great takes on family travel in the U.S.

New York City is the second  costliest city for travelers in the United States, according to the AAA. But that doesn’t mean you can’t manage New York vacations on the cheap. While major hotels in and around Times Square charge upwards of $250 per night, you can cut that down to about $25 to $40 per night, if you can make do with a hostel.

End of the day, if you’re talking about a 3 day trip to NYC, you might just have saved in excess of $700. There’s lots of decent hostels close to Times Square, Central Park and in Chelsea. And there are tons more hostels, even cheaper, in Brooklyn and Queens, but let’s just stick close to the touristy attractions for now.

Central Park Hostel - One of your best options - Its clean, cheap, has excellent reviews, and located in a safe and convenient area one block from Central Park, and a stone’s throw from the subway. Clean rooms, both co-ed and male/female dorm style options, with 4, 6, 8 and 10 beds per room, depending on your choice. Its air-conditioned and private rooms with 2 beds are also available.

There’s a lounge area with use of a common kitchen and a dining room, a TV room, internet facilities and a pool table. For those who are loking for something a bit more upscale, the hostel provides studio apartments with hardwood floors, private bathrooms, color TV and some with their own kitchenettes. Dorm beds are available for rates between $28 to $45. More details here.

Chelsea Center hostels -  Two locations - One in Midtown Manhattan close to all the main tourist attractions, and the other one in the East Village, if you really want to explore New York City. Offers free breakfast, luggage storage for the duration of your stay, use of a kitchen and is likely the best choice for backpackers and/or if you’re traveling alone. Charges $35 per night, and the dorms accommodate 6-12 people. Both co-ed and women only dorms available. More details here.

Other hostels worth considering include the American Dream Hostel, the Big Apple Hostel, the Jazz on the Park hostel  and the HI New York hostel - All of these offer dorm rooms at rates from $25 to $50, in addition to costlier and more private rooms with additional amenities.

Please note that these recommendations are based on current rates and currently available facilities, which might change depending on when you are reading this article. You are advised to call and confirm rates and facilities before booking.

Photo copyrights - Central Park Hostel

Ok, so you’re all a little bit broke, otherwise you’d hop a plane to Las Vegas or New York and relive Sex in the City with your three best friends.  That doesn’t mean you can’t have loads of girlie time and thrill in the fun of hanging out with your posse.  Here’s the secret – go to a local hostel!

Remember sleepovers when you were little?  Remember how you’d stay up all night, sleep in late, make breakfast and giggle all the time?  Remember how much fun they were?  Local hostels are GREAT places for grownup sleepovers.

Yes, you used hostels when you backpacked EuropWritee after you graduated college.  Perhaps you even used them when you studied abroad in South America during grad school.  You may have thought you out-grew such bohemian places once you got a steady paycheck and learned to enjoy the privacy of a hotel room.  It’s time to take another look at them.

Hostels have seen a revitalization recently, including more and more springing up right here in the United States as tourism to the US becomes more popular with foreign students.  So, choose a nice place, such as Huntington Beach, where there are good restaurants, things to do, and miles of beach and book one of the local hostels for you and your friends.  The benefit of hostelling with the girls is that its not only cheap, but it is also just fine to squabble over bunk beds, cook your own breakfast and walk around the entire establishment in your PJs.  It’s a chance to return to your younger days and enjoy giggling with your best buds.

* Thanks to jetzenpolis for the great photo of a Chicago hostel!

With a family of 4, it feels as though standard hotel accommodations can break the bank when we travel. Friends of ours, who have 4 kids, told us a little secret – they stay in hostels!

Hostels use to be the accommodation of choice for teenagers and young adults, 18-25 years, primarily while traveling through Europe. These days, more and more hostels cater to families, offering private rooms, ensuite bathrooms, and events geared towards all ages. Whether you are single and carefree, or traveling with your family, Northern California has many hostels to suit your needs.

San Francisco has dozens of hostel options, from guest houses in the Castro to several hostels within walking distance of Union Square and downtown. Check out Pacific Tradewinds Hostel on Sacramento or the Adelaide Hostel, a 5 minute walk from Moscone Center. Most of the hostels in San Francisco are geared towards student travelers, so if you take your family, be prepared for late night noise and possibly some unusual questions from your kids!

If you are adventuring outside of the City, I recommend checking out one of the beautiful coast-side hostels, including two lighthouses, Pigeon Point and Point Montara. Pigeon Point is near enough to Año Nuevo State Reserve, where you can visit the resident elephant seals. Both these hostels have close up views of the Pacific Ocean, offering a truly memorable travel experience.

Farther down the Peninsula, close to the UpTake offices, is a favorite local gem – Hidden Villa. As the name suggests, this hostel is tucked up at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is the oldest operating hostel in the United States. Known for its organic gardens and kids programs, the Hidden Villa property showcases several environmentally sustainable designs. Whether you stay overnight or visit for the day, guests of all ages enjoy the working farm and miles of hiking trails.

Have you stayed at a hostel recently? Any recommendations for your favorite in Northern California?

Photo courtesy of Hidden Villa.