Friend Street Hostel

I've stayed at Friends Street a few times for different lengths of time and always had a great hostel experience. It's very no-frills, and hostel life has its good and bad sides. If you're not used to that, you may have some issues, but knowing what to expect makes it easy to have a good time.

The reception staff were nice, and the WiFi worked, which is why I’m giving it two stars. The rooms, though, feel like a hostel charging about $15 a night, while a bed in the 10-person dorm costs $50-65. Everything else is pretty standard hostel stuff for an over-the-top price: small beds, a cramped dorm, noisy AC, and dirty toilets. Don’t expect special service or clean, comfortable rooms. There’s a better place in town, a ship you can find by searching for bed and breakfast. I’ll stay there next time.

A really welcoming place to stay, and a handy base for seeing Boston. The cafe is great, the location is good, and it’s safe, clean, and inexpensive. Staff were kind and helpful, with reception open around the clock. It was fairly quiet for a hostel, maybe because alcohol has to stay outside.

I cancelled by phone three weeks before arriving in Boston, after a friend decided to come and Airbnb worked out cheaper for us. The hostel lost track of my cancellation, then took four weeks to reject my refund request. That’s terrible customer service and feels like thievery. Don’t give them your credit card information.