While my hostel partying days may be over since I now get raging hangovers I’ve hit my 30s, I do reminisce on my backpacking days travelling around the USA without a car, praying not to end up in the dead in a gutter. Back then all I needed was a super cheap place on Hostelworld where I could rest my head and meet other 20p-something travellers. It didn’t matter what the room looked like – as long as there was an endless flow of booze, fun and unforeseeable consequences, I thought I’d found the best hostel ever.
Compared to Europe, good hostels aren’t as easy to come by in the US, but there are some awesome gems I found along the way. If you’re looking for a cool place to stay with a fun vibe, here’s my lift of the best party hostels in the USA:
USA Hostels Hollywood, Los Angeles
USA Hostels Hollywood was the first hostel I ever set foot in when I got to the US. I loved it. You can’t beat the location since it’s right next to all the action of Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. They have cool couches and a lush outdoor patio where you can meet other people, plus plenty of events including pub crawls, barbecues, free comedy shows and limo tours. Best of all, you can bring your own alcohol into the hostel for some pregame fun. Oh, and there’s also a free shuttle to Santa Monica and Venice Beach three times per week.
Miami International Travelers Hostel, Miami
Miami Beach International Hostel is consistently listed as one of the world’s top party hostels. With free breakfast, free lunch, free dinner and free drinks…I’m starting to wonder why I’m not in Miami right now. When you stay at this hostel you’re only a block from South Beach’s most famous beach, plus you get VIP access to some of the hottest clubs in town, including Mansion and Nikki Beach. There’s also lots going on at the hostel, including regular parties with free kegs of beer, a legendary Saturday pool party and free games tournament parties in the hostel lounge. If that’s not enough, you can also take a ride in the world’s largest limo: the Hummer-Killer!
Firehouse Hostel, Austin
Austin’s known for its nightlife, so it makes sense that there would be a party hostel here. Located in the city’s oldest standing fire station, Firehouse Lounge and Hostel has an awesome speakeasy-style bar located behind a bookshelf in the hostel lobby. What’s not to love? Upstairs you can get some shut eye in their modern dorm rooms, while downstairs you can socialise with your fellow hostel mates over craft cocktails and prohibition-era drinks.
Hostel Cat, Las Vegas
Monday. Kings Cup & gambling. Tuesday. Clubbing. Wednesday. More Clubbing. Sound like your kinda jam? At Hostel Cat every night is a pre-party. If you’re travelling with a group then hotels in Vegas can be pretty cheap but if you’re going solo, hotels are boring and a hostel is the place to meet people. Located up the top end of The Strip near the Stratosphere, Hostel Cat has nightly drinking and socialising, so you can make some new drinking buddies before you head out to the casinos.
India House, New Orleans
I rocked up in New Orleans in the middle of summer and despite sweating profusely in a dorm room with only a fan to keep me cool, I loved this hostel. The outdoor area at India House was really conducive to meeting people since it has big picnic tables, a swimming pool and a stage. All I remember is meeting a bunch of people in the hostel, hopping on a streetcar to Bourbon Street where we drank a bunch of “grenades”, then passing out in my bunk shortly after. The hostel hosts all sorts of fun events, like band nights, open mike nights, big screen movies, pool parties, crawfish boils, cookouts and bbqs. Awesome.
Lucky D’s, San Diego
If you make it down to San Diego, Lucky D’s has a fun events calendar jam packed with everything from all you can eat tacos and free brewery tours to club nights and pool parties at the Hard Rock. With the motto “come for the party, stay because it feels like home” – Lucky D’s has that perfect mix of homeliness and fun partying atmosphere. You’re just steps away from the Gaslamp District – home of San Diego’s hottest nightlife, restaurants, bars and shops – plus you’re also nearby to all of San Diego’s major attractions. There’s something on every night of the week and there’s also a free breakfast to ease your hangover the next morning.
Green Tortoise Hostel, San Francisco
When a hostel states “San Francisco’s #1 party hostel” on the website, you know you’re onto a good thing. The Green Tortoise Hostel is located right on the edge on China Town and Little Italy, a stones throw from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Keg parties, pub crawls and murder mystery dinners are a regular feature on the calendar, with one TripAdvisor reviewer labelling it “True to its advertised “party hostel”. Other perks of this place are free Wi-Fi and free breakfast every morning, so you know you’re getting your money’s worth. One thing to keep in mind though in San Francisco is that buildings have narrow stairs and few have lifts, so it is important to bring light cabin bags or backpacks when checking out hostels there.
Have I missed any awesome party hostels in the USA? Leave a comment below!