The new breed of designer hostels

The lowly hostel has long since started to clean up its act. But even the most discerning budget travellers have never seen anything like these high-impact, low-overhead design-led hostels - not to mention the new wave of pod hotels that provide a more private, low-cost alternative to bunking en masse. If any of these had existed in our backpacking days, we might never have come home...

Pictured: the eye-opening pod-like bunks at Matchbox, Singapore

Writer: Lauren Ho

Matchbox, Singapore

This immaculate hostel in a bohemian enclave of Singapore does nothing to sully the city's squeaky-clean character. The décor combines clean lines with eye-popping colour, courtesy of Dutch paint company AkzoNobel. Three dormitories house a series of cosy bunk beds and grade-school lockers (another improvement on the traditional hostel). Guests also enjoy little five-star luxuries, like complimentary toiletries by local brand Spa Esprit, as well as a pillow menu

39 Ann Siang Road, Singapore; Tel: 65.6 423 0238; www.matchbox.sg; prices from S$52

LH
 

The Independente, Lisbon, Portugal

Arguably Lisbon’s most stylish hostel, the Independente is located in the stylish Bairro Alto enclave, in a mansion that once served as the Swiss ambassador's residence. The brainchild of three well-travelled brothers, it is elegant and warm, furnished with bespoke pieces in neutral tones. The 13 dorms hold 111 beds over all, but you can also opt for one of four private suites with balconies overlooking the Tagus river. The Decadente restaurant, serving a selection of regional dishes, is popular with the local tribes

Rua de São Pedro de Alcantara 81, Lisbon, Portugal; Tel: 35.1 21 346 13 81; www.theindependente.pt; prices from €16

LH
 

The Independente, Lisbon, Portugal

Arguably Lisbon’s most stylish hostel, the Independente is located in the hipster Bairro Alto enclave, in a mansion that once served as the Swiss ambassador's residence. The brainchild of three well-travelled brothers, it is elegant and warm, furnished with bespoke pieces in neutral tones. The 13 dorms hold 111 beds over all, but you can also opt for one of four private suites with balconies overlooking the Tagus river. The Decadente restaurant, serving a selection of regional dishes, is popular with the local tribes

Rua de São Pedro de Alcantara 81, Lisbon, Portugal; Tel: 35.1 21 346 13 81; www.theindependente.pt; prices from €16

LH

Kex, Reykjavik, Iceland

Kristinn Vilbergsson and Dagur Sigudsson happened upon this 1930s former biscuit factory two years ago while scouting film locations for their director friend Oskar Thor Axelsson. Not only did they pinch the site for themselves, they also enlisted the film’s set designer, Halfdan Pedersen, to create the interiors. The three-storey industrial space in central Reykjavik fuses Amish church benches with Bauhaus lamps and other pre-loved pieces brought back by Pederson from salvaging expeditions abroad. The gastropub, named Saemundur after the manager of the original factory, serves fresh fish and vegetarian dishes and the ballroom hosts live events, from the Reykjavik International Dance Festival to weekly jazz concerts

Skúlagata 28, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Tel: 35.4 561 60 60; www.kexhostel.is; prices from ISK2200

LH

Kex, Reykjavik, Iceland

Kristinn Vilbergsson and Dagur Sigudsson happened upon this 1930s former biscuit factory two years ago while scouting film locations for their director friend Oskar Thor Axelsson. Not only did they pinch the site for themselves, they also enlisted the film’s set designer, Halfdan Pedersen, to create the interiors. The three-storey industrial space in central Reykjavik fuses Amish church benches with Bauhaus lamps and other pre-loved pieces brought back by Pederson from salvaging expeditions abroad. The gastropub, named Saemundur after the manager of the original factory, serves fresh fish and vegetarian dishes and the ballroom hosts live events, from the Reykjavik International Dance Festival to weekly jazz concerts

Skúlagata 28, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Tel: 35.4 561 60 60; www.kexhostel.is; prices from ISK2200

LH

Kex, Reykjavik, Iceland

Kristinn Vilbergsson and Dagur Sigudsson happened upon this 1930s former biscuit factory two years ago while scouting film locations for their director friend Oskar Thor Axelsson. Not only did they pinch the site for themselves, they also enlisted the film’s set designer, Halfdan Pedersen, to create the interiors. The three-storey industrial space in central Reykjavik fuses Amish church benches with Bauhaus lamps and other pre-loved pieces brought back by Pederson from salvaging expeditions abroad. The gastropub, named Saemundur after the manager of the original factory, serves fresh fish and vegetarian dishes and the ballroom hosts live events, from the Reykjavik International Dance Festival to weekly jazz concerts

Skúlagata 28, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Tel: 35.4 561 60 60; www.kexhostel.is; prices from ISK2200

LH
 

Snoozebox Portable Hotel, UK

The UK's first portable hotel, Snoozebox has arrived just in time for the summer festival season. The latest venture to put stackable shipping containers to ingenious use is now making the rounds to events across the UK. Conceived by leisure entrepreneur Robert Breare, the lodgings-on-the-go are cleverly self-contained, with en-suite wetrooms and power outlets. The modular hotel - which can incorporate anything from 40 to 400 units - also comes with a complete staff for onsite guest service. Find it next at the Download festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire

www.snoozebox.com; prices vary

LH

Superbude, Hamburg, Germany

Superbude's new Schanzenviertal outpost (the first launched in Hamburg's St Georg neighbourhood) features stackable beds by Rolf Heide that allow a third of the 89 double rooms to sleep up to four guests - they also furnish the Rockstar Suite, which sleeps seven beneath a flip-up performance stage. The playful interiors, designed by Armin Fischer of Dreimeta, cleverly blend the outlandish with the contemporary: walls are covered in newspaper and Konstantin Gricic’s ‘Mayday’ lamps hang from goal-netting headboards (references to St Pauli’s cult football club). This former telephone exchange is one of many repurposed old buildings that mark Schanzenviertal's current gentrification. The streets outside are now buzzing with new galleries and bars

