Accommodations
Photo by Smallbones via Wikimedia Commons
Finding Housing
Once you've confirmed that you'll be visiting the U.S. for a cultural exchange program, you'll need to find a safe place to live. Although InterExchange cannot secure housing for you, we've listed several resources on our website to help you find housing. Visit www.InterExchange.org/american-culture for more information regarding housing, and look up the state where you'll be living during your program.
Finding Accommodations During Your Travel Period
During the travel period of your program you may choose to travel in the U.S. on your own itinerary. You will find there are many places to stay around the country that will satisfy all budgets and preferences. Below we have compiled a list of accommodations that have been recommended by other budget travelers like you. If you happen to stay in a hostel or hotel that you particularly enjoyed, please let us know so that we can include it in future editions of this handbook and share it on our blogs and website.
There are also many hostel reservations websites that may help you find hostels in cities not listed here. Below are just two examples of popular websites you might find useful when planning your travels.
www.hostels.com
www.hostelworld.com
Hostelling International (AYH)
Hostelling International (HI) has a branch in America called the American Youth Hostels (AYH). If you have an HI card from anywhere in the world, it will be accepted at any AYH. If you are not a member, you may become one by contacting the headquarters in Washington, D.C. You can make advance reservations and pay with a credit card by calling the AYH toll-free number, 1.800.909.4776.
For a guide to Hostelling International hostels both within the U.S. and around the world please visit their website. This will give you a list of more than 4,000 hostels worldwide that are a part of the Hostelling International Federation.
www.hiusa.org
1.800.909.4776 (advance reservations in the U.S.)
Budget Accommodations
New York City
Amsterdam Inn
340 Amsterdam Ave.
1.212.579.7500
Chelsea Center East
313 W. 29th St.
1.212.643.0214
www.chelseacenterhostel.com
Chelsea International
251 W. 20th St.
1.212.647.0010
www.chelseahostel.com
De Hirsch Residence
(92nd St. YMCA)
1395 Lexington Ave.
1.212.415.5650
The Evelyn
7 E. 27th St.
1.855.468.3501
www.theevelyn.com
Hostelling International
891 Amsterdam Ave.
1.212.932.2300
www.hiusa.org
Jazz on the Park
36 W. 106th St.
1.212.932.1600
www.jazzonthepark.com
L Hostel
1961 7th Ave.
www.l-hostels.com
1.212.223.3103
Murray Hill Inn
143 E. 30th St.
www.hotelmurrayhill.com
1.212.683.6900
Spot Hostel
341 W. 30th St.
www.spothostels.com
1.212.239.9030
Union Square Inn
209 E. 14th St.
www.unionsquareinn.com
1.212.614.0500
Vanderbilt YMCA
224 E. 47th St.
1.212.756.9600
www.ymcanyc.org
West Side YMCA
5 W. 63rd St.
1.212.912.2600
www.ymcanyc.org
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
Banana Bungalow
7950 Melrose Ave.
1.877.977.5077
www.bananabungalow.com
Orange Drive Manor Hostel
1764 North Orange Dr.
1.323.850.0350
www.orangedrivehostel.com
USA Hostels
1624 Schrader Blvd.
1.800.524.6783
www.usahostels.com
San Diego
Banana Bungalow
707 Reed Ave.
1.858.273.3060
www.bananabungalow.com
Ocean Beach Hostel
4961 Newport Ave.
1.800.339.7263
www.usahostels.com/locations/san-diego-ocean-beach
San Diego Downtown- HI
521 Market
1.619.525.1531
www.hiusa.org
San Diego Point Loma- HI
3790 Udall St.
1.619.223.4778
www.hiusa.org
USA Hostels
726 5th Ave.
