2015: the year of the Poshtel

Hostels. Dorm rooms packed with bedraggled twenty-somethings, prison-style bathrooms, and dodgy bars where cheap beer on tap and pool tables reign supreme. That’s the budget way to travel, right?

Not in 2015. Hostels have been shaping up over the last few years to become a little more flash – some might even say ‘posh’ – making way for what is predicted to become one of the hottest travel trends of the year: the poshtel.

Poshtels are perfect for travellers who like a bit of class without shelling out big bucks for the experience. The friendly, communal atmosphere is still there without the feeling of crashing in a uni share house on steroids.

Here are our top poshtel picks from around the world.

London + other European locations

Generator Hostel, UK

I stayed at the original Generator in London in 2006 and from what I can remember, it looked like a pretty run-of-the-mill hostel. It had a good vibe and was clean and comfortable, but design-wise I’d describe it as “meh”. Fast-forward to a new decade and these budget-friendly Camden Borough digs have me going “woot woo!”.

Dorm room at Generator London

You can find Generator hostels in Dublin, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and a number of other choice European destinations. With a focus on modern design, each property draws on its unique surroundings to flavour the aesthetics. The London hostel has named its floors after different British icons, from Ali G to Mary Poppins. The DJ booth in the bar is housed in a red double-decker bus and you’ll spot random Mind The Gap signs around the place.

What can you expect at a Generator hostel? Quality dorms and private rooms, staff on duty 24/7, free wifi, a café serving up top nosh, a classy bar with nightly events, and laundry facilities.

A sneak peek at Generator London, Generator Dublin and Generator Barcelona

USA

Posh South Beach Hostel, Miami

Rooftop pool. Gourmet kitchen. Prime South Beach location. Sounds like a hotel, right?

Posh Hostel has the communal atmosphere of a traditional backpackers’ with the facilities of an upmarket apartment. You’ll most likely be bunking down with strangers – the renovated loft houses three dorm rooms with 30, 20 and 8 beds each – but getting a little social shouldn’t be a problem when you’re sharing sweet spaces like this…

Bottom line, you’ll be staying in one of the most glam spots on the planet and saving a stack to spend at the beach clubs. Oh, and they offer a legit happy hour (7pm-8pm) with FREE drinks at the neighbouring Whitelaw Bar and Lounge.

Thailand

Lub d Bangkok – Siam Square, Bangkok

Imagine staying in an area of Bangkok that has the cool of Soho and the upscale real estate of Fifth Avenue from AU$20 a night. Woot!

Lub d means “sleep well” in Thai, and getting some quality shut-eye is a high priority here. You’ve got the choice of five room types: mixed dorms, ladies-only dorms, economy twin rooms, economy doubles, and deluxe double rooms. While the mod industrial design, free wifi, and comfy communal areas to socialise in earn Lub d a couple of gold stars, the standout feature here would have to be the bathrooms (both private and shared), which are pretty impressive for a hostel.

Inside Lub d – Siam Square

Czech Republic
Mosaic House, Prague

With a focus on sophisticated design and eco-friendly initiatives, this super sleek hostel/hotel hybrid in the New Town area of Prague definitely knows how to bring it when it comes to affordable accommodation.

Welcome to Mosaic

Each private room includes an iPod dock, flat screen TV, and fully decked-out bathroom with rain shower. And guess what – Mosaic lives up to its poshtel status by offering penthouse suites. Roll like a boss!

View from the Penthouse terrace

For those who like to mingle, you can take your pick from 4, 6, 8 and 16-bed dorm rooms, as well as a 26-bed female oasis. You can also enjoy an amazing buffet breakfast for less than AU$10. That’s just cray! When it comes to entertainment, all you have to do is stroll on down to La Loca, where they serve up tapas, cocktails and live music until 2am.

Australia
Space Hotel, Melbourne

Looking for something closer to home? How about a place in the Melbourne CBD with a cinema room, gym, and rooftop deck with BBQ and spa?

Space is on a mission to provide “inexpensive luxury for the people”. They have plenty of options when it comes to how you sleep, offering dorm rooms, single rooms with shared bathroom facilities, private queen rooms with a balcony and ensuite, and more. Best of all – they’re all pretty spacious (I guess it comes with the name).

Chill out on the rooftop and take in the views, or get amongst it in Australia’s liveliest city.

How’s the serenity?

Think poshtels are for you? Let us know where you want to live luxe on a budget.

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