HI - New York Hostel

The staff is ill trained and there were rats and bedbugs
I've been to quite a few hostels and this has the be the absolute worst in America. They had nice beds, a computer room, and a nice cheap café. but the staff are not trained properly and were incredibly rude. I stayed for about a week and they messed up my reservation and put me and my mother in a coed room and wouldn't change it until we showed them the print out of our reservation. They also have random prices. They claim that during busy tourist seasons the price goes up (which is reasonable) but if you book the reservation for that time early you get the discount rate (sounds fair) but once you get there during busy season with your early reservation they charge you the more expensive rate unless you prove to them that you booked ahead of time. Why not just change a flat rate instead of whatever they try to charge you? Several people seemed to have had this problem because there was more than once case of complaints while I waited for them to solve several of my key problems. I had to wait in the lines that wouldn't move for five minutes per person until my mother went downstairs and yelled at the staff until they finally fixed my key problem. The last few nights there the hostel seemed to be dominated by the rudest group of British teenagers who were obscenely loud into the early morning (4 a.m.) and running through the hall because their chaperone was a pushover who allowed them to have "party nights" as they called it at the expense of the rest of the hostel. When I, my mother, several of our roommates went downstairs each hour during the night to complain to the security guard about their behavior they went upstairs and told them to stop but did not tell their chaperone so the kids would just go to the next floor or hang out in the stair well and after thirty minutes they'd come back to the same floor. The boys were going into the girls room and visa versa. The worst was one night when all of their rooms were infested with bedbugs and they had to move the large group of British teenagers into different rooms and they were literally screaming in the halls like banshees for hours till they got to their new rooms and then they continued to scream all night. While waiting in line for fifteen minutes I overheard a group of Norwegian girls informing the front desk that their was a rat infestation in their room and the staff replied by saying, "What, you don't have rats in Norway? We can't do nothing about it," instead of apologizing or getting some mouse traps for the future. Every morning at 8 a.m. I was awakened by the sound of construction since they were restoring the outside of the building. They should at least offer ear plugs like one of the other hostels I stayed at. I will never stay at this hostel again and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

Ok -- Average
Huge, fairly cheap (for NY), but quite unfriendly.

I admit that It is cheap, rather clean, and its location is useful. We can make a lot of international friends there. But there are some problems. One of the washing machines didn't work and I couldn't get back a quarter. I asked to change a dollar bill to quarters at a shop on first floor, but they refused that because they didn't have enough quarters. Therefore, I asked a girl at the front but she also refused it for the same reason. Later, when I went to the front again because my card key didn't work, the same girl at the front sighed loud, seeing my face. I think she thought I brought a lot of troubles to her. I'm afraid that she forgot that I was a customer. Next day, when I tried to throw away trash into a trash bin in front of the shop on first floor, the bin's lid somehow didn't open. While I was trying to push to open it, suddenly, a Hispanic female worker at the shop yelled something at me. I think she meant "Don't do that" or something like that, but I am not sure because it was almost Spanish. I'm afraid that some of the workers of this hostel have attitude problems.

Value for money is ok. The place did smell a bit and the room was either very hot or very loud (when window opened to let some air in). staff at front desk was helpful with directions and sightseeing options. Can't beat $25 a night in NYC though. but to get that price you have to sleep with eleven other people which can make for an uncomfortable sleep. Great neighbourhood with lots of cheap food options around. much better than overpriced Times Square for getting food. close to subway and central park too.

This was my first and (as yet) only trip to the U.S., so I can't really compare this to other hostels in the U.S. Although this appears to be a little far out from the centre of NYC (i.e. Times Square), it's very close to the subway, so I never felt like I was out in the sticks here. The hostel gave me pretty much what I needed (a bed, somewhere to socialise), but I had a few complaints. Firstly, the place smelt really bad, like old sweaty clothes, and the rooms were even worse. Seeing as I was unlucky enough to get food poisoning during my stay, that smell didn't make me feel much better. Secondly, giving only a blanket for bedding was not enough, especially in the NYC winter -- especially when you're feverish and shivering. The bathrooms were not in a good state either, but that can be the fault of the guests too. Some complained about the overzealous security checking everyone's receipts when they entered, but then there is probably a good enough reason for that. There were good and inexpensive breakfasts served in the morning too. This hostel was ok, it could just do with a little improvement.

This was my first time staying in new york and staying in a hostel so it was all new for me. i stayed for five days in at the beginning of january '07 with my sister. we followed the directions to get from the airport to the hostel and found them incredibly useful. however got confused about the free bus to howard beach subway station and caught the airtrain to howard beach instead for $5. we also wasted time standing in the same spot at penn station to change trains until we realised we had to stand on the other side of the track. other than that we found the hostel no probs costing just $7. the hostel itself was well presented but the receptionist was quite miserable, we had no probs checking in though. the room was clean and tidy we stayed in a ten-bedded dorm. this was fine except for the strange smell of cleaning chemicals which was strong and overpowering at times. once you had been in the room for fifteen minutes, you began to forget about the smell. the location of the hostel was in easy reach of a subway station just two minutes' walk however there was no excitement or nightlife in the vicinity of the hostel. i would recommend staying here and think it is excellent value for money if you're on a budget. The best thing about my holiday to new york wouldnt have happened if i hadnt stayed at this hostel. the hostel put on excursions lead by local new yorkers. Jerry's sixteen-hour tour was amazing and made my trip. it was fantastic and i will remember it forever. the trip cost just $10 and he takes you everywhere. wear comfy shoes though because you must walk at least ten miles. the tour takes place every saturday -- it's worth doing the trip before you see any sites so you can decide were you would like to revisit. the tour sets off taking the subway to brooklyn for a walk round brooklyn heights and the view of lower manhattan, a walk across brooklyn bridge, george washington park, st. paul's, ground zero, wall street and financial district, staten island ferry and statue of liberty, battery park, lunch in china town, little italy, soho, greenwich village, union square, grand central station, rockerfeller center, times square, and many more. It's brilliant!

