Orange Mango Garden Hostel

Affordable accommodations in Orange County are hard to come by, but fortunately OMG Hostel exists. It's located in Santa Ana and costs around $30 per night depending on whether you book for weekdays/weekends and potentially the season. It's a house turned into an eco-conscious hostel that uses motion-sensored and timed lights. Other environmentally conscious measures include that showers are limited to 15 minutes (given California's current drought), and the separation of recyclable and compost waste. The owner, Phong, is personable and easy to converse with. The beds are wooden framed bunk beds, which is great because they don't squeak like metal bed frames. People staying there do tend to have various schedules, so light sleepers may want to bring earplugs.