If you're having any reservations about staying in a hostel, throw them away and book now! The Freehand is amazing in both its service and cleanliness. I came with friends who had never stayed in a hostel and were a bit wary, but all night they couldn't stop commenting on how awesome they thought the place was. On top of the hostel itself, the location is perfect for anyone touring the city. We had tickets for an NYE show at the Chicago Theatre and were able to walk the couple of blocks easily. There's tons of restaurants around and affordable parking (particularly if you use ParkWhiz, another app like we did). I'm definitely recommending the Freehand to my friends and family!