Okay, here's the deal. This was the cheapest place I could find for two people the week before we needed the room. For the price it was not horrible, but NOT GREAT either.
What people said here is true. The front lobby is very nice at first glance. Faux marble is everywhere but it is easy to tell it is just a facade.
The young man at the front desk asked me if I was "aware this is a hostel?" I felt like saying, "Are you aware?" because of all the glamor in the entry but I refrained.
::things you should know about me. I stayed on the 11th floor in a room with a double bed. Two girls, one sink, one closet, one TV with remote, one window, one night stand. that's it. I am a female college student who is very very okay with "roughing it". I've done the whole hostel thing before so I know what to expect. I am not squeamish and I do not need to be pampered. "Girlie" has never been a fitting adjective for me. If you are a girliegirl then maybe you will find this place way too gross. just saying.::
There is some sort of restaurant going in next door and people (workers) seem to hang out there all the time Not actually working mind you. They just laugh when you walk buy and you feel like you're not a part of their cool kids club. However I did not find this "tent city" mentioned and I felt quite safe walking around on a saturday night with my female friend. Yes, there were some homeless men calling out to us but nothing bad really. Maybe I am just really used to San Francisco.
There always seems to be some sort of maid or handy man in the small, poorly painted elevators and that made me uneasy. Are there no service elevators. These people always seemed unhappy like they hated life.
The room was okay. The things that bugged me were that the carpet was a bit damp and over all nothing seemed exceedingly clean. I kept feeling like I needed to wash my hands after touching things. There was no way to really get clean though because the soap they provide you smells like really bad roses. *bring your own hand soap* Also the room smelled. Not fresh at all and no way to air it out since we left the window open all day and that didn't do anything. Just a damp humid smell (outside was not humid for the record). *Think about bringing something to make your room smell better. febreeze it yo.* We brought sleeping bags and pillows after heeding the other reviews of the Cecil Hotel on this site and I think it was a darn good idea.
The hostel style bathroom was...ehhhh. There was a bar to hang a towel/clothes. the water pressure was okay. I had no confidence in the walls or floor though so made very sure I never toughed either. scummy marble. yum. The toilets were ALWAYS missing toilet paper which is, let's face it, awkward. And the "vent" in the bathroom was caked with black dust?scum?alien species?
The young man at the front desk was helpful and helped me find a few things downtown. I think he was helpful because I was a young girl flirting though and not because it was his job.
Overall this is an okay place to stay if you need a cheap room for one, maybe two nights. Will I be back? maaaaybe if I am with my brother or some other person who can really rough it and we need to stay right downtown. I won't be coming back here with any girls who need basic cleanliness needs met. They just won't find it here. I will definitely book a hostel more than three days ahead next time and find one that is rated better!
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