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Big Apple Hostel
119 W 45th St, New York City, NY 10036-4043
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About
4.0
#10 of 42 hostels in New York CityLocation
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Our dormitory rooms with only 2 people per room. Private rooms with 2 twin-size bed with the possibility to accommodate a 3rd person. Private rooms equipped with a queen-size bed (for 1 or 2 people). All rooms are air conditioned. Bathrooms are shared.
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Property amenities
Free internet
Internet
Non-smoking hotel
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Location
119 W 45th St, New York City, NY 10036-4043
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
LaGuardia Airport
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Teterboro Airport
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42nd St – Bryant Park
4 min•New York City Subway
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528 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
62Reviews4Q+A10Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
The Big Apple Hostel was an affordable, convenient, and clean NYC hostel.The location was perfect for theater goers. You had easy access to public transportation and within minutes of many famous NYC attractions. It is sad to see it is now closed.
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Big Apple Hostel has closed down on 12 March 2014. You can see their website... It was a beautiful hostel. I tried to book again for October 2014 but they reccommended me by email another hostel...Chelsea international hostel.
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I needed a place close to the theatres and this place fit the bill. Tripadvisor reviews looked good to me so I made the reservation.
What I LOVED:
* The location. It can NOT be beat. It's right in the heart of Midtown,BUT it is actually quiet! I thought there would be a lot of street noise and there wasn't. Also It's right next door to a 24 hour cafe with low prices, what's not to love about that?
* The price. WOW, I stayed two nights and spent about $123.00, unheard of in NYC especially near Times Square.
* The service. I was early and had no problem dropping off my bag. Any questions I had were kindly answered and they had plenty of maps and other tourist material.
What I liked:
* It was pretty clean for a cheap hostel! It was clear that they try to keep it neat and tidy.
* I wasn't hot or cold and the bed, while certainly not hotel standard, wasn't uncomfortable and I slept just fine.
What I wasn't crazy about:
* Lack of information. Their website is very minimal and doesn't have all the necessary information. It's not listed, and I wasn't told, but there is a $10 (Cash Only) key deposit. Usually not a big deal but I didn't have the extra cash on me. Luckily I was with a friend who let me bum the money off him.
* Confusing or misinformation. The website says towels are not provided but there was a towel and washcloth sitting on each bed. The website also says there are dorm rooms and private rooms. Both are two person only but private rooms have the "possibility" to accommodate a third person. I booked one bed in a two person dorm room. What I got was a bed in a three person room. Again not a big deal but it wasn't what I was told. Also, and the most annoying part, there were not enough electrical outlets for three people and none were near my bed. The TWO outlets in the room were near the other two beds so I had to ask one of the other women in the room to let me plug in my phone on their outlet for a while and I couldn't charge my phone overnight. (The outlets where between the bed and the wall so I would have had to climb over a sleeping person to get to my phone) SO FYI if you're in a three person room, make sure there is an outlet nearby before you claim a bed.
* Shared bathrooms. I have no problem sharing and didn't have a problem this time but (I was on the first floor so I can't speak to the upstairs) there were only two single person bathrooms. I assumed that when they said shared bathrooms that it would be multiple stalls and multiple showers. Nope. One bathroom was just a toilet and a sink and extremely small, I'm 5'4 and my knees almost touched the wall opposite while sitting on the toilet! The other bathroom was bigger because it had a shower. One shower! Luckily I didn't have a timing issue with other guests but then I have no idea if the other rooms were occupied or not. So FYI plan your showers accordingly.
Other Info:
There are a few stairs when you first walk in to get up to the first floor. There is an electric stair climber for those who need help but no ramp. If you're in a wheel chair you probably want to call first and see if you can be accommodated.
There was only one overhead light in our room. I was lucky that the women I shared with were on a similar schedule as me but it would probably be prudent to bring a small flashlight if you think you'll be coming or going very late/early as well as a sleep mask in case you share with some one inconsiderate or who has to turn the light on.
Overall:
You get exactly what it says on the tin. This is a cheap, BASIC, hostel in the heart of NYC. There are no frills. You get a roof over your head and a bed. It's clean and simple BUT that is all you need. I would stay here again in a heart beat!
What I LOVED:
* The location. It can NOT be beat. It's right in the heart of Midtown,BUT it is actually quiet! I thought there would be a lot of street noise and there wasn't. Also It's right next door to a 24 hour cafe with low prices, what's not to love about that?
* The price. WOW, I stayed two nights and spent about $123.00, unheard of in NYC especially near Times Square.
* The service. I was early and had no problem dropping off my bag. Any questions I had were kindly answered and they had plenty of maps and other tourist material.
What I liked:
* It was pretty clean for a cheap hostel! It was clear that they try to keep it neat and tidy.
* I wasn't hot or cold and the bed, while certainly not hotel standard, wasn't uncomfortable and I slept just fine.
