Chelsea International Hostel

Awesome location!!!
Great affordable accommodations. Room was a little warm but I just cracked the window open.
Clean room/​restroom/​shower. Comfortable bed.
I’ll definitely stay here again.

Oh really? Ya Really. This fantabulous hostel sits smack in the middle of the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, NYC. With plenty of fine shopping experiences nearby theres no end to the possibility of cosmopolitan’s latest Chelsea tribute to tourism.
Say hi to Norma the pussycat on your check-​in to be the cat’s meow of this Chelsea hotspot.

I stayed at the Chelsea International Hostel for a week in mid October. I got a single private room with a bath down the hall. The room was basic with a twin bed and an sink and a locker and some shelves. It was basic but the bed was quite comfortable and there was AC. There was a shower across the hall and a bathroom down the hall. Everything was clean and orderly and there was always hot water. The building was old and the stairs were steep. But the place was quiet. I hardly saw anyone at all. I was not there to socialize with other hostelers. I was out the door by 7am and came back in the later afternoon. And was out again for the evening and sometimes came back late (after 1am). I liked the neighborhood with shops and restaurants and bars. I always felt safe even late at night. The staff were okay. Not super friendly, but they took care of business. I only ate breakfast there only 2 times and I was in a hurry. It was very basic and crowded.
I would totally stay here again. It met me needs nicely.

First of all, the price is really nice for this part of the city and our accommodations. We decided against getting a hotel room because we knew we were going to be out late and didn’t need the comfy amenities of a hotel. Plus, uh, hello, we spent $ 66 per person per night is hard to beat.
It’s a different setup from the last hostel I stayed at, and I felt that I didn’t really meet as many other residents as I have at others. But I didn’t mind so much, since we only got back when we were pooped. Rather than just being a big building with all the units, there are a few adjacent doors that lead to the units. You’ll get 2 keys — one for the outside door, and one for the room you sleep in.
REMEMBER to bring your passport for check-​in, even if you’re an American or Canadian citizen!
We got a single room with a shared bathroom. (Aka a room for the toilet and a room for the shower outside our room.) There’s a sink in your room, two lockers (which aren’t really necessary since it’s a private room but hey, stowed away storage), a built-​into-​the-​wall shelf, and an AC unit in the window. AND a chair. There’s definitely enough room for a table or a desk but it’s a pretty bare bones room, and that’s fine. Towels were on the bed when we arrived (bring those when you check out) and we were offered another set of keys. (Just pay the deposit for them at check-​in.)
Our issues with the room were twofold that affected sleep a LOT:
1) Walls are awfully thin. I didn’t hear our neighbors… except when they went to the bathroom (fuh-​LUSH) and showered. This seemed to be just all night? Showers and toilet flushes occurred until something like 3 AM one night. Oy. Also, the noises from outside kept me up and woke me up, so the window is thin, too. Speaking of the window…
2) The blinds wouldn’t close the right way, so as soon as there was daylight, it was streeeeeaming into the room. Sigh.
Also, why is the toilet paper above the toilet, aka behind you when you sit down on it?
And there’s no soap at the sinks, so that was a little awkward. (Good thing I had sanitizer in my bag?) I wound up just not bothering with the shower and we never made it to the common area, as we didn’t even know how we were supposed to get there. =/​
So, it’s a good hostel for resting your head, but maybe less good for meeting other people and socializing. (And sleeping.)

