I was very comfortable with my stay. I actually used the extra sheet provided as additional curtain to have more privacy and keep my area darker, but that's personal preference. Everything is accessible and walkable. The restroom can definitely be improved.

Extremely cheap rates for an ideal location, a very clean and well-resourced hostel with a great kitchen and many common facilities. My roommates were all very quiet and respectful and the private bathrooms with hostel-provided one-use bath mats were amazing! Bring your own padlocks and slippers/flipflops!

Perfect location! But bathrooms didn’t have floor mats, no vent fans, too quite you can hear people in the next room. Check in and checkout was easy. Room and bed was comfortable. The storage doesn’t come with locks, you need to purchase one for $8. Trains are just a few mins away. Didn’t feel unsafe. Overall It was good, but not as good as black elephant hostel in Portland.

We stayed at HI Boston Hostel for 5 nights in a private room, but overall we were disappointed. It met only the bare minimum. Despite quiet hours from 11 PM to 7 AM, a group of guests stood near the elevators talking and laughing loudly around 12:30 AM. While I understand the hostel can’t control every guest, it would have been nice if someone had reminded them of the quiet hours. Another major issue was the air conditioning. There is a control panel in the room, but it doesn’t actually work. You can’t turn the AC off or adjust the temperature. We were freezing for all five nights, and I had to sleep in a sweatshirt every night. We had to tell somebody to turn it off from reception but that did not affect still. The location in Chinatown was noisy, and the large number of homeless people nearby made me feel uncomfortable at night. In hindsight, I would rather pay an extra $20–30 per night to stay in the North End. The front desk staff were friendly enough, but the owner/manager could have been much warmer and more welcoming. Since this is a hostel with a volunteer program that attracts travelers from all over the world, I expected a friendlier atmosphere. If you’re choosing this hostel just because it’s a little cheaper, I’d recommend keeping your expectations low. Personally, I wouldn’t stay here again.

I stayed here for a couple of days. The location is excellent - just a 5-minute walk from Boston Common. As someone staying in a hostel for the first time, I was genuinely impressed by the amenities and the strong security measures in place. They also offer weekly walking and pub tours, which I couldn’t join but would definitely recommend to others. That said, the customer service was horrible and by far the biggest downside. I’ve worked front desk myself, so I know exactly what basic professionalism looks like—and this was nowhere close. The staff were rude, dismissive, and acted like answering guest questions was some massive inconvenience. Helping guests is literally your job. You’re not doing anyone a favor by doing it. Your front desk staff—especially the manager-looking Indian guy—needs proper training on basic courtesy and friendliness. They were frequently glued to their phones and couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge guests walking in. It’s common decency, not rocket science. Everything else about my stay was good. Fix the customer service or you’ll keep driving people away.

I stay at hostels because of value for the money, and HI Boston meet and exceeded the mark. From check-in to having some provisions for my next adventure, whoever had the desk was friendly beyond just professional and courteous. The common areas, and particularly the kitchen, were well-stocked and well-maintained, something that isn't always true at hostels. The dorm I was in wasn't huge, but was laid out so it seemed bigger than it was, and it was impeccably clean. For a change, I had a slack day between trains, and HI Boston even had that covered with a FREE professor-led walking tour of downtown Boston!

I had an excellent 1 night stay at HI Boston. The building is beautiful and well maintained, the bed was super comfy and cozy with added privacy. Probably the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a dorm. The staff were personable and effective. Shoutout to Joseph for being so welcoming and social at check in and check out. Thank you!

Only there for one night, so can't speak to much beyond the nice lobby, friendly staff, clean dorm and bathrooms. Bring a lock for your ample locker (or $8 to buy one at the desk). Bunks were sturdy and mattress was comfortable. My only constructive criticism: stiffen up the doors on dorms so they close a little more slowly and quieter. However, still quieter than a "capsule hostel" I recently tried. And with my Bluetooth eye pillow, no light and noise was minimal. Easy walk from South St train station, very walkable all around/public transportation accessible. Would stay again.

Overall, a great stay with a fantastic location and ample public spaces for study or work or entertainment. I never ran into issues with restroom or bathroom availability, which is often a concern in hostels. Overall the bathroom looks clean. One area for possible improvement is the flooring transition between the bedroom, corridor, and bathroom. Because the floors aren't unified, you're stuck either wearing outdoor shoes to the bathroom (which is inconvenient) or using slippers that quickly get dirty. It’s a common layout issue for many hostels, but a design overhaul here would definitely improve the guest experience

Great for solo travelers of any age who are looking for an affordable way to stay in Boston. I always meet nice and friendly people here. The kitchen is huge! Food in Boston is expensive so by buying groceries and cooking here you can save tons during your trip. They have pots/pans, plates/utensils, oil etc. The staff does the dishes and maintains the area.