Have questions? Here are the answers to some of the most common inquiries we get. If you can't find the answer to your question here, then don't hesitate to contact us.
Hollywood FAQs
Las Vegas FAQs
San Diego FAQs
San Francisco FAQs
- What is a hostel anyway?
- Why do you have such strict check-in requirements?
- Do you allow children staying with parents at the hostels?
- Do your prices include taxes and breakfast?
- Do I need a membership to stay at your hostels?
- Do you give student discounts?
- Do I have to bring my sleeping bag?
- What is your cancellation policy?
Q: What is a hostel anyway?
A: Traditionally, hostels offer affordable accommodations for people traveling internationally on a tight budget. Accommodation is usually in dorm rooms, which may have a bath in the room or down the hall. While hostels are a cheap alternative to hotels that’s not the only reason travelers, especially young travelers, have been using them for years.
Hostelling is a great way to meet other travellers and learn about the places you’re visiting from people who have already been there. Beyond that, as hostels are becoming more popular, they are varying more and more. At USA Hostels we have both dorm and private rooms, include bed linens and daily pancake breakfast in the cost of your stay, and do not have curfews. For more specifics about hostelling with us, keep reading!
Q: Why do you have such strict check-in requirements?
A: We run our hostels in order to serve international, budget-conscious travelers. We require an international passport or out-of-state college ID to ensure that we are, in fact, serving this group.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate in-state residents, relocaters, conference goers or those just looking for an inexpensive place to stay because we know they have many other accommodation options. That said, if we were about following all of the rules all of the time, we wouldn’t be working at a hostel. If you feel like you actually fit into our target group even though you don’t have the required check-in documents, please contact us and we’ll see if we can make an exception.
Q: Do you allow children staying with parents at the hostels?
A: We do not allow anyone under the age of 16, whether or not accompanied by an adult, to stay in dorm rooms. If you are traveling with a child under the age of 16, have extensive hosteling experience and are specifically interested in staying in a hostel, please contact the hostel manager about the possibility of staying in a private room. However, please be aware that the hostels are probably an inappropriate environment for very young children.
Q: Do your prices include taxes and breakfast?
A: Yes! Our prices include all taxes, all-you-can-make pancakes every morning and coffee and tea all day.
Q: Do I need a membership to stay at your hostels?
A: No membership is required to stay at our hostels.
Q: Do you give student discounts?
A: If you stay in a dorm, you can get $1 off per night if you have one of the following cards: ISIC, IYTC, VIP, BUNAC, Hostels Americas or a Gap Year MasterCard. Sorry, we can’t give discounts on private rooms.
Q: Do I have to bring my sleeping bag?
A: No! We provide linens, a blankets and a pillow and have bath towels available upon request. We actually do not allow sleeping bags in the rooms.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Any cancellations must be made before 6:00 p.m. the day prior to your day of arrival. If you do not show up for your reservation, or cancel after this time we will charge your credit card for the first night of your booking.
