Balcony

Reviews of RK Hostel San Diego

1.5 out of 5
RK Hostel San Diego
642 W. Hawthorn St., San Diego, CA

Reviews

5.2
Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 235 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 235 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 41 out of 235 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 46 out of 235 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 84 out of 235 reviews" "

5.0/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Staff & service

5.4/10

Amenities

5.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

5.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Ronnie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

James

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
The Staff at RK Hostel is Fantastic
So actually I didn't end up staying at RK Hostel. Hotels.com completely misrepresented the room that I had reserved; their photo showed a basic hotel room with two beds side by side, and they said "one room, two beds." But when I arrived it was a bunk bed and I was staying with someone else who I didn't know. I was shocked and sort of gobsmacked. The hotel staff was amazing. I talked to Rita at RK Hostel at 10pm on Wednesday night, explained my situation and she told me they understood that it was not my fault and they would waive the fee completely. She could not have been nicer. Staying in a room with strangers was not for me, but I have to say, every single person on staff that I met was nicer than the last, and so I wanted to make sure I left a review to say so.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Rodrigo

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst hostel ever
The hostel is in terrible conditions. It’s nothing but dirty and greasy in all common areas, there are dirty alcohol glasses and food laying around everywhere, the bathroom are smelling and the sink looks yellow When I showed up after opening time, the manager took an hour and a half to get there because he “had a bad night” They gave me a room that had a literally hole in the wall and has dirty floors. Because of my questions, they gave me another room that has dirty bedsheets. They asked me to leave my stuff (since it’s now my room) and that they would take care of it. When I came back,i was almost jumped outside the establishment by 2 large men lurking on the entrance. I used my keys to get in and someone’s stuff was already there. My bags disappeared I found them on the trash, empty. I left the hostel and gave asked for a refund and a reconstitution of my things to hotels.com They have NOT helped.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Daniel

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

George

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Trina, Dublin

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

John

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
No towels for free
The place is pretty run down. I'm glad my wife was not with me. She would not have stayed. I did not notice on the website there are no towels in the room and you have to bring your own or ask for them at $10/each.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Max

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I just felt unsafe in many ways. Being completely honest might as well just go to a shelter
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Laura

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The bed pillow and/or comfortor had a smell, the sheets were stained, I ended up with a rash or bug bites on neck, arms, and back. The room itself had a bad smell (maybe paint). The shower area had a bad smell. All soap dispensers empty, towels are rented, there are no hair dryers 'available on request', the listing on Expedia is misleading, the price is misleading (there's a reason they want you to pay at the property). Definitely not a place for women. For better or worse, the location is decent but I could not stay again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

8/10 Good

Veronica

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Couldn’t find more showers. Property was bigger than I thought.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Inga, San Diego

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Joe at the front desk was very friendly and accommodating. Smells like smoke on the property and hear some loud music.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Yohannes Asmerom

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

6/10 Okay

Kevin

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Ok
Response from Dustin on Jan 1, 2023
Thank you for your business

2/10 Terrible

Phill

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The owner met us at the front desk and charged us a higher price than what we agreed to on expedia.com. There were no fresh towels in our room. The room was unsafe as both outside fire escapes were barricaded. The property is unsafe and should be condemned. The price of rooms are overpriced for what you get. The entire property should be delisted from expedia.com
Response from RK Hostel Management on Dec 4, 2022
Dear Phil, Thank you for your review, I would like to clear up the situation that happened on your check in. You originally made a reservation for a 2 bed dorm for 70 a night, you misunderstood the situation, which you assumed the 70 was for the room, but was for just 1 bed, for yourself and not your companion. When I explained that to you, you were frustrated, so i explained to you that if you wanted the room then that would have costed you 140 ( tax). You were informed that, you can go to a different hotel but there were none near the price we were offering. I gave you a discount for the deluxe room that you both can share and I offered to pay the tax for you as well. You seemed very happy with the situation and went to your room, with no issues. It came a surprise to me that you left a negative review after the accomodations we offered, and i dont feel that its fair. The next day you called us up for another reservation to which we unfortunately had no availability. RK Hostel is confused that we gave a discount and we offered the best explanation of how a hostel operated and we feel that it is unjust for this negative review. Respectfully, RK Hostel Management

10/10 Excellent

James

Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really liked the ambiance and atmosphere
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022
Response from Micheal on Nov 28, 2022
Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback

10/10 Excellent

Jose

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
good
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Response from Bethany on Nov 28, 2022
Happy to have you stay with us

8/10 Good

ron, Tiburon

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Very good price and location
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Response from Dustin on Dec 11, 2022
Thanks Ron, you're the best!

