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.

My stay was terrible because of a receptionist called Rafael who was staying in the thanksgiving day and many days after. I was completely feeling unsafe during his existence in the hostel. His look and way of talking and all his body languages are aweful. Refused to help by anyways. The most unprofessional, impolite and rude person I have ever seen. Not recommended to stay in the hostel as long as this person is there, no safety or support will be found.

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!

You get what you pay for. Nothing to complain about this place, except for the noise from other guests closing the doors, which was something i was expecting for, however, i think its possible to solve that problem with basic maintenance. I would be a guest again for sure.

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.)

Based on the extremely high rates at hotels in NYC, I decided to book at the hostel instead, since in NYC you generally don't spend much time in the room. I ended up booking a private double room with en suite bathroom. Checking in was fine. The guy at the front desk was nice and friendly. He explained how things work. He then sent me to the building next door as my room was in that building. When I went in, the room is basic but wasn't as small as I expected. The bed and sheets were clean. The bed was a bit firm, but I was able to sleep without an issue. The bathroom was laid out oddly, and sitting on the toilet was a tight squeeze, since the walls were so close together. It would have been nice to have a towel rack and a toilet paper holder. The hostel is on a fairly quiet street, and felt safe with a police station across the street. Check out Joe's Pizza (nearby at 21st and 8th) for some good NY pizza! Overall my stay was fine. The hostel didn't have all the perks of a hotel, but I was looking to save money, so it worked out fine. If I couldn't find a decent rate at a hotel, I'd be happy to return here.