Samesun Venice Beach Hotel & Hostel

Every now and then a hostel earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Samesun Venice Beach Hotel & Hostel, in Venice Beach, is one of those. Geographically speaking it's in a quieter stretch of the city, well outside the tourist crush, and the modest location rating in guest reviews backs…

Every now and then a hostel earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Samesun Venice Beach Hotel & Hostel, in Venice Beach, is one of those. Geographically speaking it's in a quieter stretch of the city, well outside the tourist crush, and the modest location rating in guest reviews backs that up. Inside, the rooms are practical, and guests pick out reliable wi-fi as the small things that add up over a stay. It feels lived-in rather than staged, which tends to be the difference between a stay you remember and one you don't. The numbers behind the reviews tell their own story, well over 3,400 reviews, scoring solid on balance. Reputation has held up across enough stays to mean something. Expect to pay something in the region of €42 a night, a strong-value entry on the board, especially when stacked against nearby alternatives. The honest read on Samesun Venice Beach Hotel & Hostel is that it deserves a side-by-side look against the bigger Los Angeles names rather than a headline of its own.