Y.M.C.A. Hostel

San Francisco

The Green Tortoise - NOT Recommended...

Cheap Hotel Alternatives:

Grant Plaza Hotel - very popular budget hotel near Chinatown and the Financial District...

Renoir Hotel - popular centrally located large budget hotel with character... Our #2 most reserved hotel in January 2001.

Its Not Fun to Stay at the Y.M.C.A.:

"For those of you who think staying at the YMCA men's hospitality rooms in Chinatown in San Francisco on Sacramento Street, please be advised to think again. This place is the worst dump that I've ever walked into, it's not like the YMCA buildings in New York city that are safe, spacious and decent for a budget traveler. Don't be fooled by the YMCA gym that is on the bottom floor, once they give you a key, you have to go around to the side which is highly dangerous and dark at night.

I walked in and there was garbage all over, on the floor, in corners, the whole place stunk like rotten food and urine. What I then saw truly disgusted me, the room they expected me to sleep in. The rooms are grotesque, no human should have to be subjected to something like that. These are flop house rooms, pure and simple, nothing has been invested in them, NOTHING! The bed is dirty and from the 1940's, it is one of those spring coil types with a smelly mattress that is probably original and on top of that it had some sort of flea or bed bug which gave me bite marks on my legs and I woke up with a strange rash on my face. There was no lock on the door either so I had to push the bed against the door in fear of my life.

The carpet, what was left of it, is all torn and has stains on it. For those of you seeking to watch a few nights of TV, there is none, I had to cozy up with a book by Dostoyevsky to pass the night hours away, take it from me, reading 'Crime and Punishment' is not something you want to read in a place like this. The furniture (an ugly dresser and one small nightstand with knife marks) is dirty and smelt bad. This place is a DUMP! Be warned, don't go using the restroom or shower either, I went in there and some guy was asleep in the toilet and some other guy was shooting up his arm in the shower. There are cockroaches and it seems that no one cleans the place. I quickly went down to the Chinatown Holiday Inn to do my business and brush my teeth. Traveler's don't come here it seems, it's more of a junkie hangout, throw in a few former cons and just plain scum bags and that is what they have. I got ripped off for $50 for one night for this awful experience, I had to get out and demanded my full week's payment back from the irate Chinese service desk man or I would sue them, he quickly complied after I told him I would turn him over to the Health authorities for numerous violations, including having rats running around like a pet shop. After that, I went to the Holiday Inn on Van Ness, let me tell you,its very worth the expense..." Oslo - February 2001

Jason writes in September 2001, "Hey, love you site, been to it several times. I have a different oponion about the YMCA. I have NEVER stayed at the Chinatown YMCA but the other Y's hostel/hotel ( I think it is the Central YMCA) is great. You get a clean well kept room, your own bathroom if you pay for it, free breakfast and I even used the gym before. So, just wanted to let everyone know, I liked the Y I stayed at and it is cheap."

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