The best global co-living spaces under $50 a night

Travel + work = welcome to the life and style of a digital nomad… words by Michelle Tchea.

Finding the perfect hotel can be a nightmare if you are a roving traveller always on the move.

Boutique hotels can be pricey, motels unforgiving and Airbnb can be hit or miss. But if you consider yourself a bit of a social butterfly, you might want to consider joining the world of co-living.

Forgive yourself if you have not heard of co-living, it is a relatively new idea developed for millennials looking to quench their thirst for travel while working – aka the digital nomad. Co-living spaces charge a flat-fee membership and provide access to designer spaces in furnished apartments with exceptional amenities.

With prices that can range from $30 a day, guests have access to anything from in-house cinemas to Olympic-size swimming pools and of course high-speed internet in stellar spaces. Not only are co-living spaces located in highly-populated cities where rent is often high (New York, Berlin and Barcelona), but one membership allows full access to sister branches in other places to help guests appreciate and manage their nomadic lifestyle. Here are eight of the best co-living spaces to check out.

Roam London Chef’s Kitchen II (Credit_ Roam, Anton Rodriguez)

ROAM (various locations worldwide)

Roam was one of the first companies to set up co-living spaces and continues to entice guests from all around the world with its designer co-living spaces. Investors have seen the success of Roam grow from one outpost in Ubud to Miami, San Francisco, Tokyo and soon New York and London. Starting at $670 a month, a strong sense of community spirit for the digital nomad looking to find adventure while staying ‘plugged in’ and in touch with the world rings throughout all Roam outposts. Private suites are also available, and there are no upfront fees for joining the community.

Website: http://www.roam.co

Roam Tokyo White Room Bed (Credit_ Roam Kenta Hasegawa)

The Collective Old Oak (London)

The Collective Old Oak sparked a lot of interest following its opening two years ago. Not only does it occupy a unique space by the water in North West London but the co-living space helps 500 guests live affordably in the swinging city. Rooms in the Collective come with everything a travelling entrepreneur demands: cinema, sports bar, rooftop area with high-speed internet access, as well as a gym and spa to keep co-livers well and truly happy.

Members of the Collective will soon be able to experience the same vibrant community as London in the US and Germany with expansion promised for the next year. Short term stays are not encouraged but there could be worse things in life than having to live in London for less than $1500 a month with no built-in contract or upfront fees.

Website: http://www.thecollective.com

WeLive (USA)

You might have heard of WeWork – co-working spaces created for like-minded entrepreneurs to network and disrupt already-established industries, but have you heard of WeLive? With outposts in New York and Washington, D.C., it offers fully serviced shared and private rooms with all the simple yet essential amenities travellers look for: high-speed internet, cable TV, toiletries and of course free-flowing beer. Encouraging the work-play mantra, community events like group meals, fitness classes and pub crawls are included in the rates, which start at approximately $2000 a month.

Website http://welive.com

Ollie (USA)

A little bit of luxury never hurt anyone and Ollie is no exception. Focused on providing more affordable living situations in New York and Pittsburg, with a suite set to open in L.A., Boston and more in the future, Ollie provides designer micro-apartments with a lot of community events for guests to enjoy. Although prices are a little more expensive (fancy soap is one of the perks), for almost $2800 a month, access to a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool and business classes might be worth the splurge. Although functioning as a co-living space, Ollie primarily focuses on helping residents live comfortably in cities with high property prices.

Website: http://www.ollie.co

Sun and Co. (Spain)

‘Work Smarter, Live Better’ is the motto of co-living space Sun and Co. Located in a 19^th-century house in the centre of Javea, a historic seaside town of Spain, it’s easy to see why travellers are retreating to this newly established co-living space on the Mediterranean coast. With just 20 rooms, the smaller residence also offers an excellent co-working environment to help entrepreneurs and freelances meet deadlines while sunbaking under the hot Spanish sun with tapas and sangria in hand. Private rooms start at $62 a day, with shared rooms starting at just $31 a day.

Website: https://sun-and-co.com

Casa Neutral (Italy)

Described as a co-working, co-living and incubator venue for creative entrepreneurs, Casa Neutral is the co-living space for culture buffs on the go. Located in Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019, the four-storey residence is housed in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A strong focus on community-based projects are instilled in the Casa Neutral community and rooms start at just $35 a night.

Website: https://www.benetural.com/it_IT/

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Zoku (Netherlands)

Travelling professionals can call Amsterdam home for a few days or even months in this futuristic home. Reinventing the apartment hotel, rooms convert into private lofts via staircases that pull out into kitchens. A host of workshops are provided for guests with travel writing and rooftop jazz club sessions on offer. With an open social kitchen, bar, game room and community workspace, it’s no wonder Zoku is a favourite for business travellers looking to mingle with other like-minded professionals in Amsterdam.

Website: https://livezoku.com

Selina (various locations)

Combining shared spaces and a thriving co-working atmosphere, at the core of Selina Hostels are sustainable practices aimed at making the world a better place.

With locations in Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama and more, Selina lets entrepreneurs and travellers achieve a work-life balance. With co-living spaces and co-working offices located in some of the world’s greatest beaches and jungles – productivity and creativity can easily be achieved outside of the regular office cubicle. Co-living space, Playa de Carmen in Mexico has private suites at $50 a night which come with a private bathroom, balcony and epic 360-degree views of the city. Twenty-three locations over nine countries make Selina a co-living powerhouse for entrepreneurs wanting to explore Latin America.

Website: https://www.selina.com

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.