Name: HI Boston Hostel
Address: 19 Stuart Street, Theatre District, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Boston, Suffolk County, US
Price range: $124–$417 per night
Rating: 8.57

What guests think

Across many reviews, HI Boston Hostel stands out for its central location, generally clean spaces, friendly staff, plentiful bathrooms, social activities, and useful common areas, while recurring downsides include temperature control, noise from doors or streets, and occasional cleanliness lapses.

Many guests consider it good value for Boston with a welcoming atmosphere for solo travelers and mixed-age groups. Breakfast is included and commonly described as simple but adequate. Expect a well-run stay with helpful amenities, but bring earplugs and be prepared for variable room temperatures.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Ample common spaces, a large guest kitchen, many single bathrooms, lockers (bring or buy a lock), and secure keycard access are praised; social events and luggage storage are available. Some guests found laundry confusing and note there is no on-site parking.

Related guest reviews

10

Julia

Sep 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

friendly staff, clean accommodations, and respectful dorm mates. plenty of bathrooms and accessible water filling stations. key card worked every time without issues. surrounding area feels safe and there is plenty of food nearby.

10

Han Nah

Mar 20, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

This is an excellent hostel. Staff are very friendly and helpful. location very central and easy to get to from the train station. Bunk beds in the dorms are solid, meaning that the person on the bottom bunk doesn't get thrown around when the person on the top bunk moves. They also have curtains, lights and charging docks. Bathrooms are shared but they are a single room each with toilet and shower so you get the space to yourself. They will give you a towel and bed sheets. Free breakfast is decent. Items I saw everyday are: apples, bagels, bread, margarine, peanut butter, cream cheese, jelly, reconstituted fruit juice, cereals, rolled oats, plain yoghurt, flavoured yoghurt, coffee, herbal tea, milk. Items I saw at some point include oranges, toaster waffles, toaster pancakes, crepes in a packet, croissants, ham, cheese, syrup, honey, doughnut pieces. If you want more, you can always buy some extras like eggs/bacon/fruit and make something more substantial in the kitchen. The staff do dishes for you which means there isn't chaos cleaning up. The kitchen is great and there is fridge and cupboard space to store food. I didn't do them but they seem to make a lot of effort to organise activities. Over all it's hard to fault this place. Bring a lock for your locker and some slides to wear in the shower. Bring laundry powder or you can buy some at reception. The laundry situation is a bit confusing, you need an app.

10

masatoshi

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The shared space was spacious, stylish and comfortable. The staff were all very kind and wonderful. I would like to use it again when I come to Boston.

4

Alecia

Jul 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff were very inconsiderate. Upon arrival we did not get a hello or anything. The clerk just told me what I owed annd gave us keys. There was no instruction on what doors had to have key entrance locked r anything. Checkout was even worse. A bus and parked cars were at the unloading area forever. I went to the desk clerk and said, I have a question to which the clerk responded, laughing, well I have an answer. When I asked where to park to load our luggage, the response was good luck finding a parking spot close by. I Would NEVER stay here again and would not recommend it to anyone else. I have currently been in the lobby 40 MINUTES since checkout and there is still no loading spot available. My husband is still driving around trying to find a parking spot. It is also terrible that this hostel cannot contract with a closer parking garage so getting your luggage to your car could be done in a different way.

8

Seungwon

Sep 20, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hostel to stay! Room and facilities were clean, and there were enough bathrooms to use and take shower. This hostel also provided breakfast every morning 7am-10am though the menu was simple. You can also store your luggage on the check-out day for free. The only issue that I encountered was the wireless internet in the room. I was unable to connect almost all the time in the room though I could use the internet outside of the room.

10

Jowenne

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great common areas in the facility.

10

David

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was professional and friendly. Very clean and very safe. I liked that there are many bathrooms.

10

Martin

May 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing staff right downtown with cool daily activities and free breakfast. Towel and bed linen included. Pool table and lots of space to hang around if rainy day Highly recommended and seriously underated compared to expensive hotels in the suburbs

10

Gabrielle

Dec 13, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

I enjoyed my stay at HI-Boston. I like that the shared bathrooms are in the hallway (unlike many hostels, which are in the room) and there are many individual ones available on my floor. The beds are comfy. Big kitchen area with lots of seating. Continental breakfast was ok. The hostel hosted a trivia night on Monday and they offered 2 drinks and snacks for everyone and it was great to hang out with fellow travellers for some fun times. Highly recommended this hostel. I would definitely stay with HI-Boston again!