1.800.438.8622
www.usahostels.com
San Francisco
Adelaide Hostel
5 Isadora Duncan Ln.
1.415.359.1915
1.877.359.1915
www.adelaidehostel.com
European Guest House
761 Minna St.
1.415.861.6634
Green Tortoise Hostel
494 Broadway
1.415.834.1000
www.greentortoise.com
San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf- HI
Fort Mason, Building 240
1.415.771.7277
www.sfhostels.org/fishermans-wharf
Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
680 Sacramento St.
1.800.486.7975
www.san-francisco-hostel.com
San Francisco, City Center- HI
685 Ellis St.
1.415.474.5721
www.sfhostels.org/city-center
San Fran. Downtown—HI
312 Mason St.
www.sfhostels.org/downtown
1.415.788.5604
Venice Beach
Venice Beach Cotel
25 Windward Ave.
1.310.399.7649
www.venicebeachcotel.com
Venice Beach Hostel
716 Washington Blvd.
1.800.390.2632
www.venicebeachhostel.com
Venice Beach Hostel & Hotel
1515 Pacific Ave.
1.310.452.3052
www.planetvenice.com
FLORIDA
Key West
Seashell Motel & Key West Hostel
718 South St.
1.305.296.5719
www.keywesthostel.com
Miami
Jazz on South Beach Hostel
321 Collins Ave.
1.305.672.2137
www.jazzhostels.com/jazzlocations/jazz-on-south-beach
The Clay Hotel
1438 Washington Ave.
1.305.534.2988
www.clayhotel.com
Miami Beach International Hostel
236 9th St.
1.305.534.1710
www.hostelmiamibeach.com
The Tropics Hotel & Hostel
1550 Collins Ave.
1.305.531.0361
www.tropicshotel.com
ILLINOIS
Chicago
Chicago- HI
24 East Congress Parkway
1.312.360.0300
www.hichicago.org
Chicago International Hostel
6318 North Winthrop Ave.
1.773.262.1011
www.chicagointernationalhostel.com
Int'l House of Chicago
1414 E. 59th St.
1.773.753.2270
ihouse.uchicago.edu
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
Abercrombie's Farrington Inn
23 Farrington Ave.
1.617.787.1860
www.farringtoninn.com
Friend Street Hostel
234 Friend St.
www.friendstreethostel.com
1.617.248.8971
Boston —HI
12 Hemenway St.
1.617.536.9455
www.hiusa.org/massachusetts/boston/boston
International Guest House
237 Beacon St.
1.617.437.1975
www.intlguesthouse.com
Irish Embassy Hostel
232 Friend St.
1.617.973.4841
www.angelfire.com/ma/IrishEmbassy
NEVADA
Las Vegas
Las Vegas Hostel
1322 Fremont St.
1.702.543.1150
www.lasvegashostel.net
LOUISIANA
New Orleans
India House Hostel
124 S. Lopez St
1.504.821.1904
www.indiahousehostel.com
Bourbon House
1660 Annunciation St.
1.504.644.2199
www.bourbon.aaeworldhotels.com
WASHINGTON
Seattle
Green Tortoise Hostel
1525 Second Ave.
1.206.340.1222
www.greentortoise.net
Seattle — HI
84 Union St.
1.206.622.5443
www.hiusa.org
Vashon Island Ranch Hostel—HI
12119 SW Cove Rd.
1.206.463.2592
www.hiusa.org
WASHINGTON, DC
Hostelling International
1009 11th St. NW
1.202.737.2333
www.hiwashingtondc.org
Hilltop Hostel
300 Carroll St. NW
1.202.291.9591
www.hosteldc.com
Washington International Student Center
2451 18th St. NW
1.202.667.7681
www.dchostel.com
If traveling outside the U.S., make sure you read the section on Exiting and Returning to the U.S. and comply with all rules that may affect your status.
CANADA
(Verify your visa re-entry rules before travelling outside the U.S.)
Toronto
Neill-Wycik College Hotel
96 Gerrard St. East
1.800.268.4358
www.neill-wycik.com
Toronto Hostel- HI
76 Church St.
1.416.971.4440
www.hihostels.ca
Vancouver
American New Backpackers Hostel
347 West Pender St.
1.604.688.0112
www.ameribackpackers.com
Cambie International Hostel
300 Cambie St.
1.604.684.6466
1.877.395.5335 (Toll Free)
www.cambiehostels.com
Globetrotter's Inn
170 West Esplanade
1.604.988.2082
Jericho Beach- HI
1515 Discovery St.
1.604.224.3208
1.888.203.4303
www.hihostels.ca
Vancouver Central- HI
1025 Granville St.
1.604.685.5335
www.hihostels.ca
Vancouver Downtown- HI
1114 Burnaby St.
1.604.684.4565
www.hihostels.ca