Best USA/Canada Hostels

Hi all-

Know this isn't the preferred method of travel on my continent but hear me out. In short, I'm back from my world travels and have discovered an effect of it is how I seem to be visiting a new place every weekend- either hopping in my car for a drive or grabbing a last-second esaver ticket. So far it's been staying with friends, family, and the occasionally a Couchsurfer, but the latter doesn't work out well when I'm arranging things only a day or two in advance. I'm also missing the hostel scene from my travels so thought this would be a good thing to know for later- what are some good hostels in the USA and Canada? I know they actually exist as I stayed at one I liked in San Francisco and had a friend who liked the one she stayed in at NYC, but figure there's gotta be more out there. Thanks all!

if you are a hippie/like forests, or have any plans to visit the south:

http://www.foresthostel.com/about/local-attractions

zip112 in brooklyn.

India House in New Orleans is everything I would want in a hostel.
- decent rooms in a couple very New Orleanian looking buildings
- a big enclosed backyard with picnic tables, a tiki bar (doesn't serve alcohol - but you CAN keep yours in the alcohol fridge out back!), a swimming pool (only for the hottest days - it's unheated - but luckily in New Orleans there's a lot of those!), a stage for events, and usually lots of internationals hanging around drinking in the nice evenings
- a full kitchen, with fridges to keep your stuff, and even a vending machine with random essentials such as Ramen noodles and Easy Mac (in addition to the usual chips & chocolate)
- NOT in the French Quarter, but right one the corner of a Canal line streetcar stop (the main line to GET to the French Quarter; etc)
.... um. Yep!

Wow, I went on a real recommendation rant there that I forgot one other North American hostel that was good - Chelsea International Hostel in New York City. Still a nice backyard (and pizza nights!), though not always able to be enjoyed (say, if it's winter), good location and all that.

Second that recommendation of India House!

staying at India house next weekend, looking forward to it!

Halifax Backpackers Hostel in Canada is my favorite and I really love it so much. The cafe down the stairs is good and had great food, the staff is cooperative, and the up the stairs rooms are spacious and clean. It is really a great hostel and has very reasonable charges.

Best Regards,

Best hostel is totally subjective. I once took a recommendation for someone's "best hostel ever," and hated everything about it. I like quiet hostels, where there's a friendly atmosphere where you can chat with people, but not much drinking (maybe a bit of BYOB, but not loud or falling-down-drunk kind of drinking), and then you can get a good night's sleep. With that in mind, my favourites in Canada, in order are:
1 - Shantz Haus, Courtenay BC
2 - HI Castle Mountain, Banff National Park AB
3 - Surf's Inn, Ucluelet BC

Now, that's probably half the hostels I've stayed at in North America, but the first two are, I think, excellent hostels by any standard. The last one was mostly nice in triggering all sorts of happy travel memories...the facility itself was mid-range, pretty much in line with a hundred other hostels I've stayed at in Europe.

My first hostel experience was in Portland, Oregon in 2006. Since then I have only stayed in hostels everywhere I've ever traveled, including everywhere in North America. I've stayed in hostels in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Austin.

Here are the ones I'd recommend:

HI Vancouver Downtown is probably my favorite in North America. I've stayed there at least half a dozen times over the years.

HI Santa Monica is pretty swanky as far as hostels go, and it's two blocks from the beach. If you like quiet, homey, kumbaya type of places the HI Point Loma in San Diego is tops. Those are usually my two stops when I'm in Southern California.

I've always heard rave reviews about The South Beach Hostel, but I've never been because I'm from Miami so I usually stay with family in town.

I haven't stayed in huge numbers of hostels in the US, but of those I have, one stands out head and shoulders above the rest - the Yosemite Bug HI hostel, located (strangely enough) just outside the Yosemite National Park. Great dorm cabins, awesome menu and bar onsite and a stunning location. Can't say enough good things about the place really.

Of the others, the downtown HI hostel in Boston was probably the best of the rest, while the ones I stayed at in San Diego and San Francisco were both ok but nothing to write home about.

San Diego-USA Hostel, Banana Bungalow (not the greatest hostel but it's right on the beach)
Los Angeles-USA Hostel Hollywood
San Francisco-Green Tortoise
Vancouver-Same Sun
Boston-HI
Seattle-Green Tortoise (they give you free dinner every other night and it's a lot of food, not just one dish)

for quebec city, canda: "the international aubergene de quebec" it was situated right in the heart of the old city and just steps away, (along cobblestone streets) from the castle, food (amazing!) and shopping. perfectly situated, reasonably priced and relatively friendly staff.

I recently stayed at the Washington DC Guesthouse, and it was a great place. Small, only like 10-12 beds, but the lady who owns/runs the place is awesome and the price was pretty decent. $25 dollars per night is what I payed. The only downside is that it was in a VERY GHETTO side of DC. We got a little lost when we hopped off the bus and had to wander around a scary neighborhood for awhile. Other than that it was a great time.

AceTracer wrote:I've always heard rave reviews about The South Beach Hostel, but I've never been because I'm from Miami so I usually stay with family in town.

Er, no. South Beach Hostel is pretty grim, although the A Bar adjacent is a cool place to hang out.