The Hostelz.com Review
HI - New York Hostel claims to be the largest hostel in the world. It is full of life with people coming and going at all hours of the day and night. Check-in takes at least thirty minutes per customer and they don't always have the most up-to-date information regarding bookings. Staying true to NYC's nightlife, there is an organized activity going on every evening whether it is bar hopping in the city, game night in the common areas, and or grilling on the patios.
The Location
The hostel is easy to find once you have been there. Coming from the airport there are several access options -- taxi, bus,shuttle, and subway. All cheap drop-off locations are several blocks away and the option of hiring a taxi or shuttle for direct pick-up/drop-off will cost you. For getting around NYC during your travels, it is in a great location -- it's only about three blocks from Central Park and the subway with restaurant and bar options all around the block.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Each bunk has its own locker, but locks are not provided. The beds come with fresh sheets, a blanket, and a towel. There are multiple showers and restrooms on each floor for both men and women. Cleanliness all around is superb! There is always someone picking up and sanitizing the bathrooms. Cleanliness on top of endless hot water makes for a very enjoyable shower. Each shower is in a private stall with a bench, hooks, a soap dispenser with all-in-one soap, and a curtain.
Common Spaces
HI - NYC has many common spaces for you to spend time meeting other travelers -- computer room, two lounge areas, pool hall room, a front and back patio, TV/game room, and kitchen. They also have a cafe/sandwich shop with very low prices and good food/snacks. These spaces are open twenty-four/seven with the small cafe shop closing down in the evenings.
Summary
Overall HI - NYC has several positive points with a price that is very agreeable to the budget conscious. This location is recommended to any hostelers in the NYC area.
The Location
The hostel is easy to find once you have been there. Coming from the airport there are several access options -- taxi, bus,shuttle, and subway. All cheap drop-off locations are several blocks away and the option of hiring a taxi or shuttle for direct pick-up/drop-off will cost you. For getting around NYC during your travels, it is in a great location -- it's only about three blocks from Central Park and the subway with restaurant and bar options all around the block.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Each bunk has its own locker, but locks are not provided. The beds come with fresh sheets, a blanket, and a towel. There are multiple showers and restrooms on each floor for both men and women. Cleanliness all around is superb! There is always someone picking up and sanitizing the bathrooms. Cleanliness on top of endless hot water makes for a very enjoyable shower. Each shower is in a private stall with a bench, hooks, a soap dispenser with all-in-one soap, and a curtain.
Common Spaces
HI - NYC has many common spaces for you to spend time meeting other travelers -- computer room, two lounge areas, pool hall room, a front and back patio, TV/game room, and kitchen. They also have a cafe/sandwich shop with very low prices and good food/snacks. These spaces are open twenty-four/seven with the small cafe shop closing down in the evenings.
Summary
Overall HI - NYC has several positive points with a price that is very agreeable to the budget conscious. This location is recommended to any hostelers in the NYC area.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2010
Their Description
HI - New York Hostel Details
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HI - New York Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Perfect for young people I stayed in December for one night with 6 other friends. we were in a 10 bed dorm and, against my expectations, that was really not weird at all. not all of the beds were taken and everybody was respectful not to wake each other up. good location, close to subway station. beds and bathrooms are good. perfect for meeting other travelers. cheap breakfast available. They offer a diversity of activities you can join all day long! The receptionist could have been nicer ... but we checked in in the middle of the night, so I could understand her. All in all, great hostel for young people! — Kathrin , Germany (2012-01-09) Annoying I have traveled to many HI around the world and found this hostel to be very unfriendly. I think being the "biggest" hostel leaves a lot of room for hostelers to go unnoticed and customer service something to be desired.
In my 6 day experience, I found that hostel staff who were clearly "well-traveled" to be the most helpful and courteous while other employees seemed put off by my questions and made me feel as if I was "bothering" them. But those employees with attitudes outnumber those who care about what hostelling international is trying to promote.
I also felt that the hostel had a lot of children/teen groups staying there which was a bit annoying because those groups overran the kitchen/common areas.
Last but not least, the hostel had me check-out of my dorm halfway through my stay because they could not secure the same bed in the same room for 6 nights even though I had a confirmed reservation. I found this to be very inconsiderate because I had to pack all my belongings and check out for a day while the hostel assigned me a new bed.
I understand that the hostel is the cheapest way to stay in New York, but just because there are few options for budget travelers like myself doesn't mean I have to recommend them.
It is what it is. — Amy M. , USA (2011-07-24) By NY standards, ok. This is a giant hostel; the crowds are HUGE (and it was packed the weekend that I was there, late October 2010.) The location is fine. It's a bit of a ride on the subway, but I was a bit lost, and I still found it. NY is on a grid, so it's difficult to get too lost. You're not going to spend too much time in this area, anyway (unless you want to see the diner where Jerry & friends hung out in "Seinfeld"), and Times Square is just a short hop on the subway. I stayed in a 12 bed dorm. The ambient noise from outside wasn't a problem, but I did get a bit unlucky with the people in the room. One fellow was going to class every morning at 8 am, and spent the hours between 7 and 8 pressing his clothes and doing various other annoying things that should have been done outside of the sleeping room. Other tried to hijack my bed, and got grumpy when I pointed out that I had a reservation for that particular bed. The point is, in a room that big, you risk running into people who can't play with the other kids. There is only one elevator for the entire building, and it's slow. Beyond that, the cleaning crew bogarts it during the middle of the day. Did I mention that Humphrey Bogard was born in this neighborhood?
