Jazz on the Park, New York

Jazz on the Park is the hipster's hostel in New York, with house music blaring in the art-filled lobby, weekly barbecues in summer for just 5 bucks, movie and poker nights when the weather's colder, photos of great jazz musicians in the hallways, and a color scheme in the rooms that is taken straight out of the Wizard of Oz.

Dorm rooms come with two, three, four, five, or six bunk beds, and the numbers on the beds aren't as prominent as they should be (which can lead to some awkward situations come bedtime). Another problem here are the mattresses, which are so thin in many cases that you can feel every ridge and spring; they do vary by bed, so test-drive a couple when you check in.

Those reserving private rooms (with shared bathroom only) may go 1 block uptown to the hostel's second building, again a mural-laden, vibrantly colorful place that is generally clean.

The cheapest dorm beds are the 10- or 12-bedders for $30 a night, six- to eight-bed rooms for $32, four-bed rooms for $34 (in Jan and Feb, these prices drop by $10). If you're traveling with a friend, it might make the most sense to share a private room at $65 to $90 a night for two twin beds (without private facilities).

Rates cover a bagel and a cup of tea or coffee in the morning.