Traveling on a budget often means staying in dodgy, dirty, unsafe places, or in locations far away from the action. Not so with this great hostel. It is, believe it or not, a converted nunnery, located just a few blocks from the beach and most of downtown’s main attractions. It’s not just for kids, either, so it has no curfew, but it does have a fantastic shared kitchen, all stainless steel and commercial-quality appliances, where you can whip up a snack or a gourmet meal. Most rooms are clean, whitewashed quad dorms with simple pine bunk beds; a limited number of doubles, triples, and private rooms are also available. Most require that you share a bathroom. There’s also a spectacular rooftop patio, game room with pool table, and free shuttle to the bus depot and Jericho Beach. Not too surprisingly, it’s extremely busy in summer, so be sure to book ahead.