Chelsea International Hostel

You get what you pay for! A nice clean (albeit very tiny) room, a clean communal shower and toilet, and easy access to the subway. The bed was a little stiff, but not unbearable. I stayed for a week and paid less than $600. For such a convenient Manhattan location, you simply can't get a better price. I can't overemphasize that everything was clean, which is the most important thing you can ask for in lodging! Even in the 30 degree winter, I found the room to get hot at night, so maybe bring a portable fan. I will be back!

Honestly, I don't get the bad reviews. Supreme location in a safe neighbourhood, check-in and check-out were smooth, both guys I talked to at the service desk were super friendly and helpful. Rooms and shared spaces were sqeuaky clean and warm. As for the noise from the streets of NY and the rest of the rooms, well let's say it you are a light sleeper this isn't the right place for you. Room was simple and bed was comfy. You get what you payed for :)

This hotel is an absolute gem in Manhattan! It's perfectly located, just a short walk from iconic attractions like Times Square, Central Park, the High Line, and Hudson Yards. Plus, it's right by a subway station, making it super convenient to get around the city. The rooms are cozy, quiet, and offer great value for the price. Whether you're here for sightseeing or business, it's a fantastic spot to call home while you explore the city!

I love this place and it's so close to a police station. It's so safe and clean. The price is lower than other places because the building is a bit old. But the rooms are dry, have a good temperature all year round and squeaky clean! That's what's the most important thing. I highly recommend it. And if you get a courtyard facing room, it's incredibly quiet! It's an NYC gem!

Spotless, safe, friendly and helpful staff who rearranged my booking, without being asked, so that I could stay in the same room with a washroom for two consecutive nights. Felt safe and quiet. Fully stocked kitchen and calm, clean courtyard. Am recommending to anyone looking to travel on a budget. Hostel also close to grocery stores, which was a bonus. It exceeded my expectations.

I don’t understand the negative reviews of this place as it’s just perfect for that price range. Bathrooms and rooms are squeaky clean and it’s always warm (given the fact that it was below 0°C outside). Some are complaining about it being noisy but come on, it’s NYC. And honestly it wasn’t noisy at all during the time I stayed. No need to mention the location - it’s literally 2 blocks away from subway and overall very safe and walkable even at night. I’d love to stay again if I’m in town again !

Pros:|Cheap accomodation in the middle of Manhattan. Perfect location. Safe. Police next door.|Clean.|Great backyard. Kitchen to use. Fridges to borrow.||Cons: Beds uncomfortable. Not stable.|No curtains. No carpets. No interior whatsoever.|Rude staff in the reception. |Someone stole my sausage and my cheese in the fridge. Mark your food and hide them.||If you are happy with all this, go on with your reservation.|Book with ensuite bathroom!

DO NOT BOOK HERE! Honest review: - Hard and uncomfortable beds. Could feel all the springs in my back and was incredibly loud every time you rolled over. - Bright flood lights shining in through window all night, every night. As well as it was a passageway so often the sensor light went on. - Radiator made a loud banging, gurgling and hissing noises all night long - not over exaggerating this one it was awful and even ear plugs didn’t drown out the noise. The banging was consistent throughout night and the gurgling happened every 5-10 minutes. - Very little assistance from hostel staff (one bloke in particular) when we asked about the noise, he basically just told us to get over it. - If you arrive before 3pm (check in) the staff are a bit hostile about the whole thing (definitely no room to check in early). The guy told us it was $5USD for each suitcase to be held in a locker and we had to buy a $10 lock. - They consistently have a sign up saying credit card machine broken and you have to pay in cash - other reviews said this too (seems a dodgy tax evasion) so we paid the $800USD cash - Finally, when checking out, we had left some food in the common room fridge as we were leaving early for the airport. I asked if I could go grab it but the door was locked. I know there was a sign that said no access to the common area from 11pm - 7am, but I thought I could just go grab the food as the fridge was in the hallway and no rooms nearby. Apparently it was “for security” and that they didn’t have a key. Which doesn’t really make sense so we had to leave our large amount of food which was a massive waste. - The cleaners enter your room during the day using their own key which is fine but we weren’t notified of this on check in. - The first two nights was sweltering hot (you can’t adjust room temp) and then last four nights was freezing cold and they only give you a think blanket and sheet. The only positive about this place is a cheaper price and a good location (approx 20-30 min walk to Times Square), though my partner and I regret going for the cheaper option due to the lack of sleep from the lights, bed and banging noises. If I were you, I would steer clear of this place. It was honestly the worst place we’ve ever stayed in and we’ve stayed in some dodgy places before. An entire week of no sleep was not worth it for the cheaper price.

Clean quiet hostel right in the middle of the city. Location: in Chelsea which is one of the best neighborhoods in nyc. Restaurants and subway station are only a couple minutes walk, an a 15 min train ride from Times Square. Located right next to a police station, which makes it feel very safe, however can be noisy at night w sirens. Atmosphere: a very quiet hostel, not socializing. If you're looking for a social hostel I would recommend HI NYC. My friend stayed there and had no problems making friends and there was even a group chat filled with group events Cleanliness: room was very clean and the cleaning lady came once a day to clean out the trash as well as clean the shared bathrooms and shower. There is a shared bathroom and shower for every 4 rooms, which means there is never a line to use. I wish there was soap provided to wash our hands as we had to go out and buy some. Luckily they do have air conditioning and a heater for the winter!