Este fue mi hogar durante las dos semanas que pasé en la fría NY. Lo primero que hay que destacar es la gran ubicación de este hostel. Está cerca del metro y en el medio de la isla como para moverte hacia downtown (el sur con la estatua) o para el norte hacia el central park (claro si sos de los que les gusta caminar)
El hostel tiene cosas positivas, a saber, la limpieza tanto de las habitaciones como de las áreas comunes, el desayuno no está mal (no descolla) pero los bagels con pasas a los que nosotros le poníamos queso la rompían, y el staff suele ser buena onda (generalmente la mayoría habla español).
Además podés usar la cocina ya que tenés cacharros como para preparte pasta, heladeras para dejar cosas con tu nombre (fundamental si dejás cervezas ponerle tu nombre!!!) y hay mapas, laundry y varios servicios extras como excursiones que vienen bien. También hay computadoras para usar internet (pero te cobran) mejor conectarse a la red de wifi que esa si es gratis.
Lo malo: las áreas comunes no están tan buenas, hay unos sillones perdidos y el patio en invierno es imposible de usar, además son muy estrictos con el tema del horario y después de las 22 (o era de las 21?) ya no se puede hacer ruido en el lugar. Creo que les faltaría tener un pequeño bar o un área de descanso para las noches, en especial en invierno que no es que vas a estar tanto al aire libre.
El hostel es inmenso y tiene varios edificios con puertas de distinto color como para ubicarte. Tienen habitaciones con baño y otras sin– la verdad es mucha la diferencia de plata — y te recomiendo compartir baño. No son tantas por personas por baño así que es más que manejable.
Chelsea es uno de los barrios más lindos de NY, además tenés cerca varias calles que son zonas de bares, cafeterías y supermercados (claves para no hipotecarte en dólares). Y lo mejor de todo: tenés el Chelsea Market y la High Line (además tenés un Mac store en la zona por si andás buscando renovarte tecnológicamente).
Más allá de la falta de bar y de que hay que ser medio silencioso a la noche probablemente volvería a este hostel. Realmente nos trataron muy bien.

We just had a group of 25 human rights college-​aged students stay at the Chelsea Hostel for 2 weeks and they were very satisfied with their accommodations (cleanliness, responsive staff, amazing location blocks from their classroom space).
The rooms are modest but they worked really well with our limited budget. Large groups should definitely consider booking this hostel for their extended stays, especially during warmer months when the colorful courtyard can be a convenient gathering spot (the other common areas can’t fit such numbers).
Given how insanely pricey NYC (and Manhattan especially) can be, our city is fortunate to have the Chelsea Hostel as a solid option.

The place was clean, little bit far from subway and some staff isn’t friendly and you have to PAY 15 $ if u checked out late after 11.00am even not too long !!! I stayed a few hostels in NYC and never get paid for checked out late about 15−20mins !!! No more Chelsea hostel !!!

You get what you pay for. When I got to NYC I wanted to find a hostel in Manhattan that was near all the downtown attractions. Several of the hostels right in Midtown were over $ 100/​night– not exactly a killer deal for a hostel. But, I found this hostel in Chelsea for quite a bit cheaper… and not that much out of the way. I think I paid $ 65/​night for a single bedroom/​shared bathroom deal.
Area: The Chelsea area felt really safe. Lots of great cafes and pubs around. Only a few blocks from the subway. A few blocks from the Highline enterance.
Cleanliness: Eh. It wasn’t great. But it wasn’t super bad either. My bedroom and the sheets were all clean, so I can’t complain too much. The shared bathroom was sort of gross. It looked like the toilet hadn’t been cleaned in a while. The shower had lots of hair in it.
Wi-​fi: Available ONLY in the commons area. Even then, I had a really hard time getting my phone or tablet to connect for longer than a few minutes.
Staff: WONDERFUL. They were super kind and willing to help or offer guests advice.
Lockers: Paid lockers available in the basement (for luggage if you want to leave it there before check-​in or after check-​out). I think it was $ 3 for 24 hours. You get a pin-​code for these so you don’t have to bring a padlock. HOWEVER, if you get a shared bedroom and want to lock up your stuff, the lockers in the rooms require you to have your own padlock.
Towels: Free of use. $ 10 deposit at check-​in, but if you bring the keys and towel back at check out you get the $ 10 back.
Noise: Not great. I think there are technically «quiet» hours, but there were people out in the court yard being noisy until well past 11pm. The girls in the room next to me were up at 2 am laughing.
Other: MAKE SURE YOU BRING A PASSPORT (even if you’re a US citizen). They don’t accept state IDs apparently. You also get a free breakfast, though I ate out so I cant comment on the quality of that.
Overall: Okay place for the price and location. Not sure I’d be back, but it could have DEFINITELY been worse.

