Description: The
Hostelling International - Martha's Vineyard, a 72-bed traditional saltbox homestead, celebrated its 50th anniversary this spring. Of particular note: this hostel was the first purpose-built youth hostel in the US.
HI-Martha's Vineyard is seasonal, open mid-April to early October. It's inexpensive, too - just $22 to $24/bed/night and $16/night in the spring/fall. The women's dorm (the smallest dorm room) sleeps right, and there is one private room ($88 to $96/night, depending on the season), with a large men's dorm and two sizeable coed dorm rooms. All beds are brand-new bunk beds (2005), which are comfortable enough as hostel lodgings go. The price of the room includes bedding and a pillow, but no towels. The bedrooms and bathrooms are kept spotlessly clean (as is the rest of the property!).
The hostel includes a sizeable, comfortable common room and a spacious, multi-stationed communal kitchen. There is 24-hour Internet service and lots of visitor information available in the well-stocked common room, as well as games, books, a piano, and a fireplace. If that's not enough to do, there is a sand volleyball court outside. The kitchen was great for a hostel: multiple sinks and multiple stoves, lots of shelf and fridge space available, and not to mention the $3 all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage breakfast. Occasionally, the hostel hosts lobster bakes and barbeques. Of particular note, this is a "green" hostel: they have bins to recycle just about everything, including compost and used batteries.
There are plenty of sheltered bike racks on site, plus parking. The YHA property connects to the island's bike trail system, which makes it an ideal place to stay if you plan to bike tour. There are additional showers outside, which are perfect if you return muddy from hiking or biking!
Pay-per-use lockers are available; however, they are located outside the building. I think these would see more use if they were available in the dorm rooms.
The front desk is staffed from 8am to 10pm, with check-in available from 1pm to 10pm. There is also 24-hour access to the building available, however. The staff here was very friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable. I particularly enjoyed talking with Matt, who was a recent college graduate.
Important note: This hostel is inland, not on the beach. (The hostel on Nantucket is on the beach, but it’s harder to get reservations.)
If you don’t mind sharing a room and are looking for inexpensive lodging on Martha’s Vineyard, I’d definitely recommend the hostel!
How to get there:
From Edgardtown ferry: Follow signs to West Tisbury and the hostel is approximately 2 miles past the airport on the right.
From Vineyard Haven: Follow signs to West Tisbury/Aquinnah. Turn left at the sign for airport (Old County Road). Turn left at end of road towards airport and the hostel will be on your left.
From Oak Bluffs: Follow signs to airport, but pass the airport entrance, and then take a right into Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. The hostel is approximately 2 miles on the right.
Bus route no. 6 stops directly next to the hostel and connects to both the airport and Edgartown ferries.
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