The 5 best Hostels hotel in New Jersey, United States

April 19, 2023 Kelli Reichel

Whether you are looking for sun-drenched beaches or outdoor activities in beautiful countryside, New Jersey has plenty to offer. Those who love the great outdoors should head for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which runs along the Delaware River for forty miles. Here you can go rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking or fishing, or simply admire the stunning waterfalls. There is a huge range of hiking trails to choose from as well as historic sites to visit. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing near Blue Mountain Lakes, and birdwatchers might be lucky enough to catch sight of bald eagles. If you are looking for a change, visit one of New Jersey's eleven lighthouses that are open to public, such as the one in Cape May. For art and history enthusiasts, New Jersey State Museum in Trenton has historic artifacts and American fine art from the nineteenth century to the present day as well as a Planetarium.
Things to do in New Jersey

1. New York Homestay

17 8th Ave # 19, Newark, NJ 07104-3701
Excellent
38%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
8%
Terrible
15%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 13 reviews

New York Homestay

Great place to visit Manhattan

Reviewed By travelchanel

Just 15 min train ride to new york Penn station. Also close to ewr airport. Great ppl. Comfortable stay. Made my trip easy on my budget. Since a hotel in the city could be expensive. We decided to stay at this guest house. The kitchen was a plus. We were able to prepare breakfast and some light meals. The train station is at few steps from the house. Coming back in the middle of the night was not an issue. We are coming back with friends. Also the property manager gave us useful information. He is very friendly.

2. Need A Bed

933 Jefferson Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07201-1304
Excellent
0%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
25%
Poor
25%
Terrible
25%
Overall Ratings

2.5 based on 4 reviews

Need A Bed

Nice enough for one night

Reviewed By jicrombie

I booked this room for 1 night before a solo travel tour down the east coast. I had already done 2 days prior in NYC and wanted somewhere closer to my meeting point as I had an early start so found this. I booked a single room as I hadn't had much experience in hostels. I arrived late so got a taxi to the property rather than walking from the train station after reading some questionable reviews of the area, and it appears to be run out of a residential property, as it's not easily signposted. A few days before I arrived, I received a message through booking.com with the front door entry code as well as my room code. This was handy, although it took me a few goes to enter my room code correctly due to there being several numbers per button which made it confusing. As I was hauling my suitcase up the stairs, I was met by the owner of the hostel, who was a lovely woman and she showed me where everything was. I was right next to the bathroom, which was the most modern part of the hostel, and was lovely. The rest of the property while homely needed updating to a more fresh and clean look. My room was clean and a good size with a towel provided. I wouldn't recommend staying here for longer than a night or two, due to it being about an hour outside of NYC.

3. Atlantic City House

1740 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401-6806
Excellent
7%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
7%
Terrible
33%
Overall Ratings

3 based on 15 reviews

Atlantic City House

Comparing The Old With the New…..

Reviewed By blackeldo

….AND HOPEFULLY SORTING OUT SOME OF THE CONFUSION BELOW This page makes my head hurt because at the time of writing, 6 of the reviews below are about the OLD hostel in South Indiana Ave and only 1 on the NEW place in South Texas Ave. Another is indeterminate because I don’t know when the hostel changed location. What I do know is a change in name – from ATLANTIC CITY HOUSE to CITY HOUSE; no big deal - various booking sites will find this joint. (note -1 other review is of a restaurant – maybe the T/A person was a bit snowed under when that came in – OOPS!). I’m unique here having stayed at BOTH places a little over a year apart. Here’s what I found: THE PLACE HAS IMPROVED IN SOME RESPECTS BUT GONE BACKWARDS IN OTHERS. IMPROVED – bigger. The new joint has more rooms, including a rather nice top floor apartment and a spacious back yard area. - better area. The old Sth Indiana close to Atlantic Ave was a rather sketchy neighbourhood. I thought the new location much better in this respect, although one (or maybe two) of the reports down-page think differently. More important to some, it is much closer to the famed BOARDWALK – 150m vs 400. BACKWARDS – there seemed to be no more bathrooms for more dorms, the kitchen and the refrigerator were no bigger. Other storage areas for food real tight. - not as nicely decorated as beforehand - Billy the new host has great interpersonal skills but despite an off-sider to help didn’t seem on top of things as much as the very efficient Susan. - further from the bus station. Many budget travellers will come in by bus and will find the new joint 15 minutes walk from the bus station vs 3 min for the old place. - personal interaction was down a bit on account of increased size but still way better than those big NYC hostels. SUM UP – I thought the old place above average, the new average. TIPS - if you come in by bus, be aware NEW JERSEY TRANSIT has way cheaper fares from NYC than say GREYHOUND. NJT also has an excellent/inexpensive service around the area. - car drivers will find a paid lot adjacent. Curbside parking is tight – a matter of luck. Nearby casinos have paid parking of course. - no shortage of small supermarts, fast food - the new place has rental bicycles. Way cheaper than outside rental places. Mine an ok cruiser ideal for the boardwalk, but very dry chain. Despite telling host, it was still dry 2 days later.

4. Explore Hotel and Hostel

415 38th St, Union City, NJ 07087-4805
Excellent
9%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
11%
Terrible
35%
Overall Ratings

2.5 based on 111 reviews

Explore Hotel and Hostel

Simple and friendly hostel

Reviewed By abdulsalamabout

The dorms here are not spacious, but at these low dorm prices one can be thankful for the warm welcome at reception and the safe atmosphere of this hostel (I did not see the hotel rooms, so can only comment on the dorms). Individual lockers are provided in dorms for your additional security. You will meet travellers from throughout the U.S. and the world. I was here for Thanksgiving, and hostel residents were invited to a free Thanksgiving meal in a small church centre next door to the hostel. Union City, just over the river from NYC, is a wonderful place in which to stay. Do not expect to find English spoken outside the hostel. Spanish is the first language in Union City, and most staff in cafés, clothes shops and grocery stores cannot communicate in English comfortably. But if you are a foreigner, people here will be very happy to see you in their cafés and shops. Most tourists don't know about Union City. It's a hidden gem. The Explore Hostel is just off Bergenline Avenue, which is a long street worth knowing about if you are somebody who likes to experience real life away from the tourist trail. From Bergenline Avenue, catch one of the small Spanish buses (known as jitneys) to NYC for just two or three dollars. Try to find a jitney to take you from NYC to Union City when you arrive, because if you get a taxi you will be charged a hefty fee to cross the state line (expect to pay over $40 for the taxi, compared to just two or three dollars for the jitney). From the Explore Hostel, you can take a one hour walk to historic Hoboken if tourism is more you.

5. YMCA of Newark Vicinity

600 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102-4504
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
50%
Terrible
50%
Overall Ratings

1.5 based on 2 reviews

The YMCA in disrepair

Reviewed By henryg12345

The maintenance and staffing has really slipped. 30% of the equipment is either broken, worn out or not functioning correctly. Cleaning staff are a small few. No administrative staff to be found. I have been a long time supporter of the Y and I am still a member, but it makes it difficult for me to continue when the reduce and cancel classes for months and still do not repair and maintain the equipment.

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