Why We Chose to Stay in a New York City Hostel
At work, a client was talking about her business trip and how nervous she was about the accommodations. She cracked a joke that “hopefully it wasn’t a hostel or something.” I piped in and talked about my great stay in HI NYC Hostel. They looked really confused and said, “oh… because it was cheaper.” And while that is true, there’s so much more to it than price.
People think hostels are grimy places where young people stay because they can handle the not-so-five star amenities (like bunkbeds and shared bathrooms) and want to save money. But here Caroline and I were, in our mid-twenties with steady jobs and an income, choosing to book a New York City hostel. Here’s why:
To Meet People
Really the whole point of a hostel is to make friends and give people the space and activities to do that. Most travelers are open to making friends because that’s what the hostel vibe is all about: sharing experiences and connecting with people from all over the world. There’s just a different, exciting energy when strangers you meet are genuinely interested in your travel stories and open to making those connections. This dynamic adds some spontaneity and excitement to your trip because new friends are never planned for.
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Other hostelites are also a great resource for getting tips on things to do in the city. They’re tourists just like you, so who better to ask? It can open your eyes to a fresh perspective or experience that has the potential to make your trip even better.
One of the highlights of our NYC trip was the bar crawl we did with our hostel. There were probably forty people who jumped on the metro and semi-soberly followed our guide through Chelsea. In a matter of hours, we were laughing and dancing with people from Brazil, Australia, France, and Canada as we all shared this one night together. It was the most fun we’ve had in a long time.
The Location
A huge advantage hostels have over Airbnb is that you’re getting a great deal without compromising for the location. We always choose hostels that are centrally located (and in many cities, there are tons of options to pick from) so we can maximize our time exploring instead of wasting it on buses and trains. Being in walking distance from the center is a game changer when going from activity to activity and you really get to soak in the vibe of the city. Our hostel was a five minute walk to Central Park and only a 10 minute subway ride to Times Square, so it was easy for us to jump from district to district .
The Activities
Unlike hotels, hostels are the BEST at offering fun activities that show you the secret local spots (which are usually free!). Our New York City Hostel also had a community open mic night, a patio for mingling, tours through Harlem, movie nights, you name it. If we ever felt lost on what to do or where to go, our hostel had a huge list of options that made us feel like they really cared about our stay.
The Resources & Amenities
Many people make the mistake of thinking a hostel is a last-ditch option instead of a lodging facility equipped with everything you need. Free tours and maps? Yep. Breakfast Cafe? No problem. While it isn’t the Hilton, you are offered the same basic amenities: a bed, a shower and a secure place to keep your things. If your goal is to explore the city, does it really matter if you’re bunking with a few roommates?
And no, we don’t book a hostel every time we travel. It truly depends on what kind of experience we’re looking to have and who we’re traveling with. And while this post is pretty much a raving review about hostels, don’t worry, we’ve stayed in some questionable places (looking at you Pizza Hostel in Naples!). But even with that in mind, we STILL chose hostels time and time again because some of our favorite travel stories have come from a crazy adventure we had or hilarious people we met while staying at a hostel. And those memories are absolutely worth more than a plush queen bed at a hotel.
