Frequently Asked Questions

PACIFIC TRADEWINDS HOSTEL

1. Reservations
2. Costs
3. Hours
4. Requirements
5. Facilities
6. Safety
7. Other Services

1. Reservations:

Q. What if I do not know exactly how many days I want to stay?
A. It is not a problem if you do not know how many days you want to stay. In fact, if that is the case, then congratulations you are a true backpacker. Most of our guests take their trip on a day by day basis, rather than having a set itinerary. You only need to make a reservation for the day of your arrival. After that, you have priority to your bed for the following nights, as long as you pay before 10:30am for that coming night.

2. Costs:

Q. How much does it cost per night?
A. Beds are currently $29.50 per night per person, plus a $20 refundable security/key deposit. We are trying really hard to keep our prices under $30. Why? Because San Francisco charges 15.5% tax on all overnight accommodation over $30. (So if you see another hostel over $30 - watch out for the tax!) We know this tax is likely to hurt your wallet so we are doing everything we can to stay under $30. Would you like to help? Thanks! You can help us by reserving directly with us (rather than a booking agency who we have to pay a commission to), and paying with cash (so we don't have to pay for credit card fees as well). These two things will help us stay under $30 for the foreseeable future. Thanks! Call us at 1-888-SFHOSTEL (1-888-734-6783) for last minute discounts and to receive the best price possible.

Q. Do you accept credit cards?
A. Yes, we accept Visa and Mastercard Only

Q. Do you offer any discounts?
A. Frequently discounts are possible in the off season. Call us at 1-888-SFHOSTEL (1-888-734-6783) to find out more.

Q. How much does it cost for children?
A. Children are the same price as adults. Children are only allowed to stay if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (this includes all minors under the age of 18 years). Hostels can be a great experience for children of all ages. However, especially with small children, remember you will be sharing the room with other people. You will need to assess your child's sleep habits carefully to decide if dormitories are a reasonable option.

3. Hours:

Q. When can I check in?
A. We are open for guest check-in anytime between 8am and 11:30pm daily, throughout the year.

Q. Do you have a lockout during the day?
A. No, we do not have a lockout. However, for cleaning purposes we often encourage guests to enjoy a day out in San Francisco, or if you'd like to relax around the hostel during the day you might get asked to lift your feet so we can vacuum under you, or even better, help clean!

Q. Do you have a curfew at night?
A. No, you do not have to be in by a certain time. When you check in, you will receive an electronic key for coming in the building. Check-in, however, is only available 8am-11:30pm.

4. Requirements:

Q. Do I need a hostel membership card to stay?
A. No, however we will require proper identification.

Q. What type of identification do you require?
A. Since we are a small guesthouse style international travelers hostel, all guests must show a valid passport or an out-of-state American Drivers license at check-in. Guests may also be asked to present other travel documents. If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact us.

Q. Do you have minimum or maximum stay requirements?
A. There is no minimum stay. Guests who wish to stay longer than 21 days should talk with the manager once your here to see if we are looking for additional housemates.

Q. Do you require your guests to do a chore?
A. No, however in keeping with the most basic of hostel traditions, we do expect guests to clean up after themselves.

Q. Do I need to bring a sleep sheet or a sleeping bag?
A. No, your bed will be made with everything you need: clean sheets, a blanket and a Martha Stewart pillow.

Q. Are pets allowed to stay?
A. We are sorry, but there are no pets of any kind allowed. We must be considerate of guests who might have allergies.

Q. Are there any age restrictions?
A. No, however if you are under 18 years old you will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

5. Facilities:

Q. Are there any private/double rooms available?
A. As we are a very small hostel, we do not have private rooms.

Q. Do you have single sex dorms or are they mixed?
A. Our rooms are mixed dormitories. If this is a concern to you, ask and we will try to put you with mostly women/men if that is possible.

Q. How many people per guest room?
A. This varies from 4 to 8 people. Sorry, it's not possible to reserve a specific room.

Q. Do you have a kitchen?
A. Yes we have a brand, shiny, new fully equipped kitchen including celestial blue granite counters, stove, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and brand new pots, pans, plates, glasses, silverware, etc. The kitchen is always stocked with unlimited, free tea and coffee.

Q. Is there a place to do laundry?
A. Yes. We do service washes for our guests, which means you give us your dirty clothes and we wash, dry, and fold them while you are out enjoying yourself. We do this for $6 per load.

Q. Can I drink alcohol at the hostel?
A. Yes, we do allow drinking, but, in moderate levels. We are not a "party, party, party" hostel and we expect a certain level of maturity from our guests.

Q. Is smoking allowed?
A. No, in accordance with California state law, there is no smoking allowed anywhere in the building

Q. What are the other guest rules?
A. Thanks for asking. For your reading pleasure we have provided them in multiple languages here.

6. Safety:

Q. Will my belongings be safe?
A. We have a very low incidence of theft (about once a year), but we recommend that people do lock up items such as: cameras, passports, travelers checks, etc. Each custom engineered bed has been designed with a steel locker underneath free for you to use. You can use your own lock or one of ours. Since we have very tight security, only registered guests are allowed in the dormitories.

Q. Is the hostel located in a safe area of San Francisco?
A. We have the best location in San Francisco. We are located in downtown San Francisco between the Financial District, Chinatown and North Beach (Little Italy). We feel very comfortable going outside at night alone, however, due to the fact that this is a large city, always keep your "street smarts" about you. When you check in, our staff will tell you which areas of San Francisco we recommend you avoid.

7. Other Services:

Q. Is there a telephone available for guest use?
A. Yes, the free guest phone number is 415-433-7930. Guests can make free local calls or receive calls from this phone.

Q. Do you have Internet access for guests?
A. We have Free High Speed Internet available for guests to use.

Q. Do you provide free breakfast?
A. No, however we do have a fully equipped clean kitchen so you can cook your own though. We always have free coffee and tea available.

Q. Is there a TV?
A. The TV lounge has a free movie showing every day. It is also possible for guests to reserve the TV lounge for private use at other times.

Q. I have a car, is there somewhere that I can park it?
A. Welcome to the second most difficult city for parking after New York! Like most hostels in the city, we do not have any onsite parking for our guests. However, we are experienced in helping our guests to find free parking in the city, however be prepared for a cross city trek. Our first suggestion is don't have a car in San Francisco. If it's a rental car, return it if you can. If it's your own car, park it on the outskirts and take a bus or subway into the city. In the city, you'll fine it's a parking nightmare. But, if you do arrive with a car, we will direct you to the best place to park it based on how long you are staying, etc. There are a number of parking garages near us downtown, however the cost is about $30 per day. Unlike most places in the United States, San Francisco has tons of public transportation and is very small compared to other cities. Don't worry, you will be fine without a car.

Q. Is there public transportation near the hostel?
A. Yes! As for Public Transportation, this San Francisco Hostel is surrounded by it. Have a look. The #1 California and 8X buses are just outside our door, the California Street Cable Car just one block away, and the #10, 30 and 45 buses are two blocks away. In addition, an established taxi queue exists just steps away through Spring Alley.

Q. Do you have long term left luggage storage?
A. Yes we do. It costs $1 per day per bag with a minimum charge of $5.