Hostels in New York City

Q: I will be travelling to New York in January and want to spend a minimum on accommodation. I don't mind staying in a dorm room or shared accommodation. Could you point me to a reasonably-priced hostel in Manhattan? - Dave Reynolds

A: The largest youth hostel in the world, HI-New York, is on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. You need to be a member of Hostelling International to book here. The 624-bed hostel is located at 891 Amsterdam Avenue near Broadway and 97th Street. For about $30, you get a private locker and a bunk bed with linens in a room shared by four to six people.

The hostel is a short walk from the subway and bus stops on upper Broadway and the hostel hs a coffee shop, convenience store, internet access and laundromat. The hostel even offers an outdoor barbecue cookout every summer evening. Book in advance on www.hinewyork.org or get there early to get one of the beds they keep available for walk-in guests.

One of the boutique-style hostels which are popping up all over New York is Broadway Hotel n Hostel on the trendy Upper West Side. It offers great facilities such as an elegant lounge, a lift (elevator), a library with a fireplace and a state-of-the-art cinema. There is a shuttle service from the airport and it is located two blocks from the subway and one block from the city bus service.

Mixed dorms with bunk beds cost $26 per night per person. If you can get together a group of four people, there is a private dorm room with four beds and en-suite bathroom for $38 per person. A private twin room without a private bathroom costs 30 US dollars, making it great value for two friends or a couple. Book through www.hostelnewyork.com.

You could also stay at the West Side YMCA, situated only a minute's walk from Central Park and 15 minutes from Times Square. You can get a single occupancy airconditioned room with cable TV for about $105 per night. A bonus is access to the YMCA's health club and swimming pools. Book through www.ymcanyc.org website.