This hostel is awesome! The location is amazing, the people are great, the female dorm room is so cozy and wonderful! The only negative thing i have to say is about booking.com and not the hostel itself.

DONT BOOK WITH BOOKING.COM!!! Go and book directly to the ITH Hostel website online. It’s half price if you book directly with the hostel. Booking.com is a rip off and they will never provide you a price correction or refund for the difference. Terrible experience going through booking.com.

Amazing location! Very clean and the beds were comfortable. Good number of showers/bathrooms etc for the number of people staying there - didn’t have to wait. Great espresso and kitchen facilities. Zack’s taco night was great!

Some toiletries in the showers (shampoo, body wash etc) would have been useful and has been provided in other hostels I’ve stayed in. Otherwise everything was awesome.

Great hostel that makes it easy to feel at home. Well-equipped kitchen you can use, comfy common area, and outdoor seating. The dorm beds have curtains to give you a bit more privacy. Very friendly and helpful staff and lots of activities to join. It's easy to meet people there, and it doesn't feel anonymous like many other hostels in the US. Breakfast is DIY pancakes with chocolate chips and peanut butter, and sometimes bananas. I got some fruit at a nearby supermarket, and that made for a fantastic breakfast. Location is awesome too, right next to the beach and close to State Street.

The dorms are a little small, so when several people arrive with big suitcases, you'll have to move stuff around all the time. Also, it was noisy at night because of the train station and a loud fan in the room. But the hostel provides free earplugs :) The hostel is not cheap, but Santa Barbara is crazy expensive, so for SB standards, the value is good.

I stayed at ITH Hostel in Santa Barbara for a week and had an amazing experience! For a hostel, it really exceeded my expectations. The staff were super friendly and helpful, the atmosphere was welcoming, and it was easy to meet other travelers. Everything was clean and well-maintained, and the location is perfect—just a short walk from downtown and the beach, also directly located at the Amtrak station.They also offer fun activities and free breakfast, which added a lot to the experience. I’d definitely stay here again and recommend it to anyone looking for affordable and social accommodation in Santa Barbara!

So surprised it was more than a bed to sleep in. The first night Maxine supplied s'mores fixings, and got a fire going. Rosey had such a big smile when I first checked in. I learned how much work went in to keeping the facility humming. Alejandro and Hailey kept the place spic n span. Kai and Stella were hosting Soup yoga and dance the night I left, and if I could've I would have loved to postpone my departure, but all my connections were already booked and paid for. The vibe of the place was so friendly and accommodating, which made chit chat and more possible. I loved meeting the 11th graders from a local high school (german). Internationals, I guess, had somehow heard of this place - are we all the same? Americans who travel were present. It seemed to be germans, of which I am about 1/2. When I first came I was afraid to eat - was it really for me? The second night there was spaghetti, and I asked could I have some. Maxine made the most excellent cake for pot luck night. Iwas embarrassed because I didn't have anything to offer, but no one made it an issue, and like the good Jewish mother would say, Eat, eat. I enjoyed meeting people in a setting so conducive to friendship, and would heartily recommend it to shy people.

What i kinda learned from staff is that you have to stay focused on what you hope to accomplish in order not to get swept away from your stay. Sometimes the immediate can distract you from any goals you may have. But by and large it's good to consider what others are up to, and possibly consider afresh what you want out of life (or at least... out of your vacation, vocation (ie. washing your own DC dishes)).

Quirky, hilarious and a pure throwback. You'll be whistling the Friends theme song. Everyone was SO NICE -- the staff was congenial and helpful and there's TONS to do including free breakfast (make it yourself and READ THE SIGNS) and free dinner (!!!) and Yoga and god-knows-what else. The smoking bus was hilarious (and lovely because no smoky smell in the building) and it was SUPER EASY to walk to from the train station - in fact it is easier to walk than to drive! This is clearly a place for daytrippers and backpackers of all ages - the social zone was the bathroom (shared & friendly and clean) and the quiet zone was the shared bunk room - shockingly everyone was SO POLITE. Except for one woman who had her phone on very quiet around 9am, the rest of the time the bunk room was completely silent! Bunks are very solid - not beds but loft spaces with plugs for electronic and chargers. There is a personal lamp above the bed and a personal curtain to close off your own little sailor-space. Quiet hours are posted and respected. The communal spaces are cordial but not noisy (on the one night I was there). Two people were playing guitar in the shared outdoor lawn. Hilarious! It was just wonderful, there are books to borrow. It's just magic. Total throwback to the 90s. Also there are lockers (bring your own lock or buy one). And Towels (if you do not bring one) are also $2 to rent. Also it is SO CLOSE TO TOWN. And to the beach! It's seriously perfect location-wise. Remember that I went there only about a month after they opened - the fact that it is so cheap and has free food is bound to eventually collect not great clientele but right now everyone is super respectful. The front door is locked and keyed open with your room card. I thought it felt really safe. (I had very very low expectations) -- just remember what it feels like to be a kid at summer camp and have fun!! It's all in your attitude.

