HI New York City Hostel

Will definitely back here again if i go to new york. I was lucky that i got room for affordable price, I didn’t expect anything but turned out it beyond my expectation. Very professional hostel, super clean. They clean bathroom and my room everyday. They have a lot of common room and a lot of activities if you are sociable person. And i was lucky too that all my roommates were considered (i stayed at 6 bed room). We got our private locker at room but don’t forget to bring your own padlock. Also we got heater at room so i didn’t have to freeze all night because the weather was super freezing. The hostel is near to central park and metro station. I love it so much. Located in quite neighborhoods but near everything you need, supermarket, restaurant or pharmacy. They have nice building but the lift is quite old and slow need to be patient but that’s not a problem. And they did take my request that i had written when booked my room. I appreciate it so much. Thank you 🫶

I’ve stayed at this hostel once before in 2016 and was pleased to see they have made some upgrades (curtains on each bed, outlets/shelf/light by each bed). I stayed for 4 nights in an 8 bed female dorm room, and the locker was a good size (although I didn’t fit my big 29in suitcase) but I just left that under the bed and it was fine. The hostel was sold out during my stay but I never had to wait for a shower or bathroom. My roommates were quiet and respectful. The only issue is the noise from the air purifiers and air con units! It’s a hostel rule that the air purifiers must stay on at all times and they are noisy. Add the intermittent noise from the aircon unit and it’s a noisy night sleep. Luckily I am a heavy sleeper and wear earplugs, but it was not ideal. Staff were nice, area felt safe and being a block from the subway was great. I used the laundry, it was great to be able to pay by card instead of coins. The food options at the cafe (open all hours) were great and very affordable. For a reasonable priced accommodation option in NYC, I would definitely recommend this - but light sleepers be warned!

Loved the room, I stayed in an 8 bed. The bathrooms are large and clean. It's close to the bus and subway. But the area itself is a little shady. I wasn't a fan of the location, if you're looking for something easier and closer to the city, look more south. Either way, I would stay again, it's a great value.

Positive: Close to the subway, food at Cafe was decent, room was fine and I liked the location of my bunk and thatvit was a lower bunk as I need that. My roommates were quiet and this time the troop didnt smell like gym socks. Negative: The staff needs to wait until after check out to clean the restrooms as it makes the one working restroom on the floor way too crowded when the other is being cleaned. They need a service elevator as well. The staff is always taking large carts in them.

I stayed for 8 nights and the best thing about this place is the staff members. Absolutely on point with providing a positive and helpful attitude and service to make sure we are comfortable and satisfied while staying. Locker and storage space is available for all your precious belongings and the lounge/kitchen/dining area and the nice little café is a great addition and gives you a lot of value for the price you pay here..Well recommended!

Amazing Hostel! One of the best in the world and I have to call out the bar! Fun, friendly, and affordable bar on the Upper West Side. Drinks are only $6, about half the price of most bars in the area. The bartender, Jesse, is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and you can really tell she has put her own personal touch into creating the space. She genuinely cares about people having a great time. Having stayed in tons of hostels herself, she understands exactly what hostel guests are looking for. She does not just chat with guests, she actually connects them. I ended up making new friends I never would have met otherwise, all thanks to her. Keep going Jesse! You’re the best one to do it!

I had stayed at HI's three different locations in California and they never disappoint. they are give you what you need and it's amazing. staying 4 days here in NYC location before moving back to California. I asked for a lower bunkbed and they were very kind to arrange it for me. the best part is the cafe in downstairs who sells affordable priced food and drinks from 8 am to 11pm. so if you wanna avoid cooking in hostel with strangers you can still manage to eat decent meals. also it's huge. probably the biggest HI hostel i had seen so far. such beautiful vibes and friendly staffs.

It’s my favorite place to stay every time I go to New York. The location is unbeatable — clean, spacious, and safe. The bar is a 10/10! I wouldn’t recommend staying on the first floor since it’s the noisiest, or in rooms with more than 6 beds because they tend to be uncomfortable and have little air circulation. Overall, it’s definitely a great value for the price.

I was stayed in a six bed dorm room with shared bathroom/toilet for four days. To my surprise it was really clean! Location is great, and service was nice. I was a staying a room on the second floor. and yes this is indeed a basic hostel. But they do supply towels, linen etc., bed was comfortable but thin pillow and blanket, you could ask for an extra one if needed, kitchen areas are always spotless. Stuff were friendly and approachable. An awesome build in cafeteria with great breakfast/lunch, impressive service staff. My guess from Mount Vernon IN was amaze with the food/service as well. You must to understand that before making any booking, not by choice I do need to extend stay extra day price when up 40%+TAX with cash.except *MANAGER sarcastic (with an attitude she's care less if I need to stay extra day) when I do asking FYI about the price major different?!

Overall, a pretty decent experience staying here. Even though this hostel is in Uptown, it's close to the subway being one block away. With the public transit, going to the majority of the places that are probably on your itenerary will probably take you about 15-20 minutes. I stayed in an 8 bed room. There's a lot of space in the lockers, could def fit a carry on and a personal bag. There's a small shelf above you with 2 outlets and a light. There was an AC but I felt like it barely worked. The bathrooms can be a hit or miss depending on when you use them, bc it depends when the staff comes to clean them. There's a hair dryer inside. One of the sinks has a broken faucet. There's ample seating and tables and also a pool table and board games. There's also a small cafe that's open till 11PM for a quick bite. There's a water station next to the reception counter to refill your water bottles. PS: The elevator is really slow so I usually used the stairs except when moving my luggage around.

garbage hostel with chaotic management. some staff are good at bullying customers. got skin allergies bc unsanitary bedding.

