Great Hostel Give Back

Each January and February, HI USA offers groups of 6 or more a chance to earn free overnight stays at our hostels across the country in exchange for volunteer service in our communities. Whether you're an alternative break group, sports team, club, or simply a group of friends looking to give back, the GHGB is here to help you make your volunteering trip more affordable.

Great Hostel Give Back Applications are Now Closed for 2026.

To be alerted when applications open for 2027, please sign up for our “Programs and Events” emails below.

Here's how it works:

Travel

Choose your destination from participating HI USA hostels across the country. From major cities, to small towns and national parks, we offer a huge range of destinations coast to coast. New to hostelling? Learn more about hostels here.

Volunteer

Before making your hostel reservation, arrange a volunteer project with a local organization in your destination of choice. Need help finding a volunteer project? Check out our suggested service sites or visit Idealist.org. For each day your group spends two or more hours volunteering locally, you’ll earn a free overnight stay with us (up to four nights).

Earn free stays

Our hostels offer up to four free nights’ accommodation while your group volunteers locally. During your stay, our lounges, kitchens, and dining rooms ensure plenty of opportunities for your group to connect with other travelers, and we invite you to join in with our free events, tours, and activities to explore the hidden gems of the city with us. Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Here's why groups love the GHGB:

City High School

"Not only did students have the opportunity to give to the community we visited, they practiced communication skills speaking with a wide variety of hostel guests from different cultures, learning about their perceptions of the U.S., their traditions, and life in another place."

BuildOn Detroit

"After serving around the city of Chicago, (students) came back to the beautiful hostel in an amazing part of the city. Because of this program, life-long memories were made, and our Detroit students will see the world and their place in it differently!"

Western Carolina University Catholic Campus Ministry

"GHGB support... allowed us to offer financial aid to our students in turn. We were able to bring several students who would not have been able to afford this trip otherwise. Many had never been to the West Coast; some had never been on an airplane before. All of them were impacted in profound ways."