Mission Trip and Travel News

New York’s notoriously high prices for hotel rooms makes staying at a hostel the only very cheap, safe way to stay in New York on your travels. Dormitory beds not for you? Hostels have come a long way, those with private rooms, but not necessarily private bathrooms, cost around $70 a night for those in a good location.

Deluxe hostels, and yes, there is such a thing, cost a little more but they are worth the extra 10 or 20 dollars a night. For example, the New York Loft Hostel, set in a renovated loft in Brooklyn, has spacious dorms with none of the dreaded bunk beds. It’s one of the better hostel options in New York except for the location, most city visitors want a Manhattan location.

To get a hostel in Manhattan, you may have to put up a bed and nothing more for the lowest price of about $50. There is really no other place you can get a bed for the night for this price in the city where it’s a very short walk to mostly everywhere including Ground 0, Wall Street, Soho, and the East Village. If location means everything to you but you’re on a really tight budget, try the Sun Bright Hotel in Midtown.

If you’ve never been to New York City, it can seem to be an overwhelming place to visit, especially if you’re trying to do it cheaply. You want to find a hostel online and book a room before arriving in the city. Until you learn how to navigate the subways and get around with ease, you are better off arriving with the address of the hostel you’re staying at, instead of searching for a place to stay once you arrive.

You’ll also get a chance to read reviews of the different hostels if you find one before leaving home. Websites that offer the chance to view multiple offerings usually have some sort of rating system where previous guests can rate each hostel on cleanliness, character, location, fun, staff, and safety. Pay close attention to the safety and security ratings. As with any accommodation in New York, there is going to be good places and bad places.

While a hostel isn’t the ideal lodging for some people, they are the cheapest way to get a place to stay in New York. If you like meeting new people, and sharing a bathroom with them, you may enjoy staying at a hostel. If a three star hotel isn’t good enough for you, you probably shouldn’t stay at a hostel.