A very crowded environment with no management. I would never recommend this environment to anyone. The photos are far from reality Toilets and bathrooms are very dirty, due to the huge crowd of travelers and the poor management of this area, it is not possible to clean these sanitary places. The treatment of the hotel reception is very ugly, there are peopleThe people who work at the reception are very angry and their behavior and the way they talk to the passengers is very ugly and rude.

I booked my stay here because I wanted to be in Manhattan but didn't want to pay the sky high costs of hotels in Manhattan, and my trip was also rather last minute. The location is not bad, 2 or 3 blocks away from local or express subway lines, and there's a decent deli across the street. While I understand the need for security, it bothered me that when I arrived, I had to wait out in the rain for the front desk person to let me in the front door after ringing the bell. Only registered guests of the hostel could get in beyond the check in area. The 4pm check in time was also a bit late for my liking, although they do store luggage for guests that show up earlier. So when I finally got back and checked in at 10pm, it was only an hour before lights out. The 8-bed women's dorm smelled musty and had no ventilation. I was sweating by just sitting there. There were no privacy curtains for bottom bunks. The showers were private enough, but there was nowhere near enough water pressure to feel clean. I would recommend this place only to young solo travelers on a tight budget.

I can't believe how great this place is!! It is very clean and safe. I can be a pretty anxious traveler, but felt good here and absolutely loved the neighborhood. Bathroom is large and clean, a towel and hair dryers are included. The locker i was assigned was spacious enough to hold my checked luggage (bring your own lock, though). The bed was much bigger and cozier than I imagined. When you close your curtain, it's like a little fort :) The beds are a decently hefty material. Between that and the spacing, I was not bothered at all by any of the bunks on the sides of me (never had a roommate in the top bunk, though, so can't speak on that), at least in a six person dorm. The beds themselves almost act as walls, in my opinion. The patio is also VERY cute, make sure to spend some time out there. I loved that free activities were offered. The deli prices are also priced decently considering the convenience, and there are vending machines and a kitchen/fridge. This place truly had everything you could ask for. I loved the community feel, too, and all of the types of people staying. At 34, I was worried that hostels were a young person's game, but there were all sorts of ages and nationalities. When I was feeling extroverted, there were plenty of public spaces to meet people, but there were also quieter spots to watch tv or read alone. It is a judgment free zone! I chose HI USA because I didn't have many other options for a cheap stay, but I would visit again even if I had a bigger budget. It was fun!

Came here after spending 5 hours in JFK because my flight was cancelled . I booked a bed in a 6 bed female dorm for a whopping $72. Sleeping here really felt like I was serving time on Rilkers . It's dark and drab . The ac unit is loud and doesn't do much to cool the room . The room itself has a very mildewy and musty smell .The downstairs lobby and common areas look very hostel like as it has a cool youthful hip vibe but the energy there even still feels weird . This is probably my least favorite hostel I've stayed at .

Sure. It's alright. I'd stay there again if I had to. It's not great and it's not terrible. Thought drinks at nearby bars might be reasonable but hell no-still $19.

4 Stars I am staying here for 1 evening only to take a dance class and do a pinch of pre-holiday shopping. I've been coming up to NYC for years and stayed at so many hotels, friends couches, etc, you name it and this place is SOLID. I just checked in. Arrived at 3:30 for the 4 pm check in. There were 3 people ahead if me and it did not take long at all, i was in mybroom withon 10 minutes. I have a women's dorm style room, holds 4 people. I purchased a lock for about $4, paid cash, presented my ID and was off to my room. I got a shower towel, sheets, breakfast ticket for tomorrow. Cozy, dorm style room. My only feedback is that the lighting is so sort of low in the rooms, kind of gray and drab. Other than that, I took tons of pics in my review. The rooms are clean, locker is pretty big for my big carry on type bag and jacket. I explored the grounds. Bathroom is very clean, I would equate it to a gym, like that, tiled floor. The guy offered me slippers at check in but I have my own shower shoes so I didn't need them. There is a pretty big TV room, and huge kitchen where you can prepare food, or put leftovers in the large fridge and heat later. They also have laundry machines, dryers, soap to purchase, change machine, ironing board, like a straight up laundry mat, with at least 15 washers and dryers. The bed felt sort of not so cushiony, but I will be out and about and not really thinking about sleeping. It's clean. Everyone has been professional. All ages and walks of life of people are staying here. Very impressed. The only reason why I'm not giving it a 5 star, is because I've stayed at some super boutique hostels in Europe and they get the 5. This is definitely nice, clean and great value for the pricing, just not as modern and edgy for the vibes. But who cares! No more Pod Hotel for me. This is my new go to for NYC trips from now on!!

A nice hostel in a really good location. If you're just looking for a place to rest in between adventures, it's perfect. The front desk staff are very attentive and accommodating- special thanks to Joshua who was able to move me into an accessible bed at the last minute. The rooms, however, are basic, and there's no temperature control. Beds came with a single flat pillow, so it's best to bring one or stop by the Target a few blocks away. If you're used to hostels, it's fine, but for those staying for the first time it might be a bit of an adjustment. Overall it's a good place to stay for the price.

