HI New York City Hostel

HI New York City Hostel Overview

You know what surprised me most about the HI New York City Hostel? It actually feels like a proper place to stay, not just somewhere to crash between Manhattan adventures. I mean, when you first walk up to 891 Amsterdam Avenue, you’re looking at this converted Gothic Revival building that honestly looks more like it should house a fancy private school than budget travelers – which, turns out, is exactly what it used to be.

The Upper West Side location is genuinely brilliant once you figure out the neighborhood rhythm. You’re literally a two-minute walk from 103rd Street station on the 1 train, which means you can be in Times Square in about 20 minutes without dealing with the chaos of actually staying there. But here’s the thing locals know – this stretch of Amsterdam Avenue has some of the best Dominican food in the city, and there’s a bodega right across the street that stays open late and has surprisingly decent coffee. The area gets quiet after 10 PM (well, quiet for New York), so you can actually sleep, but during the day there’s this nice residential energy with Columbia students and families walking around.

Inside, the hostel keeps surprising you. The common areas have these high ceilings and big windows that make everything feel spacious – not cramped like you’d expect. The dorm rooms are, honestly, better than some budget hotels I’ve stayed in. Sure, you’re sharing space, but the beds have proper curtains for privacy, and each one has its own outlet and reading light. The bathrooms are cleaned multiple times a day (I asked), which matters more than you think when you’re sharing with strangers. There’s a kitchen that’s actually usable – like, people cook real meals there, not just ramen – and the staff seems to know everyone’s name by day two. I watched them help some confused tourists figure out the subway system for like fifteen minutes, which you definitely don’t get at chain hotels. The 8.4 rating makes sense when you experience how they handle the little things. Check-in was smooth even when I arrived early, and they stored my bags without any fuss. The WiFi works everywhere, including the basement common room where people tend to hang out in the evenings. Only real downside is that Amsterdam Avenue can get a bit noisy with buses during morning rush hour, but honestly, if you’re bothered by city sounds, you probably shouldn’t be staying in New York anyway.

HI New York City Hostel Accommodations

Reviews of HI New York City Hostel

• Jakub (9/10)

  The check in was very well organized. The hostel was very clean and comfortable.

• Laith from Jordan (8/10)

  The staff is very good and the facilities are clean, less than 5 mins walking to metro station

• Leon from Australia (9/10)

  It has everything you need for a reasonable price comparing to the average in NY, subway transportation in NY in 24 Hours so you don have to be worried about location that as there is a station really close to the hostel.

• Eduardo from Mexico (7/10)

  Is easy to make the check in and the personal is very kind. Is near to Central Park and the subway station to easily transport to any place at the city.

• Daniella from Brazil (9/10)

  The location and the mattress

• Megan from Australia (9/10)

  Great common areas and the beds were super comfortable

• Yong from Taiwan (9/10)

  This hostel sets the benchmark for hostel living. Where do I start? I like that the room (6-bed dorm) had ample spacing between the bunk beds, so it wasn't too crowded. The lockers provided had enough space for a luggage and a large backpack, but you would need to bring your own lock. The beds are relatively comfortable but nothing worth aweing over. The only complaint about my room is that there wasn't much space to hang your clothes or personal belongings, so your coats and jackets need to be stashed away in your locker/bag when not in use. The bathrooms are abundant and showers are large, with ample hot water for showers. I especially like the amount of activities provided by the hostel, including walking tours, comedy nights, hangouts, all of which you can meet people from all corners of the world! The location is really just a stone's throw away from the 103th subway station, which has a relatively high frequency of trains even at night. I like the convenience of the 1 Train which gets you into downtown Manhattan quickly and directly. There are also several nice cafes and bagel shops near the hostel due to its proximity to Columbia University. I think this is a wonderful place to stay if you're visiting New York!

• Rebecca from United States (8/10)

  Very clean and comfortable

• Helen from United Kingdom (7/10)

  Cheapest place I could find, well located.
  Clean.

• Clara from Germany (8/10)

  nice location with easy access to the subway and really close to Central Park!
  The bathrooms were always clean.

Surroundings

Facilities