Hey everyone!

I was wondering if anyone knew of any nice, cheap hostels that are in a good area in New York city, preferably in Manhattan?

Laura

Hi Laura.
Welcome to BNA. There are several threads on this topic. If you run a quick search, they'll pop up. Also, check the cheap and free NYC thread; I believe there are some ideas there. There was a really recent thread by Jacob Norland, I think, that was all about NYC...hostels, cheap eats, etc.

Also,

Does anyone know of any good thrift stores with good vintage finds? Thanks.

Laura Winebarger

I have stayed at the Jazz on the Town hostel for a week a couple of years ago and had a blast and a half. Perfect location(East Village), laid back staff, and a cool rooftop lounge/patio thing where you can meetup with other travelers. I will be staying there again this June, so obviously I liked it. If you book now you can get a bed in an 8 bed dorm for $27 a night. If you just show up then you will likely pay about $37 a night.

I have stayed in the Big Apple Hostel on West 45th four times now. The rooms are nothing special, but the beds are good and the sheets are clean. The bathrooms are ultra clean and have four per floor. I have seen some comments in the past that the staff are not the most friendly, but I think they are great. I would really recommend it as its right in the middle of midtown. Only downside is if you are looking for "non tourist" bars and clubs then you need to go downtown, but its not that expensive in a cab.

I highly recommend Jazz on the Park. Its the same company as Jazz on the town only near central park. ITs also near the subway station & museums.

there are a lot of interesting thrift/vintage stores around East Village and Greenwich Village.

I have heard that Jazz on the Park is more of a party atmosphere, which I don't really understand because Jazz on the Town has a much better location for that type of crowd. Hhmmm...

Just a thought, if you're traveling with a partner or in a group there are sometimes hotels in Queens that are cheaper, I stayed at the pan American through hotels.com last time for less than 50 bucks because the cheapest hostels with beds available were close to 30 per person and there were 2 of us. It was only 10 or 15 min away from the center of Manhattan by subway.

The HI on Amsterdam Ave and 103rd (I think) is truly monstrous (694 beds) but is well equipped and at $24, didn't think it that expensive. The Broadway 'hotel' just around the corner has polite staff but can't make up for the appalling rooms and lack of security (ok on the front door - not so good within the building!!). Have heard mixed reviews about Jazz on the Park but, admittedly, mostly good.

Have fun whichever. NY is just a great place to be )

elv

I'm partial to Brooklyn Backpackers. This isn't really what you're looking for, I don't think, but its in a neat place. It can be worth going over to have a drink at the bar.

quote:

The HI on Amsterdam Ave and 103rd (I think) is truly monstrous (694 beds) but is well equipped and at $24, didn't think it that expensive.

stay away from this dump, the bathrooms are dissgusting (dirty and delapidated) with big gaps between the doorways

the social rooms where not social and I had a lousy cold 3 nights at the end of january07, would not recommend..

quote:

Originally posted by anniebanannie:
Hi Laura.
Welcome to BNA. There are several threads on this topic. If you run a quick search, they'll pop up. Also, check the cheap and free NYC thread; I believe there are some ideas there. There was a really recent thread by Jacob Norland, I think, that was all about NYC...hostels, cheap eats, etc.

It's Norlund Don't feel bad, everybody makes that mistake.

As for hostels, the one I have experience with is Hostelling International - New York. I stayed a total of seven nights there. So far it is my only hostel experience.

It's located on 103rd Ave W. and Amsterdam Ave. The neighborhood seemed fairly safe, although there were some vagrants and shady characters around. Amsterdam is one block over from Broadway, which is quite busy even late at night and has a lot of restaurants / shops / etc. The hostel is just a block from the 103rd Ave. / Broadway subway station on the 1 line, which runs to Time Square (which you'll probably be going to quite often to make connections to other trains) in about 20 - 25 minutes if I remember correctly. The 1 train also runs straight to the Staten Island ferry, and in the other direction (which you well might not take) north through Inwood and the Bronx. So it is a little out of the way, though not in that bad of a location.

The rooms in the hostel were clean and very sterile / hostel-like with uncomfortable (but livable) dorm beds, the lockers in the rooms were large enough to accommodate my suitcase, backpack, jacket, etc. all at once, the staff was very nice, although they told me that my suitcase wouldn't fit in my room (when it obviously did, with plenty of space to spare), security in the hostel is very high, the elevators were extremely slow, there is a computer lab with internet access, although you're stuck using their somewhat limiting interface (rather than simply being able to open a browser from the desktop, for example) and it can get quite expensive ($3 / 30 minutes minimum with credit card), and the bathrooms were a fair distance from my room but quite clean.

The hostel offered several walking tours to different parts of town (the Bronx, Harlem, Central Park, etc. were among them) on different days for a very nominal extra charge, but I didn't go on any of them. There was a TV room which was usually full and a snack bar. The halls could be quite loud at night.

The clientele was very international, with what seemed to be an unusual concentration of Portuguese-speakers at the time, who were probably from Brazil.

I know of a nice bed and breakfast that was pretty affordable. I don't remember the name of it right now though. I'll be back with it.

I have a question to ask if I may. I've already booked with Hostelling Inter on Amsterdam. I can still cancel if I want. I can get a dorm room at Chelsea International which is more centrally located. Should I switch locations? I feel like I might get around better in chelsea. How much do Taxi runs? I'm planning on seeing a few Broadway shows? Thanks very much

I wouldn't change if I were you. In NYC, you're only a subway ride away from wherever you want to go,and the free tours in the HI hostel are certainly good.

I find that hostel very social.

To get to just about anywhere, you take a crosstown bus to the east side, where all the musuems are, then subways or buses to wherever you want to go. To manhattan proper, downtown, you can just take a subway 2 blocks away to the center. No muss or fuss.

You can take buses too, but I don't recomend it unless you like seeing the city, block by block, traffic lights and all!!!
Its almost faster walking.

But, IF there is a space at the chelsea, and you're not used to taking a subway to get to places, sure, why not???

I have visitd NYC for years, and so, the subway is second nature. It's part of the NYC experience!!!!

Ok, some hints.

If you want to see the statue of liberty, get a time pass for it BEFORE you get there by internet, or arrive very EARLY.If you get there at 12 pm, don't expect there to be any passes left for that day.

For me, I prefer Ellis Island, which in the end was far more interesting than going up some stairs inside a copper statue.

That,by the way, is free, and does not require a time pass. The nighttime ferry from Ellis island is one of the best views of NYC I have ever seen.

BTW, the view of the statue of liberty from the ellis island ferry, even if you don't get off the boat and walk around the stature, is one of the best!!!