The 6 Best Hostels in the U.S. for Budget Travelers
By Kiando 09.11.22
Selecting hostels is something like rolling the dice. If you are lucky, you will be lounging beside a pool with free drinks and WiFi. But if not, you may be swatting flies on a pillow made of sand.
Not all hostels are created equal. Some are location-friendly, while others are staff friendly. It is essential to pick a hostel that suits your requirements and caters to your interest. Moreover, consider budget-friendly hostels if you are planning an extended stay. It will go a long way in ensuring a quality travel experience.
We’ve put together a list of some budget-friendly hostel to make your choice easier.
1. Auberge NOLA
Location: 1628 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Best facility: Outdoor patio
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
This hostel is situated between the French Quarter and Garden District. The humble and friendly staff and considerate managers have put in the effort and have done an outstanding job creating a comfortable environment. It gives off the vibes of a sleepover at a friend’s place.
It ranks top of the list due to multiple recreational outdoor activities such as BBQs, beer pong, music, and great views. It won the 2016 and 2018 Winner Hoscar for Best Hostel USA. Guests love the place due to convenient accommodations, high security, and the best interior at affordable rates.
Auberge NOLA has a mix of dorm and private rooms. Dormitory rooms at the Auberge NOLA are equipped with personal lockers and power outlets by each bed. Private rooms come with their own bathrooms, and some have kitchen amenities. The Auberge NOLA offers an indoor common room, free public parking, and a library, among other things. With more than 30 restaurants and pubs – including 24-hour places – within five blocks of the hostel, guests are in a good position for dining and entertainment.
The St Charles Avenue Streetcar line links the French Quarter and Bourbon Street with 10 minutes of travel time. With many events on St Charles Avenue, the hostel is conveniently located for Mardi Gras.
Search for flights here.
2. HI Boston
Location: 19 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Cool features: Free coffee bar and guest kitchen
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
Housed in a historic building from 1857, HI Boston is in the heart of the city. It is steps away from Boston Common, the Freedom Trail, and Chinatown. The hostel has made an effort to reduce its carbon emissions. And it is one of the few hostels LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The hostel has a range of room types, including co-ed and female-only dorms and private rooms. All guests have access to free WiFi, lockers, luggage storage, and a coffee bar. The common areas include a T.V. lounge, game room, and fully equipped kitchen.
Their private rooms are cozy and comfortable, with an ensuite bath. Their dorms are available in premium (4 beds) and standard (6 beds).
The hostel staff can help guests with tour bookings and advise on the best things to see and do in Boston. They also offer a free walking tour of the city.
HI Boston offers great social places like bars, self-catered kitchens, and coffee bars to meet new people.
Remember that you’ll need to book through their Group Sales department for a group of eight or more.
Amenities include: free WiFi, private bathrooms, 24/7 staff, guest kitchen, guest laundry, and more.
3. Miami Beach International Hostel
Location: 1051 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Best feature: The best party scene
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
This hostel is in the heart of South Beach and minutes from The Richard Shack Art Gallery in Miami Beach. It’s a great place to stay if you want to be close to the action and nightlife where the party never stops. The hostel is within walking distance of the beach, restaurants, shops, and clubs.
The Miami Beach International Hostel has both private rooms and dorms. The dorms are available in:
- four-bed female dormitory rooms
- six-bed female dormitory rooms
- six-bed male dormitory rooms
- four-bed mixed dormitory rooms
- six-bed mixed dormitory rooms
Their rooms are fully equipped with everything you might need during your stay, including a flat-screen T.V. with satellite channels, coffee/tea makers, and an iron/ironing board. They also have a tub, walk-in shower, and separate toilet for your convenience. An,d of course, they didn’t forget the little things that make all the difference, like hair dryers and bath sheets.
A free continental breakfast is served at the hotel every morning. Several restaurants in the streets surrounding this Miami Beach property include Lecca-Lecca Gelato Caffe’ and Kitchen Restaurant.
If you’re looking for cheap flights to get to Miami, visit Skyscanner.
4. Green Tortoise
Location: 105 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Cool feature: Free pub crawls
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
Thoughtfully designed for the modern traveler, the Green Tortoise in Seattle is a great place to stay if you want something different. It is on a former gas station site at the center of Seattle, steps away from Pike Place Market. The Green Tortoise is within walking distance of several popular restaurants, including RoofTop Terrace, The Walrus & Carpenter Oyster Bar, and the Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture.
European-style showers, heated tile flooring, privacy curtains around every bunk, and a well-equipped kitchen make the Green Tortoise very charming.
Green Tortoise’s knowledgeable staff will take you on an unforgettable pub crawl, free walking excursions, and more throughout the city.
It’s a place you can relax and be yourself while mingling with others who share similar interests!
The dorms are available in:
- Co-ed
- Female only
- Private rooms
- Queen bunk beds
Every bed has a roomy storage locker, reading light, fan, four plug outlets, and curtains for privacy. The bathrooms have individual units with their own sink, shower, and toilet – and each comes with a locking door for complete privacy.
Other amenities include:
- Private Bathrooms
- Communal Kitchen
- Group Activities
- Laundry Facility
- WiFi & Printing
- Foosball Table & Games
- Safe Deposit Boxes & Baggage Storage
- Smoking Lounge
- ATM Cash Machines
Finally, the Green Tortoise even has a work exchange program where dedicated trade workers can work 18 hours per week in exchange for free stay.
