Podshare: A Modern Twist On Hostels

Hollywood's latest entry to the hospitality scene takes socially-networked travelers to a new place. Podshare is tucked down a side street within walking distance of tourist attractions, theaters, bars and restaurants making a "Pod" a highly-coveted spot to lay one's head. The rate? Just $40 a night.

If you were looking online for a place to stay in Hollywood and found the following: "inexpensive, clean, safe, comfortable, top location and lots of cool people" – you would probably be intrigued. Podshare opened in 2012 with the goal of being a place for socially-connected people to stay in a community living arrangement for one or more nights.

Guests, called "Podestrians," stay in one of 10 pods with a bed, 22-inch flat-screen TV equipped with Hulu and Netflix for watching with headphones and a reading light. Podshare provides toiletries, towels, lockers, WiFi and most of all, social interaction.

Eighty percent of those checking in at Podshare are solo travelers.

An average evening in the Common Area finds people making group plans for the evening and deciding if anyone feels like cooking breakfast the next morning. The connections continue as each Podestrian is given a personal profile at http://thepodshare.com/podestrians/ to help everyone to keep in touch.

Podshare is planning to open its second LA location later this year.

Good to know: Guests must be 18 and older. Podshare is staffed 24 hours a day and parking is available for $10 a day and must be reserved in advance). The low season rate is $40 and $50 during the high season. All ten Pods can be booked for groups such as girl's weekends.

Podshare

1617 Cosmo Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
(213) 973-7741
http://thepodshare.com

Elizabeth Peterson loves discovering new things and telling everyone she knows. Check out her personal blog TradedMyBMWforaMinivan.com.