Bunk: Luxe for Less
Article by Sara Clemence

Just about everyone who’s traveled as a student (or a bohemian) has had that hostel experience. You know the kind we mean—you pony up $7 for a narrow, lumpy bed in a dorm room packed with snorers, only to be tossed out with your luggage at a too-early hour, unable to return until late in the day. Sure, your stay gives you a little padding for the travel tales. But is it really that enjoyable?

Well, no more sulking in the over-shared shower: It doesn’t have to be this way.

These days, you can have a private room, massage, or oceanside hot tub, all without fleeing to the nearest upscale resort with the “emergency” Visa your parents gave you. There is such a thing as—dare we say it?—a luxurious hostel.

Private balcony? Check. Saltwater swimming pool? Done. Tango lessons? Sure. (When was the last time the Four Seasons offered free tango lessons?) We’ve tracked down a handful of hostels around the world that offer special amenities, from volcano views to Spanish lessons, at those rock-bottom prices we love. Prices start at $10, and even the most expensive private cottage doesn’t top $90. We think they give new meaning to the phrase cheap and chic.

They have the most killer hot tub perched on a bluff above the ocean,” says writer/editor Michael Shapiro. “Reserve for the sunset and you’ll be in heaven.” Pigeon Point Hostel is perched on the California coast, 26 miles north of Santa Cruz and 50 miles south of San Francisco. The point is named for a clipper ship that wrecked in 1853—the crew was rescued, the disaster memorialized. Forty years ago, the U.S. Coast Guard built four three-bedroom houses next to the lighthouse; now each has three bunkrooms, each of which can be privately booked. Sure, the bathrooms are shared. But there’s that hot tub with views of harbor seals and gray whales frolicking in the sea. Venture off the grounds for whale watching or exploring nearby tidal pools, bird-filled estuaries, and ancient redwoods.

We’ll be honest—we’ve never experienced the Hostel-Inn firsthand, and don’t know anyone who has. Then again, how bad could a place that offers free massages, Spanish lessons, tango and salsa classes, and satellite television be? The hostel is in a lovely old building in a downtown bohemian neighborhood, and breakfast is included. At these prices, we’re willing to give it a shot.

Even the poshest hotels don’t offer rooms individually decorated by local artists, but the Home Deluxe does. Personally, we like the looks of the Japanese-inspired room. But you won’t be disappointed if you don’t get it, since each room has its own balcony and some have king-size beds. Located in the Barrio del Carmen, the old part of Valencia, the hostel has a comfortable lounge/TV area, free Internet access, and buffet breakfast included.

Bohemia’s name is more than a little misleading—this is no ragtag garret. Instead, it’s a modern facility with simple yet well-appointed rooms, surrounded by private tropical gardens. “It’s basically a five-star resort for US$18 a night,” says one former guest. The en suite rooms have televisions, refrigerators, hair dryers, and balconies. Everyone gets to share the television lounge, kitchen, bar, and Internet room. A covered open-air entertainment area boasts a billiards and a Ping-Pong table. The saltwater pool and spa are open 24 hours a day, and there are nightly large-screen movies.

Perhaps one of the best-loved hostels in the country, Rua Reidh was built in 1910 by a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson, of Treasure Island fame. A getaway in the truest sense of the word, the lighthouse sits on a secluded peninsula, about three miles from the nearest house. The keeper’s cottage has been turned into a guesthouse, with a pleasant conservatory, sitting room with log fire, and a tearoom open in the summer. In peak season, breakfast and dinner can be had for an extra charge; otherwise, there’s always the communal kitchen. Fill the hours with cliff walks, wildlife sightings, and peeks into medieval forts. If you don’t want to set off on your own, the hostel offers guided tours.

Hedonisia is a hostel with a bit of estate living mixed in. The property totals nearly four lush acres of land, including countless fruit trees and a volcanic crater. Guests can explore the grounds or trade their labor (restoring the land, helping with Web design, or even babysitting) for free lodging. The owners have been creative with space and generous with amenities. The barn offers dorm-style lodging, but with the privacy of tents—yours or theirs. The bamboo huts are small but cozy. The studio apartment has speakers, a printer and a scanner for laptop carriers, and there’s high-speed Internet service in many parts of the hostel. Plus, the Hedonisia is just four miles from the hippy-dippy town of Pahoa, and close to Kilauea Volcano.

Victoria Falls has basically the same amenities as similarly priced hotels in the area. The difference? A view of the famed waterfalls. Talk about luxurious living—in New York City, a view can turn an ordinary apartment in to a million-dollar property. The thatch-roofed compound offers a swimming pool, garden, nightly bonfire, free breakfast, and bike rentals.