Where are the best hostels? San Francisco and Portugal, one survey says

Hostels in Lisbon and San Francisco have taken top honors in the 2010 “Hoscar” awards for “excellence in the budget accommodation industry.” Hostelworld.com announced the results of its online survey of more than a million voters who reserved and stayed at hostels last year.

USA Hostels San Francisco was selected as the best in the country and also ranked in the top three hostels in North America. The hostel, minutes from the city’s downtown Union Square at 711 Post St., has some pretty swell freebies: all-you-can-make pancakes and oatmeal, free Wi-Fi, lockers with electronics charge stations and more. I checked the website and found a dorm-style room for four going for $30 plus tax a night -- a sweet deal for any budget-minded visitor.

Second place went to a Los Angeles location: USA Hostels Hollywood at 1624 Schrader Blvd.

Internationally, three hostels in Lisbon snagged top honors, and a fourth made the top 10 list. According to a release from Hostelworld.com, guests graded hostels for fun, cleanliness, staff, security, location and character.

Here are the places that received high marks.

Best in the U.S:

1. USA Hostels San Francisco
2. USA Hostels Hollywood, Los Angeles
3. Hostelling International Chicago
4. Miami Beach International Hostel
5. Adelaide Hostel and Hotel, San Francisco
6. Hostelling International Washington, D.C.
7. Hostelling International Boston Downtown
8. The New York Loft Hostel, New York City
9. India House Backpackers Hostel, New Orleans
10. Hostelling International New York, New York City

Best large hostels worldwide:

1. Travellers House, Lisbon
2. Living Lounge Hostel, Lisbon
3. Yes! Lisbon Hostel, Lisbon
4. Hostel Mostel, Sofia, Bulgaria
5. Friendly Fun Franks Backpackers Hostel, Riga, Latvia
6. Montreal Central, Montreal, Canada
7. Han Tang Inn Youth Hostel, Xi’an, China
8. Home, Lisbon
9. EastSeven Berlin Hostel, Berlin
10. Castle Rock Hostel, Edinburgh, Scotland