mlgb

You can always get some idea by using Google Street View. I especially like the little "walking man" if I have never been somewhere. They aren't airbrushing out the homeless sidewalk tents.Sometimes you can even check street parking availability and sweeping days. Of course it's just a snapshot in time but still can be useful.

michaelpianko

The hostel is on Hollywood boulevard, between North Gower street and the 101 freeway, 1.8 miles from Jon's international marketplace, 1.3 miles from a Smart & Final Extra store that apparently has fruit and other stuff, point six miles from the Capital Records Building, across the street from LA county superior court, point nine miles west of Thai town...

The hostel's website says,

Parking Near Rooms, on a Limited and First Come Basis, $10 per day; Ample Street Parking as well.

Hopefully the situation will be better than when I went to Chicago for a cousins wedding about 2 years ago; from Friday at about 7pm until Sunday at 10am, I paid $104 to store my car in a parking garage. I stayed in a hostel there because of the price, thinking it would be as good as the hostels in Europe; the problem was, there were no lockers in the room. They said they had lockers in the room but there were none.

MoBro

Are you truly sharing a room with 5 others?

I have to agree the Hollywood location could be very dicey. Some people assume Hollywood is glamorous. Far from it.

I’d seriously reconsider that location. LA is huge and has many other options. I’d choose Burbank or Studio City over Hollywood.

shelemm

I would not hesitate to stay at Banana Bungalow if that is indeed the location you are staying. You can walk to Ameoba! (they sometimes have live music) Both Getty and LACMA are magnificent.

BTW, you don't have to be interested in movies to find Hollywood fascinating. Like I said about Venice Beach, you are entering a different world. It's as exotic as anything in the US. And as long as you are staying right there.....

Also, you might want to find out about Googie architecture which is prevalent (though disappearing) in LA.

shelemm

You sound incredulous. That's EXACTLY how hostels work.

MoBro

I think it’s naive to think sharing a room with 5 strangers in Hollywood is a good plan.

PS Venice Beach is a different scene nowadays. Lots of homeless tents.

mlgb

Perhaps to the OP from Detroit it will all seem normal. He does seem to have his own anxiety issues so I wonder if a Hollywood hostel is really a good fit, but it's his choice. I would carefully read reviews from past visitors and see what they say about parking availability on site (if it is Banana they have 8 spaces according to Parkme). You can also use parkme.com and see what else is available nearby for overnight parking (24/7). Many locations may not be for overnight, have shorter hours on weekend, for customers only, etc. Be sure to read the details . They also have a section to look at Street Parking. It doesn't look like good odds near the hostel but check back for night time parking.

shelemm

In this case, reading reviews is an excellent idea since it is a non-traditional housing arrangement that might not suit everyone.

Jean

Visible in a Google Streetview photo taken June 2022 are numerous homeless encampments on the sidewalks within a block in either direction of Banana Bungalows... Perhaps because of services offered by the Salvation Army across the street...

If you park the car on the street, don't leave ONE thing of ANY value or curious attraction in the car... even in the trunk. Make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage on the rental. I would ask about the specific restrictions/limits on the "ample" street parking. It probably wouldn't be available until 4:00p or later. It will be dark by 5:00p, and I wouldn't want to walk much in this area after dark.

Were you aware there is a Banana Bungalow on North Fairfax in West Hollywood? This location is closer to most of the sights on your list and is in a nicer area IMO. Its reviews tick slightly higher than the Hollywood location, and it seems to have its own parking lot. Multiple Trader Joe's and Whole Foods nearby as well as a Farm Boy. Whole Foods and Farm Boy have healthy takeaway options.

janisj

Please reconsider staying there -- this youtube video was filmed 2 years ago less than half a mile from the Banana Bungalow Hollywood . . . and the situation is worse in 2022 . . .


And parts of this depressing video was filmed very neat the hostel


Things are much worse farther east on Hollywood Blvd, but even in the 'relatively' calm area close to the hostel - I would never EVER park a car overnight.

mlgb

My favorite capture from a Google Man street view walkaround is the guy passed out in the grass in front of Tommy's.
https://goo.gl/maps/GifS3UPjSjXhKtDk7

I think there are more panhandlers along the Walk of Fame because that is where the tourists are. But you can see that there are makeshift shelters blocking sidewalk access near the hostel.

MoBro

Great idea

michaelpianko

I had to cancel the hostel because I didn't read the fine print until today. Banana Bungalow does not allow Americans to stay there, and I will not have a stamp in my passport because I am not leaving the country.

Jean

I don't find anything excluding Americans (which would be a dumb policy, esp. in Covid times). Their website says:

"Dorms are for travelers with recent PROOF OF TRAVEL which means a recently stamped passport or a plane, train or bus ticket."

You would have proof of your plane travel to L.A. and your return flight info.

janisj

I think you completely misunderstood the website (which is a good thng IMO because that is currently a pretty nasty) neighborhood

Their rule for proof of travel is to ensure local residents don't book there. Like some of the 'characters' sleeping on the sidewalk out front

A stamped passport is only ONE one of the accepted proofs of travel (a stamped passport - OR - a bus ticket - OR - a plane/train ticket.

But as several of us have been trying to convince you, it wouldn't be our choice off location so it is probably for the best you cancelled.

michaelpianko

The fine print on Booking.com says:

Dorms are for international travelers only.

To check in to a dorm you will be asked to provide a passport with an international stamp
within the last 6 months. Please DO NOT reserve a dorm without a stamped passport or
you will not be accepted at check-in, sorry.

Please reserve a private room if you do not have a stamped passport.

---
I called the place. Some guy with a weird accent said something about keeping an international vibe and "yeah we do require a stamped passport so you wouldn't qualify..."

Maybe they would me stay in a private room. But that would cost 5 or 6x more.

janisj

OK - that does clear things up -- since their own website doesn't say that, probably hasn't been updated. But nevertheless Thank your lucky stars you can't stay there . . .

Jean

This doesn't clear things up. Booking.com says one thing, and BB's website says something else which the random guy who answered the phone contradicted. Whatever. If you had booked directly and showed up with a confirmed reservation, would they have turned you away?

Just run... Find something more reliable.

mlgb

I wonder why the OP is locked in on Hollywood.

There are other hostels in better neighborhoods if the cost is that important.

For Example Surf City in Hermosa Beach. It is not too far from the airport either. You could even split the stay with another location.

From their website:

https://surfcityhostel.com/hermosabe...nd-conditions/

jamie99

There is also a HI Hostel in Santa Monica, only two blocks or so from the beach. I walked past it ten years or so ago and it looked OK from the outside.