8

Brittne

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This hostel is great for solo travelers. There is a $6 fee for locks for the lockers, so feel free to bring or buy your own or buy one of theirs. The first room i had was not a good situation for me, only because it was hot and the room was smelly, but the front desk staff was so accommodating, i didnt even have to sleep in that room. They gave me another bedroom with great A/C, seemed way cleaner, and smelled a lot fresher. The location is a great location. Right in the middle of china town. Super walkable city and only 5 minutes walk from the train. There is not a dedicated parking lot. Parking downtown is expensive, but you really dont need a car staying in the city. Bathrooms were cleaned twice a day and the bed was comfy for the most part. Breakfast was provided everyday, but also some great breakfast spots within walkable distance if you want that option. They have great group activities for anyone who stays there to enjoy the city of Boston and also get people to socialize. They have a full kitchen so you can cook meals if needed. Overall, i would definitely stay again! I highly recommend this place.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is frequently praised across rooms, bathrooms, and common areas, though some guests reported mildew smells, wet floors, hair on linens, or missed spots under beds.

Related guest reviews

10

Kimberly

May 31, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Very modern and very clean. Highly recommend.

4

Emilie Kruse

Aug 15, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Disgusting bathrooms. Otherwise it’s What you would expect from a hostel.

8

Denis

Jun 1, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Under my bed you can tell that area had not ben clean in a while. I felt that there might have been fleas or bed bugs. I couldn't tell which of the two was biting me. The place is a good location. The free breakfast is great. The price of the Hostel is a bargain

4

Rahul

Oct 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Dorm is okay. Bathroom doesn't have soap, towels etc. Location is good. Wash basin was not clean.

10

Andreas

Nov 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very clean room and bathroom, very friendly staff.

4

David

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I got there and wanted to take a shower. I made a mistake! The cleanliness left a lot to be desired. Claustrophobes beware: I was locked in the toilet for 20 minutes because the lock was jammed. After a bitter struggle, I managed to open the lock and was told “I don't know what to tell you, use the bathroom next door (initially for disabled people)”. Just a passable welcome. On the other hand, I slept quite well (but there were 3 of us in a dormitory for 8, so this probably doesn't reflect a real-life situation). Mind you, this is all just my experience, and perhaps an unlucky streak on my part!

4

SHAVON

Aug 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The restrooms smell like mildew and the floors were all wet. In the dorm rooms a gal had an alarm set for 5am that she hit snooze on till 8:30am. There were three empty beds and another girl was assigned right above me who happened to be a chain smoker so her going in and out all night was terrible. Didn’t get much sleep

10

David

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was professional and friendly. Very clean and very safe. I liked that there are many bathrooms.

10

Willow

Jun 29, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hostel- comprehensive and helpful staff, modern and clean facilities! Much better than the New York Hi Hostel.

10

jerome

Jun 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

One of the best kept hostels I've been to so far

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms range from comfortable bunks and private rooms to squeaky beds and basic setups; noise from doors, street, and roommates is common. Multiple reviews mention inconsistent temperature control (too hot or too cold) and occasional weak in-room Wi-Fi.

Related guest reviews

8

Weiqi

Mar 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location. The room is too warm, everything else is great for the location and price.

8

Michelle

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

You have to card in to the doors to get into foyer. They do offer locks for your small storage in your room. The beds are not very anchored and very squeaky so try not to roll too much.

6

James

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

While the room was private and relatively cheap, the mattress and pillows were incredibly uncomfortable, the thermostat didn't change the temperature at all, there were no amenities like microwaves or mini-fridges in the rooms (there were communal amenities but I don't trust the people I know not to steal my food, let alone a stranger), and the floors were bare concrete. I understand this is a hostel but when I booked a private room I figured it would come with the amenities expected.

6

Christian

May 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Cold rooms

8

R

Oct 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Despite being mid October room was way too hot. Reading other reviews it’s either this or freezing cold. Reception staff confirmed this too. Facilities good and clean, staff excellent. Stayed in 6 bed mixed dorm.

8

Seungwon

Sep 20, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hostel to stay! Room and facilities were clean, and there were enough bathrooms to use and take shower. This hostel also provided breakfast every morning 7am-10am though the menu was simple. You can also store your luggage on the check-out day for free. The only issue that I encountered was the wireless internet in the room. I was unable to connect almost all the time in the room though I could use the internet outside of the room.

8

Kevin

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The location of the property is outstanding. The value for the Boston area is really competitive. I spent 3 sleepless nights on a noisy dorm bunkbed. I had 3 loud snorers and a cryer in the room also cell phone disruptions. The dorms are certainly a let down. The pictures made me expect “pod-style” sleeping…but it was just old school bunkbeds with curtains…very poor disrupted sleeping. Overall, I like the concept and design of the place. Pods would be a great update for this property. The bathrooms worked well. Might stay again…not sure. Location was the best part.

6

Richard

Jun 11, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I froze all night

8

Kristen

Oct 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location. The doors all close loudly.