There aren't enough stars on yelp, or in the sky, for this place and its helpful staff. David and Erica at the front desk, especially. My daughter and I usually stay at hotels when we need to travel to the City, finding last-minute deals and using rewards points whenever possible to keep the cost down. I would prefer not visiting at all until the pandemic has passed, but certain factors have us traveling every weekend by necessity. I discovered HI New York on booking.com for only 40 bucks a night, and so ... the adventure begins. The entire place is eclectic, large, fun - like the college dorm of an art school that designed its lounges, kitchen, and garden for its extra-artistic residents! My daughter, at ten, couldn't believe such a clean, big, fun place existed. Because of Covid, they aren't bunking guests in the same room anymore - so we had our room (which normally houses 12 travelers) all to ourselves for the rock bottom price! While the bedroom was spare and definitely had a "boarding school " feel to it (twin bunk beds with firm foam mattresses and plastic-like sheets, one pillow and one scratchy blanket per bed) - it was an ADVENTURE and we loved it. And Covid? What are they doing to curb Covid? There are cleaning supplies at stations everywhere - and the bathrooms are impeccably clean. Like, shiny white visit-your-Aunt Betty -in-the-suburbs clean. The lounge has probably the most comfortable easy chairs I've ever sunk into IN MY LONG LIFE. The garden is lovely. The old photos and graffiti style paintings and student-friendly touches everywhere remind me of my hosteling younger days, but with much better security, maybe a hundred times cleaner, and with - I need to mention them again - David and Erica at the front desk making sure everything you need is seen to. Ten stars! Hundred stars! One million gajillion billion stars in the sky. Thank you, David!

Attempting to stay here was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. The three friends who were with me agree, so we are now trauma-bonded thanks to this disgusting, incompetent, undeserving, poor excuse for a hostel. DO. NOT. STAY. HERE. (Heck, you probably can't even if you want to. See why below). -My three friends and I wanted somewhere easy and cheap to stay for one night in New York. We drove up from a neighboring state to attend a parade. I've stayed in hostels in Seattle and New Orleans, so I'm comfortable with the experience, and know what to expect. I initially booked 3 beds in an all girls room well in advance, and that went fine. -Then I found out a fourth friend who initially couldn't make it could come, so we called again (WELL IN ADVANCE) to change our booking to a 4 person room. We were told it was changed, and that we'd get a second confirmation email for the booking change, but one never came. And I wasn't surprised, because the girl on the phone had NO idea what she was doing. -So, I call again over the next couple of days, because they're hard to get on the phone. I get a different guy, and he's pretty helpful, confirms that our booking has been switched to a four bed private room, and sends me a confirmation. I repeat: I GOT A CONFIRMATION. Keep that in mind, because it'll be important later. -After all of that, my friends and I go to New York, it's rainy and dreary, and unfortunately a lot of things don't go as planned. We end up walking a lot (even by New York standards), so we're anxious to get to the hostel, take showers and then relax before possibly going out again to enjoy the nightlife. -When we arrive at the hostel, the first unacceptable issue was the check-in process. The line wasn't long, AND YET it took us AN HOUR TO GET CHECKED IN. -After waiting an hour, dressed in damp clothes with aching feet, I finally get to the front desk and after staring at the computer for 15-20 MORE minutes, the girl at the front desk tells me "You're not going to like this, but we don't have the room you booked". At that point, my only question is how? WE HAD A CONFIRMATION. Unless their systems are broken or the employees simply don't know what they're doing, how can we have a confirmation email, but no room booked??? -The next stage of this nightmare was them apologizing and telling us they could put us in a 6-person room. We begrudgingly agree. Then literally 2 minutes later, that turns into an 8-person room, and that's when my fury starts burning hot. Neither the girl at the front desk or the manager she called knew what they were doing. They took forever to look up or make sense of small things, and would say one thing then another shortly after. It was like a contest to see how clueless they could be. -Fortunately, we were refunded some of our money back for our troubles. However, the nightmare STILL was not over. We went up to our room, AND THERE WERE ALREADY PEOPLE IN OUR BEDS! After all of that: dealing with the incompetence, waiting for an hour and a half to get checked it...they booked us in A ROOM THAT WAS ALREADY FULL. So, my friends and I left, because it was just too much. They dropped the ball at every opportunity, and they don't know which rooms have spaces when that is their ONE JOB. They don't know what's going on with any of those rooms or beds! (Not to mention the rooms themselves are cramped, humid, and smell funny). We got a full refund, and my friends and I were fortunate enough to be able to spring for a hotel that night. But if we hadn't been able to do that, we would've had no place to stay. And if we were visiting from far away, things could've gotten really, really bad. So, if you're a young traveler trying to save money, I urge you not to fall for their undeserved "Best hostel in NY title". Save your time and sanity, and stay somewhere else. (Because you probably won't even get the bed you booked). My friends and I travel a lot, and we will never stay at HI NY hostel again, and we're urging all of our friends who also travel never to stay there either.

Super clean, modern, spacious, and comes with a huge selection of amenities! I loved my 5 day stay here and would definitely recommend this place for anyone traveling to NYC. Especially for those traveling alone or on a budget! Events, tours, and activities are offered and a great way to meet new people! Located 3mins away from the subway which is super convenient! Lots of eateries near by as well. Highly recommend HI NYC Hostel and would stay here again.

My second stay was super great. No negative attributes what so ever. This hostel is #1 on my list in NYC and I recommend to anyone visiting the city. I met a lot of great people from around the world. I will return next time in back in the city.

