Posted on Friday, 1 April 2022

The days when travelling on a budget meant slumming it are long gone.

Today’s young travellers and backpackers may still be traveling on a shoestring but that doesn’t mean their expectations are low.

They still demand style, comfort and fantastic service. And this has given rise to a new form of cheap-as-chips accommodation – the luxury hostel.

And if the words ‘hostel’ and ‘five-star’ don’t sit together in your mind, allow us to change your perception as we showcase Start Travel’s pick of the world’s best.

Freehand, Los Angeles

Purists may say the Freehand Los Angeles is not a true hostel. But alongside its luxury suites and standard rooms, it also offers shared, bunk-style accommodation for four, six or eight people and female-only dorms, so we say it is.

And with beds in a shared dorm starting at just $40 per night for a location slap bang in the centre of LA, it most definitely qualifies as budget.

But check-in here and you most certainly won’t feel like you’re traveling second class.

Spend your days relaxing by the rooftop pool with stunning views of Downtown LA, enjoy the finest Latin food in the restaurant or sup freshly-ground Nicaraguan coffee in the café.

Whichever way you look at it, the Freehand is uber cool.

For more information or to book a stay at the Freehand, click here.

Grand Ferdinand, Vienna 

It’s hard to imagine finding anywhere cheap to stay among the baroque opulence of central Vienna.

But with a night in one of its stunning wood-panelled dorms  - complete with chandeliers – starting at just €30 per night, even the most budget-conscious traveller can do just that.

And boy, will that €30 be well spent.

Each dorm guest will enjoy their own secure locker, rainfall showers, free wi-fi, luxury bedding and air conditioning.

But the best is still to come.

Guests also get access to the exclusive Grand Etage restaurant and rooftop pool with superb views across the city. Not bad, eh?

Book a stay at Vienna's Grand Ferdinand here.

The B.I.G. Backpackers in Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa’s on the hitlist for most gap year travellers and backpackers and there’s no shortage of budget accommodation to be found.

But few places, even upmarket hotels with hefty price tags, can live up to the offering at The B.I.G. Backpackers in Green Point.

We’re talking an outdoor pool, two games rooms with big screen TVs and three fantastic, fully equipped kitchens. There’s even a braai for a spot of South African style outdoor cooking.

And all this, from £72 a night, is just a stone’s throw from the city’s waterfront and glorious beaches.

Book a stay at The B.I.G Backpackers here.

Pajamas Koh Chang, Thailand

Great news for globetrotters, it’s perfectly possible to do super luxurious stays on a budget in the most desirable destinations too.

Pajamas on the stunning Thai island of Koh Chang is a case in point.

Also known as Elephant Island, Koh Chang is a mix of rugged hillsides, dense jungles and glorious beaches. It’s also one of Thailand’s biggest party destinations.

But travellers with little to spend most certainly do not have to slum it.

Pajamas offers guests a fantastic all-round experience, with a dreamy pool for a refreshing plunge, wi-fi throughout and even a cinema room/

The sumptuous and well-appointed dorms meanwhile come with a computer for guest use and luxury toiletries.

Book a stay at Pajamas here.

Beds in the dorm are priced from just under £10 per night.

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