I stayed at the HI-Boston Downtown Hostel for two nights in March 2008, in a female room with 3 friends. The booking was very easy through their Internet Reservations page, I received a detailed confirmation email only a couple of hours later. We went to the hostel by subway and got off of the Green Line at Hynes International Convention Center. The hostel was very close and easy to reach: when we got out of the subway station, we turned to the left, crossed Massachusetts Av. at the intersection with Boylston Str., walked only a block, and turned left to Helmenway St. The hostel was almost directly at the corner, on the left. The staff were extremely friendly and gave us lots of information. Our room was quite spacious, the beds were very clean, the mattresses very comfortable, the lockers large enough for backpacks or medium-sized suitcases. If you forget to bring your own locker, you can get one at the reception for 4,50$. We had a nice view to a very quiet street with typical Bostonian brick houses. The restrooms were quite clean, there were also some private restrooms, the showers were good. Breakfast was definitely OK: you can choose between coffee or tea, bagels or pastry, with butter or jam, and apples. You can have as much coffee or tea as you want, throughout the whole day. There is also a large kitchen where you can prepare yourself some food. And there's also a laundry in the basement. If you have your own laptop, you can use the wireless lan- what most people do since their Internet access is quite expensive: I think 2,50$ for only 20 minutes. The atmosphere in the Hostel was great, there were many international guests, it was very easy to get in touch with other travellers and exchange experiences. The location of the Hostel was very convenient: it was like 20 minutes to the city centre (Boston Commons) by foot and very close to many restaurants, shopping malls, museums, etc. So all in all it was a great experience, I would definitely recommend this hostel and would stay there again!

it is a very high level hostel: rooms and services are confortable and clean; many activities are daily organised by the staff; kitchen and dining room are big and full of nice people; coffee and tee are served all day long for free and breakfast is ok!

I would definetively reccomend it, even if the location is not central (but close to a metro station)!!!

If you're used to a European hostel, you will probably be disappointed, but if you plan on spending 99% of your waking time out exploring Boston, and you only want a cheap, safe place to sleep, then this could be a good choice.

The breakfast is a joke (there aren't nearly enough seats/tables, and they basically only have bagels and nothing else), and the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting, but besides that, there's not too much else to complain about for the price.

When you check in, they give you linens and one-size-fits-all disposable shower slippers (you will need them). Most of the rooms seemed to be 3- or 4-beds, which is a welcome change from the usual hostel 12-bed rooms. They do also have lockers in the rooms. There were also fairly cheap internet terminals in the lobby area, and there were always a large number of international guests hanging around in the kitchen area (in case you're up for some good conversation).

Also, the bathrooms were shared but private (no communal showers; each shower was in its own, completely separate room), which would have been really nice, except for the fact that they were ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

Staff were helpful and friendly, and the hostel is conveniently located a couple blocks from the Green Line of the 'T'.

An excellent option if you are looking to save money on lodging, but not if you can find any other options for a comparable price (which, depending on the time of the year, what other events are going on, and how many people you are traveling with, you may be able to do).

It is December 20th 2007. I am in the lobby of Hostelling International, Boston. There are 8 computer stations here, for those without laptops. The cost is a $1 per 10 minutes. This is an attractive lobby where plants grow across from colorful boston murals. My room is on the 2nd floor. Bedding and towels are included in low price. I share my room with 3 other people. Two are from Paris, I am from Calfornia and the 4th bed is empty. I have my own locker to stow my stuff.
Breakfast this morning was bagels, fresh fruit and coffee.
This is the most organized hostel I have stayed in.
Last night, I went with a group of other hostellers to Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. My walking companions were from Korea and Belguim. I enjoyed their company and very much enjoyed the museum's contemporary art in the "Foster Gallery"