Manhattan hostels cater to budget-minded travelers of all ages. Although the term "youth hostels" implies there is an upper age limit for guests, most hostels in New York City do not adhere to strict rules about ages. There are, however, youth hostels that accept only women or out-of-state visitors. While the price of a hostel bed in New York City is under $40 a night, prices can drop on Sundays, and can skyrocket on Friday and Saturday nights and during the holiday seasons.
Reasons to Stay at a Manhattan Youth Hostel
The benefits of staying in a hostel go beyond the price. Staying at a hostel means travelers are more likely to meet friends, and most hostels sponsor tours of the city that range from pub crawls to hikes in Central Park. There is also a lot of security at hostels. Nearly every hostel in New York has 24-hour security. Some hostels have security lockers. In most cases, the front door is always being videotaped, so wayward New Yorkers have little opportunity to prey on tourists.
Different Types of New York City Hostels
Some hostels cater to a specific group of people. For example, Pink Hostels is a new company of hostels that opened in the spring of 2009. This hostel is strictly female-only, with a 24-hour staff and a lounge. The International Student Center in New York is for foreigners only; no US citizens allowed. The hostel also enforces an age policy of 18 to 35 years old. Visitors must check in with a government-issued passport.
Before Going, Research the NYC Hostel
In a big city like New York, where properties change owners and staff come and go, it's important to research hostels thoroughly before making a deposit. Travelers should check reviews and see user pictures at Trip Advisor and HostelWorld. While most youth hostels run reputable businesses, a simple change of staff can turn the cleanest, safest youth hostel into a crack-infested rat hole.
Although there are a lot of perks to staying in hostels in NYC (the low cost, the instant connection with other travelers), hosteling is not for everyone. If travelers are light sleepers, for instance, they will find it difficult if not impossible to sleep in a hostel on the West Side, which has travelers from all over the world staying at those locations because of the proximity to nightclubs and Times Square.
Reputable chain hostels in New York City include the Jazz Hostels and Hosteling International.
