Hostel Travel: Living Large on a Small Budget

In these belt-tightening days when the price of plane fare alone is enough to keep you from traveling, cutting costs is more necessary than ever. Still, you have to get to your destination, and once there you have to sleep someplace. So why not try a hostel? Unlike the old days when hostels were exclusively the domain of rowdy young backpackers, more people are taking advantage of these no-frills budget accommodations. And many times you’ll be surprised at the many amenities and the wonderful locations that a hostel can provide, all for that same low cost. Here are some prime hostel picks. But remember that rates listed here may be higher or lower than what you find, as they change all the time.

Hostal Bahía, Madrid Spain

The centre of Madrid and thus the centre of Spain is the Puerta del Sol, and the Hostal Bahía invites you to sleep there for prices as low as € 25 per night. Double rooms can be converted into triple rooms, and while there are no Jacuzzis, infinity pools or Shiatsu massages, there are vending machines, a first-rate tour desk and complimentary wireless internet access. Of course with all of central Madrid’s tapas bars and cafes just outside your door, you many never notice those vending machines. And you can spend the money you save at the hostel on some real meals. The Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor are a short walk in one direction, while the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen museums are a short walk in the other direction, with the Parque del Buen Retiro just further.

City 54 Hotel Berlin, Berlin Germany

Though the € 50 single room rate approaches that of a regular hotel, € 72 for an apartment is quite a deal. Especially with its spot less than 10 blocks from the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the famous Museum Island with its Cathedral. You can cut that walking time down by renting one of the hotel’s bicycles, and for points further afield, the nearest S-Bahn station is three blocks away, and the nearest U-Bahn station only two blocks. But before sending you on your way, the City 54 Hotel Berlin treats you to a complimentary buffet breakfast. The hostel also offers the convenience of a 24-hour reception desk and the beauty of a courtyard garden, and all the rooms refurbished in 2008. There are also vending machines and wireless internet access – though here it will cost you. There’s also a tour desk here, and this hotel that prides itself on being gay-friendly also welcomes the whole family – including the family pet.

Superbude Hotel & Hostel & Lounge, Hamburg Germany

The draw at the Superbude is the quadruple room which can get as low as € 123. And then there are all the amenities, hostel-style. Like the in-hotel cinema, furnished with jean-sofas and the Sportsroom, where you can play Wii. Yes, this is a more youth-oriented accommodation, offering bicycles, board games, Nintendo and even the rental of Skype phones. The hostel’s innovative design won it Best Interior Design Award in 2008, and the interiors alone are worth a peek, with shelves made out of water pipes, furniture made from thick ropes and pallets and your choice of six room colours. Like a regular hotel, your room comes with a flat-screen TV with a range of data ports, and in the morning you can choose from the early-bird breakfast and the sleep-in breakfast. There’s even a gift shop, a fitness centre and a ticket service, as well as a complimentary wireless connection.

Ulisse Deluxe Hostel, Sorrento Italy

With double and twin rooms as low as € 50, the Ulisse Deluxe Hostel’s goal is to change the conception of the hostel. They do this by providing public spaces that are as grand and elegant as the city of Sorrento itself. And with the many hotel-like amenities. The wellness center offers a sparkling indoor swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym, a Jacuzzi and even a massage service. Other amenities you might not associate with hostels are the childcare services, the room service and the currency exchange, as well as that old stand-by, free wireless internet access. The Ulisse Deluxe strives to create a chic sophisticated ambience in the rooms and in the bar, where you can choose from a variety of cocktails. And then there’s the location. Right in the centre of the city, the hostel is just a short walk from the Piazza Tasso and the fishing village Marina Grade.

Candy Hotel & Hostel, New York, USA

Let’s jump the pond and land in the surprisingly green upper part of the island of Manhattan and the Candy Hotel & Hostel. Switching currencies, the Candy has done the remarkable by offering dormitory rooms for US$ 25 singles with shared bathrooms for US$ 54. Just two blocks from lovely Riverside Church, the hostel is also easy walking distance from Grant’s Tomb, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Columbia University, Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and even Central Park. All the iconic attractions of Mid-town and Lower Manhattan are also easy to reach via nearby subways and buses. You can also rent a bike and ride south along Riverside Park or north to the Cloisters. The Candy itself offers an on-site film room for your entertainment, as well as a business centre, a billiards table and a tour and ticket desk, making it a great budget choice for business travelers as well as leisure travelers.