The New York Loft Hostel Review

For those looking for quiet, clean, safe, convenient, and affordable New York hostel accommodations during their trip to the Big Apple, The New York Loft Hostel is a great choice for men and women of a variety of ages and ethnic backgrounds. These accommodations are located in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Those who are looking for a major on-site party place will probably want to choose another one of many available New York hostels - as drinking on the premises is not allowed after 10 p.m.

The New York Loft Hostel is located about two blocks from a major L train subway stop, Morgan Avenue Station. Rides to Manhattan usually take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Breakfast of juice, milk, cereal, and bread is served every morning from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. A lot of people gather in the outdoor garden area or an indoor lounge, though quiet socializing is expected after midnight.

Linens are provided, and most rooms have bunk beds segregated by sex with private ensuite bathroom facilities. The rooms are larger than most New York hostels, staying true to the original loft-style design of the building. There is plenty of room between bunk beds and individual reading lights.

Towels cost $2 a day to rent, so picking one up at a Walgreens or similar store for about $5 is recommended. Some hostelgoers reported paying $10 on-site for a padlock to secure their locker, so it is much better to come with your own lock or buy one for $3 to $8 at a drugstore. Extra storage space is available at a cost of $3 per day. Wireless Internet access is free, as well as on-street parking. Though you may not want a car in New York City, there was plenty of nearby parking available which is a rarity among New York hostels.

There are also 24-hour convenience stores and cafes located two blocks or less from The New York Loft Hostel, and a number of restaurants open throughout the day. Several restaurants deliver a variety of cuisine choices as late as midnight, including Thai, American, and Japanese food.

The hostel has several guidebooks from New York City to Berlin for guests to peruse, and an expansive bulletin board with local activities, menus, transportation, and even rooms and apartments to rent. A piano is also available for guests to play between noon and 10 p.m.

The staff at The New York Loft Hostel was all very friendly and there were no problems regarding other guests during an October 2009 four-day stay. Much of the crowd was international and under age 30, though middle-aged out-of-town businessmen and a few middle-aged women were among the guests. Out-of-state ID cards or passports are required to check in, and stays exceeding 29 days must be approved by the management. Again, this is unique for those looking to stay in New York hostels - as many properties enforce a 14-day maximum stay, period.

As of October 2009, staying in a 12-bed female dorm (which never filled during the visit) cost roughly $27 a night including New York State and city hotel taxes. A $5 key card deposit is also expected, and is returned promptly when you give back the card when checking out. Check-in time is 3 p.m., though a staff member let me leave my bags there - without charge - at 8 a.m. that morning and was kind enough to check me in at about 2:45 p.m. Check-out is 11:30 a.m., but a later time can be arranged with advance discussion with the staff and a $5 charge. Private rooms are also available at The New York Loft Hostel.