2/10 Terrible

Michael

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
BED BUGS, didnt even stay there for over 6 hours cause of the cleaniness, total dump
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Response from Dave on Oct 31, 2022
Dear Michael, the management read your review, you and your friend stayed for your entire reservation time and nobody complained. After you check out we carefully check for any sign of bedbug, we found zero evidence of any bed bugs in your room we also have a contract with Terminix a pest control company if we have any bed bugs which any hotel can have. The management has a suspicion about bad reviews for RK hostel nearby competition is creating.Thank you, Respectfully RK Hostel Quality Assurance Management

2/10 Terrible

Richard

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Bedbugs. Up the yang.
Bedbugs. That’s all I have to say. I checked in at 10:00pm and by 1:00am I took a shower and left to sleep in the car. Guy up front was nice. Sadly, right on the airplane path. Not worth the small savings. So many bedbugs.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022
Response from Dave on Oct 31, 2022
Dear Richard, The management read the review, you never complained to the front desk about bed bugs, we carefully went through the rooms and beds when you left, this is our routine. We found zero evidence of bed bugs, and have a contract with Terminix pest control company if any complaints are made. We have a suspicion the nearby competition is creating these problems. Respectfully, RK Hostel Quality Assurance Management Team

10/10 Excellent

Quentin

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great area safe f and right in the n middle so there's options when it comes to sit seeing
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Response from Dustin on Dec 18, 2022
Thank you for staying with us, we sincerely value your business and appreciate your feedback. Hope you're well and wish you the best. 5 out of 5 customer

10/10 Excellent

Tenesha

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Awesomeness
No air conditioning in my room unfortunately but the scenery was great
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2022

2/10 Terrible

Robert

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from Dave on Oct 31, 2022
Dear Robert, We are sorry you gave us two points out of ten. We would like to know why so we can correct and better our service with your input. We are here to serve our clients and do our best when you stay at RK Hostel. We hope you can give us another chance. Respectfully RK Quality Assurance Management

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
You pay for what you get!
This Hostel is very unsanitary, and a health hazard. Toilet was clogged, and a line for the one shower for 20 people...no towels provided by staff so make sure to bring your own. Blankets aren't ever washed, so be weary of using those, along with the filthy pillows.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

Deane

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bed bugs
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

ELIZABETH

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Empezando no se como se podia pasar al check in salio un homelesss y pasamos no habia nadie las personas estaban fumando olor a mariguana y no me pude quedar Muy feo No lo recomiendo..
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

William

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place is falling apart the stove doesn't work now please to cook there was never a breakfast or any staff on duty in the over night time several medical emergency happened twice why staying there and know staff around to give information to the fire department or the ambulance crew . This is also in fest with bed bugs and they a have only one shower and the rest for that is because the floor is falling thought so forth everyone there there only two bathrooms and only one shower
Stayed 28 nights in Jun 2022

2/10 Terrible

Thomas

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loving the new staff and changes , this place is in a great area .
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

2/10 Terrible

Corey

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Dolores

Liked: Staff & service
First time @ hostel
Interesting, not sure if i'd stay here again. Hostel never got back to me about the questions I had.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

2/10 Terrible

Edward

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bed bugs
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

2/10 Terrible

Ricky

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
this place SUCKS STAY AWAY!!!!!!
STAY AWAY FROM THIS HELL HOLE!! Got there at 7 pm for THEIR check in time - which already the latest check-in EVER! Some dude looks like a Mexican gang banger asks me - do i have a reservation - yes i said he goes out of the room half hour later some drugged up dude shows up gets behind the reservation desk tells me he has no reservation for me and they don't do business with hotels.com - bs - hour later say's he has no bed for me - by now it's nearly 9 oclock - BS!!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

2/10 Terrible

Timothy

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
No wifi. No laundry. They got bedbugs. worst one yet. No cups, coffee, sugar
Stayed 14 nights in Nov 2021

2/10 Terrible

Sheila

Disliked: Room comfort
Just go somewhere else
It was a Saturday night and all of the hotels were between 2 and 3 hundred dollars and found this hostel. Check in is at 7pm! There are no exceptions! The male who i stumbled upon there at 6pm made me scared as all hell. Then i read other reviews on google and i got even more scared! I never went back! I stayed at the airport the whole night until my flight took off at 10:25am.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

4/10 Poor

Elena

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

2/10 Terrible

Doree

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

4/10 Poor

Marshall

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
I got there at 11pm to check in and no one was to be found. There were other folks also there to check in and no one was available to check any one in. We were all standing around feeling stupid. I left, went one block down and stayed at the Embassy hotel which had a full room with two beds and cost only 6.00 more than this hostel.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
El recepcionista a mi ingreso, no se esforzó por ekterme, yo hablo español, yo sin embargo intentr hablarle en Inglés, pero sentí
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
liked that staff were helpful and kind.There is a 250 meters away.Only downside is that there is always the sound of landing airplanes.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is a wonderful, very clean Hostel. Terrific staff
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
I do not recommend this location for youngsters. You get what you pay for.
Stayed 25 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2021

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Made a reservation and manager never came or called back. Still waiting
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2021

6/10 Okay

Katherine

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Aleksandra

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2020

4/10 Poor

Rich, NV

Business traveller
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
the room was hot and the AC was not good !!!! was put in a small room that was not very secured and later it was tried to put another customer in there !!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020