooms. The bathrooms were convenient and clean. There was a cafe
that served muffins, pastries, and drinks and a voucher for a continental
breakfast comes with the bunk. There is a very large, clean, well
supplied with cooking utensils, etc kitchen/dining room downstairs
if you want to prepare your own food. There are some nice common
rooms to sit and relax. There is laundry room with reasonable rates
and lockers for rent to store gear. Parking is free on the Ft. Mason
grounds. The clientele were a mixture of Gen X er's through Seniors
including families and all were very nice and friendly. The staff
was laid back and helpful. The views of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge,
and Alcatraz are fantastic from the hostel grounds and you can walk
to the Wharf a short distance away for public transportation. All
this for approximately $23 pp. You can't beat it for budget accomodations!
We plan to stay there again this year.
Book Online for Best Rates!
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