Guests at the hostel may receive mail at any time during their stay. Packages received will be charged a $3 per day fee until picked up and cannot be heavier than 10 lbs. or larger than 24 X 24 inches.

Bunk beds are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact us in advance by emailing [email protected] if you have a strong preference for a top/lower bunk and we will do our best to accommodate you; however, please note that requests cannot be guaranteed.

Learn more about HI USA’s cancellation policy here.

No.

If you are coming from O’Hare International Airport, you can take the CTA Blue Line train and exit at the LaSalle stop. From there, you will walk east for 3 blocks to get to our building

If you are coming from Chicago Midway International Airport, you can take the CTA Orange Line to the Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren stop. Make sure this train says “Loop” on the side.

We are a short walk away from both of these stops.

Pets are not permitted at any HI USA hostels. We do permit service animals as identified by ADA guidelines. At all times, service animals must be under the owner’s control and never left alone.

We recommend parking at Park One at 525 South Wabash Ave, half a block away from the hostel. Please note, this is paid parking. There is no passenger loading in front of the hostel. We also recommend using the Spothero app to find nearby parking at lower rates.

Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. – 6 a.m.

No. The hostel entrance is locked at night for security and is accessible with your guest keycard.

Our hostel laundry facilities are accessible 24 hours a day. The machines can be operated by coin or by QR code (preferred) for $3.00 a cycle.

Please speak to someone at the Front Desk in person. We are pleased to match any publicly advertised online rate* for additional nights booked directly through us. While we strive to keep you in the same room/bed, this is based on availability at the time of your request. The sooner you can let us know you’d like to extend, the better. Please let us know no later than check-out time (in most cases, 11 a.m.) on the day of your scheduled check out.

*Offer applies only to newly added room nights and cannot be applied to existing reservations.

Lockers inside our dorm rooms are 12 inches x 13 inches x 34 inches (48 cm x 33 cm x 86 cm). Please bring your own lock or purchase one at the hostel.

If you don’t have your own lock, you may purchase one for $8 at the hostel.

Currently, our 10-bed dorms and 4-bed premium dorms have privacy curtains on them.

Yes.

Yes, all restrooms have hair dryers in them.

All towels and linens are included in the cost of your stay.

There is free bicycle storage at the hostel. Please bring your own lock.

We are happy to store Powered Mobility Devices (PMDs) such as e-bikes, scooters, or e-skateboards/hoverboards during your stay. Note that we do have several rules in place for the safety of our staff and guests.

• We can only store devices with a holographic sticker confirming they comply with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Certification or EN 15194 Certification (Conformité Européenne).
• PMDs may not be charged inside the hostel building.
• PMDs may only be in designated zones of the hostel, and never in guest rooms.
• Batteries must remain attached to PMDs at all times while on the hostel premises. Batteries are not allowed in guest rooms.

If you have questions about any of these policies, please contact us directly in advance of your stay at [email protected].

The maximum length of stay at HI Chicago hostel is 14 nights per calendar year.

Yes! We host free tours, events, and activities for our guests every week. Check out a snapshot of our weekly activities here; you’ll get access to our full calendar of activities after booking.

Yes! We have strong WiFi throughout the building and lots of areas to set up with your laptop. We also have a library/quiet space that is available on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost. If you wish to reserve the space for private use, please contact the hostel for rates and availability.

Our nightly quiet hours and comfy rooms — with outlets, reading lamps, privacy curtains, and assigned lockers for each bunk in dorm rooms, and desks in private rooms — will leave you well rested so you can keep doing your best work.

On your off hours, meet fellow travelers and get to know the city by joining our free walking tours and chill in-hostel events.

Learn more about HI USA hostels for digital nomads

Minors traveling with a parent or legal guardian are welcome at all HI USA hostels. While we encourage guardians traveling with children to book private rooms for their comfort, we do allow minors in dorm rooms.

For safety reasons, children over 2 years old must have their own bunk bed in dorm rooms, and children under 7 may not sleep in top bunks. Emancipated minors traveling on their own, or other minors traveling alone with parental or guardian consent, should contact the hostel directly for more information on policies and booking instructions.

The hostel is very centrally located in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, just a few minutes’ walk from stations for several L train lines and many bus stops. We’re also just a few minutes’ walk from the Chicago Art Institute, Grant Park, Millennium Park, The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and theatre district as well as plenty of restaurants and other conveniences.

Our neighborhood is generally considered quite safe, but please remember that we are in the heart of a major city and our surroundings reflect that. While we operate a secure building in a heavily touristed area, it’s important to keep in mind that many American cities are currently experiencing a homelessness crisis that can be very visible to both locals and visitors. We ask that guests remain compassionate if and when they encounter any neighbors experiencing homelessness, and talk to our staff if any concerns arise.

Early check in and late check out are both available for purchase. Please see the front desk for availability and pricing.

Yes, we do offer luggage storage before you check in (complimentary) and after you checkout (until 9 p.m.). Please note that there will be a $4.00 fee per luggage piece when storing after check out.

We accept all forms of debit and credit cards including Apple Pay/Google Pay/tap to pay. We also accept cash (with an additional deposit). We capture payment in full at check-in (or prior to, in cases of non-refundable rates).

All guests must present a valid (non-expired) government-issued photo ID (physical originals only; we cannot accept digital versions or photocopies) upon check in.

Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Yes, see the front desk for a “second floor key,” which allows you access to the elevators and our second floor, where you’ll find our guest lounge, kitchen, and dining room. You are welcome to stay on our second floor until no later than 9:00 p.m. on the day of your check out.

They are welcome to visit you on our first-floor lobby but cannot enter the building further, as only registered guests are allowed to enter past this point.

Contact our Front Desk and they will email you a link to our lost and found system, called “Chargerback,” to report your lost item and see if there is a match.