You – the jury – have spoken, the votes have been counted and the world’s best hostels have been selected, with the winners crowned according to what they do best.

This year’s HI5ive awards were held at the annual meeting of CEOs of HI Member Associations in Vienna, Austria, with prizes awarded in five different categories based on ratings left by you, our customers, on hihostels.com.  Huge thanks to everyone who gave feedback on their stay at a HI hostel – your opinion really does matter – and with the results kept a closely guarded secret until the award ceremony, the winning hostel managers had a great surprise too. Big congratulations to them, now let’s see who the winners are:

Most comfortable hostel: 1st place – HI Phoenix – The Metcalf House, USA

Being comfortable starts with a cosy bed, but it’s more than that: HI Phoenix hostel gives you the facilities you need for a home-from-home, and goes that extra step to make sure you’re at ease in your surroundings.

The cosy, comfortable lounge and music room at HI Phoenix – The Metcalf House, USA.

Friendliest hostel: 1st place – HI Martha’s Vineyard, USA

Nestled in a vineyard haven off the coast of Cape Cod, USA, this hostel’s staff really found a friend in you last year. More than sharing a smile, this hostel helped you to explore the local area by organising activities for groups, and has become a firm favourite, drawing guests back year after year.

Green hostel: 1st place – HI Portland Hawthorne Hostel, USA

This hostel not only offers the perfect blend of urban pulse and friendly attitude, but it allows you to enjoy it at peace with your inner responsible traveller. With a 97% green rating, these guys are conscious about their choices when it comes to looking after the environment, inspiring the local community through eco initiatives and raising climate change awareness to protect their beautiful surroundings.

The very cool and quirky HI Portland Hawthorne Hostel, USA.

Best hostel: 1st place – Reykjavik Downtown, Iceland

With the best of Iceland’s exciting capital on its doorstep, and the ultimate experience inside the hostel too, you thought Reykjavik Downtown was basically the best at… everything. From the cosy, comfortable facilities and friendly folks who work there, to its great location near to the lively harbour area, this is a much-deserved award which we are delighted to present.

Guests at Reykjavik Downtown hostel, Iceland, enjoying the lounge and coffee house area.

Best HI Hostel network: HI USA

HI USA’s hard work towards achieving a high level of customer satisfaction has not only paid off at one of their hostels, but across their entire hostelling network. Customers are not only satisfied, but have given sparkling feedback about HI USA’s ability to go the extra mile and make sure guests have an exceptional hostelling experience, across the region.

HI5ive! 

Got a favourite hostel you stayed at last year? Let us know below.