Business mag Crain’s New York recently took a look at the number of new hostel beds popping up around Manhattan. A portion of the 2,000 plus beds in the city belong to the expanding Jazz Hostels chain, which now boasts five locations in NYC. They operate four hostels on the Upper West Side and in Harlem (between 95th and 129th Streets), including the original Jazz Hostel at W. 106th Street and a fifth on E. 14th. Although the original location has been open since 1998, three of these hostels have opened in the past year, charging $15- $35 per night.
Hard to find that kind of room rate in New York these days, which is why the trend seems to indicate that more budget accommodations are on their way. Let’s just hope legally, though — as the Crain’s article notes, some real estate developers may be operating under false pretenses. Another new arrival, Broadway Hotel and Hostel on W. 101st St., has received accusations to this effect, but is in the midst of a $3 million renovation.
Travelers looking to save a bunch when visiting NYC should check the reviews at Hostels.com or Hostelworld to see what folks are saying about these newest entries in the growing hostel market.