I though staying in hostels were going to be a bit uncomfortable for me but I was certainly wrong. I actually met great people most of them from Europe and I actually spoke all the languages I am able to speak here and even helped them get their way down to the sight seeing areas of New York City. Wow I am not even a native here at all and it's my first time in the city that never sleeps and I'm already helping people how to get around. There were some things that were negative here but then fortunately they got overshadowed with the good. The first day I came to NYC it was HOT, it was 81 degrees Fahrenheit, whoa it's only spring I wonder how it is during the summer. Well I met my roommates who were all very welcoming and friendly and I met others who were coming in too. We were all unaware that this room had AC. It was stuffy and hot like if we were in an oven. I actually could not sleep at all and I had to go around walking down to the kitchen and be around that cool cold air that comes out really icy, it was paradise. The bathroom are really really clean and loads of privacy, the bathrooms and showers are really good it just gets REALLY full in the morning so either wake up really early or wait I guess. The water pressure is not the best but that is no problem for me. So I was happy to go out in the morning and know that my valuables are protected due to the lockers that are given to us. Bring your own lock or purchase one in the front desk for $3.25 or $3.75 I can't recall. Also at times it might get busy at the check in desk so be prepared to do some waiting. Also if you make a reservation earlier than the check in time you can leave you luggage here in a room where it's safe and when you come back just show your ticket so you can get it back. This place is open 24/7 so that is beyond good. So I went out to the city to explore and when I came back to the room I was discouraged to go in and rest because the air inside the room was not going to be good, but when I went inside....I was the happiest person in the universe, there was an AC on and it was cold and very relaxing. It was the best feeling in my life, this uplifted me, I was very happy. At times it had a weird smell but it came and went on. Also I don't know if they use soap to wash the sheets and towels but it's not a very nice smell to use. As far as location, I was really happy with it. I thought it was going to be ghetto. It was really good restaurant around and really useful Metro lines like the 1 and the A, B and some other ones. Also Central Park is like 2 blocks away which is a plus. The Upper West Side is nice and very diverse and everybody loves everyone one here and live in peace from my experience The television is nice under the main common room as well as the kitchen, best kitchen in the world. Also it has water fountains so I can refill my water bottle. Also the windows don't open all the way but I think that's for a reason. The outside patio is great for a cool off and just to relax and it's huge. There's many activities this hostel offers. I actually went to the Central Park tour and I had a really great phenomenal time with the people I went and the one who guided us, I think her name is Larisa(I think that was her name and how you spell it). I do recommend this hostel for people trying to save money and people who like to meet others. I will definitely for sure come back here in the future. My plan is to come during the winter when NYC has a massive amount of snow around January so I will be staying here for sure no doubt. Personally it was a blast staying here and will do it again for sure. I'm happy. And will definitely stay for a longer time than I did this past time.

As a member, This is not helping travelers save money after Covid. Going out every day to eat is too expensive, There were no water Fountains working other than the 4th floor and that was so warm. when we have a heatwave for 6 days, Not worth spending time there. personal Audio device items were taken by staff when I was finished with a meeting and step out for only an hour. The front-desk staff had tried to blame it on the last dorm mate in bed C and that isn't the case here. The Guest checks out at 9:45 am and my meeting was from 10:30 to 12:30 pm at this time checkout is completed and the other roommate doesn't even speak French, Japanese, or English. He also helps me look for it because going to the staff once more to complaint. I was more shocked than you are reading this review. Now, in my professional optional, there was really only two staff member I like to talk to, It was Patrick and the Other Guy with the blad clean shave head. Those guys were understanding and nice but when I talked to others it's a lack of communication "there was a Korean woman checking in and her English isn't that good either and my Korean isn't the best but I translated for her. The main reason why I am giving this review 3 stars. The problem was not enforcing the Covid-19 rules, Kitchen was always a mess when I was in or trying to pre-ready some ramen. "since we were only allowed to use the microwave" One guest asked me if I work here when I told her and I quote " we suppose to clean behind ourselves and clean the area you are using for the next person, this is a community." Her response was " do you work here again, and my response was and quote" As a member of HI for now over 9 years, I think it's my duty to help people understand what HIUSA is about. This is not a shelter, you do not wait for others to clean your mess." Look at the walls please and you can see staff place notes everywhere. She again takes notice and didn't even apologize for her attitude. People do not read, Yes, I got food poisoning while I was there because I either didn't clean the microwave or I touch something in the kitchen that wasn't clean. "WASH YOUR HANDS ALL THE TIME" No dorm mates were in the room at the time and check out. I am so disappointed. HI staff, check-in someone after 2 am making so much noise for 3 hours until 5 am. You may want to think twice about staying here. The men's 4th-floor bathroom was so nasty at times, makes me question where are these folks coming from with such nasty matters. Some guests also thought it was not fair enough to charge us full price when we are always eating out and spending money that can also go to more hostel stays. The summer heat was too much in Staircase B, it was a natural hot spring, LOL I had notable to get my work done so I purchase a table and was giving a chair to use in the dorm room. Sorry, but these cafe tables can't be ideal for someone a Photographer or video editor, plus I need the silence when editing audio. So yes the Hostel cost me more money than the stay. I went to the ER room on Columbia in 113th and my bill, SMH But wait, there is more, someone went into my food bag, and cook ramen noodles in a pack and drank my $40 sake bottle "what was left of it" and I think I know who it was. Some old weird guys that I caught smoking in staircase A out of the windows on the first floor. He was going into the Kitchen touching other people's food and belongings. This is why staff have to pay more attention to who stays in the hostel.

What a perfect place! The staff is kind, the amenities are inviting and clean, and the building has great character. The bathroom was spotless, and the showers had great water pressure. The bedroom and lockers inside were spacious and clean, and the common areas were impeccable. Close to transit and great spots to eat/drink, the location was great. I can't say enough about how wonderful this place was and am already scheming when I might be able to return!