I come to New York about 3-4 times a year to do Art fairs, usually in Chelsea, thus location of a place to stay is a critical decision as nothing beats staying within walking distance of the fair, which are usually held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on west 18th street. Since 2006 I've stayed in multiple places, and in the last few years New York City hotels have brutally skyrocketed in price! This hostel is pretty bare minimum but it does offer decent prices (for New York that is) and it is relatively clean (I saw the cleaning lady every single morning mopping the floors and cleaning the shared showers). I stayed in building 249, and there were 6 individual rooms on my floor and two shared bathrooms, and I never had to wait to shower or use the toilet. My room was pretty basic: twin bed, wall hooks, wall shelves, window air conditioner, steam heat unit, and two lockers (bring your own lock). The front desk is staffed 24/7 which is nice. The hostel is right across the street from the police 10th precinct, which can be noisy if your room faces the street, so bring ear plugs, but hey! That means the area is probably pretty safe!

Great location and price with reasonably clean facilities. Checkout time of 12 pm is also nice. Everything else, not so great. The rooms are really bare bones with beds, lockers, restroom, and a cupboard for towels. Bathrooms don't have toilet paper holders or towel bars/hooks. I also wish there was a desk or something to hold my small belongings like wallet and phone. It also lacks the community experience that I'm used to in other hostels. Some staff were nice to talk to, others not so much. Given that this is New York, it's probably one of the best places for budget travelers.

I think of this hostel as urban camping! It's got what I needed for 6 nights in Manhattan. I am 63 years old and feared I would feel out of place. Never fear, it was great. Front desk is manned 24/7 and they had an extra pillow when asked. I brought my own towel from home...theirs are ok but small. Next time I will bring a flashlight so I don't have to put on overhead in the middle of the night. Lugged my suitcase up flight of stairs. Overall: I was nicely located in Manhattan and could spend my money on NY and not waste on hotel. Recommended. But know it's a hostel and not a hotel...urban camping!

My best friend and I stayed here 01/28/2023 - 01/31/2023 and it was $302 which for the location is amazing especially if you are on a budget. I have stayed at quite a few hostels and this one had pretty good reviews so I didn't think twice. I don't normally leave 1 star reviews, but here we are. I booked the reservation and put my card on file. My bestie got in first from a different airport so I told her I would just meet her at the hostel. Both of our names were on the reservation so I didn't think there would be an issue. When she got there to check in, she said to run my card since i'm the primary and they wouldn't do it. I told her to tell them to call me and they said they couldn't do it. Okay, I understand that sometimes there's a policy, etc. so fine. She paid for the room and had checked in. The whole weekend it was about 40-60 degrees which is abnormal for NYC in the Winter, but wanted to say that for reference. I get there and immediately it's over 80 in the room and she has the window open, but it won't stay open. The room was not clean prior to us being there. We found an old ear plug and there was hair on the toilet seat and in the shower and sink. My hair is long, wavy, and brown. Hers is short and blonde. These were straight and very short black hairs so that was fun. We called the front desk to figure out how to turn the radiator or figure it out because neither of us really could figure it out. It stayed hissing half of our stay. That night, I got welts on my face and legs because of how hot the room was and we had to leave the window open on the first level which didn't make us feel very safe. It was also loud outside between traffic/sirens/people talking because we're right on the sidewalk. In the middle of the night, there was water all over the floor and we had no idea where it came from. We cleaned it up and went back to bed. The next morning, we went to the desk to complain and they said there was nothing they could do because that's how it is and that's how radiators work. We asked for the radiator to be checked because it was over 80 inside the room even with the window open and there was water all over the floor and our things. We were told again that - that's how it is even when we requested maintenance. We leave and come back after being out and there's water on some of our things and then a little white river so I took pictures and video and went to the front desk. The person at the desk said they would send maintenance. Maintenance comes within 5 minutes which was great, but he just brought a mop and some extra towels. He told us to keep a towel by one of the beds to absorb the water when it expels water. Then told us to have a good night. We were so confused. So, we complained or asked for help a total of 4 times I think. So every night, the window was open and it was hot as Hades and obviously hard to sleep because there's no screen and the blinds didn't go all the way down. The last day, we checked out and my best friend turned in the keys and asked "Is there anything else we need to do?" and the person at the desk without looking up from their phone said "No, we got your money now so you're good." I would not recommend staying here. Find a different hostel or hotel. This place could honestly be so amazing because it is really cute and in a great location, but there was no regard for us as guests and the attitude just wasn't it especially in terms of our personal safety and belongings.

Two MAJOR safety issues happened to me and my friend when staying here. We booked it because we just needed a place to sleep for one night and it was the only thing available for under $200 (booked about a month before the stay). 1) When we checked in and opened the door to our assigned room, people's things were still in the room. We went back to the front desk and the man did not know why, claiming the room had been vacant for several days. He asked us to give them an hour to clean it up and come back. We ate at a nearby restaurant and when we returned to the room there was a sign on the door to go the front desk again. (We still had the keys and opened the door once more before proceeding to the front desk -- the people's stuff was still there. So we could have stolen it if we wanted to.) We were assigned a new room and this one was clean (using the term loosely -- bring shower shoes). At this point we were worried that our own room would be walked in on by other unsuspecting guests, or even like squatters or something??? The front desk not knowing why people's stuff was in there is honestly worse to me than just realizing they double-booked the room or something. 2) When my friend and I returned to the room from our night out, I put a portable door lock on the door that I had just purchased online for exactly this type of scenario (there was no other lock besides the one in the doorknob). At 10am, we were waking up and getting ready to leave when we heard a key turn in the door, and then someone attempt to force their way in. I called out to see who it was and the person said they were housekeeping. Check-out is at 11am. They didn't even knock, so if I hadn't used that lock the person would have just barged in on us. Never again.

