Accommodations


There are plenty of resources for finding a place to live!
There are plenty of resources for finding a place to live!
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

225 Ellis St.
1.415.346.5786

www.european-guesthouse.com

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

U.S. Department of State-Designated J-1 Visa Sponsor
Alliance for International Exchange
The International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange
European-American Chamber of Commerce New York
Global Ties U.S.
International Au Pair Association
WYSE Travel Confederation