Highly recommended if you don't want to pony up for a hotel! (Less than $50? Per night, not sure if this rate varies seasonally) What to expect: this place is clean, comfortable enough (it isn't a hotel!) and cheap! There are towels and extra blankets (on top of the beds or on the lockers). Hang on to your towel until it's dirty, you'll have to visit the front desk for a fresh towel (they want you to reuse your towel). Location of this hostel is close to a subway (just a block). And there is a Whole Foods store just a 7 minute walk away. Also a 24 hour grocery store by the subway. They have a locker inside each shared room for each guest. It's large enough for your carry on bag plus a few items and hooks for clothing etc. Bring a sturdy lock or buy one from the front desk. (Also bring flip flops to wear for shower) There is a laundry room, get your change at the front desk if the change machine doesn't work. Take advantage of all the activities the hostel has to offer! Sign up for group pub crawls, and various tours! We did the free Central Park tour with Kristen, great gal, Thank you again, Kristen! And we paid $10 pp for the All Day walking tour with Jerry, thru the hostel. We thoroughly enjoyed his personality and of course, the tour. Thank you, Jerry! From the big California Girl Scout group.

Had a last minute one night stay here since I came from Boston for a show. Location is a little far from the main tourist areas so had to Uber. Stayed in an all female dorm with only 4 bunk beds. Did not get much sleep since the bed was very uncomfortable and my bunk mate showed up at 3 AM. However everything was clean and had no issue getting a shower. Appreciated the large locker in the room and the free breakfast voucher and shower shoes. Got the egg sandwich was bland and soggy, some of the other options looked better. Seems like they have a lot of activities which I would try next time. If you forget your toiletries there is a Duane Reade open 24/7 that's a 7 minute walk away. The staff was a little unfriendly when I asked if they sold toothpaste but overall were fine for the check in process. Would stay here again as $65 for one night is a steal for NYC.

Some amenities closed due to covid but it definitely gets the job done if you are looking for a clean and comfy place to sleep

LOVE THIS PLACE! So convenient for quick trips and the bed is comfy! The room was hot but with the door propped open it cooled off. A little noisy, but hey, it's New York, everything is noisy! The people were friendly, both staff and patrons, so would recommend to anyone! Wish I stayed more than one night.

This hostel is one of Hostelling International's gems, IMO. Hostelling International (HI) is an organization run out of Washington DC. It is so past the point of legit, they are one of the Mac Daddys of affordable youth travel. All of their hostels, around the world, have standards (safety and health, guest activities, community outreach, etc) they must meet, in order to keep operating. This joint meets, and exceeds, these expectations! I've stayed at this off-Broadway hostel both times I've visited NYC. It's huge. Clean. Always get clean sheets and a towel. Many different sized rooms: they have a few private/2 person rooms, all the way up to 10-bunk-bed rooms; shoot, they could have even bigger rooms... Dorm style with bathrooms down the hall. Community kitchen with multiple fridges/stoves. A movie room. Game room. Cafe on the main floor, right next to the computers (free wi-fi). A fantastic outdoor courtyard great for local/traveling music artists, poetry night, karaoke, talks, or just lounging under the sun! I've always had great experiences with the staff. Always knowledgeable about things going on in the city. If you want suggestions, you've gone to the best source! There's always at least two people manning the front desk. It's keycard access, so ideally an added level of security. The rooms, because they are college-dorm layout, range in price. I stayed in a 6-person (3 bunkbeds) for $36 per night. This architecturally stunning building has been around for years. I believe it's marked on the national registry... At any rate, they have preserved this building to the best of its integrity. Just a 5 minute walk to the Broadway subway. From there, you're able to go experience the many cultures of the world :)

This is a great hostel at a fantastic location in upper Manhattan! Very close to the new York subway line 1 at the 103rd st station. It is 5 mins away by train from Columbia university and 20 mins away by train from Times Square. The hostel generic amenities like the common area and cafe are great! They have a super cool ambience and the staff is super friendly and helpful. Check in is pretty late at 4 pm, but they will store your luggage for free if you want to hold it there. The rooms are good and very decently priced for the centre of New York city. Each bunk bed has a privacy curtain and a light and multiple personal charging ports. The lockers to store your luggage are spacious and good enough to store a carry on stroller bag as well as a small backpack. You have to get your own padlocks though. I've reduced a star because the bathrooms could be better and also room service does not replace towels/ sheets. The elevators are super slow and get very crowded, it can take you a while to get up to your room unless you take the stairs. But id say this is a great budget accommodation ro choose if you are in Manhattan!

Stayed here several times over the years. Have some fond memories and made some good friends! It's always very clean and staff is very nice and professsional. The neighborhood has gotten better than when I first stayed in 1997. Also been remodeled. Bathrooms and facilities are very nice and clean.

So I stayed in this place traveling toward Montréal Canada, then connecting to Morocco., then Hong Kong, China. Shower Facilities = 10 Perfect architecture with the combination of a walk in locker / hanging area. Pool Table / Lounge / Eating area's = 9 Nice and spacious, and TON'S of fun! I meet this Italian woman, and we went on a date. Guess I'll visit Italy soon!? Sleeping Facilities = 8 I'm 6'5 so my bed could have been a little bigger. Although it was 12 people to a room, THEY THE HOSTEL COMPANY, COULD PUT AIR FRESHENER in the rooms. Shoes, and Sock's do make a little smell. You also GET a TOWEL, and extra sheets! Staff = 10 Knowledgeable of the are's, and attentive to my 2 night stay. Friendly and always had eye contact. Food = 10 The café makes a KILLER Milano, and Tuscan sandwich. Freshly made daily, I smuggled in a case of beer in a black bag from the liquor store across the street , and chilled down by the cafe on the lobby floor, watching NetFlix.