Solid, inexpensive place to stay in NYC. It was clean and in a great location. No complaints.

The older guy at the front desk was kind of an asshole. As a seasoned asshole myself it wasn't really that big of a deal for me but i can see how he would get under the skin of the more sheltered of society. If you're one of those easily how dare you types, maybe send in a friend to check in. The beds were clean. The room was bare bones. It was a bit stuffy but you get what you pay for. Don't expect anything other than a place to go sleep and wake up. They include breakfast which is pretty cool, but not what you think. You can get a better spread by just spending some money at a corner store or something. Times Square and nightlife overall is only blocks away so you won't even want to be in the room. Shoutout to my fellow guest mates from Argentina and Columbia. I'm meeting soooooo many people from other countries and they've been incredible every time. New York is really everything I thought it would be. I should have an apartment soon. I'm narrowing down my choices. Also there's a police station DIRECTLY across the street from the property so you're safe as fuck!

The location of this hostel is great. It's in Chelsea. There are a lot of things to do in Chelsea and you can just simply take the train to go anywhere else in NYC. So I know about this hotel because I stayed here many years ago when I was a college student. At the time, I shared a room with three other strangers. All of them around the same age as me. Fast forward a few years later and I decided that I wanted to visit the city again, but the prices for lodging are ridiculous in Manhattan. I remember this hostel. I was reluctant at first to book with them because I'm not at the age where I want to stay with college kids. But searching through their website I found out that they have private rooms with bathrooms and private rooms with shared bathrooms. So I was able to get my own room. Warning: there's nothing fancy about this place. There's just a sink, a small bed, and a locker to place any valuables. But if you are in New York City, you are most likely going to be out for the whole day. 3 stars. The experience was okay and I had a place where to rest my head. It has a wonderful location. The hostel is actually surprisingly quiet. The administration is strict about noises after 11 p.m. It's not so bad.

This was a very nice place to stay as far as hostels go. I spent the extra money and went for a private room ~ $75. Other rooms available at lesser cost include the share rooms ... male only, female only, and mixed. Rooms come with lockers (must provide your own locks). My room had a sink and a shelving unit + 2 lockers. This hostel includes several buildings and is directly across from a police station. At check-in, guests are provided with 2 keys. One key gets you in the building. The other key allows you into your room. I stayed in November and was quite cozy in my room with a sheet and heavier throw blanket. The room was warm. Bathrooms are cleaned daily, but there was no hand soap! Bring your own or buy some after you get settled. Everyone is provided with a clean towel at check-in. Wifi is free and decent. The common areas are open until 11pm and include the kitchen and dining area. Free light breakfast daily 8-10am. Keep an eye out for free events happening at the hostel. Tuesday night was movie night and Wednesday was free pizza dinner. Several tours go out every day as well. If you're a late sleeper in the mornings, go to bed early or be prepared to wake up with the rest of the city. It can be loud but that's NY. Check out is 12pm You are walking distance to lots of stuff! The Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden & Madison Square (park with restaurant and dog park), Grand Central Station, the NY Public Library and tons of restaurants and shopping. Interaction with staff was great - friendly and helpful for making restaurant suggestions. I took a star off for the bed. It served its purpose, but I've slept on more comfortable mattresses in hostels before.

pros: I had such a wonderful time here because of the location. I stayed three nights in a single private room. The price is a bit expensive for just three nights but it was worth it since it was so close to everything and away from the loud part of manhattan. Walking distance to Chelsea Market and if you're vegan like me, there are restaurants a few blocks away. It's incredibly quiet at night and I never had an issue with being by myself in that area. Penn station is a 15 minute walk if you're trying to get to Newark airport, and $8 fare for the cab. Check in and check out was a breeze! cons: the wifi is so horrid! it barely works in the common area even though technically that's the ONLY place that's suppose to work. if you're a student and you want to get some work done, there's a starbucks a few blocks down.

I'm from Boston and came down for a convention at Javitts. This place is damn near perfect for a hostel at the price and location. Chelsea is a trendy foodie area and felt safe and clean. It was nice to start/end the day here while traveling through the touristy or shadier parts. (Also literally across the street from a police station) YOU WILL NEED Passport - for check-in 10 cash deposit for single towel/key soap for bathing and hand soap OPTIONAL padlock for locker (recommended if going into a random shared room) blanket during the winter KEEP YOUR KEYS ON YOU ALWAYS So the place itself is clean and maintained well. ( I had a private room for four days btw) The doors fit TIGHT. If you wake easy this may wake you. Same goes for street/courtyard/hallway noise. It was never obnoxious and irrelevant to anyone who's ever lived in a college dorm or a city. This might change if there were a large group staying. The room itself has a bed, sink (best part), a built in shelf, locker, and air conditioning. The air conditioning made it like an icebox, so I can confirm the unit works. (I turned it off and all was well) I stayed during the summer so cannot provide info about winter conditions. I'm going to guess and say you will probably need a heavier blanket. The bathroom and shower (separate) are extremely tiny and as bare bones as possible. Toilet paper is provided at least. I also had no issue with hot water. Each floor has a bathroom and shower, so even if one was occupied you can just go up or down a floor. Never needed to though. So I've read some complaints about the wifi. I have none however. In fact, my room was above the courtyard and I could access it from my room. I used it minimally as I was not in NYC to be on the internet. So the reason one star is knocked off. The bed. The mattress is very cheap and very obviously well used. Mine had a huge indentation and I tried to sleep against the wall where it was firmer. I still got good sleep (too exhausted from the city) but I could see this being a major issue for somebody else. (linens are provided, they were fine) Overall, I highly recommend this place and plan on going back in the winter even. Just keep in mind this is a hostel not a hotel.

