HI New Orleans Hostel Review

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During my recent three-day trip to New Orleans earlier this month, I stayed at HI New Orleans Hostel for the first time. I’ve stayed in hostels before so the concept is familiar to me, and overall I enjoy staying in hostels. They’re affordable and convenient. Perfect for solo travelers (like me)!

For more general information about the pros and cons of hostels compared to other types of accommodations, check out my blog post here. 

HI New Orleans Hostel opened in 2019, but due to COVID-19, the hostel was closed for the better part of the last couple years. But now they’ve opened their doors again and are welcoming backpackers and guests with open arms. 

What initially drew me to the property was the location–HI New Orleans Hostel is just across the street from the French Quarter and pretty close to nearby attractions and cafes. Staying in the French Quarter can be quite expensive, even for only a weekend trip. Staying too far away from the French Quarter might be slightly less expensive but you’ll make up the cost in transportation/rideshare trips. That’s why I love the location of HI New Orleans Hostel–it’s close enough to walk to the French Quarter without having to pay top dollar for a room. The hostel is also decently close to the Riverwalk. Roughly a 15-minute walk straight down Canal Street will land you at the water, with shopping, restaurants, and attractions to greet you. I was visiting NOLA for Wanderfest, an outdoor festival celebrating women travelers, and it was held on the Spanish Plaza adjacent to the Riverwalk. The walk was manageable, and overall not difficult. 

I stayed in a 6-bed female dorm during my stay, which is the second-largest dorm offering at the hostel. There are 4-bed dorms, 6-bed dorms, 8-bed dorms, queen and bunk dorms, as well as queen ensuite dorms. There is the option to stay in a split-gender dorm with all females or all males, if that’s what you’d prefer. If gender is not of concern, the hostel also offers mixed bed dorms starting at roughly $56/night. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. 

Each bed in the dorm rooms is equipped with privacy curtains, a fluffy comforter and clean bedding, USB and power outlets, and a small shelf/cubby for your phone or personal items. You also get free towels and an area next to your bunk to securely store your luggage and personal items (accessible only with your individual key card for added protection–read more on that below).

The storage lockers also feature outlets inside, which is a fabulous touch–this way, you can safely charge your laptop/camera/batteries/etc. while you’re sleeping or away without worrying about your items getting lost or stolen. 

Some hostels I’ve stayed at in the past required guests to bring their own towels or bedding, but that isn’t the case at HI New Orleans Hostel. Staying at HI New Orleans was such a stress-free experience, and the staff made everything incredibly comfortable–all guests needed to do was show up and have a phenomenal stay. 

Another thing I absolutely love about this hostel is that everything is accessible through your key card. No need to worry about bringing old-fashioned locks for luggage or holding onto a singular key to enter your dorm. Just like at a traditional hotel, you are given a keycard upon arrival that will grant you access to the building, your dorm room, your locker, and other spots around the hostel. I’ve stayed at hostels (and even a lot of hotels) that are not as tech-forward, and I remember it being a hassle.

The best part about this keycard system is that it’s easy to lock and unlock your individual storage closet in the middle of the night (or early in the morning). When I stay in hostels, I try to be as respectful as possible and keep my noise to a minimum. But it’s pretty challenging to unlock your storage locker and pull out your entire suitcase in complete darkness when everyone around you is sleeping. Not to mention, having to put everything back into the locker and dial your combination in the dark–haha! With the keycard system at HI Hostel New Orleans, it’s much easier to retrieve your belongings in the dark because you don’t need to fidget with any lockpads or remember any codes! 

The property and dorms are very clean, and I felt extremely secure and safe while staying here. The staff was respectful and polite, which made me feel even more at ease during my visit. 

Each bathroom is private and lockable, and features a sink, toilet, and full size shower with a water-saving shower head! It changes colors to let you know how long you’ve showered in an effort to have guests be more mindful of their water-usage. As someone with an interest in ecotourism and sustainable travel, I definitely appreciated this small touch. 

There is a plethora of common space in the lobby and on the second floor where the kitchen/eating area is located, and people actually utilized it! I loved connecting with other guests while enjoying my coffee in the lobby before heading out toward the French Quarter. I also took food to-go from a couple of restaurants throughout the weekend, and HI New Orleans Hostel has a ginormous refrigerator for guests to store their take-out in and a full kitchen set-up to cook or reheat food at your leisure. 

 

 

HI New Orleans Hostel is the best hostel I’ve visited in a long time, and I absolutely love this property and the amazing staff. Will I stay here again when I’m visiting New Orleans? Absolutely. I would recommend it to anyone visiting New Orleans who’s looking for an affordable and comfortable home-base. This is truly the perfect spot for exploring everything NOLA has to offer.

Have you ever stayed in a hostel? Tell me about your experience below by leaving a comment, or sending me an email at sydney@sydneybrowntravels.com!

For more ideas on how to spend a weekend in New Orleans, check out my other posts below:

• Top 3 Foodie Spots in New Orleans
• Café Beignet vs. Cafe Du Monde