One of the nicest hostels I've stayed at compared to Chicago, San Diego, Boston, Miami..... Bathrooms VERY clean & staff incredibly organized, knowledgeable, and friendly. Rooms were spacious with half of them overlooking the decent park and open patio area that was a relaxing hangout spot when weather was good. The small deli in the hostel was convenient but overpriced, even for NYC standards. A muffin would run you $2.45, 1 block away the same muffin was $1.50. The main guy that worked the deli with the black goatee was very intelligent and willing to get involved in controversial discussions with sound arguments when it was quiet late at night. Good guy! I paid $52 a night, the most I have paid for a hostel ever BUT I didn't mind since it SO well kept and professional. I stayed Ina. 10 bed male room and only had 2 roommates during my Sunday-Tuesday stay. I was able to go run ALL of Central Park and get back to the Hostel (6.5 miles) in under an hour too!! Good location!! I would recommend!!

This place was surprisingly awesome, My first time at a hostel so I didn't know what to expect. This place was beneficial in many ways, it's at a fair price, friendly staff, clean bed, clean bathroom & it was next to the venue of the festival I went too! I was in a 8 bunk room, each bed came with your towel, blanket, & a locker. The real reason why this place is great is the customer service, they replied via email instantly, & the staff's help you from A to Z thoroughly with whatever you need. Def will be back here

"We should have had your bachelorette party here!" my wise friend suggested. I was only here for a special event, which was held at the ballroom. Yep, a hostel has a ballroom! And it's pretty decent, a potential blank canvas for any kind of event (once you get passed the hostel crowd gathering for the nightly pub crawl). While waiting in the lobby for my friends to arrive I got a glimpse of the energy and the next day's pub crawl meeting time.There is also a decent looking cafeteria on premises and promises of a garden? I've stayed in hostels in Ireland and Scottland (and have attempted pub crawls), but this place was a whole other level of psycedelic awesomeness (at least that was the impression from standing in the lobby for half an hour). This is a really busy spot for the youthful in body or heart. Ahh, the good old days of pub crawls, salsa nights and lavish spare time to take historic Brooklyn Bridge walks. There is a bulletin board of a million activities and a daily schedule of each. Even if you come here alone, you will not be bored, they just won't allow you to. Great place to meet great people, I'm sure. If you, like me, never really got the typical college experience or have never survived a pub crawl as a result, since you commuted to school while living with your parents. Most importantly, if this still bugs you, I would highly suggest staying here for a couple of nights. Get it out of your system! (Otherwise you may be doomed for life, in my non-psychologist opinion.) From what the concierge told us (Yep they have a concierge too and an information desk) the rates off-peak can be as low as $30-$40, day. As long as you're ok living with 16 other strangers. It is a hostel after all. Now, how many times did I mention pub crawl?

Overall, this is a pretty good hostel. The rooms are clean and in good shape, with plenty of power sockets next to the beds. The shared areas, including the garden, are also really nice. I stayed in one of their "Deluxe" (i.e. 4-bed) rooms, which comes with breakfast included. That breakfast is a voucher for the hostel's food stand and only includes one basic piece of food (donut or egg sandwich), one piece of fruit (apple or banana) and one hot beverage. That was OK, but not comparable to a decent hotel breakfast. Other downsides include their only lift, which is pretty slow, and waiting times at the reception: It appeared to be hit in waves, as queues across the lobby would form from one moment to the other. When that happened, they appeared to be a bit understaffed - for example, I had to wait half an hour to get my luggage from storage. Staff was generally friendly, though.

It went surprisingly well! Think of it like the college dorms. I'm not going to lie, I was terrified walking up to the building because I wasn't sure what to expect as a solo traveler. Immediately I was put at ease by friendly staff and there are so many different areas in the building to venture around which also calmed my nerves. Felt pretty safe. The bed sheets and bathroom were clean. I was lucky enough to have quiet roommates. You are given a single towel and blanket. The building is in great condition and up-to-date. Definitely going to stay here again. We'd all like to stay in a fancy/posh hotel but to be frank, we all aren't rolling in dough like that. Come here to save a few bucks and if you are about that life!

I can't believe that nobody has rated Hostelling International NYC yet!? Back in my first year in college, I was 18. A group of us decided that we were going to NYC to for the Thanks Giving weekend. Although I had been to NYC many times before, it was the first time that a group of young kids taking a trip to a different city. We were poor and wanted to save money, so we booked into the Hostelling International NYC. They have three types of rooms --- Big Hall Style (reminds me of boarding school) with 10 + bunkbeds, Medium Size with 3 buckbeds and individual room with a twin size. HI - NYC offers probably one of the cheapest place to sleep in the big apples --- for less than $40/night (back then) clean sheet, clean pillows, the price was really good. They have breakfast, but it's NOT free. There is a food court in the lobby and it opens in the morning. Stuff aren't cheap in NYC. There's also internet room, tv room on the first floor and laundry room on the 2nd floor.

Loved it. I switched from running the marathon to volunteering due to a foot injury. The only problem with this was I had to be in Central Park by 6am. Unfortunately where I live the first train isn't till 5:30ish and would get me there 1/2 hour late. So while I was looking at hotels to stay at for one night, one of the many people I follow had given this hotel a 5 star. So I searched and found it interesting. For about 37.00 a night you can stay in a dorm style room with 9 other people. It's separated into boys and girls. They are on the same floor, some guys think it's okay to walk around with just a towel. Okay what ever suits you. There's a little cafe that is on the expensive side. I bought a sandwich and a can of coke for $8.00. The sandwich was big and the guy behind the counter did heat it up for me without me asking him too. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because of the chairs in the room. When I went to sleep there was one empty one but when I woke up at 4:30 it disappeared. Let's say it wasn't easy getting all my stuff out of locker without light and something to put it on. Chairs are for sitting not leaving your items on them and going out. I was using the shower stall seat to get dressed and put on my sneakers. They provide a towel but no wash cloth. I actually would go back if I ever have to be in the city before my train runs. But I might pay the extra 7.00 to get a four person room instead of a 10 person room. I didn't get to use the WiFi or the kitchen area so I can't speak about that but the staff was friendly and very helpful. Oh and the other reason was there was hair that wasn't mine on my blanket.