6

Fidel neil

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

so much noise at night

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Service

Staff are widely described as friendly and helpful, though a minority reported unwelcoming interactions, slow responses, or check-in/assignment issues.

Related guest reviews

2

Oscar Iván

Aug 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

When I arrived late at my room there was a person sleeping in my bed; had to go down again to the main desk to ask. Once in the main desk the person there thought I was mistaken and I wasn´t staying where I was saying, I had to have him look for my signed check in document from all the bunch of that day because for some reason the system didn´t show I was staying at the hostel at all. Once they finally found the signed document for the bed I told them was mine they had to check for another bed to give me, hand me my stuff they took from my previous bed and send me to another room; all this process to about an hour. Since it got resolved I didn´t make much of it and went to bed. Bad thing is with all of that happening at 2-3 in the morning and them taking my stuff from my locker I lost a pair of glasses of mine; I have two pairs, I´m always wearing one and I didn´t notice I didn´t have then till I had left the city. I loved those glasses and they are expensive, the hostal lost them because of a mistake from them and I´m really pissed about it.

4

Alisa

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Staff were really awkward and hard to talk too. Asked for my bedsheet to be changed a few times. Never happened.

10

Ulrike

Jun 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice staff, Great location

10

DAVID K

Jan 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

My favorite things about HI Boston are the interactions with people from all over the world and its ideal location for walking Boston with American history forefront and center. Considering the multi-guests rooms, shared bathrooms, and open community spaces including the kitchen, the staff does a superb job of keeping the place clean and orderly. The desk staff is upbeat and always willing to be as helpful as needed..

10

Jose Alejandro

Apr 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great Staff. Super clean areas

4

Alecia

Jul 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff were very inconsiderate. Upon arrival we did not get a hello or anything. The clerk just told me what I owed annd gave us keys. There was no instruction on what doors had to have key entrance locked r anything. Checkout was even worse. A bus and parked cars were at the unloading area forever. I went to the desk clerk and said, I have a question to which the clerk responded, laughing, well I have an answer. When I asked where to park to load our luggage, the response was good luck finding a parking spot close by. I Would NEVER stay here again and would not recommend it to anyone else. I have currently been in the lobby 40 MINUTES since checkout and there is still no loading spot available. My husband is still driving around trying to find a parking spot. It is also terrible that this hostel cannot contract with a closer parking garage so getting your luggage to your car could be done in a different way.

10

Hyeju

Sep 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great hostel! Staffs were friendly and helpful. The overall facilities were clean and well-managed. The location was perfect to explore other parts of the city. Very walkable and safe. I would stay here again if I have a chance to go back to Boston.

8

Byeongsang

Sep 19, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Most staff members are very kind and helpful, but 1-2 staff members are very diplomatic and need to be trained to serve in hospitality industry.

8

Michael

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Very friendly and helpful staff.

2

Melissa

Nov 22, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The person answering calls was rude & unhelpful

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Central and walkable near Chinatown, Boston Common, South Station, and T lines; many felt safe. A few mentioned late-night street noise or that the area can feel sketchy after dark.

Related guest reviews

10

Mohammed

Aug 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location and lovely atmosphere

8

C

Sep 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Centrally located hostel with great mix of ages. Free basic breakfast. Good kitchen. Rooms had ac and desperate shower room. Comfy bed. Plenty of communal space.

10

Jared

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hostel property itself was great. The surrounding area of boston that it was in was a bit sketchy at night though.

10

Jessica

Jun 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location! Very close to Boston commons and the start of the freedom trail.... close to several Subway/"Boston T" lines.

10

Catie

Jun 9, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

WOW! I cannot say enough positive things about this place. Highly recommend going to all events that the hostel hosts, from the tours to the welcome parties. You’ll meet incredible people from all over the world and they’ll become your family away from home. Staff is welcoming and helpful, and the property is well-run and managed. Again, I can’t say enough wonderful things about my experience here. Definitely a must-stay.

10

Juliet

Nov 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Walking distance to restaurants public transportation is nearby and close to south station.

10

Ragini

Jul 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice and clean. The location is really good for walking or talking the T. Also close the the public garden, common, and a lot coffee shops. The walls are a bit then, but people around me were pretty quiet

8

Tiffany

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Location was great. And good stay for a hostel

8

DESMOND

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pretty good for the value! Hostels are not hotels - you aren't guaranteed a spotless, private experience because the rooms and bathrooms are shared with other hostel dwellers, so keep in mind. That said, counter staff and housekeeping seemed very attentive and professional to me. I loved the clean kitchen (with free coffee!) and the spacious common areas. The location is great too: there's an enormous park just a few blocks away and I enjoyed the nearby restaurants in Chinatown.