My initial thrill in booking this room was looking kinda squint-​eyed at the monitor and pretending I was going to stay at the Chelsea Hotel. My second and more lasting thrill came from checking in, getting into my private single, and thinking, «I didn’t think I could get a room like this in NYC for under $ 70!»
Fantastic location in the city for that price too — not only did I not have to pay much for my room, but this was my cheapest transit budget I’ve had here as well — I walked to Greenwich Village, TriBeCa, and the East Village from here, in addition to Chelsea itself of course.
The private single gives you a towel ($ 10 deposit) and linens on the bed, and you have a small shared bath. I worked myself pretty hard during the day so I had an easy rest and was feeling great the next morning. Breakfast is ticketed, which entitles you to a bagel, a piece of fruit, and unlimited coffee/​juice, taken in the snug indoors or out in their courtyard (al fresco at a hostel!).
It needs to be mentioned that you have to have a passport to stay here even if you’re an American. I’d say this keeps the riff raff out, but obviously not since I have a passport.
Final words in tribute to Nico:
«His room A-​18,
Compact, but nice and clean,
‘Cause when you’re in New York
It’s not your digs [da-​da-​duh-​da-​daaa]
But where you’ve been
Here he stays now
There he plays now
Here he lays now
Chelsea [International Hostel] Boyyyy.»

Hostal bien situado y en perfectas condiciones.

Stayed here for my 3^rd time recently in another private single. The location in Chelsea cannot be beat for the price, BUT I can officially confirm that you will NEVER get good sleep here or a good shower. Never. Ever.
This hostel is EXTREMELY noisy starting between 6 – 7 am not from guests, but from the staff/​workers, so just know that you will NEVER get good sleep. Also, they have a huge issue with doors that slam repetitively due to the springs that close them… and paper thin walls, so you can hear the people in adjacent rooms…
The rooms are very minimalist and bare bones, like prison cells. The showers are generally weak and the shower heads are clogged, so water comes out unevenly and is either very hot or very cold. You generally have to spend 10 minutes calibrating the shower dial to get the right temperature and pressure. before you can step into it…
The only thing you are paying for her is the PRIME SAFE LOCATION in Manhattan (20 feet across the street from the Chelsea Police Station) that is so central you can walk to the majority neighborhoods and sights nearby without even paying for a subway or bus…
From this hostel, you can easily walk in 10 – 20 minutes to:
Cheslea High Line Park, Chelsea Market, Meatpacking District shopping or the 14^th Street Apple Store with free internet access, Chelsea Piers (parks) on the Hudson River, Union Square shopping, 34^th Street Macy’s shopping and Empire State Building, Garment District, Flatiron Building and Park, the West Village/​Greenwich Village, or the subway lines blue C/​E or red 1 line.
Or, in 30 minutes, to:
Times Square shopping, the East Village cafes, or Hell’s Kitchen restaurants.

I’ve stayed at Chelsea twice — once in a four-​person room and once in a private room w/​a shared bathroom.
Pros — the location is ace, right near a few subway lines and lots of dining options. Staff is friendly and the rooms are quite cheap.
Cons — not the most comfortable lodging experience, and if you’re staying in a single, try to request one away from the bathroom or you’ll be woken up by noise all night. However, if you’ve stayed in a hostel before, you’ll know what to expect.
Overall, prices are good for NYC and the location is excellent.

I knew going in that it was going to be a no frill place to rest my head. It was not bad for a place if you are only sleeping there. You pay what you get for, and it is clean!
The location is also convenient so you have access to many great shops and restaurants. and subways!
I would say for students or young professionals on holiday or taking class, it is not a bad option.

