Going to Boston and New york in July, can anyone recommend a good, cheap hostel.....anywhere around the $25 - $30 a night.

Cheers

I haven't had to stay in hostels in NY (I have friends and family there) but I've stayed in the IYH (I think it's IYH) in Boston twice. It's the one on Hemmenway Street - you should be able to find it through the hostel search on this site. Both times I was in Boston attending a conference, so I didn't mingle with folks as much as I could have, but they have a bunch of events which they sponsor for the guests there, like trips to clubs, etc. The cost is about $25/night, a few dollars more if you're not a member. It's only a few blocks from a T stop and Newbury Street, which is really nice but very expensive. (You should at least check out Newbury Comics, which mostly carries CD's as well as lots of pop culture ephemera.)

The facilities are fine - there's a kitchen downstairs and in the morning you can get coffee or tea and a bagel for free. The bathrooms are clean enough and the staff when I've been there has been pretty friendly.

Donna

In New York, go for the HI hostel or the Chelsea Star - they're both about $33 a night, but they're pretty nice places to stay.

There have been a bunch of threads of late about hostels in NYC. Do a quick search and you should find them.

christina_in_brooklyn also did an extensive list of "cheap and free in NYC;" good chance there is something in there.

Search is your friend. Take advantage of it.

i used to work at the hi-boston. you will find it clean and its convenient location unmatched. i would stay there.

as for nyc, the hi is gigantic and you could spend a whole rainy day there in its cafes and library and courtyard (though i wouldnt). its an alright place.

if you have 70 bucks to spend in nyc, stay at the "seafarers and international house" hell yeah. my absolute favorite place to stay in nyc.

zops

Personally I wouldnt stay at teh HI in New York. Its not THAT bad of course its just there are far better alternatives!! My recommendation would be teh Chelsea Inetrnational Hostel on 20th and 8th. Its an ideal location for Greenwich Village, East Village, Chinatown and a short 10 minute stroll upto the Empire State and MSG. The place itself has a pretty lively atmosphere so if thats not your thing then maybe elsewehere is better but I cant recommend it highly enough!

I stayed way out in Boston which was far from ideal. the hostel (located out in Everett) was one of the best I've stayed in but you are a bus then subway journey into town. The HI is far better located but not sure how it would compare ammenities wise.

I'd agree that the Chelsea Star is a much better location than the YHA, and the staff are also much more helpful. The quality of the facilities are similar, although the YHA has lockers in the rooms if security is an issue to you. The YHA also has more spacious rooms and more common areas.

Also stayed in the Whitehouse which was full of insects, and the Chelsea International hostel which isn't as nice as the hostels above but is much cheaper, and perfectly ok. A double room at the Chelsea International hostel is the same price as 2 dorm bunks in the YHA or Star.

If you get a chance book ahead - the reason I stayed in so many places in one trip is that the rooms were only available for a few nights then I had to go somewhere else. Oh - and if they say they are full on the website always phone because they normally have something.