Brooklyn Backpackers

If you like Brooklyn, this is your hostel.

The Brooklyn experience is so American, and this is the down-to-earth way to experience the Brooklyn. The hostel is the clear alternative for travelers who don't just want to be a part of the Manhattan tourist sponge.

Take any of the trains to the Atlantic Avenue subway/rail station and you only have to walk a few blocks from there. The hostel is on left as you make your way down Fourth Street. Look for "Cherry Tree," go in the bar, and ask about the hostel. (The hostel is around an hour walking from Manhattan, so the subway is much more efficient -- it's just a few stops down the line.)

The hostel comes pre-trashed. Let's say trashy-chic, if you believe in that sort of thing. The dorms and kitchen are messy, yet, not truly dirty. There are maids who come and clean daily, so the mess is just the fault of the other guests -- it can be hit or miss.

The hostel located on three floors above the Cherry Tree bar and restaurant and has a very homey feel to it. There are good-sized, large bathrooms and a dining and sitting nook with a goldfish.

Everything is nearby -- this is real New York City in your face. The adjoining Cherry Tree bar is entertaining and has a very decent drink list. There are daily events and reasonable prices. They have enticing local gigs, but charming staff are careful to keep the crowds quiet late at night, so if, in theory, one wanted to sleep, they could. The Brooklyn Backpackers is a grungy, fun, respectable, alternative, international New York experience.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review