The location of this hostel is incredible, and the fact that it was one of the cheapest places I could find on Manhattan made it all the better. There’s loads to do nearby, good bars, restaurants etc and the subway access is very convenient.
If you’re into 5* luxury and stuff this isn’t your place, but if you need a cheap getaway in an AWESOME part of Manhattan, be sure to check this out.
The rooms/​bathrooms etc are very basic, so be sure to bring your own towels/​toiletries as there are none available/​for rent there. I was in a 2 bed dorm with my friend, the set up was perfect for what we needed, but the space was small enough that I might have felt uncomfortable being in there with someone I didn’t know.
Overall I was very pleased and would recommend this to anyone looking for a cheap NYC getaway in a a great part of town.

The hostel is located in a very good location, you can easily reach several stations in the the 18^th, 23^th streets. The problem is that this hostel depends on the fact that many tourists come to NY so the customers are always available. The guys working in the hostel are rude, they are not ready to help and very difficult to ask them any question.
The Internet connection is only in the common areas which are closed at 11 meaning that you cannot plan your next day trips when you come at 11 to your hostel. Moreover, their Internet connection is very bad and me and other guys faced this problem.
Their breakfast is a joke while they consider it as part of their unique services,
I dont recommend this place to anybody.

You can expect spartan accommodations. My shared room had two beds, a sink and locker. No tables or clothes hangers. We found a total of three bed bugs one on our luggage, one along the wall and another on a shoe. It would have been nice to have a table to put our luggage on because those critters run along the floors. Gross. This is the first time I’ve seen bed bugs in the flesh. I guess they are becoming more common now.
Breakfast is fine. Don’t expect anything fancy. Everyone is entitled to one bagel, fruit and cereal. The internet is spotty and slow… but it exists. They also have pay lockers if you want to stow your luggage after check-​out but before your flight/​train. But It bothered me that locker prices were a dollar more than what they had listed.
If the cheapness of this hostel still appeals to you, remember to bring your passport. A passport to check-​in is required for everyone including US citizens.

The Chelsea Hostel is highly recommendable, the rooms are large and clean. There was a locker where you could store your computer e.g. and a large kitchen and bathroom.

I’ve stayed at this place a number of times over the past 5 – 6 years when I’ve gone to NY from Boston. I’ll admit, I usually end up here because I never plan in advance and they’re the only place with rooms left, but I’ve grown to like it. It’s basic, sure – not a loft hostel, nothing fancy – but it is consistently a pleasant, decent experience with no hassles. If you’ve stayed at hostels elsewhere in the world, you know that a place that is consistently clean and well-​run is pretty much a gem all on its own. And you can’t beat the location, which feels super safe, as others here have noted, and is central to pretty much everything.
In terms of amenities, there’s an interior courtyard where you can eat breakfast. That’s about it, but hey, it’s a nice feature in the summer. The people and staff are pleasant, but you don’t really see them much – many times I’ve stayed here in a 2– or 4-​bed room and never even seen the other women, since we’re all stumbling in at 1am anyway.
Couple things to note: yes, you do need a passport to stay here, but they’ve let me get by with an expired one. Bring your own padlock for the lockers in the rooms. I usually drive to NYC, and you can actually find free parking on the block … and considering the hostel is across from a police station, it’s definitely one of the safer places to leave your car in central Manhattan. I’ve never had any trouble parking here for a few days. And one of the best things about this place for last-​minute travelers, like I tend to be: they often have same-​day reservations. You can’t make them over the phone, you actually have to go there, but if they tell you to come by, they’ll probably have a spot, so it’s worth the trip. I’ve found a bed here at least a few times when nothing else in NYC was open.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for something cheap, with pretty much zero hassles, this place is great.