This review is based off the expectation of what you are going to get when you book this type of place, not comparing it to a 5-star hotel. The biggest draw is the location for the price. We booked a private room with a double bed and a shared bath (we actually booked the same day we arrived on a weekend in mid-December). The room was spacious and clean. They have a shower and a bathroom down the hall, both in separate small rooms - with nothing but the toilet and the shower. Its nice they are in separate rooms to reduce waiting time. The sink and mirror are in the private room which is nice as well for brushing teeth, doing makeup, etc. When we checked in they asked for our US passports, which we did not have, as we were just traveling via car from another US state and we weren't aware in advance. There are signs there saying they will not accept US state IDs but fortunately they allowed us to check-in using ours. They provide a paid locker system for you to keep your luggage the day you check out (or beyond) for $3-5. We had some trouble getting it to work and had it eat our money but the front desk was helpful and actually gave us cash to replace the $5 eaten by the machine, which was very nice considering we didn't really have proof this happened. I think the best selling point about this place is the location. To stay in a location like this for the price is definitely a great deal. We were able to walk up to Times Square / area where all the Broadway plays were as well as walk down to Greenwich Village and East Village areas. And the surrounding area of Chelsea provides a ton to do as well. I wouldn't say most the staff is the friendliest but they give you the information and assistance you need, which is all that mattered to us. Its not a hostel environment where you are going to mingle and meet other guests but provides a good home base in a great location. Overall, I recommend this place if you are looking for a no frills, budget place in a great location.

* Worth the Stay for the Price (^-^) * Hello! Hello! I recently stayed the night at C.I.H. (May 21. I spent the night in a double) TIPS: - #1 Rule: KEEP YOUR KEYS ON YOU AT ALL TIMES!! Put it on a lanyard- somewhere secure and visible. DO NOT NEGELCT THIS. -CASH (for the $10 key deposit. Refundable at end of stay.) Card is NOT ACCEPTED for this deposit. - SHAMPOO/SOAP/Lotion/ Tooth paste- Duh. (no complimentary toiletries) - PADLOCK(s) (to assure security for your belongings) - Although I did not have an issue with charging my phone, some do; therefore, a Small Extension Cord or long charger can help avoid this trouble. - BE RESPECTFUL and MINDFUL to staff and guests. Pros: -AFFORDABLE! I paid $55.41 -Friendly Staff (the ones I spoke to) -Quick Check In (You might be eligable to check in early if the room is ready. A simple walk in an hour or 30 mins prior to check in may help. I checked in 30 minutes early as my roommate checked in almost an hour in advance.) -Restaurants/ Convenient stores (just as anywhere in Nyc) - Breakfast (1 meal ticket/ night: BAGEL/FRUIT/COFFEE/"ORANGE DRINK" not actual juice) - Outlets in room -Towel & Clean Linens -Lockers - (I) never had to wait to shower or use the restroom - "FREE PIZZA WEDNESDAYS" - Foreigners can be great for learning and teaching!! Beautiful foreigners. ( On the contrary, you can never put anything past anybody.) - Chase Bank a block down Cons: - NO HOT WATER in SHOWER! (My biggest and Only Con. Water is barely warm, but not cold enough to discourage you from showering; however, I feel for those who stay here during winter.) - You will hear outdoor conversations (they can be entertaining haha) - Breakfast: (For those with a specific diet) the orange beverage was not OJ, but rather an "orange drink/ cocktail juice". -Milk is whole milk -Wait in line for toaster