HI-NYC is an excellent hostel. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. The bathroom I used (4th floor, W 104th side) was very clean and the toilets and showers felt very private, with walls and doors that went almost from the floor to just a couple inches from the roof (which is great for me.m, I like privacy in the bathroom). The cafe downstairs has amazing food and drinks, even if it might be a little pricey. There is day long storage lockers for ~$5 each of varying sizes. There is a full pay as you go laundry with detergent and dryer tissues for purchase. I give HI 4 s because as much as I love it, there were air conditioning issues in my room (12 men in a hot room during summer) which took hours for someone from staff to check and to fix. I also found that the keycards were demagnetised too easily. (The cards will always let you into the foyer, but wouldn't let me in the dorms if kept in close proximity to my iPhone). Overall, I highly recommend staying at HI NYC, so long as you are OK with sleeping in a room of stranger :)

Fantastic! I just got back from my trip to NYC, where I stayed at this hostel. This was, BY FAR, the best and most pleasant hostelling experience I've ever had! The staff was friendly, professional and accommodating. The facilities were clean, clean and clean! The bathrooms were also clean and the showers were hot. I mean, it's New York, so you really only need a place to lay your head after long days and nights of zipping around town, but I found the hostel a welcome and quiet place to come 'home' to at the end of the day. I stayed in an 8-person room and I was never disturbed by any of my temporary roommates. Location couldn't have been better for my purposes. I will MOST DEFINITELY be back!

Perfect for a young, lone, adventure hungry traveler!! PROS - Daytime tours daily tours of varying parts of Manhattan/Brooklyn (only $10) - Nightlife group activities- pub crawls and clubbing nights ($10 men, ladies=free) - Welcome parties every few days perfect for meeting people and getting some free booze - Located so close to Central Park and the Subway - Front desk has maps and will help you find anything CONS - The week I was there we went to the same club two nights in a row despite the poster stating we were going to different places. Variation next time please! - One of the male pub crawl/clubbing leaders comes onto every woman!! (Name begins with an "R," be aware ladies)

I stayed in this hostel while I was on Alternative Break this past March. I have never stayed in a hostel anywhere before, so I was a bit nervous about the experience. It. Was. AWESOME. I led the trip this year and was here last year, and I'm glad that Hostelling International was part of my experience both years. The only way I can describe my experience here is by just walking you through what happens when you arrive at the hostel. Since we stayed for a full week, the hostel actually provided us with one-week subway passes. We waited in the New York room? as our group coordinators got things sorted. Then we got our key cards and went up to our room. Each person got a bunked bed (top or bottom), a locker space, a towel + bedding, an extra blanket, and a light above their bed. (You can purchase a lock from the front desk.) Bathrooms were pretty clean, although there was definitely a rush in the morning and the evening for sinks and showers. There's a hairdryer also, if I remember correctly. The kitchen is awesome. Big fridge and they provide little label stickers so you can label your own things. Everything that isn't food is provided - pots, plates, cups, cutlery. Just make sure to wash and you're good to go. Dining area is a bit small, so I don't know if they expect everyone to eat at the same time. XD Adjacent to the dining area is the theater area. They have a projector and will display TV, sometimes movies. Very comfy seating in this area, it's a good place to just chill and unwind, although if people are watching TV I would not recommend this spot as a place to hang out and talk. The hostel provides a lot of fun also. You have your pub crawls, which are apparently standard hostel practice? (I'm an under-21, so I couldn't take part.) Also, free clubbing which I didn't get a chance take advantage of. In addition to their fun tours of nearby attractions, there was a welcoming party at the beginning of the week with free wine and beer (and soda!) for the residents. All in all, this is definitely an AWESOME place to stay, affordable compared to hotels, and a great place to make fun international friends. :)

It was clean, everyone was friendly, and the locker was big enough to fit my carry on suitcase. I would definitely stay here again.

After my stay in the HI in Boston and this NYC location, I could easily find myself become loyal to the Hostelling International brand. I love how this non-profit organization is scattered in big cities around the world. I've had an excellent stay in both locations, and now it would take some extreme persuading to steer me to another brand. There are just so many accomodations! There's a kitchen, where you can pretend you live in the city and cook up a fancy meal for yourself, and of course, there's grocery stores conveniently located throughout. The kitchen is really what makes this place home for me because the key to my heart is food! Depending on the location, breakfast is complimentary. HI Boston provided breakfast, but NYC here did not. There is a little cafe near the lobby - better selection, compared to the corporate Starbucks! Take advantage of their group meetups. Not only are they entertaining and informational, it's a wonderful way to meet people from all over the world There are several seating areas. You can make yourself cozy, if you want some "me time" outside your dorm. My main beef with this hostel is the elevator! There is only one and it's extremely slow. I had to opt for the stairs on several occasions. If you're afraid of trying hostels for the first time, don't be afraid to try HI! It's very safe - security cameras, lockers, two security checkpoints to get to your dorm (lobby and dorm itself), and 24/7 concierge. There's probably more I'm not mentioning. I am usually a very trusting person, and I always trust my gut. This place feels safe. On a side note: I left my iPhone in a bathroom stall, and it turns out someone turned it in to the front desk. Although that was a lucky moment, it's not something you'd expect from the negative perception of hostels.

