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She’d be happier in a boutique hostel. / Photo: Mart_Moppel Feature photo: Kivanc Nis
The term boutique hostel is so new that you can’t even find it in Wikipedia. Go on. Try it. In fact, boutique hostel may even be an oxymoron, and I’m sure backpackers of the world will not be taking a particular shine to this phrase.
Nonetheless, something that seems to fall between a regular hostel, B&B, guesthouse, and boutique hotel has cropped up. Of course, it’s all marketing — they’re really just “very nice hostels.”
What’s going on?
According to Benji Ladyano at the Guardian, vacationers are looking for more budget accommodations in these difficult economic times, and the entrepreneurial spirit of hostel owners is leading to better and increased services in the typical hostel.
It seems the backpackers and flashpackers are going to have to move over to make room.
So where can you can find one?
Guardian.co.uk has started an interactive directory of worldwide boutique hostels. Categorized by continent, there are already boutique hostels listed in Ghana, Morocco, Thailand, Germany, Portugal, Peru, Canada, and Australia, among many other countries.
A room at El Diablo Tranquilo / Photo: Seth Anderson
If you’ve stayed in one and want to share it with others, pop in a review and they’ll consider adding it to the growing list.
Of special note, the boutique hostel El Diablo Tranquilo is owned and operated by our very own Matador Community member Brian Meissner. The hostel in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is found under L. America in the World’s Best Boutique Hostels list.
Brian has his own take on why we’re starting to see boutique hostels emerging:
Boutique hostels let you sleep comfortably, enjoy creative design ideas in interesting locations, give you all the services of a specialty hotel, yet still allow for that impromptu drinking game in the lobby and the liberating idea that the guy next to you at breakfast might be a doctor from Germany or a student from Chile, but he’s also left his friends and his home and is right in the same boat you are, ready for anything and looking for people to share it with.
Whatever the reason, if it leads to more Internet, less hair in the drain, and a smilier host, I’m all for it.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION:
Whether or not you stay in a boutique hostel or a more traditional one, you may find some useful ideas here: Hostel Sex: A Practical Guide for Backpackers.
Can’t afford the boutique hostel? That’s alright. Matador editor Tom Gates has some solid tips on How to Make Your Hostel Less Hostile.
Carlo Alcos
Carlo is a Managing Editor at Matador and co-founder of Confronting Love. He blogs about travel, life, and creativity at Vagabonderz.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter. He lives in Nelson, British Columbia.
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Would anyone come to such an establishment in the Idaho Panhandle? This article couldn’t be more timely. My Dad is interested in backing me in a B and B….way to America for my sensibilities, but a boutique hostel…now that’s something I can get my quirky self around. Feed back please
I promise, if and when I’m in the Idaho Panhandle, I will come and stay at your boutique hostel!
I love this idea ! I want to find more of them ( particularly in the Western U.S. )
I can also personally recommend one in Costa Rica. It’s labeled a guest house, but rooms starting at only $20 ( smallest one ), I’d say it’s ” hostel priced”. Google the fountains guest house – it’s awesome!
Chrystyne: Where are you in the Panhandle ? I would totally stop there since I’m road tripping that way soon.
Amanda….I don’t have one yet, but my Dad thought I should open a B and B and this concept is more in keeping with my take on travel and hospitality. You’re right, the Western U. S. needs more of these accomodations.
To answer your question: I live in a little town called Blanchard dead center in between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. Very pretty.
Excellent concept!
It’s something that must continue to grow, although I’ve never liked much the term “boutique”.. (Here in Chile have appeared enough “boutique agencies of advertising”, “boutique restaurants”, “boutique hospitals”?!?!).
But I understand and congrat where it leads. The hostels aren’t only a place to saty and sleep. It’s ALL part of the experience in a foreign country.. Here in Chile, in Valparaíso more precisely, I ABSOLUTELY RECOMEND the “Hostal Caracol” in Cerro Bellavista (http://hostalcaracol.cl/).. As I read the article, I imagined it all the time..
But of course, you must live the experience..
Cheers and give more tips!
Curro