I never in my life stayed at a hostel because I heard it was dormitory style. I'm nit that young to be staying in dormitories with other strangers. But someone told me they also have private rooms with single beds. So I thought, ok, hotel prices are astronomical at that time, I'll give it a try. So I book on hostel.com. I look at the pictures and of course there are stock pics of happy go lucky white kids. Where are cynical over 40 black people like me? So to break the monotony, I see and book a single private room for 3 days. There is a 30 dollar deposit to hold and you don't get that back, you can just call and reschedule another time if you change yiur mind to stay at that time but they keep that $30. I proceed to call and get more info on the place, is it safe nice CLEAN!?? Affirmative. There is upon arrival a $10 cash key deposit that you get back when you check out AND YOU MUST HAVE A PASSPORT even if you are a U.S. citizen. I arrive to the hostel, and there is a huge set of stairs and 2 cats greeting you at the foot if you are lucky they let you pet them. Luciano was the clerk that day and told me I have to come back at 3p on to be assigned a room. Now mind you I told him I'm a solo traveler and want to be near the hostel desk. He said sure. There will be one on the 1st floor becuz he was going to put me on the 2nd. If I wanted to walk around and explore the neighborhood I can put my luggage in a set of lockers downstairs in a lower level where there's a small (non-working TV) sitting room with computers (you have to pay to use them), a gallery small kitchen which leads out to a back yard with tables and benches. I come back an hour later, and Larry another desk clerk is there. lo and behold my 1st fl room turns into a top floor room G-15 in another building next door! Now I'm way over age to be skipping my middle age azz up some flights of stairs with luggage. I made it clear to the the 1st desk clerk what I needed. I told Larry and he of course apologized but said rooms are booked. He would make it up to me. Yeah buddy you will after my back and feet heal! I take my key and climb mount Chelsea to my 3rd fl top room. I open the door and was surprised it wasn't tinier! Like can spread my arms, do a lap and OMG A SINK IS IN MY ROOM!!! So you know what that means? I can avoid the unisex shower and enjoy my "hoe baths" in private and peace of mind no man pubic hair would touch my towels or soaps. Which brings to mind...there are no soap, shampoo or conditioners nor robes. Just towels...but you have to ask for them after use. The place to really old. I can imagine all the shenanigans that took place in those rooms. They seriously need to renovate the joint and it's narrow stair case. The AC works, the light is clinical, there are 2 lockers in my private room and a 2 shelf open closet. Every Wednesday there is pizza night, FREE PIZZA!! And every morning there is continental breakfast of bagels, fruit, (bananas goes fast!) juice coffee and cereal. If you want bacon, sausage eggs, you better go in that kitchen and fix it yourself. The housekeeping is nice...they do what they have to do. Front desk is cool. Luciano is cute and Larry a ham. He even printed out my Spirit ticket before I left complimentary. So all in all I give this place 3 stats becuz you pay for what you get. The location is great, A POLICE STATION ACROSS THE STREET, IT'S BETWEEN 7TH AND 8TH, TRAIN AND BUSES AROUND THE CORNER, RESTAURANTS, BARS, ETC so you won't be in your room that much anyway. It's just a place to rest up before you head out again. tHIS IS MY FIRST HOSTEL AND MAYBE NOT MY LAST, SO I CAN'T RATE IT ACCURATELY UNTIL I STAY AT ANOTHER. BUT FOR NOW I GIVE IT 3 STARS.

This hostel is alive and well as of September 2021. I booked a private room with shared bath for $59 a night. The room was small but included an AC, sink and storage space. You get one towel that you can trade in daily. There was one bathroom and one shower across the way from me, and I didn't have any issues sharing w/others. Bed comfy enough. Amazing location, very safe and close to everything, including many major subway lines. If, like me, you just need a place to shower and sleep after a day of exploring, it's an unbelievable bargain. Will be back!

First of all, the price is really nice for this part of the city and our accommodations. We decided against getting a hotel room because we knew we were going to be out late and didn't need the comfy amenities of a hotel. Plus, uh, hello, we spent $66 per person per night is hard to beat. It's a different setup from the last hostel I stayed at, and I felt that I didn't really meet as many other residents as I have at others. But I didn't mind so much, since we only got back when we were pooped. Rather than just being a big building with all the units, there are a few adjacent doors that lead to the units. You'll get 2 keys - one for the outside door, and one for the room you sleep in. REMEMBER to bring your passport for check-in, even if you're an American or Canadian citizen! We got a single room with a shared bathroom. (Aka a room for the toilet and a room for the shower outside our room.) There's a sink in your room, two lockers (which aren't really necessary since it's a private room but hey, stowed away storage), a built-into-the-wall shelf, and an AC unit in the window. AND a chair. There's definitely enough room for a table or a desk but it's a pretty bare bones room, and that's fine. Towels were on the bed when we arrived (bring those when you check out) and we were offered another set of keys. (Just pay the deposit for them at check-in.) Our issues with the room were twofold that affected sleep a LOT: 1) Walls are awfully thin. I didn't hear our neighbors... except when they went to the bathroom (fuh-LUSH) and showered. This seemed to be just all night? Showers and toilet flushes occurred until something like 3 AM one night. Oy. Also, the noises from outside kept me up and woke me up, so the window is thin, too. Speaking of the window... 2) The blinds wouldn't close the right way, so as soon as there was daylight, it was streeeeeaming into the room. Sigh. Also, why is the toilet paper above the toilet, aka behind you when you sit down on it? And there's no soap at the sinks, so that was a little awkward. (Good thing I had sanitizer in my bag?) I wound up just not bothering with the shower and we never made it to the common area, as we didn't even know how we were supposed to get there. =/ So, it's a good hostel for resting your head, but maybe less good for meeting other people and socializing. (And sleeping.)

I have been staying at the Chelsea Hostel for years. I stay there every time I go to NYC because it's clean, in a great location, and the staff is nice! I have always gottena private room, which I really like. Unfortunately I see that the prices have gone up but I think it is still a very good deal!

Awesome location!!! Great affordable accommodations. Room was a little warm but I just cracked the window open. Clean room/restroom/shower. Comfortable bed. I'll definitely stay here again.

Stayed here for four days on the last leg of our one month trip in USA and we stayed in a twin private room for a bit more comfort and space. How wrong we were!!! The only thing desirable about this hostel is the location which is a short walk away from the subway and then only three stops to either Times Square or SoHo. The rooms are extremely below par. They are very cramped, outdated and not dissimilar to a prison cell. The beds are squeaky and uncomfortable and mine was on such a slant that I had to prop up one side with socks to stop from rolling off. The blankets were clean but very old and stained. The air conditioning unit sounds like a Boeing 747 in the room which made for a few unsettled sleeps. There was good power out of the shower but the bathroom is so cramped and the place gets absolutely drenched during a shower or wash. If I return to New York I definitely wouldn't stay here again and would be willing to pay a bit more for some better accommodation.

Great hostel for the price. Super clean. Great location. The only problem was the old man at front desk (this was Sunday Dec 9th 2018). He was so rude and dismissive I couldn't even believe my ears and eyes. I will never stay there again because of him. White haired older man. Terrible attitude!!!