Juliusstrasse 1-7; Tel: 49.40 8079 15820; www.superbude.de; prices from €69

Writer: Guy Dittrich

Superbude, Hamburg, Germany

Superbude's new Schanzenviertal outpost (the first launched in Hamburg's St Georg neighbourhood) features stackable beds by Rolf Heide that allow a third of the 89 double rooms to sleep up to four guests - they also furnish the Rockstar Suite, which sleeps seven beneath a flip-up performance stage. The playful interiors, designed by Armin Fischer of Dreimeta, cleverly blend the outlandish with the contemporary: walls are covered in newspaper and Konstantin Gricic’s ‘Mayday’ lamps hang from goal-netting headboards (references to St Pauli’s cult football club). This former telephone exchange is one of many repurposed old buildings that mark Schanzenviertal's current gentrification. The streets outside are now buzzing with new galleries and bars

Juliusstrasse 1-7; Tel: 49.40 8079 15820; www.superbude.de; prices from €69

Writer: Guy Dittrich

Superbude, Hamburg, Germany

Superbude's new Schanzenviertal outpost (the first launched in Hamburg's St Georg neighbourhood) features stackable beds by Rolf Heide that allow a third of the 89 double rooms to sleep up to four guests - they also furnish the Rockstar Suite, which sleeps seven beneath a flip-up performance stage. The playful interiors, designed by Armin Fischer of Dreimeta, cleverly blend the outlandish with the contemporary: walls are covered in newspaper and Konstantin Gricic’s ‘Mayday’ lamps hang from goal-netting headboards (references to St Pauli’s cult football club). This former telephone exchange is one of many repurposed old buildings that mark Schanzenviertal's current gentrification. The streets outside are now buzzing with new galleries and bars

Juliusstrasse 1-7; Tel: 49.40 8079 15820; www.superbude.de; prices from €69

Writer: Guy Dittrich

Superbude, Hamburg, Germany

Superbude's new Schanzenviertal outpost (the first launched in Hamburg's St Georg neighbourhood) features stackable beds by Rolf Heide that allow a third of the 89 double rooms to sleep up to four guests - they also furnish the Rockstar Suite, which sleeps seven beneath a flip-up performance stage. The playful interiors, designed by Armin Fischer of Dreimeta, cleverly blend the outlandish with the contemporary: walls are covered in newspaper and Konstantin Gricic’s ‘Mayday’ lamps hang from goal-netting headboards (references to St Pauli’s cult football club). This former telephone exchange is one of many repurposed old buildings that mark Schanzenviertal's current gentrification. The streets outside are now buzzing with new galleries and bars

Juliusstrasse 1-7; Tel: 49.40 8079 15820; www.superbude.de; prices from €69

Writer: Guy Dittrich

Tattva Design Hostel, Porto, Portugal

Porto's largest hostel has moved into a reinvigorated world heritage building in a neighbourhood of Porto known for its burgeoning design scene. Local architect Miguel Nogueira of NN Arquitectura helmed the building's redesign, while interiors were tackled by Porto-based Mundano, who placed emphasis on feature lighting and bold colour. Rooms offer luxuries previously unknown to hostel-goers, like en-suite baths, high-pressure hot showers and in-room heating

Rua do Cativo 26-28 Porto, Portugal; Tel: 35.1 220 944 622; www.tattvadesignhostel.com; prices from €15

LH

Tattva Design Hostel, Porto, Portugal

Porto's largest hostel has moved into a reinvigorated world heritage building in a neighbourhood of Porto known for its burgeoning design scene. Local architect Miguel Nogueira of NN Arquitectura helmed the building's redesign, while interiors were tackled by Porto-based Mundano, who placed emphasis on feature lighting and bold colour. Rooms offer luxuries previously unknown to hostel-goers, like en-suite baths, high-pressure hot showers and in-room heating

Rua do Cativo 26-28 Porto, Portugal; Tel: 35.1 220 944 622; www.tattvadesignhostel.com; prices from €15

LH

Tattva Design Hostel, Porto, Portugal

Porto's largest hostel has moved into a reinvigorated world heritage building in a neighbourhood of Porto known for its burgeoning design scene. Local architect Miguel Nogueira of NN Arquitectura helmed the building's redesign, while interiors were tackled by Porto-based Mundano, who placed emphasis on feature lighting and bold colour. Rooms offer luxuries previously unknown to hostel-goers, like en-suite baths, high-pressure hot showers and in-room heating

Rua do Cativo 26-28 Porto, Portugal; Tel: 35.1 220 944 622; www.tattvadesignhostel.com; prices from €16

LH

Pod 39, New York, USA

Following the success of their first Midtown pod hotel, hoteliers Richard Born and Ira Druckier have once again come up trumps with Pod 39, located a short walk from Grand Central Station. A low-cost substitute for the traditional hostel, it houses 366 guest rooms in standalone capsule rooms designed by Vanessa Guilford. Each has its own en-suite bathroom and media hub, so the young and tech-savvy can view content from their hand-held devices on a wall-mounted flat screen TV. An in-house restaurant focuses on casual fare and a rooftop bar 17 stories up offers views across the New York skyline

145 E. 39th Street; New York, USA; www.thepodhotel.com; prices from US$119

LH