Kitchen was out of milk when I went to get the free coffee (i'm not complaining--the coffee and tea and pancakes and eggs were all free!) - A lot of guests won't like the communal nature of this place but if you have ever backpacked in Europe or stayed in a Youth Hostel, you will totally love the vibe!

1. The hostel located in a bustling area in the center of Santa Barbara, it is super close to the amtrak station just across the railroad, also only about a five-minute walk from the beach. This is extremely convenient for tourists who want to fully enjoy the beach scenery and travel by train. 2. There are numerous popular restaurants, bars, and shops nearby. ITH offers discounts for guests which is super nice and I got a half price cocktail from a bar. Some restaurants need to line up for waiting, will try next trip. 3. The bed is super comfortable, and each bed has a curtain which is perfect for “i”people haha and is equipped with a small light and an outlet to charge electronic devices. I slept very well last night, first time slept over 8h in America. 4. There are public lounges, outdoor seating areas, etc., which are convenient to relax and socialize. The public kitchen facilities are complete, although I only use the water tank. 5. The hostel regularly organizes various activities such as bar nights for Friday, staff Julian, Luize and Jacob lead us and had a supper great night!and the staff also cared about our safety. We also had a marshmallow midnight talk in the yard which was very pleasant! Experienced an American thing haha. 6. Staff are enthusiastic and friendly making guests feel at home. Thank you Julian Jacob Luize!!

Nothing!

The location was fantastic, right near the beach and also the Amtrak station. The staff were so friendly and helpful - I’d accidentally booked the wrong dates and they sorted it out and rearranged for me no problem. The hostel was clean with great facilities (curtains on the beds for privacy which was great). And they did a brilliant open mic night when I was there, loved it!

Location directly in front of the train station and very close to the beach: perfect for me. The equipment, the facilities, all was top notch, new and clean. The stairs to access the top bunks are wooden and wide, which makes them very comfortable. All beds have a personal lamp and tablet to put all our things. I had a room with curtains on the beds. The structure of the beds is independent of one another. It means that if the person at the bottom is moving, the person on the top doesn't feel it ! Very cool breakfast with self-service pancakes. The staff is very nice, friendly and helpful. There are a lot of free activities and stuff you can borrow, like games, yoga mats, and many more... The common space (and the good vibe induced by the staff) makes it easy to connect with other travellers. This is really like what a hostel should feel like! Bravo.

It's a bit pricey for my outside-the-US standards... but I couldn't complain about what I got for it. Not a complaint, but to be noted: the towels are not included and are to rent for 2 dollars

ITH feels like a summer camp for grown-ups. Within a minute walk from the train station, a few minutes from State street, 5 minutes from the closest beach lies ITH Santa Barbara. That should tell you almost everything you need to know. In the hostel world, location is everything and the ITH Santa Barbara location is perfect! But there's more! Although I only stayed a few nights, and I didn't have time to take part in the busy hostel schedule, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many activities planned for the guests (dance, yoga, movie nights, night outs, etc). Probably the most social hostel I've stayed so far! The facilities are spacious with room to cook and store your food in the kitchen, sit and play games (or play guitar) in the common room, sit in the sun outside, etc. The kitchen had so many supplies - for the coffee they even had various syrups. They also allow to do laundry until quiet time (11pm). And the price to wash and dry clothes was very affordable!! Even though it was a busy period at the hostel, I never had to wait to take a shower. Also the bathrooms were clean with a very nice shower gel. The dorm rooms were a bit warm inside but the hostel provided fans. The beds were so comfy and the cabin provided privacy. I wished I actually stayed longer in SB, but there's always next time.

The breakfast was provided every morning, but I wished they had a bit more variety (more types of fruits) and a sour alternative for pancakes (e.g.bagels or bread).