I stayed at the Hostel for three nights in a single room. I am sooo satisfied and happy with the room & the service & breakfast and location. Highly recommend the place! It's being cleaned up every day, people working there are very accommodating and nice! Very very happy with the Chelsea Hostel!

I have been to NYC half a dozen times and stayed at various locations. It gets the job done if you are a solo traveler. Good location, walking distance to downtown and midtown, or metro access. Safe, mostly clean. If you plan to spend some time in, however, I would not recommend this as the common area is small and old, and they close at 10 pm. If you are a group of two or more, get a hotel room for roughly the same price. Many staff I spoke to were courteous, but one older male check-in guy was particularly rude. He seemed to have no interest and concern to the guests, and patronize us like some kind of incompetent imbeciles. He interrupted me a couple times because he thought he knew what I was about to say and walked away before I was finished. Once I was waiting at the front desk, I saw him shout at someone, presumably a would-be guest, over the phone and hang the guy up. He must be annoyed at his job and the surroundings. The lockers were helpful tho. Overall, this is not a very nice hostel by international standards because they are running it like a shared room hotel and you can't find many features you typically expect of a good hostel.

Price: Around 60 during winter Service: 3/5 Clean: 3/5 Room: really small for one person, 3/5 Location: 4/5 Breakfast: bagel and fruit, 2/5 Best way to book: http://www.chelseahostel.com/ I chose this place because it was the best deal I could find in Manhattan for single private room. I got a private single room with share bathroom for around 60 dollars per night the first week of January. It included a free breakfast. The breakfast was just a bagel plus a fruit. The location is not bad. It would take me around 20 - 30 mins walk to Time Square. Plus, this place is also pretty close to Chelsa's market. The room is small, but good enough for my 3 nights stay. I found the neighbourhood pretty dirty, but this hostel is generally pretty clean. The best way to book it is through their website: http://www.chelseahostel.com/. You do not pay anything until you arrive the hostel. On the day I arrived the hostel, the credit card machine was broken and I do not have enough cash on me. Gladly the staff was nice enough to let me stay. Fortunately they fixed the credit card next week. I arrived in cold winter days. This hostel only offered a thin blanket. I brought a sleep bag with me that it kept me warm at night. This hostel is cheap and good for its price.

I enjoyed my stay! This is my 2nd time staying here while in NYC and I love it. They give great value for your money. The location is perfect for exploring Manhattan. I loved the professionalism of the staff and cleanliness of the space.

If you're planning to hit up NYC on a budget--this is the place to go. With daily rates ranging from $28 to $40 bucks a night--you can't beat it. The cheapest daily rates afford you a bunk-bed and a locker for your belongings (bring a lock)--usually sharing with 3 other people. You can also request for a private room, which is a double bed and a sink with mirror. All bathrooms are communal. The staff are friendly. They have a kitchen, a courtyard where they serve free pizzas on Wednesday nights, pay-per-use internet kiosks, storage lockers, laundromat.... it's pretty convenient. It's also very near two subway stations. Located at the heart of Chelsea--pretty much the "Castro" of NYC--and next to the police station--so it's rather safe. The first time I emerged from the subway station, I automatically felt like Dorothy--"there's no place like home". There are restaurants nearby, lube and toy shops, and all kinds of goodies. Make sure you bring your passport--regardless of your citizenship. In other words, the only way you can secure your reservation here is if you present your current passport (even if you're a US Citizen). If you don't have major requirements... just a safe place to sleep at night (if you get that tired roaming the City)... this is the cheapest and safest option to choose. http://www.chelseahostel.com

We stayed in the private room with private bath. It was decent for the price of staying in the heart of Manhattan. Great location to walk to everything or take the Subway. The bed was very uncomfortable but hey, who comes to NYC to sleep anyway? Lol...needless to say, for a reasonable price in the city, I would stay here again.

Stayed here for my 3rd time recently in another private single. The location in Chelsea cannot be beat for the price, BUT I can officially confirm that you will NEVER get good sleep here or a good shower. Never. Ever. This hostel is EXTREMELY noisy starting between 6-7 am not from guests, but from the staff/workers, so just know that you will NEVER get good sleep. Also, they have a huge issue with doors that slam repetitively due to the springs that close them....and paper thin walls, so you can hear the people in adjacent rooms.... The rooms are very minimalist and bare bones, like prison cells. The showers are generally weak and the shower heads are clogged, so water comes out unevenly and is either very hot or very cold. You generally have to spend 10 minutes calibrating the shower dial to get the right temperature and pressure. before you can step into it..... The only thing you are paying for her is the PRIME SAFE LOCATION in Manhattan (20 feet across the street from the Chelsea Police Station) that is so central you can walk to the majority neighborhoods and sights nearby without even paying for a subway or bus.... From this hostel, you can easily walk in 10-20 minutes to: Cheslea High Line Park, Chelsea Market, Meatpacking District shopping or the 14th Street Apple Store with free internet access, Chelsea Piers (parks) on the Hudson River, Union Square shopping, 34th Street Macy's shopping and Empire State Building, Garment District, Flatiron Building and Park, the West Village/Greenwich Village, or the subway lines blue C/E or red 1 line. Or, in 30 minutes, to: Times Square shopping, the East Village cafes, or Hell's Kitchen restaurants.

