Chelsea International Hostel

Drab, dreary, noisy rooms. Minimally outfitted. Depressing common areas are closed at 11pm and reopened at 7am, and they're assertive about enforcing these hours, so good luck having a social time meeting any of your fellow travelers. The only good thing about this place is the location in Chelsea. Housecleaning of bathrooms daily; you'll know because they're noisy about it.

Went here on an out-of-state study trip; nice place to stay as long as you know what to expect! Pros: The location was great, within walking distance to multiple subway stations, cafés and restaurants, shopping, and tourist destinations. The building itself is very secure and located right across from a police station. The accommodations, while basic, were clean and tidy, and the communal bathroom and shower appear to be cleaned twice a day. The staff I interacted with were friendly and more than happy to offer help. Not a lot of noise can be heard from the street, at least not from where I was staying. The communal kitchen, dining room, and courtyard were nice, and I enjoyed chatting with other students and travelers over breakfast. Cons: The hostel is definitely showing its age. There are no elevators and the staircases are pretty cramped (especially with luggage), so keep accessibility in mind when booking. There was no AC unit in my room, so I needed to sleep with a window open most nights. The communal shower took quite a bit to heat up, and some of my friends had problems with having to wait until housekeeping was done cleaning to use the bathroom or shower. The doors are also pretty loud, and while the people staying around me were quiet and respectful of others, I could hear doors opening and closing from throughout the building. Toiletries and some essentials are not provided (bring your own hand soap and a lock for your locker), but the hostel is close to multiple convenience stores. I’d recommend staying here as long as you don’t have 5-star hotel expectations and know what to expect, especially if you don’t plan to spend too much time in your room. If you go in expecting the Ritz, you’ll be disappointed; the Chelsea International isn’t luxury by any means, but it’s a nice enough place to stay and rest!

This place is basic but secure, clean, and nicely located. The front desk was efficient and available. If you're looking for a hostel where you're going to meet people to go out with, this isn't it, but it's a good base for exploring Chelsea/Manhattan. (New York State residents - beware your state ID won't cut it for check-in, you need to bring a passport.)