Like other properties in the Hostelling International chain, this location is clean, bright, and modern, with lounge spaces reminiscent of a university student center. The entrance is all glass, and there are benches outside in front of a red-brick wall, where guests are typically milling around, drinking coffee, and hanging out. There's a lively vibe throughout the property, with people constantly coming and going. The breakfast area is bright and welcoming, with a surf-scene mural painted on one wall and tall, solid-wood tables. A huge kitchen is connected to it, and groups of friends have been known to use the kitchen to make elaborate meals. There are a few rooms for lounging and reading, including a computer room where guests can be found checking email or printing out airline tickets. Guests hail from all over the world, and the majority fall into the 20- to 30-year-old age bracket. 

The hostel lies one block west of the Third Street Promenade, the pedestrian epicenter of Santa Monica that's home to several hip restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. The area is frequented by street performersand dance crews, and is a fun place to spend an evening.The hostel itself is located on a busy road across from a cafe, surrounded by apartment buildings and a small, abandoned theater. The closest beach access is only five minutes away on foot, while the Santa Monica Pier and Aquarium are both less than a 10-minute walk away. The No. 1 bus runs along the coast, and the nearest stop is about a five-minute walk from the hostel. Venice Beach and its famous boardwalk are 30 minutes away by bus. Los Angeles International Airport is about 25 minutes away by car or 40 minutes by bus.

The majority of beds at this hostel are available in six- to 10-bed dormitories arranges in either co-ed or gender-separated configurations. Rooms are clean and fresh, with on-trend paint jobs in bright yellow or slate gray, as well as attractive patterns in soft furnishings. The dorms are compact, though, and narrow beds are packed closely together, with just enough space between them to stand with arms extended. Every bed gets a locker, as well as clean sheets and towels. There are a couple of chairs in the dorms, as well as a small sink. While each room has a fan, there's no air-conditioning, and they can get hot on summer nights (made worse by the traffic noise outside when windows are thrown open). Gender-separated bathrooms with toilets and showers are located down the hall, and are cleaned every morning. There are a few private rooms available, including a Double Executive Suite with a double bed and TV and a couple with private bathrooms, but these can require bookings well in advance and are difficult to score.

This hostel offers a free continental breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and bagels -- it's a nice perk, though the options are limited. A number of group activities are hosted by hostel staff at discounted rates, including museum tours, pub crawls, hikes, and more. There's a guest laundry area and a huge kitchen available for preparing meals -- it has all of the requisite for cooking dinners. There are TVs in the lounge areas as well as snack and drink vending machines, but guests should keep in mind that alcohol is not allowed on the premises. Wi-Fi is free but there's a fee to use the computers and printer.