Chelsea Hostel was my first hostel experience and it was totally worth it. It's in a safe area, you can hold your computers at the front desk for extra security and it's freaking cheap. I was touring the art galleries and it was in a perfect spot, right next to several train stations and Madison Square Garden. On top of that, we thought we were staying for several days but ended up staying at a friends the last night and we were refunded the money. All the employees were great and super helpful when it came down to recommending places. It's not the fanciest but c'mon now, it's a hostel.

Excellent Price, Excellent Location. That's all that stood out about this place. It's difficult to find anywhere closer to the action for cheaper. If you only need a bed to crash and a locker to put your stuff in then this place is perfect. I stayed in a 6 bed dorm so personal space was non-existent. The common kitchen is handy if you like to save some money and the picnic benches are good to meet new friends over a drink or 2 (or 3 or 4...)

My initial thrill in booking this room was looking kinda squint-eyed at the monitor and pretending I was going to stay at the Chelsea Hotel. My second and more lasting thrill came from checking in, getting into my private single, and thinking, "I didn't think I could get a room like this in NYC for under $70!" Fantastic location in the city for that price too - not only did I not have to pay much for my room, but this was my cheapest transit budget I've had here as well - I walked to Greenwich Village, TriBeCa, and the East Village from here, in addition to Chelsea itself of course. The private single gives you a towel ($10 deposit) and linens on the bed, and you have a small shared bath. I worked myself pretty hard during the day so I had an easy rest and was feeling great the next morning. Breakfast is ticketed, which entitles you to a bagel, a piece of fruit, and unlimited coffee/juice, taken in the snug indoors or out in their courtyard (al fresco at a hostel!). It needs to be mentioned that you have to have a passport to stay here even if you're an American. I'd say this keeps the riff raff out, but obviously not since I have a passport. Final words in tribute to Nico: "His room A-18, Compact, but nice and clean, 'Cause when you're in New York It's not your digs [da-da-duh-da-daaa] But where you've been Here he stays now There he plays now Here he lays now Chelsea [International Hostel] Boyyyy."

My room had bugs in it. Multiple bugs got into my luggage, looked like bed bugs. The attendant working the desk didn't even apologize and asked if I wanted a different room. I got my money refunded and left. Will never ever stay there again.

I knew going in that it was going to be a no frill place to rest my head. It was not bad for a place if you are only sleeping there. You pay what you get for, and it is clean! The location is also convenient so you have access to many great shops and restaurants.. and subways! I would say for students or young professionals on holiday or taking class, it is not a bad option.

Not worth the money! One of the most expensive hostels I've stayed in and not with it at all. Wifi works only in one room, lockers cost $5 each time you lock it and the free breakfast is one bagel and one piece of fruit handed out like prison food and eaten in a crowded bare common room.

I chose this hostel due to its location and price. I stayed in a private room with one bed and shared bathroom/toilet. My room is located on the second floor facing 20th street. The stairs/steps are steep/narrow and if you have a heavy luggage, that may be a safety concern. The room was very basic with 2 lockers (BYO lock), sink, a bed, towel, blanket, mirror, trash bin, radiator heater (cannot be adjusted), window blinds, a window that can be opened, shelves to place clothes, and 1 electrical outlet. It gets loud at night from the street noise that lead to poor sleep quality. Bathrooms were cleaned daily by housekeeping. The daily breakfast was basic. Each guest is provided with a "stub" during check-in which you will need to present each morning between 8-10 am to claim 1 bagel and a fruit of your choice. It comes with butter and fruit jam. Orange juice and coffee are also available for free. These can be located in the "common area" - basement of the hostel office. The WiFi was very good and reliable. The hostel grounds were kept clean and security cameras are everywhere. There are also luggage lockers in the basement of the hostel office for a fee.

I stayed here last weekend for one night. Check in was a breeze, I had been out & about in the city, which allowed me to come check in late without any worries. The building was clean, and they have a few buildings. They also had a nice courtyard. My room was clean,shiny hardwood floors. It's didn't smell bad at all. I booked a double bed,with private bath, $43 during spring. I didn't have a roomie which was a plus;) the bathroom was the size of a closet, with a stand-in shower,sink & mirror and toilet. I didn't care. It was clean. The room had two lockers, but you have to bring your own lock. You can fit like two bookbags in it. The bed was extremely comfortable, not squeaky, and they provided a sheet and a blanket. The street outside isn't as noisy as I thought it'd be. I fell asleep around 11:30 with no problems, the hallways were quiet. There's a precint on the same block so its safe. There's also a food market on the corner, a rite aid that's open till 11pm, a few gay bars, and some awesome restaurants. I recommend passing by Cafe Havana. Yumm. The hostel provided the basics for breakfast which ended at 10. Check out was just as easy. * I'd definitely recommend staying here. Idk what everyone is talking about. I didn't encounter any rats, dirtiness or attitude from anyone. They're probably the ones with the attitude problems....

So the place is old but relatively clean. But the problem is that there were cockroaches along the walls and also what I didn't appreciate is that the front desk guy barging into my room at 2 in the morning! He didn't even knock and just opened the door asking if my dorm mate was there! I was sleeping and that was really rude and intrusive. He could have at least knocked before entering!

Very expensive for the quality. Dusty...restrooms and rooms.people at the desk very ugly....so first and last time here!

I have stayed here twice and both times it has been satisfactory and just what you would expect from a hostel. I think it all depends on the type of room you have. The first time I was with 5 other girls and we have a 6 bed room to ourselves and our own private bathroom. It only cost us £16 a night so you really can't complain! They have an open seating area which is really nice, you meet lots of people from all over the world. The location is brilliant, 5 minute walk to the tube and not far away from anywhere. They also do free pizza on a Wednesday. You can't beat free NY pizza!