What I wasn't crazy about:
* Lack of information. Their website is very minimal and doesn't have all the necessary information. It's not listed, and I wasn't told, but there is a $10 (Cash Only) key deposit. Usually not a big deal but I didn't have the extra cash on me. Luckily I was with a friend who let me bum the money off him.
* Confusing or misinformation. The website says towels are not provided but there was a towel and washcloth sitting on each bed. The website also says there are dorm rooms and private rooms. Both are two person only but private rooms have the "possibility" to accommodate a third person. I booked one bed in a two person dorm room. What I got was a bed in a three person room. Again not a big deal but it wasn't what I was told. Also, and the most annoying part, there were not enough electrical outlets for three people and none were near my bed. The TWO outlets in the room were near the other two beds so I had to ask one of the other women in the room to let me plug in my phone on their outlet for a while and I couldn't charge my phone overnight. (The outlets where between the bed and the wall so I would have had to climb over a sleeping person to get to my phone) SO FYI if you're in a three person room, make sure there is an outlet nearby before you claim a bed.
* Shared bathrooms. I have no problem sharing and didn't have a problem this time but (I was on the first floor so I can't speak to the upstairs) there were only two single person bathrooms. I assumed that when they said shared bathrooms that it would be multiple stalls and multiple showers. Nope. One bathroom was just a toilet and a sink and extremely small, I'm 5'4 and my knees almost touched the wall opposite while sitting on the toilet! The other bathroom was bigger because it had a shower. One shower! Luckily I didn't have a timing issue with other guests but then I have no idea if the other rooms were occupied or not. So FYI plan your showers accordingly.
Other Info:
There are a few stairs when you first walk in to get up to the first floor. There is an electric stair climber for those who need help but no ramp. If you're in a wheel chair you probably want to call first and see if you can be accommodated.
There was only one overhead light in our room. I was lucky that the women I shared with were on a similar schedule as me but it would probably be prudent to bring a small flashlight if you think you'll be coming or going very late/early as well as a sleep mask in case you share with some one inconsiderate or who has to turn the light on.
Overall:
You get exactly what it says on the tin. This is a cheap, BASIC, hostel in the heart of NYC. There are no frills. You get a roof over your head and a bed. It's clean and simple BUT that is all you need. I would stay here again in a heart beat!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â There is a back patio that is right outside some of the first floor rooms. You can hear...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The big Apple hostel was clean, safe and in an awesome location. About 200m from Times Square. It was amazing!
There was however no kitchen, which I had read there was.
We had issues with checking in with our credit card, and the reception lady was not very nice about it. However all other reception people we had over the days were lovely and very helpful.
Our room was a nice size, we stayed in a room with two single bed, shared bathroom (and never saw anyone else, so it was practically private!)
However our heating was WAY too hot and there was no way of adjusting it, we had to keep the windows open to keep it at a normal temperature and it made very loud clunking noises throughout the night which was also annoying.
There was however no kitchen, which I had read there was.
We had issues with checking in with our credit card, and the reception lady was not very nice about it. However all other reception people we had over the days were lovely and very helpful.
Our room was a nice size, we stayed in a room with two single bed, shared bathroom (and never saw anyone else, so it was practically private!)
However our heating was WAY too hot and there was no way of adjusting it, we had to keep the windows open to keep it at a normal temperature and it made very loud clunking noises throughout the night which was also annoying.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Big Apple Hostel 5 or 6 years ago and really enjoyed it. It was renovated recently and in the process, they have lost their kitchen, plus no area for people to really gather except the front lobby area. It has also more than doubled in price per bed. Still a great location, clean, and safe, but I don't think we'll stay there again. In addition, the first night we were there the heat went out entirely and we had one thin blanket and that was all for cover. The heating situation there in the winter really isn't good -- it's either stiflingly hot or freezing.
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â aim to get a room that is not on street side. There is a lot of street noise, especially if you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked a private room for a three night stay in New York and could not have been happier with our experience. The hostel is in an amazing location- right in Times Square and right next to a pub and a cafe with great food. Ruth checked us in, and she was incredibly friendly and helpful; later in the day, she even gave us some great coupons for places we were interested in visiting. Because of our coupons, we saved over $20 on excursions, so definitely don't ignore the friendly front-desk people! Our room was clean and quiet, and the woman who cleaned was extremely friendly as well. Prices were very affordable too! We go to New York every three months, and this will be where we stay from now on!
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Date of stay: December 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here for 13 nights. It was my first time ever staying in a hostel instead of a hotel and I will probably never stay in a hotel ever again. Yes it's true, you need to be in the small lobby to get wifi and there are only a handful of chairs and tables, only a small bar fridge and coffee in the mornings but look at the price! Never once did I feel the place was dirty, neglected or not run professionally.
I was very impressed with all of the staff! The maids were friendly and the people on the front desk were great to deal with. Especially Allen and Ruth! They were so awesome!! I can't express enough how great they were. MASSIVE Shout out to Allen! I actually left my iPad in my room and picked it up for me and mailed it back to my place!!! I think that says a lot about this hostel and the people working there. I highly recommend this hostel and I will definitely be going back there again!