I found the location reasonable (considering the price), it's about 2 blocks from the subway and buses are available nearby to get you downtown. You do get a comfortable bunk bed in a dorm room shared with a few other people. You have a locker but you'll need your own padlock (you can buy 1 from the reception). I was in a room facing the road and I had the bed right next to the window. On the up side is you get the sunlight in the morning to wake you up, on the down side you get the traffic noise. I must say the area feels a bit rough at night but if you travel with other people then it should be ok. While I do enjoy the luxury and privacy of staying in a hotel, staying at a hostel is a totally different experience. The best thing I found about staying in a hostel is the people you get to meet. I was sharing with a bunch of english people and we ended up travelling together and made a few new friends I'd never have made if I stayed in a hotel. NB: You'll need to be a member of YHA/HI to stay there, if you are a non-member, you'll have to buy a 'stamp' for each night of your stay. Get 6 stamps and they will exchange it for a 1 year membership.

Stayed here last night and had a great experience. Was in the city overnight to see a concert and had minimal disposal income. They made room for me with little notice and only charged me$70 for a shared room. When I wanted a more private room they accommodated me quickly and courteously. ( Young African American man with glasses coordinated my room transition with expedience and professionalism) Very clean, attractive, and safe establishment. Best deal in town if your in a bind.

Lives up to the HI standards (clean, safe, has all amenities you'd need). Wide hallways and bathrooms are never busy. Lobby tries to be too trendy - I could barely hear the front desk clerk in front of me. Charging stations in the first floor lounge need to be replaced - I found one working plug among many broken ones. Check out the courtyard in fair weather!

I got very frustrated with this hostel for several reasons: First, when I checked in, they gave me a bed which was just used by someone else without being cleaned. It was 10:40 pm. I went to the front desk and they said they could clean it up for me. Come on! It's almost midnight! Second, after checking out, I had to pay $5 to use the locker for my suitcase and my work laptop. When I was trying to retrieve them in the afternoon that day, my luggage was gone. I was completely freaked out because my laptop has a lot of sensitive client information. I later found them on the top of the lockers. The elevator can sometimes be very frustrating too, as well as the wait time to talk to a receptionist.

Thank you HI-New York for the great experience. I stayed for two nights and the stay was perfect for what I was looking for. Location, safety, and cleanliness. Check-in was thorough and efficient. The staff was clear and made sure all questions were answered. The planned activities were perfect for a night out after sight-seeing. The room and showers were clean. The breakfast as part of the premium rooms included coffee/tea, bagel/donut/oatmeal, and a fresh fruit. I would grab my breakfast and head out, the subway was just a short block away. On my last day, I placed my bag in a locker so that I could continue to roam freely through New York City. It was very convenient and only five dollars for the locker for 24 hours. When I returned, I realized I had misplaced my receipt and the front desk staff gladly escorted me and reopened my locker. I will definitely look for HI in future travels.

Thought I'd, AT LAST, just post pictures I took when I stayed here 11/2014. Too tired, at the moment, to review.)

It's a hostel, in New York. The neighborhood is rather boring except for the DING DONG LOUNGE which is a few blocks away - so make that your home away from home while you're at the hostel. It's a huge place, and I was happy to find the bathrooms were well attended too. The staff is decent but a bit slow (they seem to never have enough help) and the key cards like to stop working when they shouldn't. The elevator is the slowest in the world, so take the stairs. They have a little cafe which has really nice and fast service for a continental breakfast or lunch. I don't socialize at the hostel, so I didn't deal with that aspect, but, they seem to have some really cool activities (the big chalkboard in the entrance is quite nice) to participate in!

The film hostel kind of ruined it for me, but my good old future mother in law was down, so what did I have to fear. I'm going to say for fifty bucks a night, it was a sweet deal, the hostel was clean and well the people staying here were from all around the world, I had to go on a pub crawl and even clubbed with the hostel people. It was a great experience and the hostel staff was very friendly and accommodating. I would recommend for anyone traveling alone, because here, you never feel alone, literally you have got 3 other bodies sleeping in your room.lol

When first stepping into the room, a massive cloud of raw odor overcame my group and rendered the room fairly unbearable until a member of my group went to a secondary location to retrieve air refreshers. The staff service was quite good actually, being met with smiles at the ass-crack of dawn at the breakfast area of the lobby. The showers (not really the toilets) were great and very adjustable, even having lighted guides for maximum water conservation. The lobby area and rest areas are quite entertaining, having a pool table and a top of the line theatre. This is a good option for immediate refuge but not for extended stays.

If you're looking for a place that's good and affordable, that's it! Great staff, excellent bed and hot showers! Definitely the best way to experience New York for much less!

This is one of the best places I have ever stayed. The vibe is excellent, the people are very friendly (including the cafe, maintenance and FOH staff) and the facilities were superb for such an establishment. The room we had was for 10 people, all girls. The rooms were equipped with lockers (padlocks to be bought at the front desk) and had individual plugs and reading lights which all worked. The shared bathrooms were surprisingly nice. With individual cubicles for showers and toilets, but shared sink and mirror areas. The whole building was spacious and warm considering its age with a modern twist. Daily activities are offered, there are lots of communal areas and the breakfast was the highlight of our morning. I could only find one fault with the hostel: its location, it is a little far out from the traditional tourist locations but is close to a subway station. I would be more than happy to go back!