There are large common areas with a nice cafe, as well as rentable computers for internet and free wi-fi. Unfortunately, there are a minimal number of electrical outlets in the common areas and sleeping rooms. The security was good; you have to go through the lobby to get in, and then swipe your card. You're not going to get a classic hostel experience in NYC. — Ggreg , USA (2011-06-17) Go Somewhere Else if you can afford it. This place is a low quality hostel -- not Poor, but close to poor. They do not hold your reservations, they Overbook, and then force you to take whatever room is available, more expensive or not. they did not even acknowledge my reservation when i showed them. wifi is in a small section of one area and is very difficult to access. rooms are poor. lockers are a good size. — Anonymous , American (2011-02-08) Irresponsible and negligent staff I was in New York City for 6 nights; Delta Airline delayed my baggage for one day but got it delivered to HI New York on the next day. I informed the staff about the arrival of my baggage, but after asking twice a day for FOUR days someone finally checked the storage room and found my baggage which was delivered the day after I got there (and someone signed for it). I was very unsatisfied with the situation and will never live in another HI again (wasted money on a membership but that's ok). The staff also seemed more responsive to non-native female patrons than males (and worse if you are Asian). — J.T. , USA (2009-12-26) BedBugs I've stayed in this hostel a number of times over the past few years. My choice to keep going back is due more to going during busy times and not being able to find anything else, or traveling with others who made the booking, than any great love of the hostel. On every visit, the staff have been unfriendly, and on my last visit in mid-2008, I got bedbugs. While I understand that bedbugs are around a lot recently, and staying in hostels mean taking a chance that you may get them, when I spoke to the front desk staff about them, they just stood there and stared at me -- no offer to change bed, no apology, nothing! I requested a change of sheets, and then proceeded to wait more then an hour and a half (and two more trips to the front desk), before the sheets turned up. I should point out that this was between 9 and 10:30 at night, and there were three staff at the front desk and no guests there needing help except me! There are so many hostels in NYC to choose from so unless you like places with no character, no friendly staff, and in the higher price range for hostels, skip this one. — Louise , Australian (2009-11-25) Elevator broken and nothing done about it This could be a great hostel. They have a great building in a good location handy to the subway. It is a large hostel with no shortages of guests. They are currently renovating the bathrooms, which will make an improvement. But this is a five-story building serviced by one elevator which was broken down for nearly the entire week of my stay. Fixing it does not seem to be a high priority for the management, who are content to just let tired weary travelers traverse all those stairs instead of fixing it. The broken elevator obviously is an ongoing problem they are ignoring. I will stay somewhere else next time. — Chris , New Zealand (2009-06-02) The best in many ways! For the adventurous, outgoing, gregarious type -- who likes to walk the city -- or even cycle -- this is the place to meet like-minded people from all over the world. As mentioned this is the only HI Hostel on the planet that does no sort of communal, sit-down meal at all, although the cafe provides coffee and a Danish for when it matters most. Free Wi-Fi is controversial, as although the quality of connection is excellent, it is unreal -- all these fit young people having flown in from everywhere, yet chatting to those they have left behind miles away, and not to the person sitting next to them! I tell you, as an inveterate hosteler, that experience is weird! HI NYC makes up for it on its daily and cheap walking tours -- or try the Amateur Night, Wednesdays, at Harlem's world-renowned Apollo Theater. On these guided experiences, its a great ice-breaker, and you get to meet so many people. The TV lounge has an odd feel, long and thin, and several LCD TVs high up on the walls. The downstairs kitchens are spruce -- refurbed in 2007 to a very high standard indeed. Just let your Delia Smiths out here, and be prepared to cook for your pals. All in all, a convenient site, close to the Subway, Central Park, and the rapidly gentrifying South and West Harlem, with amazingly friendly and helpful staff with many amenities included to make your stay a cinch, and every opportunity given to make new contacts. Friendly, clean, secure, and a bed in Manhattan for $$ that's a steal -- I recommend. — John R , UK (2008-08-26) Has some kinks to work out When I first arrived, they had overbooked and/or lost my reservation; I got stuck in a female dorm room (I'm a male). While this may seem like the most convenient misunderstanding in the history of American hosteling, it actually felt extremely awkward and caused me some anxiety. It was all in my head -- once I actually got to the room, everyone was pretty congenial and understanding about the whole thing, but it still would've been nice to not be placed in such a strange situation -- especially since I made reservations a month and a half in advance. The second day I was there, I was switched to a male room, whereupon I had to stow my bags in secure storage until re-check-in. When I checked back in and tried to get my bags, I had to wait twenty minutes for the security guy to even show up. This was rather irritating. Beyond this, this is the only HI hostel I've stayed at that didn't offer a breakfast in the morning. This isn't a huge deal, but I've always felt the breakfast to be a meeting place amongst fellow hostelers, and was disappointed by its absence. Finally, to top off all the issues I had with the hostel, they charged me for four nights even though I only stayed there for