ITH Santa Barbara Beach Hostel

Wonderful Hostel, Highly Recommended

Liked: Great hostel that makes it easy to feel at home. Well-equipped kitchen you can use, comfy common area, and outdoor seating. The dorm beds have curtains to give you a bit more privacy. Very friendly and helpful staff and lots of activities to join. It's easy to meet people there, and it doesn't feel anonymous like many other hostels in the US. Breakfast is DIY pancakes with chocolate chips and peanut butter, and sometimes bananas. I got some fruit at a nearby supermarket, and that made for a fantastic breakfast. Location is awesome too, right next to the beach and close to State Street.
Disliked: The dorms are a little small, so when several people arrive with big suitcases, you'll have to move stuff around all the time. Also, it was noisy at night because of the train station and a loud fan in the room. But the hostel provides free earplugs :) The hostel is not cheap, but Santa Barbara is crazy expensive, so for SB standards, the value is good.

Pleasant

Liked: location is great
Disliked: the breakfast is just pancakes and coffee. the room was very small but to me the worst thing is that they charge you for everything (parking, towels) on top of the rate which is not little

Amazing

Liked: That was the best hostel for my trip. Staff they were so nice and friendly. I love every moment in that hostel.

Great location and social vibe....

Liked: Great location right near the beach! If you enjoy meeting people, it’s a great place to stay. I liked the make-it-yourself pancake breakfast.
Disliked: We booked a private room, but it opened directly into the main lobby, so it could get quite noisy. Even though quiet hours started at 11 PM, guests were often still chatting nearby. The hostel did provide free earplugs and a white noise machine, which helped somewhat. Also, the TV in our room didn’t have working audio.

Exceptional

Exceptional

Exceptional

Fantastic stay at ITH, really...

Liked: Really

Don't be afraid to mix...

Liked: So surprised it was more than a bed to sleep in. The first night Maxine supplied s'mores fixings, and got a fire going. Rosey had such a big smile when I first checked in. I learned how much work went in to keeping the facility humming. Alejandro and Hailey kept the place spic n span. Kai and Stella were hosting Soup yoga and dance the night I left, and if I could've I would have loved to postpone my departure, but all my connections were already booked and paid for. The vibe of the place was so friendly and accommodating, which made chit chat and more possible. I loved meeting the 11th graders from a local high school (german). Internationals, I guess, had somehow heard of this place - are we all the same? Americans who travel were present. It seemed to be germans, of which I am about 1/2. When I first came I was afraid to eat - was it really for me? The second night there was spaghetti, and I asked could I have some. Maxine made the most excellent cake for pot luck night. Iwas embarrassed because I didn't have anything to offer, but no one made it an issue, and like the good Jewish mother would say, Eat, eat. I enjoyed meeting people in a setting so conducive to friendship, and would heartily recommend it to shy people.
Disliked: What i kinda learned from staff is that you have to stay focused on what you hope to accomplish in order not to get swept away from your stay. Sometimes the immediate can distract you from any goals you may have. But by and large it's good to consider what others are up to, and possibly consider afresh what you want out of life (or at least... out of your vacation, vocation (ie. washing your own DC dishes)).