The best hostels in the following five categories are awarded: most comfortable hostel, friendliest hostel, green hostel, best hostel and best hostel country. This year the award ceremony took place at the CEO Meeting in Paris on Monday 3 February.
Hostelling International‘s (HI) hostel awards -the HI 5ives!- are held every year and the winners are based on ratings left by customers who have stayed in the hostels. The best hostels in the following five categories are awarded: most comfortable hostel, friendliest hostel, green hostel, best hostel and best hostel country. This year the award ceremony took place at the CEO Meeting in Paris on Monday 3 February with a special guest giving them away – Liesbet Maroye our Big Blog Exchange blogger from Belgium. The best hostels in the world according to the Hostelling International customers are:
Best Hostel Country 2013: USA
With an overall average rating of 88% the USA prove their hostels have been our customers’ favourite last year mixing unique charm with friendliness and quality, all the HI values that our hostellers love. The second Best Hostel Country with 87.7% is Singapore and third Iceland with 87.3% all finalists in this category have achieved outstanding quality across all of the hostels in their country.
Best Hostel 2013: Interlaken, Switzerland
With 96% overall customer satisfaction Interlaken Youth Hostel is the best hostel of 2013 followed closely by Oslo Central, Norway and HI – Martha’s Vineyard, USA both with 94%. Set in a stunning location with views of the mountains, the super-modern hostel offers a high standard of comfort, a bar and restaurant on site, a convenient location right next to the train station, as well as friendly and helpful staff.
Most Comfortable Hostel 2013: Interlaken, Switzerland
Judging by its 96% rating on comfort this outstanding hostel has impressed and charmed our customers. The hostel is praised for its design furniture, spacious dorm rooms as well as a lounge with an open fireplace. We also honoured Kyoto – Utano YH, Japan in second place with 95% and in third place HI Udee Bangkok, Thailand (94%).
Friendliest Hostel 2013: HI-Martha’s Vineyard, USA
Never short of local tips, the staff’s willingness to share its knowledge and passion of hospitality is praised with an impressive 99% rating for friendliness. HI-Martha’s Vineyard is great for both families and single travellers and is a fantastic base for exploring the beautiful region. Very close behind with 98% the hostels Akranes, Iceland, HI – Phoenix – The Metcalf House, USA and Zagarolo – WIKI Hostel, Italy are amongst the friendliest hostels in the world according to customers.
Green Hostel 2013: HI-Boston, USA
Second year in a row that HI-Boston scoops up the Green Hostel 2013 award making them the most eco-friendly hostel of the HI network. At HI-Boston you’ll find recycling stations, elevators that recapture energy, recycled carpet, energy efficient appliances, environmental-friendly cleaning products and motivational signs to encourage hostellers to be good stewards of the earth. Top of the environmental friendly hostel leader board are also HI Chicago, USA in second place and the new hostel Paris – Yves Robert, France in third place.
Photo caption: Winner Of Best Hostel Country, CEO Of HI-USA (Russ Hedge) And Blogger Liesbet Maroye.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