three! I can only presume when I checked out of the female room, somebody left me in it for a second day; normally I wouldn't make a big deal out of being charged for another day if I were at fault for checking out late, but I did attempt to check out of the female room before 11 a.m. (their checkout time), which I was only in as a result of the hostel's incompetence, so I feel a little ripped off by this excess charge. I tried to bring it to the hostel's attention before I left because I saw all of the charges pending to my account, but they seemed adamant that I had only been charged for three nights. The fact that the accommodations were pretty tolerable is all that salvages this hostel a two-star rating. It's located one block from the 1, 2, 3 lines and a few blocks from the A, B, C lines, so it's in a decent location, although not necessarily close to anything of interest. I don't know that I would feel safe walking through this area if I were alone and of smaller stature. I don't know if there's a better hostel to stay at in NYC, but this sure isn't all that great. Easily the worst HI Hostel I've stayed at. — Ryan , United States (West Virginia) (2008-08-04) Pleasant Overall I stayed there last weekend for $41. Also one of the more expensive hostels in NYC but I chose it for its generally positive reviews for being clean. Wi-Fi was free and worked great. Loved the community rooms and the cafe. Location was far from things and possibly in the ghetto but close to subway and streets busy enough to easily catch a taxi. Security was tight enough I didn't feel worried. Loose enough I didn't feel hassled. My big complaint was that they made me check out/in in the morning -- seemed like they did the same to a lot of people. So I had no bed or room from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beds are crazy squeaky so don't expect to get a lot of sleep till you get tired enough that noise doesn't bother you. First night I was on fourth floor which was nice. Second night I was on second floor, which was sweaty and smelly. Lockers in room are roomy and secure and another reason I'd recommend this hostel over others I've stayed at with no place to secure your stuff. And all the choices for common areas plus activities are a fantastic thing for single travelers. I stayed in a super skanky hotel once in NYC that was far noisier and less enjoyable for $200 a night! Totally stay here and use the money you save for cab fares. — ddd , USA (2008-07-31) I was impressed! This is the third hostel I've stayed at in NYC and, by far, the best! The place is huge with common areas, store, front lobby. The others I've visited were extremely cramped for space (which I understand -- this IS New York City after all), but sometimes there isn't enough room to stow your bag and you have to scoot sideways between the bunks. This was not the case here. There was ample room in the 8 person co-ed dorm room I stayed in. The lockers are also big enough to fit your backpack or small/med upright suitcase (yea!). It seems to be a crap shoot, but MY visit went smoothly. I booked online (about 2 hours before showing up), check in went smoothly (there was a line, but the wait was only a few minutes as there were 3 people working the desk), and my dorm mates were polite and considerate (a couple from the south and another couple; the other beds were empty). The place was clean, the bathroom was clean (I stayed on the second floor, can't vouch for the others), and I never had to wait for a shower. I will definitely be back and would recommend the place to friends. There is a pizza place across the street that has a great student special of a slice of cheese pizza and soda for $2.50 (only during certain hours of the afternoon). I dropped by at night to use the ATM and discovered they also had live music (Spanish tunes, acoustic guitar, that kind of scene). — Indigeaux , USA (2008-06-19) Not worth It This hostel is basically a glorified school camp. The number of groups that came through in the few days I spent here was ridiculous. It also meant the many people had to move rooms every night to accommodate the school groups. If you are a traveler/backpacker go somewhere else -- leave this place to the mice and school kids. The staff were incompetent -- you have to ask about 6 times to get the smallest thing done (such as bedding for your bed when you find there isn't any). And when you asked for anything the unhappy looks you got where immense. The bathrooms were revolting, the plugs so clogged that you ended up with a pool at the bottom of the shower, and the bottom of the showers are rusted and mouldy. The floors of the bathroom were always sodden and for some reason, on every floor there is 2 male bathrooms and only 1 female. The elevator barely works, and is usually having maintenance during the day (right when you may be checking in/out). It's a non drinking hostel, which in itself is ok -- but it seems that the rules only apply to some. Staff were openly drinking with a few of the guests, but when others attempted to sit quietly with a drink, where told to dump it or get out. Most people just started pouring drinks into ice tea bottles to avoid confrontations. Unfortunately the preferential behaviour for a few guests made it very hard for the rest of us to do anything. 2 upsides -- the Staten Island tour. That was the highlight and was organised by a volunteer outside of the hostel anyway! The Kitchen is newly renovated and huge -- the best kitchen I've seen. Unless you have to stay here as part of a group, go somewhere else. 103rd st is a fair way away from the action and on the cusp of the bad part of town. Stay somewhere where you might actually meet some people to do something with -- here you'll only get frustrated and surrounded by High Schoolers. — Traveller , Australian (2008-03-31) Ok -- Average Huge, fairly cheap (for NY), but quite unfriendly. — Ade , UK (2008-02-06) 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. — Kazu , Japan (2007-04-25) 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. — Jason C (2007-03-06)