About Our Hostels 
San Diego 
HI-USA
Hostelling International USA, San Diego Council is actively involved in promoting the benefits of global understanding and educational travel through outreach programs for youth and adults.
Our youth programs reach out to Girl Scouts, high school and university students, and other community organizations. Hostellers participate in weekly volunteer-led activities including tours and community dinners. We connect with fellow travelers through local festivals and at travel workshops. Groups staying at the hostel can work with hostel staff to help plan a San Diego itinerary that can include volunteer work or special programs.
The San Diego Council hosts the Annual Christmas Bike Ride and in 2007, will take over leadership of Midnight Madness. In the past, the hostels have opened their doors for the public through open houses and concerts series. And the hostels have partnered with several local agencies for large volunteer projects.
Programs include:
Hostels
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
Alternative Spring Break
Girl Scouts
Bike Rides
Hostels: Hostels provide an in-depth cultural experience for travelers, offering low-cost, comfortable overnight accommodations. In addition to its affordability, the hostel experience is unique and attractive because of the opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. Hostels provide common areas, activities, and programming especially designed to foster interaction among its participants.
There are two Hostelling International hostels in San Diego: HI-San Diego, Downtown and HI-San Diego, Point Loma.
HI-San Diego Downtown
With 143 beds, the Downtown hostel hosted 11,306 guests in 2005-06, for a total of 36,419 overnights. The hostel has weekly activities that include a volunteer manned information desk, volunteer led walking tours of downtown and Balboa Park and Kitchen Connection, a community dinner prepared with volunteers and hostellers.
HI-San Diego, Point Loma
The smaller of the two hostels, the Point Loma hostel has 53 beds and hosted 4,299 guests in 2005-06, 14,186 overnights. With a homey feel, the hostel is has weekly barbecues and spaghetti dinner. The courtyard is the perfect venue for a summer concert series. During August 2006, the hostel teamed with the Trummerflora Collective to present four concerts to over 100 community members and hostellers.
Education and Outreach programs: The San Diego Council actively promotes the benefits of global understanding and education travel in the community through free outreach programs for youth and adults. The programs reach out to Girl Scouts, students and other community organizations.
Volunteers present a variety of workshops at schools and travel stores including World Travel 101, which introduces travelers to the basics of travel and cultural sensitivity. In 2005-06, volunteers spoke to over 372 people during 13 presentations at REI, LE Travel Store and Adventure; worked with and 371 students at local high schools.
The San Diego Council participates in community fairs such as the Multi-Cultural Festival and Earth Day, and on-campus events at local universities. In 2005-06, the San Diego Council spoke with over 500 attendees of the local fairs and festivals.
Break Away, Alternative Spring Break:
San Diego Council is collaborating with Break Away®: the Alternative Break Connection, Inc. a national 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs. The San Diego Council was chosen to host their 2007 national conference.
San Diego Council is working with the Girl Scouts on several programs, including participating in their summer Urban Campout. Girl Scouts have an opportunity to earn the “Girl Scouts Go Hostelling” patch by completing specific programs at local hostels. In 2006, the Girl Scouts, San Diego Imperial Council are requiring that all troops complete a San Diego Council World Travel 101 program before they travel.
Bike Trips:
The San Diego Council sponsors a countywide six-day bike ride, now in its 51st year. The ride attracts cyclists from around the country, many riders stay in San Diego before and after the trip. Over 100 riders participated in the 50th Anniversary Ride, December 2006. In August 2007, the San Diego Council will resume leadership of another ride, Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Trip, a 20-mile, family oriented tour around San Diego.