It's a great place to stay in the city without spending a lot of money. It's close enough to everything that we were able to walk everywhere we went. It's also across the street from a police station so we felt safe - important for 2 women traveling alone! We had a a room with a community bathroom. The bathrooms were very clean. We also had a sink and mirror in the room so we could wash up without going to the bathroom. I'll definitely stay there again.

I would say 0 if I could... The reception is so rude and hung up on me 3 times.. Don't even understand why

I've stayed in many hostel when I was backpacking around Europe and this one in NY meet the stander. It's good for the price you're paying for. Although, they really do need AC, even at night it was a bit too heated to sleep. Rooms are small like all other hostel. I shared with three other girls. Of course I was only there half of the time that I reserved for. I met someone when I was visiting and found myself a more comfortable bed to sleep in. Location is great and safe.

My stay in Chelsea International Hostel in early August of 2010 was one of the worst experiences ever. If you are lucky enough to get a room in building 251, then be prepared to have the SINK in the bedroom, the TOILET in a converted closet in the hallway, and the SHOWER in another converted closet in the hallway. This means you must brush your teeth in one place, then move to another to dump, and then another to shower. And since the shower is in a closet by itself, this leads to the conclusion that all the showers in building 251 double as urinals. Think about it: who is going to walk out of the shower closet into the hallway just to enter the toilet closet to pee? No one! The rooms had smelly mildew-laden GOLDSTAR air conditioners. There were shifty-eyed Mexican maintenance men wondering all over the place. And worse than that, I got my first bed bug bite. Until I came to Chelsea International Hostel (CIH), I thought bed bugs were just a fairytale. Thank you CIH. I am now a believer in the bed bug fairy. I had to decontaminate all of my luggage. My advice: STAY AWAY! You can get "bad experiences" for free in NYC. You do not have to pay for them.

I just stayed at the Chelsea International Hostel for a couple of nights, and have very mixed feelings about it. Only a few blocks to the subway. Safe neighborhood. Location is good, even more so if you are a gay male (which I am not). Pluses: - location - excellent cleanliness - good security - mattresses OK - free transit maps (ask for one) Minuses: - Price is high: $32-36 a night for a bunk bed. - No Wi-Fi in this day and age? WTF? Computer use is 10 cents a minute. Not acceptable. - No matter how hard I tried, the entry door locks are nearly impossible to use. Some work, some don't. If you can get into the building, you can't get into your room and vice versa. (They do not use commercial quality locks). This is really annoying! It was topic (a.) of complaints by everyone there. - Staff are civil, at best. Actually, the guys that I dealt with (this place has an immense staff) were universally professional. There was a woman there who simply refused to help or answer questions. (young, possibly Hispanic, about 25). When asked about taking the train to Long Island, she said that she couldn't help, and provided the quote of the day: "I don't know much about traveling". I replied "You work in a youth hostel and don't know much about traveling????" (Seriously: anyone who works in a hostel dealing with travelers and hands out transit maps ought to know which station the train leaves from, Grand central or Penn). There was another woman (Asian, about 35) who was busy playing video games on the computer, who hastened a guess at which station it might be, even though she was quite irritated at being pulled away from her video game to answer a question for a guest. Where do they get these people? - The staff hides behind the bulletproof glass, never ventures outside their box, except for a smoke. Will I stay there again? Probably not, though now I have memorized their routine. Bed and no service. Would I recommend it to others? Nope. Not a chance.

So if you're visiting Manhattan and would rather spend more money on your night of wining and dining than on your bed, and of course have no friends to crash with, this place is awesome. They have small basic private rooms for cheap and it is located right in Chelsea. I mean, it's not like you will be spending that much time in your room anyway. The staff is friendly and helpful and it's closely located to multiple subway stops. Definitely a good budget option!

Stayed there for one night in a room the size of a ford explorer with four beds. I was on the top bunk which didn't have any railing and I was afraid of falling off the bed the whole night. The place was clean, the lockers were trustworthy, the location is awesome - and the price - $28 - was ridiculous.

When I first opened the door to the room, I laughed. The bed engulfed the room. No problem though, I went to New York to explore, not hang out in my room. Decent price for the location especially if your on a budget, and the subway is a walk away. Down the corner towards Eighth are neighborhood markets and eateries that stay open late. Some tips, bring earplugs (you can hear those early risers in the courtyard) and don't leave food in your room (there was a mouse helping himself to a cookie in my bag).

You can expect spartan accommodations. My shared room had two beds, a sink and locker. No tables or clothes hangers. We found a total of three bed bugs one on our luggage, one along the wall and another on a shoe. It would have been nice to have a table to put our luggage on because those critters run along the floors. Gross. This is the first time I've seen bed bugs in the flesh. I guess they are becoming more common now. Breakfast is fine. Don't expect anything fancy. Everyone is entitled to one bagel, fruit and cereal. The internet is spotty and slow... but it exists. They also have pay lockers if you want to stow your luggage after check-out but before your flight/train. But It bothered me that locker prices were a dollar more than what they had listed. If the cheapness of this hostel still appeals to you, remember to bring your passport. A passport to check-in is required for everyone including US citizens.

Good breakfast. Room problem at check-in, cost more because of it. Overflowing toilet with fecal matter not fixed for 12 hours. Someone in one of our beds at 2 a.m. sound asleep. A nightmare at check-out with no one "in-charge" to resolve overcharging. Do not recommend this hostel.