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Adelaide Hostel - Great San Francisco Hostel

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Adelaide Hostel - Great San Francisco Hostel

Great San Francisco hostel

The Bottom Line

The Adelaide is a great San Francisco hostel -- very central, near Union Square and easy public transportation. Close to the action, inexpensive, rampant free wifi, and a fantastically friendly staff make this San Francisco hostel a winner. The city has a passel of very varied hostel choices, and my favorite in this backpacker-friendly California town is the flashpacker-friendly Adelaide. Staying in this San Francisco hostel is like coming home, albeit to an old house with dilapidated corners -- hey, kinda like home.

Pros

  • Owned by former backpackers turned businessmen
  • Wifi, wifi everywhere
  • Very central near Union Square

Cons

  • Needs a steam vac-ing

Description

Guide Review - Adelaide Hostel - Great San Francisco Hostel

High ceilings and tall windows on the ground floor in this old San Francisco building near Union Square call to mind a more gracious century; a recently refurbished common area with lots o' comfy couches around a fireplace make the Adelaide feel like home. Flashpackers will love this San Francisco hostel -- large private rooms with hardwood floors and sweet tiled baths.

Speaking of gadget-toters (that would be flashpackers), note the number of travelers' laptops you'll see here (five out of seven of us tapping away in a common area one night when I was here) -- owner Gerard O'Boyle, a former backpacker, spared no expense to supply wifi through the building. If you're not packing hardware, you'll find free internet stations in the lobby.

If bread is the staff of life, then the Adelaide Hostel's breakfast is a good stiff shot. Expect tons o' toast, jam, juice and plenty of coffee, started early a.m. by the friendly staff. Those front desk folks can also help you plan day trips, the name of the game in this part of California -- perhaps a trip up the coast on Harleys or a wander through the wine country -- and tip you toward the abundant and sometimes crazy San Fran nightlife (nobody really calls it San Fran, btw).

Certainly among the sweetest of San Francisco hostels and a frequent Hostelworld best-of winner, the Adelaide will meet backpacker wants and beat flashpacker expectations. Enjoy your stay, travelers.

San Francisco for Gay Travelers

See a wealth of resources for gay travelers to California's Bay Area and a GLBT San Francisco calendar from About's Guide to Gay Travel, Andrew Collins:

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