Looking for a place to stay in New York?

With more than 700 beds, the NYC hostel is the biggest HI hostel in the USA. It has been recently renovated with comfortable rooms (from privates to up to 10-bed rooms), free Wi-Fi and charging stations, and the largest private green space on the City’s island. Nevertheless, HI NYC offers much more than just a bed. After two weeks of volunteering, we became acquainted with the staff and the property as well as socialized with plenty of the guests. We dare claim that HI NYC hostel offers a perfect stay in NYC and we would definitely recommend it to other travellers. Here’s why:

1. Tours and activities

HI NYC hostel offers free events and programs that can help connect hostellers to the well-known and the lesser-known corners of New York City, while meeting like-minded travellers from across the country and around the world. For example, every Monday and Thursday the hostel organizes a Welcome Party with complementary drinks for guests, followed by a Pub Crawl that will show you some of the best quirky bars in NYC for an affordable price. Some of the most interesting sightseeing tours are of Central Park, Harlem with its gospel churches, and Jerry’s Grand Tour which lasts for an amazing 12 hours.

2. Hostel’s interior and exterior

HI NYC hostel is a landmark building from the 19th century. The Victorian Gothic-style building is not only impressive visually, but it also has historical significance since it used to serve as a hospital and a house for widows of American Civil War. Today it is newly renovated and offers many common spaces indoors and outdoors. You can relax, attend a comedy show or watch movies in the TV room, play pool or work on your computer in the New York room or even host a big party in the ball room. HI NYC also has the largest green space in Manhattan with its patio, herb garden, mosaic floor and colorfully illuminated terrace for a romantic night.

3. Location

The hostel is located on Manhattan’s famous upper West Side, two blocks from Central Park and just a short walk from Columbia University, St. John the Divine, and the vibrant neighborhood of Harlem. The subway is just a couple of meters away, providing a fast and simple way to get to downtown.

4. Hostel amenities

HI NYC hostel and its staff will meet all your basic daily needs so you don’t have to worry about looking for other service providers. Are your clothes dirty? You can wash them in the hostel’s laundry room. Feeling hungry? Try some of the delicious food at the in-hostel café, which offers anything from breakfast to fresh salads to hearty soups. You prefer cooking your own food? The hostel has a modern, fully-equipped kitchen where you can prepare your favorite meals and share them with other hostellers.

5. HI mission

With travellers from more than 100 countries, HI NYC has a responsibility to prioritize environmentally sustainable practices, such as reducing its carbon footprint and water consumption, managing waste, reusing spaces and offering educational programs for travellers and locals alike that harness the principle of sustainable tourism. Under the HI USA guidance, HI NYC received the Green Globe Certification in 2017. It also earned second place in the HI Sustainability Grant competition based on a proposal for a rapid in-vessel composter which will be used to support the hostel’s green space, with excess compost donated to the local community. This on-site tool is an important step towards reaching HI USA’s national goal of zero waste. Currently, a landscaping garden project is on the docket for NYC’s backyard, which will be enjoyed by staff, guests, and the local community.