The best youth hostel in the United States
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 10/27/06
I have stayed at the Point Loma Youth Hostel on two different week-long trips to San Diego with my family (the trips were four years apart). I found it to be a great place both times.
Point Loma is a nice suburban but "crunchy" community north of San Diego. From there, it is easy to get downtown and to the interstate system via the Pacific Highway. It is also close to the beaches north of the city, La Jolla, and Sea World. Nearby, there is an impressive co-op grocery, "dog beach" where canines rule, Cabrillo National Monument, and Sunset Cliffs, where you should witness the sun's disappearance into the Pacific Ocean.
The youth hostel is clean, and it has a friendly staff, the necessary facilities, several resources about the area, and free parking. It also has a charming little enclosed courtyard where you can eat breakfast, roast marshmellows on a fire pit, or play ping-pong.
If you have a car, this is definitely the better option for you.
The only drawback is that Point Loma lies beneath the flight path of San Diego's airport, which is several miles away. Still, the planes definitely wake you in the morning; but you need to be up, anyway! Some people may not like the windy road to the hostel from the city. It only takes about 10-15 minutes, but I liked the drive.