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Hippest hostels around the globe

International Traveller
Whoever said hostels meant questionable hygiene, midnight lock-outs and no style? We’ve found best flashpacker stays around.

Smelly roommates, kitchens of dubious hygiene and midnight lock-outs have long been a right of passage for generations of young travellers who headed out with a year’s worth of clothing strapped to their backs determined to see the world.

Hostels were the only choice for these cash strapped nomads: they were cheap, plentiful and devoid of style.

But lately there’s been a shift in the balance of things: backpackers have become flashpackers, and hostels have become pseudo boutique hotels complete with luxe common areas, pedigreed interior designers and sleekly designed dorm rooms.

Dust the cobwebs off your backpack (or not) and check out these trendy hostels.

THE FREEHAND
Miami, USA

Housed in one of Miami’s classic ’30s Art Deco buildings, the hip and homey Freehand boasts private and shared rooms with complimentary continental breakfast in the restaurant, interiors incorporating handcrafted design by Roman & Williams, the Broken Shaker bar serving handcrafted cocktails and a pool and tropical garden.

From $27 a night. thefreehand.com

 

THE BOWERY HOUSE
New York, USA

Part hostel, part museum: rooms at The Bowery House include bunk options as well as ‘cabins’ – historic single-bed rooms that were originally built to house soldiers returning from World War II.

There’s leather Chesterfields in the lounge and Dutch-style rental customs bikes on which you can explore the neighbourhood, formerly New York City’s Skid Row.

From $81 a night. theboweryhouse.com

The Kex hostel in Reykjavik, Iceland
The Kex hostel in Reykjavik, Iceland

THE KEX
Reykjavik, Iceland

Housed in an old biscuit factory (Kex means biscuit in Icelandic), options here include everything from dorms to family rooms sleeping up to six, and the spacious ‘double plus’ hotel-style rooms.

There’s also a café, bar, gym, barber shop and a cosy reading corner with floor-to-ceiling books, all kitted out in reclaimed materials.

From $25 a night. kexhostel.is

 

THE GENERATOR
Venice, Italy

The Generator brand has properties across Europe and the UK, but the Venice offering is the best of a pretty great bunch: a converted grain house on the water of the Giudecca.

The luxe factor pervades from the mosaic flooring and eclectic décor on the ground floor to the historic exposed beam ceilings in the private doubles at the top of the building.

From $24 a night. generatorhostels.com

Thee Generator hostel in Venice, Italy
Thee Generator hostel in Venice, Italy

EQUITY HOSTELS
Marrakech, Morocco

It’s easy to make a hostel look good in this mesmerising city, especially when the property is a riad in the heart of the ancient Medina.

No detail has been neglected, with expansive public areas, single, double and dorm rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant, bar and terrace all kitted out in luxe local style: carved wood, glazed tiles, marble fountains and creeping bougainvillea.

From $12 a night. equity-point.com

 

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DOWNTOWN BEDS
Mexico City, Mexico

With its bright palette of reds and yellows set against an historic confection of a building, this funky property offers a rooftop pool and terrace, a Mexican street food restaurant, screening room and loads of atmosphere.

From $16 a night. www.downtownbeds.com

THE BUNK
Istanbul, Turkey

A hybrid of sleek, minimalist design and elegant European flourishes, Bunk Beyoglu (there’s a Bunk Taksim in town too) wears its passion for style and value on its sleeve, with marble bathrooms, bespoke beds and reasonable room tariffs on its dorm and private double ensuite rooms.

From $30 a night. bunkhostels.com

 

Also worth a look…

Gallery Hostels
Porto, Portugal

Ostello Bello 
Milan, Italy

U Hostel 
Madrid, Spain

City Circus Hostel 
Athens, Greece

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    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

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    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.