Hi,
Any input regarding the Central Park Hostel? If you have seen it, or know someone who stayed there, please let me know if you think it is safe, clean, and generally a good (cheap) place to stay for college students wanting to see a Broadway show. Thanks in advance.

I think the best hostel in the theater area is Big Apple Hostel. Look for reviews of both on hostelz.com The Central Park place (which I'd never heard of) is nowhere near the theater district. It's up near Columbia Univ.

Th eonly one I'm aware of is the Hosteling International on 103rd and Braodway. Have met numerous students staying there who seemed happy with it. But - it's far uptown - nowhere near Times Square - although you can do it on the subway in about 15 minutes. And frankly - it' a much better area for good, inexpensive dining options - and near some Coumbia hangouts.

The charge about $40 per bed (plus locker) in a dorm room.

Thank you both! Great website, McLaurie.
Anything else?

I don't know what you mean by anything else. The 2 "Y"'s are supposed to be very good. One's near Grand Central (the Vanderbilt Y) and one's near Lincoln Center on west 63 st., so not far from the theater district. Both have some private rooms. I've heard the top floor of the Westside Y is much nicer and newer than the others. Both Y's has swimming pools that you can use if you stay there.