Friends, “Great Hostels USA” was written with a few key principles in mind. First, only recommended hostels are included in the book. Extra weight is an enemy to backpackers and I can see no sense in carrying around 100 extra pages describing terrible hostels. Second, each profiled hostel has my personal recommendation and reviews are based on my own overnight stays. Third, no money or favors were taken in exchange for positive reviews or for inclusion in the book.

I’ve created the best hostel guide that I possibly could, in an effort to get more people hostelling. Hostels offer one of the coolest way to travel, especially for independent travelers. Armed with this guide, it shouldn’t matter if your friends don’t have the time or money to join you. Leave them at home. And leave behind everything else - your worries, your responsibilities, everyone’s preconceived notions and expectations about you - everything that leads to a closed mind and small world. Escape from it all and go have new experiences. Meet someone new and see the world through their eyes. Hop in the car or step on the train and just go. Explore all that America has to offer - eating, dancing and drinking in the cities and hiking, biking and swimming in the mountains and oceans. But, even more important, meeting people unlike yourself. Share meals, swap stories, create new memories and learn from each other. Be prepared though. You’re likely to learn more about yourself along the way.

That’s what my year of hostelling ended up being about. It was an unforgettable experience. I wish the same for you and I hope my guide helps you make that happen.