The hostel I usually stay at in Los Angeles has banned me for life.
LA Adventurer Hotel requires you have a foreign passport AND be under 30-years-of-age.
In the past I’ve been able to talk myself in. I “was once 30”, I claim. In 2008, this no longer gets me past the door.
Happily, I’ve discovered another great hostel willing to take old cranks:
Surf City Hostel.
It’s got a “killer location” right on Hermosa Beach — Beach Volleyball Capital of the World. Not quite so close to LAX, but not bad. You don’t need to rent a car to get to Hermosa.
Like LA Adventurer, it’s noisy. But you can’t beat $25 / night for a dorm bed, including breakfast.
Hermosa (“beautiful” in Spanish) is an accurate description of this city’s beach, which is also flat, sandy, and long; ideal for sunbathing, beach volleyball, surfing and paddleboarding.
With a mellow vibe. And a wonderful fitness culture, you’ll find me at Hermosa when in Los Angels.
Rick McCharles 