ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel

City view from property
Living area
Exterior
Train station shuttle
Living area

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Laundry room

Explore the area

View in a map
134 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
  • Place, Moreton Bay Fig Tree
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara Harbor
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Stearns Wharf
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Room options

Economy Shared Dormitory

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(7 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Classic Shared Dormitory, Women only

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(6 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Classic Shared Dormitory

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(10 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Basic Double Room

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

Basic Double Room

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About this property

ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel

This hostel features self parking, laundry facilities and a garden. Free on-the-go breakfast and free WiFi in public areas are also provided. Additionally, barbecues, a picnic area and a vending machine are on-site. Housekeeping is available on request.
ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel offers 9 air-conditioned accommodations, with a hairdryer. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps). Bathrooms include a shower with a rainfall showerhead. Housekeeping is provided on request.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.
Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Santa Barbara Harbor. Enjoy features like free breakfast and free WiFi in public areas, plus laundry facilities.
  • Free on-the-go breakfast served daily
  • Free Wi-Fi (speed: 25+ Mbps)
  • Self-parking available for a fee
  • Amenities include locker space, laundry facilities and a vending machine
  • 8 minutes by foot from Santa Barbara Harbor and a 4-minute drive from Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Free breakfast is served daily. Public spaces have free WiFi. Barbecue grills, a vending machine, and a garden are also featured at ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel. Parking is available for a fee.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Santa Barbara hostel.

Guests are served a free on-the-go breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site (USD 20 per night)
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Free on-the-go breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Lockers
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping on request

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor entertainment area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Designated smoking areas (fines apply)

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

An adult aged 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
The front desk is open daily from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Self-parking fee: USD 20 per night

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit and outdoor lighting
The front desk at this property is open daily from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM.
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

Property is also known as

I.T.H. Santa Barbara Beach Hostel
ITH Santa Barbara Beach Hostel Santa Barbara
ITH Santa Barbara Beach Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation

ITH Santa Barbara Surf Hostel Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 146 out of 196 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 196 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 15 out of 196 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 196 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 196 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Blaine

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Angelina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
I spend 4 days in this Hostel and it was incredible ! The staff are so nice and everything is really clean ! By the way if you meet Maxine you're better watch out because she is iconic !! There is also activities during the day and in the evening, so as a single traveler it's perfect to meet new people ! Don't hesitate if you come in Santa Barbara, come to the ITH !!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Giovanni

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cozy, courteous, and cute. This hostel was unlike previous I had stayed in that it had unique qualities such as the themed nights. The location is perfect! I was able to walk to dinner (a local Mediterranean spot) and steps from the beach for sunset. 10/10 would recommend & hope to return
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chang

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Hubert

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alice

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Irene

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everyone is always amazing!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Walkable to everything, beach and downtown
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Fatima

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Chris

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jacob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fun and friendly atmosphere. Matthew was especially kind in showing me around. Definitely would stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacquelynn

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Donald

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice hostel! Friendly, helpful staff.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Yes and yes.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jorge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My husband was in town just to drop of some of my son's belongings and needed a place to rest before driving back home...literally less than an 24 hour trip. Hotels were either sold out, super far or ridiculously priced at over $400/night. I saw the hostel & he said he loved the idea...meeting new people, having a place to sleep, being downtown and you can't beat the rate. I did get him the private bedroom because he snores. Eeek, don't tell him I shared that on the internet! He checked in rather late at 9pm and was welcomed in by Hailey. She shared the rules, gave him a quick tour of the hostel and he left his backpack in his room and went out to find some dinner. He shared that it was such a relaxed environment: people working on their laptops, chatting by the fire pit, cooking up a meal, and sharing a beer. When he came back most people had gone to bed. He used the restroom which he said were spotless, went to bed and slept all night. He commented that the hostel was super clean, trendy, and really had a great atmosphere. Everything is so close by and while the crowd was younger than him, he said it's definitely a place he'd come back to and said he thinks I'd love it too!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Mei Qi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location close to the Amtrak station, sufficient restrooms for use, free breakfast as described, however there was no air conditioning in the room, just a portable fan available.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Amazing spot and awesome staff
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Emily

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacquelynn

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean room and great breakfast
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Sherry Belen

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
I was never informed that we had to take out our sheets before checking out. The guy at the front desk named Drew (the ginger guy) did not even bother to explain properly or even stand up to show us where to put them. I had to ask again where to go. He was on his phone, never even bothered checking if we did it correctly or guiding us, and did not even bother checking our names upon check-out. The place really has potential, but you need to properly explain your rules, because paying $150 for a private room where we still have to take out the sheets ourselves sounds very unreasonable. I know it's not a hotel, but I've never been to a hostel where you have to take out the sheets. It would have been okay if it was explained before checking in, but it wasn't. Furthermore, the front desk staff lacked the decency to properly explain things to guests. Another guest approached us, saying she had never seen any private room guests taking out sheets before. She spoke with Drew, and he just shrugged it off like he didn't even care. We then had to ask again if we were, in fact, required to do it.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a cute and inviting space!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great except that it was really hot at night
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025