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 $24 per night per person ($23 for bookings online), plus a $20 refundable security/key deposit.

Q. Do you accept credit cards?
A. Yes, we accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and most major credit cards.

Q. Do you offer any discounts?
A. In the non-peak season we offer discounts. Please contact us 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 do you require as identification?
A. Since we are a travelers hostel, all guests must show proof of travel or student status with a passport or a drivers license and current student ID.

Q. Do you have minimum or maximum stay requirements?
A. There is no minimum stay. We do have a maximum stay of two weeks. The reason for this is that we are intended for international travelers and students on vacation who are in San Francisco to see the sights. We are happy to help guests who are looking to relocate find long term accommodation.

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

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, we have a payphone for guest use. The phone also receives incoming calls. We will tell you the phone number you can give friends and family upon check in.

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

Q. Can I receive a fax?
A. Yes, Our fax number is: 415 433 7970

Q. Do you provide free breakfast?
A. No, we don't provide free breakfast. 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 most difficult city for parking! 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. Our first suggestion is don?t have a car in San Francisco. It is 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.

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.