About Hostelling International – Washington, DC
Located near the city’s most famous attractions, Hostelling International-Washington, DC (HI-DC) offers a friendly and inexpensive lodging experience for travelers. We provide an unbeatable environment (and a long list of amenities – many are FREE) that brings together international and domestic backpackers and travelers. Hostellers may choose dormitory-style or private room accommodations, all designed to be a great value for the budget-minded traveler.
LOCATION
Set in the heart of downtown DC, HI-DC is close to all of the best the city has to offer:
• The White House (8 blocks)
• The National Mall (8 blocks) – home to the Capitol, monuments and museums
• Chinatown (4 blocks)
• Metro Center (3 blocks) – MetroRail is the local subway system
• Bus stops and taxi stands (1 block)
• And just steps from bars, restaurants, performing art centers and many more attractions
ROOMS & AMENITIES
In addition to being the best place in DC to discover new cultures and make new friends, our hostel offers safe, clean and comfortable accommodations, with a wide variety of amenities and services. We provide dormitory-style and private rooms to satisfy our guests’ needs. Dorm-style rooms come in four-bed, six-bed, eight-bed and ten-bed configurations, while private rooms sleep two hostellers in two twin beds. Although most of the private rooms have shared, single-sex bathrooms on the guestroom floor, the hostel also offers a limited number of en suite rooms (private room with private bath).
• 24-hour front desk service & security
• No curfew, no lock-out
• All rates include tax
• An environment that is drug-free, smoke-free and alcohol-free
• A/C and heat in all guestrooms
• FREE in-room lockers, linens and towels
• FREE tours, movie nights and programs
• FREE Wi-Fi
• FREE local map and area information
• FREE books, puzzles, pool table, foosball and air hockey
• FREE body wash in all showers
• Common room with big, comfortable couches, Internet stations, information center, and pre-paid phone card machine
• TV room with big screen, 150+ channels, DVD, VCR, a library of FREE movies, and leather club chairs
• Fully-equipped, self-service kitchen
• Outside patio seating
• Laundry facilities
• Luggage storage
• Elevator
• Iron/ironing board
• Hair dryers
• $2 all-you-want breakfast
• Wheelchair accessibility
• Visa and MasterCard accepted
• Nearby restaurants, bars and pubs, grocery shopping, pharmacy and other
conveniences
• Individual travelers and groups welcome
• Bicycle rental available near the hostel
STAFF
Our staff is ready to welcome you to our capital city, help you with information about the local attractions and help to make your stay fun and relaxing. Make your reservation and be ready for an incredible stay at HI-DC!
HI-DC & THE ENVIRONMENT
We are committed to being stewards of the environment. However, we do not view our environmental responsibility as a destination. Rather, we see it as a continuous journey. Here is a list of things we are doing and that we plan to do in the next year:
• At this time, the only hostel in the world to be Energy Star certified (meaning that its energy consumption is among the lowest of all properties in the economy lodging sector)
• The only hostel in the DC area to be designated an Eco-Friendly hostel by Hostel World
• The lowest water consumption per overnight guest of all HI's Gateway City properties
• Currently renovating all guestrooms using low VOC paint and carpet that is low VOC, made from recycled materials, and is itself 100% recyclable
• Follow a linen re-use program to conserve water (during a hosteller’s stay, linens are washed only by request)
• All paper (office paper, toilet tissue, and hand towels) is from at lest 95% recycled materials
• Recycle Aluminum, Glass, Paper, Plastic, Cardboard, Batteries, and ink/toner cartridges
• Use (and then recycle) compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout the hostel
• Have monthly documentary movie nights on environmental topics
• Have push faucets on all sinks (the timer reduces water consumption)
• Use low-flow aerators on all sink faucets
• Provide environmentally friendly dish soap in the kitchen
• Have all re-usable products in the kitchen and for breakfast (no disposables)
HOSTEL CUSTOMS
• A valid credit card is required for guaranteed reservations. If you need personal attention or have special needs, please call us or email us at reserve@hiwashingtondc.org.
• Please ask for and retain your confirmation number when making a reservation.
• A $3 per person, per night Temporary Membership Fee will be assessed for all guests who are not Hostelling International members.
• Every hosteller must show a government issued photo ID upon check-in.
• Check-in is at 4:00 PM on your arrival date, and check-out is at 11:00 AM on your departure date. No-shows and cancellations made after 4:00 PM on the date of arrival will be charged one night’s stay.
• For the greatest likelihood of success, please make stay extension requests the day before your scheduled departure. Extension requests made after 11:00 AM on the scheduled date of departure may require the hosteller to switch beds and/or rooms.
• In-room lockers are provided free of charge for registered hostellers; hostellers provide their own locks. Locks are for sale at the Front Desk. For those wishing to store luggage prior to check-in or after check-out, a limited number of electronic lockers are available in our basement locker room for a small fee.
• The maximum length of stay is fourteen (14) days within a twelve-month period.
• HI-DC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve hostellers. Accommodations are available only to travelers from outside a 45 mile radius of the hostel.
• Refunds will be provided using the original method of payment (if payment was made using a credit card, the refund will be made to the same card).