I was in NYC for five days over the Fourth of July 2006. I had no idea where I would stay. This hostel was at the top of my list -- the first place I checked out. Luckily they had a room. I stayed in a four-bed dorm, which smelled kind of "Funny," but was tolerable. I met a few nice people, and even went sightseeing with a guy from Scotland who was staying in my room. Check-in was no problem. The staff seemed very helpful and attentive. The outside courtyard was a nice place to relax and have a smoke after touring the city all day. The bathrooms/showers were pretty clean and there was always a housekeeper in the hallways doing some cleaning work of some kind. The only problem seemed to be the incredibly slow elevator. It became a joke among those waiting for it to arrive! Make sure you bring a lock for your locker in your room and a pair of flip-flops for the shower. I'd say the neighborhood is a little scary if you have not been to NYC before, but if you have, then it should be no problem. Just be alert at late hours. The twenty-four-hour convenience store across the street was great, as was the food at the little Mexican/Italian place next to it. I had a great time and would highly recomend if staying in NYC to stay here.

This was probably the best of all the HI hostels we stayed in over the summer. Despite not allowing alcohol, at least they posted up bars with offers on. There's a good atmosphere and plenty of activities (comedy night, movie night). The only complaints is the really small kitchen and the bathrooms could be cleaner. Overall though I would recommend this hostels, plus it is only one block away from the subway.

Nice friendly atmosphere, clean, and pretty well organized. A nice touch is individual reading lights at each bed. Also, they have lockers in the dorms for each bed, something you dont't find, but should, in every hostel. It's conveniently reached by subway.

Stayed here August 12 to 17, 06. The first night I went to check in they said my room was undergoing "plumbing problems" -- they then apologised and gave me a piece of paper with directions by bus or train to the "Jazz on Harlem," stating it was a recommended hostel with rooms still available. I had booked my room a month earlier. I got a cab and gave him the piece of paper, he took me to the worst part of Harlem and circled the blocks for five minutes looking for the hostel before saying "it is not safe here, you should not stay here" and took me back after I agreed with him. I then went back to the check in and told them what happened, then they suddenly found my room had become available. No reimbursment for the 15 bucks I had just wasted on a cab. I heard other horror stories from guests there who had been awoken in the middle of the night by security shaking their bed demanding to see a receipt because the hostel had double booked their bed. Also an account of having police detectives using someones room as a stakeout while guests still stayed in it. The TV room never has enough room.

Stayed here early June '06, alone, three nights. Very poor hostel, very normal HI establishment. Common room is quite average -- during my stay the place was overrun by older travellers and families with children, so not a place for a solo traveller to enjoy the "backpacker culture." Includes function rooms and several offices. Very clinical, kitchen is essentially unusable, bathrooms are a health hazard, ridiculously overpriced internet and cafe. More positively though -- very secure, great location, affordable, great customer service, and there's a book-exchange.

Great service! The staff were wonderful. I arrived a couple hours late on a Friday night due to a flight delay -- I was quite tired and I had to go downtown to meet a friend. The staff told me upon my arrival that I had three messages. After I got settled in the room one of the friendly staff members ordered me a taxi so I could get downtown to meet my friend. It was my first time in NYC and I can't wait to go back. The staff were so helpful I was there for three days and there was always someone with a smile to answer my many questions. The room was clean and quiet. The bathrooms and showers need a bit work, flip flops are a good idea. I would not hesitate to stay there again.

worst kitchen ever. no peeler, no knife, no nothing. tv common room was excellent though with big screen and plenty of couches. close to subway which was good. and area it's in is 'interesting' which i liked, but some may have felt unsafe. rooms were average, a bit cramped. not a huge amount of character. but bad kitchen is what makes this hostel rate low. just get pizza from across the road

A clean hostel (although slightly dated) in a very good location approx 10 minutes from Time Square by subway. The hostel has a lounge, games room, internet access and a small café. Dorms are average size with large luggage lockers (Bring your own padlock). Over all a good hostel in a excellent location.

For the price, this hostel is excellent! I was in a twelve-bed male dorm room. It wasn't that bad. There was a locker and the room itself was big, so it didn't feel really cramped. The bathrooms were a bit far from the room and had the tendency to get crowded. They were relatively clean, considering everyone on the floor was using them. In the morning though there were a few "traffic jams." The neighborhood is safe enough. I was walking around late at night, sometimes drunk, :) and no one hassled me. The neighborhood itself has a nice "hood" feel. There are young kids hanging out and parents with kids strolling along. There wasn't much going on near the hostel. For instance, I did not find a bar or anything just to chill at night. This was sometimes annoying because I just wanted a drink but I didn't want to have the take the subway to get anywhere. There is a big TV room in the hostel as well as video games (loved the pinball machine) and air hockey and pool. There was also a comedy team that came by. There is a lot to do. There is also an amazing courtyard in the back. Very pretty. The hostel itself is safe. There is security and everything up front, which was important to me as this was my first time to NYC and America and I was a bit nervous. I found the staff to be very helpful, but then again I did not talk to them a lot. But my interactions with them were pleasant. I would recommend this hostel. It is spacious, clean and for the price, it is a great value. If you have any questions, let me know. tolgeywood@yahoo.com