10

Jaesung

Mar 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Quite nice hostel compared to other hostels I experienced before. It was clean. Breakfast was included in the price. One shortcoming is that, on Saturday night (midnight as well), there were clubs close to the hostel, and it was very noisy.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Breakfast is included and generally simple but sufficient, with several guests calling it good or generous while a few found it poor or repetitive. The communal kitchen supports self-catering.

Related guest reviews

6

Laura Maria

Jan 30, 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

Breakfast is always the same, very poor options and one day there were only one kind of food.

10

Jos

Aug 17, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great hostel located in China Town in Boston. The common areas are kept very clean. Breakfast was included in the price, which makes this hostel a bargain. The breakfast buffet is fine, has limited but a variety of option.

10

Han Nah

Mar 20, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

This is an excellent hostel. Staff are very friendly and helpful. location very central and easy to get to from the train station. Bunk beds in the dorms are solid, meaning that the person on the bottom bunk doesn't get thrown around when the person on the top bunk moves. They also have curtains, lights and charging docks. Bathrooms are shared but they are a single room each with toilet and shower so you get the space to yourself. They will give you a towel and bed sheets. Free breakfast is decent. Items I saw everyday are: apples, bagels, bread, margarine, peanut butter, cream cheese, jelly, reconstituted fruit juice, cereals, rolled oats, plain yoghurt, flavoured yoghurt, coffee, herbal tea, milk. Items I saw at some point include oranges, toaster waffles, toaster pancakes, crepes in a packet, croissants, ham, cheese, syrup, honey, doughnut pieces. If you want more, you can always buy some extras like eggs/bacon/fruit and make something more substantial in the kitchen. The staff do dishes for you which means there isn't chaos cleaning up. The kitchen is great and there is fridge and cupboard space to store food. I didn't do them but they seem to make a lot of effort to organise activities. Over all it's hard to fault this place. Bring a lock for your locker and some slides to wear in the shower. Bring laundry powder or you can buy some at reception. The laundry situation is a bit confusing, you need an app.

10

Austin

Oct 11, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Wonderful hostel experience in Boston! Delicious breakfast too :) highly recommend if you’re looking for a cheaper place to stay downtown!!

10

Jenna

Apr 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing staff and lots of activitie to do for solo traveler. Free breakfast was very good. Comfy bed and privacy curtains were huge plus. Would highly recommend!

4

Peng

Jan 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hair was found on the towels and the actual facility is much worse than the picture showed. Even no eggs for breakfast.

10

Michelle

Nov 30, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was my first hostel experience in Boston. Very nice facilities. Breakfast was not good. The room was adequate and bed was very comfortable.

10

Shannon

Sep 3, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hostel with a comfortable vibe. The staff is great. Although basic, the breakfast was a better quality than most hotel breakfasts. Coffee and hot water were available all day. The dorm arrangement can be problematic for sleep. I arrive in the middle of the night and tried not to be as quiet as possible. My dorm mates were gracious. Ear plugs are provided at the front desk. I also recommend a sleeping mask.

6

Donovan

Sep 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bathrooms/showers are excellent, beds are clean if not super comfortable. Noise from other patrons is a given, breakfast is very barebones, but its complimentary so oh well.

8

DESMOND

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pretty good for the value! Hostels are not hotels - you aren't guaranteed a spotless, private experience because the rooms and bathrooms are shared with other hostel dwellers, so keep in mind. That said, counter staff and housekeeping seemed very attentive and professional to me. I loved the clean kitchen (with free coffee!) and the spacious common areas. The location is great too: there's an enormous park just a few blocks away and I enjoyed the nearby restaurants in Chinatown.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$128
February	$99
March	$189
April	$251
May	$278
June	$368
July	$263
August	$239
September	$247
October	$249
November	$197
December	$122

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $349	2 $203	3
4 $141	5 $138	6 $130	7 $149	8 $166	9 $188	10
11 $159	12 $128	13 $125	14 $129	15 $414	16 $417	17
18 $126	19 $143	20 $342	21 $155	22 $310	23 $308	24
25 $133	26 $352	27 $352	28 $264	29 $308	30 $308	31 $308

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15 $191	16	17 $214	18 $205	19 $212
20 $138	21 $124	22 $193	23 $185	24 $186	25	26
27 $126	28 $126	29 $130	30 $136

Select dates to see prices and availability

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Bed in Men's 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Men's 6-Bed Dormitory

Bed in All-Gender 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Men's 8-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Women's 8-Bed Dormitory

Bed in All-Gender 6-Bed Dorm

Private Queen Room Ensuite

Bed in Women's 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in Women's 6-Bed Dormitory

Guest reviews

Fabulous

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about HI Boston Hostel

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