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Green Tortoise Backpackers Reviews

494 Broadway, San Francisco, California, USA

Reviews & Ratings Explained

90%Overall Rating

From 116 ratings
  • 92%Character
  • 88%Security
  • 89%Location
  • 93%Staff
  • 91%Atmosphere
  • 85%Cleanliness

The following reviews were submitted by customers who booked in the last 6 months.

The reviews and ratings in the rating box are based on all-time feedback and are the opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up to the minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is. Read our review guidelines »

We now classify our reviewers based on how well travelled they are.

  • Novice Nomad: 1-10 Reviews Added
  • Avid Traveller: 10-20 Reviews Added
  • Globetrotter : 20+ Reviews Added
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90%

If you can sleep trough loud music all night long, coming from the strip bars around the hostel, you will be fine! Everyone is very nice and there are enough bathrooms to use. And always clean.


93%

Fun place, good location and very accommodating. A few of the staff could have lightened up a bit. All around great place to stay though.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 21 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Female, 18-24
  • (1 review)


80%

Not much parties in the hostel.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 21 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Chile
  • Male, 25-30
  • (1 review)


87%

Great hostel for partying and meeting people, probably not the place to go for a quite stay. Free breakfasts and dinners were fantastic and the staff were really helpful. Only draw back was the lack of shared bathrooms which meant that at busy periods there was often a long wait for a shower.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 20 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female, 18-24
  • (2 reviews)


93%

really nice place to stay, funny street, very good staff. plaisant place to stay and meet people.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 20 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • France
  • Female, 25-30
  • (2 reviews)


100%

This place is awesome with a great staff and a great location for walking to the ocean. There are four to five private bathrooms, they're small, but its San Francisco, and they certainly take care of business. Help out with cooking at least one night and let the nice Italian gentlman know there's no way you can cut green peppers as well as the guy from a couple months ago. Its a wonderful place.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 19 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Male, 31-40
  • (2 reviews)


100%

Best hostel I've stayed at! Very relaxed atmosphere, nice rooms, heaps to do. Great breakfasts every day & dinner 3 nights a week. Location is perfect for experiencing SF


60%

Mediocre hostel in really lousy area. They offered plenty of social activities but the place could be more tidy. Neighborhood offers little beyond sketchy Chinese food and strip clubs.


100%

It was brilliant! was just there for 4 nights, Will hopefully stay there again in the near future! : ) the desk staff was always super helpful to find things! Thanks Guys

  • Novice Nomad
  • 06 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male, 18-24
  • (1 review)


93%

Amazing atmosphere - hostel staff were really friendly and hung out with the people staying there. A lot of effort went into getting everyone socialising and it paid off; we were there for only three nights and settled right into a group of people we'll definitely be staying in touch with. Beds were comfortable, showers were hot and everywhere is clean while still feeling lived-in and non-sterilised - basically it's really homely. Also freely available internet, massage chairs and a sauna.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 06 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male, 25-30
  • (1 review)


100%

Excellent location, super helpful staff, youth atmosphere, awesome daily activities options!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 05 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Costa Rica
  • Male, 41+
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
So, glad that you enjoyed your stay here! We hope to see you again next time you are in San Francisco-Since you enjoyed your stay here you should check out our Hostel on Wheels and the Seattle Hostel!

83%

It has to invest in its caracter. The interior desing is a little bit old. Except for that, it`s one of the most nice hostels i`ve ever visited.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 02 Mar 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Brazil
  • Couple, 25-30
  • (4 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
The building is very old and has been around since 1909- We are always doing things to spruce up and add to the character to the place! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay here and we hope to see you again soon! Don't forget to like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscohostel

93%

Great fun, stay there

  • Novice Nomad
  • 22 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Ireland
  • Male, 25-30
  • (1 review)


100%

Perfect location. Close to Chinatown, reasonable distance to BART station. Liked the international room the most. Would definitely come again if I go to San Francisco.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 20 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • China
  • Mixed Group, 18-24
  • (15 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for rating us and we are so glad you enjoyed your stay! Come again :)

97%

Rooms are great, massive area underneath beds to lock up all your gear. Free breakfasts every morning (if you wake up on time) and great free dinners every second night. Loved the place, and I recommended it throughout my travels to other travelers planning to head to San Fran. If i'm in the city again this will be where i'm staying! Only thing I didn't like was the pub crawl they put on- every bar except for the first one I felt like the group wasn't welcome there, & the bars weren't that great

  • Novice Nomad
  • 19 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Australia
  • Male, 25-30
  • (3 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for the great feedback- We will always recommend a bunch of other places in the area not on the pub crawls route so you can experience the real San Francisco. Our aim on the pub crawl is to take you to (hopefully) fun places that will take a large group and give a stellar deal on drinks so, it's easy on your wallet. Hope to see you and the other travelers you recommend here in the future!

90%

Good hostel, although maybe a bit too big to be welcoming. Excellent informative and friendly staff do a great job though. A bit annoyed that the price that hostelworld quoted me was less than what I had to pay at check in though - because of taxes on our double room.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 14 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Male, 31-40
  • (16 reviews)


87%

The staff was really friendly and helpful. I was only there for one night so I didn't join in on festivities but it seemed like a really fun hostel. It was very clean but run down. It a way it added character and in a way it was just tired. The neighborhood is fun and has a lot going on.

Owner Comment (Show)
You are gonna have to come back in a couple of months to see the results of our GREAT and FUN makeovers throughout the hostel.Our building is very old and has been around since the early 1900's and we strive to create an atmosphere where the old and new live in harmony. Like us on Facebook and hope to see you soon!

97%

Awesome place to stay, very organized and backpacker friendly. food was fantastic and brought everyone together. ll round great time

  • Avid Traveller
  • 09 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • All Female Group, 18-24
  • (16 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Our Italian Chef makes the most fantastic food around- Glad you enjoyed yourself and hope to see you again soon!

70%

It was a very good location and good bargain. I don't think it lived up to it's self-declared title as "number one party hostel" but still not bad. One thing that I noticed compared to other hostels was that the common room was huge which seemed to cause less interaction but it was an interesting space that looked like a former ballroom.


93%

Loved the Green Tortoise! We stayed in a private double and the room was a good size with lots of light from two big windows, a sink in the room and a reading light at the head of the bed. Only downside was the mattress was like a vortex pulling us into the middle... Friendly and helpful staff with great restaurant recommendations! The beer Olympics event was a great way to meet other travelers. And can't bet the location!

  • Globetrotter
  • 08 Feb 2013
  • Anonymous
  • Canada
  • Couple, 25-30
  • (25 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for your comments, we really appreciate the input and are glad that you enjoyed your stay at the Green Tortoise. We are in the process of upgrading all of our private rooms---Thank you for the heads up and will place changing that mattress on the top of our list. Hope to see you again soon!

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