I was very impressed with all of the staff! The maids were friendly and the people on the front desk were great to deal with. Especially Allen and Ruth! They were so awesome!! I can't express enough how great they were. MASSIVE Shout out to Allen! I actually left my iPad in my room and picked it up for me and mailed it back to my place!!! I think that says a lot about this hostel and the people working there. I highly recommend this hostel and I will definitely be going back there again!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As my husband and I only needed a place to lay our heads for a night (11pm to 9am) but had to get a place around Times Square area, this was a really good bargain - based on checks, hotels that were just a few blocks from Big Apple Hostel cost on average about US$400 a night. We paid approx US$153 (slightly cheaper if you pay in cash as opposed to credit card) for 1 night in a two-person private bedroom. All rooms share toilets. If you share rooms with a stranger in a two-bedder, the price gets even cheaper!
The room we got was basic, but decent. No view, just a bed and tv. No bedbugs, although the carpet felt a litle dirty. Towels were provided, although toiletries aren't, so bring your own. As you have to walk down the corridor to the toilet, good to bring your bath slippers as well. Each section (which has probably around 5 rooms - didn't really check) could share a toilet (with just a sink and toilet bowl) and a full toilet (with shower) . Since we got in late around 11pm plus and got up early around 8 plus, we didn't really have to rush for the toilet with anyone else :) The rooms aren't really soundproof, but didn't really matter for us since we got in late.
Overall, if location is really important for you, and cost is a huge factor, this hostel is good. Not much ambience, but good for just laying your head down to rest each night.
*It serves free tea/coffee in the morning at the reception area, and there's a Cranberry Cafe located just two shops away which sells good breakfast and sandwiches. It had long queues during the two mornings we were there.
The room we got was basic, but decent. No view, just a bed and tv. No bedbugs, although the carpet felt a litle dirty. Towels were provided, although toiletries aren't, so bring your own. As you have to walk down the corridor to the toilet, good to bring your bath slippers as well. Each section (which has probably around 5 rooms - didn't really check) could share a toilet (with just a sink and toilet bowl) and a full toilet (with shower) . Since we got in late around 11pm plus and got up early around 8 plus, we didn't really have to rush for the toilet with anyone else :) The rooms aren't really soundproof, but didn't really matter for us since we got in late.
Overall, if location is really important for you, and cost is a huge factor, this hostel is good. Not much ambience, but good for just laying your head down to rest each night.
*It serves free tea/coffee in the morning at the reception area, and there's a Cranberry Cafe located just two shops away which sells good breakfast and sandwiches. It had long queues during the two mornings we were there.
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Date of stay: October 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was surprised to find a shared dorm for 2 in the heart of Time Square, and it turned out quite spacious. The sheet was clean. Staff were friendly. The facility is quite OK for a cheap hostel. There was no internet in the room, but only in the lobby. Although it is possible to borrow internet from next-door pub.
The location is so convenient that I can carry a small bag and go back to have a rest or get dressed between visiting museums, having dinners and watching a Broadway show. I bought a New York Subway card, but did not have chance to use it as I spent most of the time around Time Square.
Cons: I have a room facing 45th St.. It was very noisy, unfortunately. Delivery trucks drove by starting from 6~7am and the music from street stopped after midnight.
The location is so convenient that I can carry a small bag and go back to have a rest or get dressed between visiting museums, having dinners and watching a Broadway show. I bought a New York Subway card, but did not have chance to use it as I spent most of the time around Time Square.
Cons: I have a room facing 45th St.. It was very noisy, unfortunately. Delivery trucks drove by starting from 6~7am and the music from street stopped after midnight.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Try to get a room that does not face the street.
You can get a small discount if you pay by...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Could not believe the location. So handy for sightseeing. The place was so clean and tidy. Was only just reopened when we stayed. The only thing negative I could say is that they have no handwash/soap in the toilets.
Great hostel.
Great hostel.
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Date of stay: July 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Be careful with all the extra taxes. We thought it was going to be a bit cheaper.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"aim to get a room that is not on street side. There is a lot of street noise, especially if you have to open windows due to the room being too hot or cold"Read full review
"There is a back patio that is right outside some of the first floor rooms. You can hear everything out there even when people are just speaking normally. Maybe ask to be upstairs?"Read full review
LOCATION
United StatesNew YorkNew York CityTimes Square / Theater District / Theater District / Midtown West / Midtown
NUMBER OF ROOMS
46
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Big Apple Hostel
Which popular attractions are close to Big Apple Hostel?
Nearby attractions include Broadway (0.2 km), Bryant Park (0.4 km), and Rockefeller Center (0.4 km).
What are some restaurants close to Big Apple Hostel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Dos Caminos, Los Tacos No. 1, and Blue Fin.
Are there any historical sites close to Big Apple Hostel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum (5.6 km), World Trade Center Memorial Foundation (5.6 km), and Hamilton Park (3.2 km).