The Ultimate Guide to Finding Lodging On The Southwest Hostel Backpacker Route
There is a route well-known amongst travelers and backpackers in the Southwestern part of the United States. This iconic trek includes Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego, also known as America’s Finest City.
Does destination order matter?
Whichever order you decide on for this travel circuit is up to you. We believe in saving the best for last. Once you hit the pristine beaches of San Diego and experience the fish taco flair next to the border, everything else will pale in comparison. San Diego is an ideal place to land since it offers a vibrant nightlife and several relaxing beaches for those experiencing travel fatigue.
Prioritize San Diego. No need to miss out on the best due to timing issues.
To maximize your experience, make sure to choose lodging with flavor. Hostels have become the future of travel for backpackers, and San Diego provides plenty of options when choosing a hostel.
For most backpackers, affordability is a priority. But, at the same time, it doesn’t pay to be cheap. Always look over reviews and sift through the good and bad ones to get a good idea of what to expect from your accommodations. To avoid unsavory places while maintaining the charm, here are our tips for picking affordable lodging to crash at along your journey:
Location
Location, location, location. Picking a hostel with a central location can unlock the potential of a city. Look for a hostel with prime access to a downtown area to save on time and money. Not every hostel is located near a city center, so consider this when booking to make sure that you can access it by foot or car without a hassle.
For Vegas, that means being close to the strip. The strip is where it all happens, and Sin City was coined so for a reason. Here’s a hint, it wasn’t the suburbs that made this city glamorous. From clubs to shows to gambling, the strip has everything you’ll want to dabble in during your stay.
Sin City Hostel is an awesome hostel with great hosts, setting you up for an unforgettable experience. But remember, what happens in Vegas, well you know.
Onto Southern California
For Los Angeles, it depends on your particular highlight reel. Our favorites are Venice Beach and Hermosa Beach. What can we say? We love the beach. Sporting a style all its own, Venice Beach is home to the iconic boardwalk, a 16,000-square-foot skateboarding park, and the mural capital of the world. This is where the iconic members of the Beat generation, surfers, and some of Los Angeles’ elite have all called home over the last several decades. It oozes with culture and is filled with canals and cool shops.
Along the stunning stretch of shoreline, you’ll find Hermosa Beach. This is a surfer’s oasis. Hermosa Beach is small enough to get by on foot and features plenty of great beach spots, a beautiful boardwalk, pier, promenade, hopping nightlife, restaurants, and shopping. To live out the culture like a local, book your stay at our Los Angeles Beach Hostel.
In San Diego, you have several options for lodging. Our Beach Bungalow in Pacific Beach is where to go if you’re looking to party. For a quiet night by the beach, stay in Mission Beach. Our Mission Beach Hostel is located directly across from Belmont Park, where you can play games or ride rollercoasters throughout the day before hitting the beach.
And then there’s our Adventure Hostel in Little Italy. This hostel gives you easy access to downtown San Diego, as well as several attractions like the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Plus, Little Italy is within walking distance from the Gaslamp District, where there are countless pubs and restaurants to make a night out on the town.
Downtown San Diego also features the majestic Balboa Park, a place where you can spend the day relaxing or exploring some of its many museums. We have put together a guide for the museums at Balboa Park which should make your day easier as you navigate all that it has to offer.
Vibe
Each stop and city brings its own ambiance. Experience the authentic underbelly of each city by opting for unique lodging. While hotels can offer certain amenities, there’s an energy that you won’t find anywhere else but a hostel. For a truly memorable adventure, choose a hostel.
Hostels have character. They’re not your stale, stereotypical hotel room with a standard microwave and small refrigerator. Nearly every hostel has a kitchen and common area, giving you ample opportunities to not only meet people but also save money on food. Hostels also have a unique ability to tap into the authentic vibe of a city. Rather than seclusion and lonely existence, they encourage adventure. So, if adventure is on your itinerary, hostels are your ticket. It’s a natural byproduct of being surrounded by like-minded travelers.
Even better, travelers befriend other travelers on the Trifecta path. It’s not uncommon for them to team up for the next leg of the trip. So prioritize hostels on each leg of your journey. They will make for the best experience.
Perks
If you’re only setting up for the night, perks don’t come into play as much. But stay longer than a day or two and those perks really start to kick in. Breakfast is a must. At every ITH property, we offer a free pancake breakfast and coffee every morning. Plus, paying for a deluxe breakfast every morning adds up, and will eventually eat into your party budget.
Over breakfast is also where you’ll connect with other travelers. This can mean making friends for the duration of your stay or even finding someone to tag along with you as you take on more of the road. There’s also an opportunity to coordinate activities for the day while you’re having breakfast with other travelers. From surfing, boating, standup paddleboarding, yoga, and hiking, our ITH locations offer proximity to unique experiences that you won’t find in most places.
Free Wifi
Good and free wifi is not always the standard. These days it should be counted as an essential, especially for digital nomads. But the more you travel, the more you’ll find that not all hostels have great wifi. Each of our ITH properties offers free wifi, and they all come with strong connectivity. Plus, you’ll find that all of our hostels have workspaces where you can get your big project done or be able to focus on an assignment.
Conclusion
If you have the opportunity to champion the Southwest Hostel Backpacker Route Trifecta, do it! It’s trips like these that create those “forever” memories. Not to mention that each city provides a distinctively alluring experience.
For your San Diego leg, consider International Traveler’s House. Our three different properties go above and beyond to create the best traveling adventure. From our homey vibe to daily activities and local recommendations, we are your Trifecta lodging of choice.
