Hostels

Hostels in New York are one of the friendliest ways to travel solo to this big city.

They foster a real sense of camaraderie among travelers, helped by the fact that most guests are young people from all over the world looking to meet others and socialize.

Hostel Search

For your search, we recommend using the Booking search tool available here, one of the best booking platforms thanks to its huge selection, and it doesn't add a commission to the final price.

Hostels in New York

They usually have large common areas, shared bathrooms, and even kitchens where you can cook your own meals, which is fantastic if you're traveling on a tight budget.

Many of them organize free activities or very cheap ones to explore the city.

Given how expensive accommodation is in New York, hostels are the most affordable option if you're traveling alone or in a large group.

Tips for choosing a hostel

Here are our recommendations for picking a hostel in New York so you don't get any surprises when you arrive:

Good reviews

Check that the hostel has good user reviews. They give you a much clearer idea of what to expect: how clean the bathrooms and rooms are, the breakfast, the location, and so on (take a look at this selection of hostels with great traveler reviews)

1. Pay attention to the room type

Choose the room type carefully: private or shared rooms.

There are usually women-only or men-only dorms.

But in NYC mixed dorms are very common, which works well if you're traveling in a group, though not so much if you're on the shy side XP.

If sharing a room bothers you, several places offer private rooms at a reasonable price, cheaper than many hotels.

2. Where the bathroom is

Check whether the bathroom is inside or outside the room.

Rooms with a private bathroom cost more, so you'll have to weigh the cost against the benefit.

Bring flip flops, because no matter how clean the bathroom looks, it's smart to take precautions.

You should also bring shampoo and soap, since hostels don't usually provide them the way hotels do.

Bring towels from home

If you love fluffy towels, it's a good idea to bring one from home, because hostel towels aren't great quality (high turnover and a push to keep costs down).

Sheets and blankets are included, though plenty of people prefer to bring their own sleeping bag.

Location

It's important that it's centrally located and easy to get around from.

To help you decide, read our where to stay section for New York.

The cheapest hostels are farther from the main points of interest, so in the end you don't really save anything: you spend more on getting around and lose valuable time.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure you're no more than 30-45 minutes from wherever you plan to go.

In short, the formula is: good reviews + a carefully chosen room type + your own toiletry kit (towel and flip flops included) + a central location.