5. HI San Francisco City Center
Location: 312 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Coolest feature: Location
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
HI San Francisco Downtown is a leading hostel located in the heart of the city, voted San Francisco’s Most Popular Hostel for 2017 and 2018.
This hostel is in San Francisco’s Union Square, a prime shopping, dining, and nightlife location. It is a short walk to the Powell Street BART station and close to public transportation that can take you anywhere in the city.
With the help of their excellent staff, you can take part in the best self-guided walking tours and trips to check out the city’s neighborhoods.
The HI San Francisco City Center has both private rooms and dorms. The dorms are available in:
- Standard dorm (4 beds)
- Private Triple (3 beds)
- Private Quad (4 beds)
- Private ensuite twin (2 beds)
- Private ensuite queen (2 beds)
- Private economy room (3 beds)
The hostel has an on-site bar where you can mingle with other travelers and a tour desk where you can purchase tickets for all the major attractions. There is a great place to stay if you want to be in the heart of the action!
If you’re looking for cheap flights to get to San Francisco, search here.
Amenities:
- Free WiFi
- Free breakfast
- Eco-friendly
- 24/7 Staff
- Guest kitchen
- Work Space
- Luggage Storage
- Guest laundry
- Close to Public Transit
- Free towels & bed sheets
- Personal Power & USB Outlets
- Private Bathrooms
- Air Filters in Shared Spaces
This classic 1920s hostel is vintage at its bohemian best. It is marble-tiled, mahogany-railed, and full of characters with the amalgamation of modern features, for instance, a well-designed kitchen.
6. Firehouse Hostel
Location: 605 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701
Coolest facility: On-site restaurant and bar
Check Current Rates: Clink Hostels | Agoda
This cozy hostel is in a beautifully restored firehouse building from 1885 and is located in the heart of Austin. It’s located on the upper floors of the oldest standing Firehouse in downtown Austin.
The hostel is the perfect place to stay for any traveler, with modern amenities like free WiFi and clean bathrooms and old-world charms like a kitchen and common area. They have a variety of room styles available, plus easy access to our adjacent Firehouse Lounge.
The helpful staff at Firehouse Hostel is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are full of knowledge about Austin’s nightlife areas, outdoor activities, shopping, public transportation, and museums. Stop by the front desk for last-minute travel items to make your stay pleasant. They provide toothbrushes, razors, and other last-minute purchase requirements in the common room and kitchen. Make new friends in the common room, where you’ll find games, cards, and lots of fun.
The dorms are available in:
- Suite – sleeps up to 4, private bath; has both queen bed and bunk beds
- Euro Room – sleeps up to 4; shared bath; unique decor; two bunk beds (twin over twin twin over full)
- Delux Dorm – sleeps 6-8 people; shared bath; custom-built bunk beds
- Economy Dorm – sleeps 4-6 people; shared bath
Firehouse Hostel is also close to many of Austin’s best bars, restaurants, and live music venues. So, if you’re looking for a place to stay in Austin that is centrally located and has an excellent on-site bar, then this is the place for you!
Looking for flights? Check here.
Tips for Choosing the Right Hostel
Apart from budget-friendly traveling, staying in hostels offer the chance to meet different people and make new friends while traveling if you choose the best one. Here are some factors that you need to consider while selecting a hostel.
Hostel type
Just like hotels, all hostels are not equal. Most hostels are designed with private rooms and shared bathrooms, and dorm rooms. You must decide whether to stay in unisex dorms or separate ones. There are family hostels and some party hostels with clubs. Ultimately, the best hostel depends on your requirement and one you feel comfortable in.
Price
By all means, the hostel you choose should fit your budget. Check the facilities and determine whether the price listed is worth what is offered and if you are willing to increase the budget to get what you want. However, remember that cheap does not necessarily mean bad, and not all expensive hostels are the best.
Location
The location is worth considering. Decide whether you want a hostel near a tourist spot, your institute, or the city center. It is suggested to stay at the hostel where everything is conveniently accessible such as public transport, restaurants, stores, etc.
Security
Security is something that cannot be compromised. Therefore, select a hostel that is strict about rules and regulations and knows how to make the hostel secure. The way to check the security level is to read previous comments of guests. If something terrible happened at that place, you would notice it.
Amenities
Nowadays, hostels are bringing the game by providing more amenities and facilities to their guests. Check whether the hostel has a swimming pool, complimentary breakfast and if there is a laundry facility. All these aspects come together to offer a comfortable experience.
How to Make the Most of Your Stay in a Hostel?
At a hostel, you live together with peers and unknown people. It is not like a private place where you can live alone. If you are respectful towards others, you will get the same. If you want to make the most out of hostel life, follow these guidelines:
- Respect quiet hours. If you want to talk, talk quietly and keep your phones silent.
- Use headphones. Do not listen to loud music to disturb people around you.
- Greet new people. Greet everyone with joy and pleasure. You might find a new best friend.
- Set one alarm. Make a habit of waking up with one alarm. There is no space for multiple alarms and snoozing as it can disturb others’ sleep.
- Stay organized. Do not create a mess in the first place. Your stuff belongs on your bed, do not scatter it on the floor and other places.
Final Thoughts
Traveling on a budget does not mean you have to compromise on your comfort. Plenty of hostels in the United States offer excellent facilities and are pocket-friendly too! The hostels mentioned will help you have a great time while traveling without burning a hole in your pocket!
If you’re ready to travel and are looking for flights, use our flight look up here.