HI Chicago, The J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Hostel

"Fantastic place to stay at. Rooms are FAR cheaper than a hotel; great social atmosphere with roomates and other guests; the hostel itself looks nice too; there's daily events at the hostel ranging from music to tours, to food; the teabags they have are REALLY good; and the kitchen is clean for you to store your own food in, and cook your own food if you wish to save money doing that instead of going to resturants. Location is also in a very convenient place with easy access to public transit, both bus and train, and is a walkable distance to Grant Park/Field Meuseum/Shedd Aquarium/Adler Planetarium. Also walkable to numerous good places to eat, and a Trader Joe's to buy your own food if you wish. After having a side-by-side comparison of hostel vs hotel stay on my Chicago trip, I can conclude that hostels are superior to hotels. The environment of the hotel was lonely in comparison. I'd definitely recommend ANY Hi USA location to travelers, but the Chicago one is the best place to be in Chicago."

"HI Chicago Hostel is an outstanding place to stay and easily one of the best hostels I’ve experienced. The location is perfect — right in downtown Chicago, close to Millennium Park, public transport, major attractions, and great food options. The hostel is very clean, well maintained, and well organized. Rooms are comfortable, beds are good, and common areas are spacious and welcoming. The bathrooms and showers are clean with hot water available anytime, which is a big plus after long days of exploring the city. The staff deserves special praise — extremely helpful, professional, and friendly. They are always ready to guide you, whether it’s about transportation, sightseeing, or general assistance. The overall environment feels safe, respectful, and traveler-friendly. Great facilities including a kitchen, lounges, and social spaces that make it easy to relax or meet people from around the world. The hostel offers excellent value for money considering the location and quality of service. Highly recommended for solo travelers, backpackers, and even short stays. I would definitely stay here again on my next visit to Chicago."

"This hostel is in an amazing location in downtown Chicago, super walkable plus close to public transportation. There’s a direct line to both airports which was very convenient. The women’s 10 bed dorm was spacious and comfortable, with two pillows and they happily gave me an extra blanket when I was cold. The kitchen is large and open 24/7. They have daily activities which are great, but what I loved most were all the games on the second floor (ping pong, pool, etc.) The woman who checked me in was kind and friendly. There’s a great coffee shop/restaurant adjacent to the property."

"Stayed here for a night while passing through Chicago. I am very out and about naturally, so I just need something inexpensive with a bed to land at the end of the night. This place was very reasonably priced. I think I paid about 79 for a private room with a bunk bed with a friend. We had a great view from our room. We didn't use any amenities but they have laundry, a common area with activities and seat to eat, as well as a commercial kitchen to make and store your own food in the refrigerators. There were two available bathrooms on the floor with showers. I had no issue with them being taken up during my stay. They offer activities for guests to participate in and get to socialize. We could hear the train from our room all throughout the stay but we were not personally bothered by it. The bedding did have some stains on it and mattresses weren't the most quiet when moving around. The location was next to a CTA line and in the middle of everything people would want to see."

"Pros: - Super close to numerous CTA stations and within walking distance of Union Station. - Nice common area that can get really busy at night but is typically just people working on their computers/not talking. Very "big" hostel chain energy in that sense. - The fridges, freezer and washing machine/dryers for $3 each were really nice amenities. - The toilet, shower and sink were separate in the dorm ensuites which made sharing them significantly easier. "