With millennial travelers, flashpackers and grey nomads hitting the road looking for unique experiences and a sense of community over decadence, poshtels are on the rise. Expedia has pulled together its top poshtels around the world.
1. All Stars Inn on Bealey, Christchurch New Zealand
Following widespread earthquake damage to many of the buildings in Christchurch, businesses began popping up in shipping containers and temporary buildings. The All Stars Inn Christchurch is purpose built, but the exposed timber beams, staircase and walls of the lobby fit right into this cool town’s vibe. Double en suite rooms are sleek and chic, minimalist but with everything you need for a city break. Expedia’s number one hostel based on demand in 2016, it also offers shared facility rooms, along with 4, 6 and 8 bed dorms.
2. Rambutan Townsville, Australia
You have to have high hopes for a hostel that describes itself as glamorous and the Rambutan in North Queensland doesn’t disappoint. In the top ten Expedia hostels based on demand in 2016, Rambutan nails beach chic, with a Hamptons design aesthetic that’s full of nautical stripes, white washed wood and seashells. Along with dorms, the hostel offers private rooms and beautiful four room “beach house” villas. The piece de resistance is a rooftop pool and bar.
3. YHA Cardiff, Wales
The UK’s only hostel to achieve a five star rating from Visit Wales, it’s not hard to see why the YHA Cardiff ranks as Expedia’s third most popular hostel based on demand in 2016. Right in the heart of Wales’ capital city, the YHA has kitchen, private and shared rooms, free wifi, kids eat free deals, and even three conference rooms for guests to hire out. The graffiti stencil art lobby sets the tone for a fun, trendy stay.
4. Design Hostel Goli & Bosi, Split, Croatia
In one of the Adriatic’s most popular seaside cities, the Design Hostel Goli & Bosi is a serious breath of fresh air, with its white on white rooms, pod-like dormitories and minimalist private rooms. The aesthetic is very sleek – rooms are white, the public spaces are an eye-popping yellow and the onsite pizzeria, De Belly, adds a fair amount of black into the mix.
5. HI New York City, America
There are plenty of travelers who spend their entire day, and some of their night, sightseeing in the city that never sleeps. At HI New York City, on the Upper West Side, guests can sign up for the hostel’s very own packed calendar of activities – Harlem Gospel tours, free comedy shows and guided walks through Central Park take place alongside hostel welcome parties and pub crawls.
6. Generator Rome, Italy
There are Generator hostels across Europe, each with its own distinct style, but all well known for being cutting edge when it comes to boutique budget accommodation. The Generator Rome property, just a few blocks from the major Termini train station, is cool and quirky in a way only the Italians can pull off. Private twin, double and quad rooms are industrial chic with retro pops of color. The parquetry floors and large windows are a bonus. Quad shared dorms are a nice change from the larger style hostel rooms across Europe.
7. Yim Bangkok Hostel, Thailand
A self-proclaimed “design hotel”, the Yim Bangkok has the coolest bunk beds around town, the sleek wooden beds look like they’re straight out of Sweden instead of Thailand’s capital. Full of fun, quirky design features, this hostel is perfect for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle but still be close to the action. Along with the seriously stylish dorm rooms, Yim has private rooms with balconies and gardens, even family rooms with living areas.
8. One80° Berlin, Germany
In a city that’s famous for its edgy, arty scene, there’s no surprises the hostels have upped the ante. One80° Berlin is a hub for travelers looking to live like a local for a few days. A super trendy local that is. A digital photo booth sits in the foyer, there’s a nightclub downstairs and the lobby bar looks straight out of an interior design magazine.
9. Safestay London Kensington Holland Park, England
You don’t have to be royalty, a celebrity or super wealthy to stay in one of London’s most exclusive suburbs. Perched inside sprawling Holland Park, this Safestay property is a mini palace in itself – the beautiful Jacobean architecture is surrounded by a private courtyard, manicured lawns and an ornamental pond. Inside it’s all about bright pops of color.
10. Casa Gracia Barcelona, Spain
At Casa Gracia you’re not checking into a hostel, you’re checking into a “home”, as the staff will tell you. Reading nooks with large arched windows, a charming garden terrace, a true Spanish breakfast spread with local cured meats and cheese, a cutting edge cocktail bar, daily yoga, even a communal guitar, all come together to make this one cool place to base yourself in Barcelona. There are “suites”, along with single rooms, dorms and a deluxe apartment, all including daily cleaning, towels, linens and free wifi.
2 bonus options:
Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage, London: Harry Potter fans should make a beeline for this beautiful old building. The wooden dorms might be a bit more cozy than the Gryffindor ones, but the rooms right up in the rafters are pretty unique.
Freehand Miami, America: Art Deco meets Miami at this famous hostel. The pool is the place to see and be seen and the Broken Shaker cocktail bar is an award winner