I had a good experience here. The only cautions I’d give are that there is only wifi in the lounge (which I had trouble finding at first), and there’s a police station across the street, so you’ll hear them testing the sirens occasionally. Otherwise, though, it’s totally fine, and it seemed like the best price going. Oh, and it’s really close to the Joyce Theater – if you’re interested in dance, try to get a ticket to a show!

Das Preis-​Leistungs-​Verhältnis ist für New Yorker Verhältnisse super!
Die Zimmer sind absolut in Ordnung, genau wie die Bäder.
Man hat hier eine sehr gute Startposition für Ausflüge in Manhattan, vieles ist fußläufig erreichbar.
Eine nette ruhige Nachbarschaft tut ihr übriges.
Ich komme gerne irgendwann wieder!

War schon häufiger in Hotels in NYC, aber das Chelsea Hostel ist im Preis-​Leistungs-​Verhältnis unschlagbar. Bin über die Jahre bestimmt schon acht Mal dort gewesen und es ist konstant gut. Freundliches und erfahrenes Service Staff.
Tolle Lage mitten in NY nicht unweit des Bahnhofs und des Time Squares. Mehrbettzimmer (mit 4 Betten) bekommt man auch schon ab 28 $ bis 33 $ oder Single Private Rooms für 40 $ die Nacht. Mit Air-​Condition ein paar Dollar Aufpreis. *****Einsame Spitze. Es ist sauber und man trifft eigentlich immer auf nette und interessante Leute. Es gibt eine Küche mit Kühlschränken die man gemeinschaftlich nutzen kann. Lockers (kosten glaube ich 5 $ pro 24std.) sind auch vorhanden, falls man auschecken möchte und das Gepäck noch mal ein paar Stunden verstauen möchte. W-​LAN ist neuerdings auch frei verfügbar, ansonsten gibt es auch Computer gegen Gebühr. Wirklich nur zu empfehlen.

Chelsea Hostel was my first hostel experience and it was totally worth it. It’s in a safe area, you can hold your computers at the front desk for extra security and it’s freaking cheap. I was touring the art galleries and it was in a perfect spot, right next to several train stations and Madison Square Garden.
On top of that, we thought we were staying for several days but ended up staying at a friends the last night and we were refunded the money. All the employees were great and super helpful when it came down to recommending places.
It’s not the fanciest but c’mon now, it’s a hostel.

I have been staying at the Chelsea Hostel for years. I stay there every time I go to NYC because it’s clean, in a great location, and the staff is nice!
I have always gottena private room, which I really like. Unfortunately I see that the prices have gone up but I think it is still a very good deal!

I have stayed here twice and both times it has been satisfactory and just what you would expect from a hostel. I think it all depends on the type of room you have.
The first time I was with 5 other girls and we have a 6 bed room to ourselves and our own private bathroom. It only cost us £16 a night so you really can’t complain!
They have an open seating area which is really nice, you meet lots of people from all over the world.
The location is brilliant, 5 minute walk to the tube and not far away from anywhere.
They also do free pizza on a Wednesday. You can’t beat free NY pizza!

Ein gutes Hostel mit für New York absolut Geheimtipp-​Preisen. Haben dort 7 Tage gewohnt und waren begeistert. Es gibt den klassischen Platz im Schlafsaal aber auch Doppelzimmer. Die Nacht im Doppelzimmer kostet für 2 Pers. 80 $. Die Zimmer sind klein (knapp 10 – 12 QM) mit Bett, Schrank und Waschbecken. Aber: Die Zimmer sind sauber und ebenso das Etagenbad wird täglich gesäubert. Zu Fuss ist man in 10 Minuten in Greenwichvillage, in 5 Minuten an allen relevanten U-​Bahnhaltestellen Richtung Downtown und Uptown usw. Das Hostel hat ‘né Küche, 8 Computer für Internet (2 $ für 20 Minuten) und liegt im Herzen von Manhatten. Und das alles für unter 100 $!