1. Lisbon Lounge Hostel, Lisbon
A consistent #1 Hostel In The World winner, Lisbon Lounge is just about as perfect as everyone says it is. It’s the backpacker equivalent of a prom queen in a stripper outfit, with everything that every traveler dreams about down below.
The building looks like it was designed by Ian Schrager. The common spaces are just plain decadent. The rooms are big, with plenty of room to spread out.
The designers took great care to use old parts of the building in the modern design — big, empty fireplaces still remain in rooms and give them a “homey” feel.
You might pooh-pooh the pretentious aspects at first, but I highly recommend you give in to them. For the extra money you’re spending, let yourself enjoy the DJ playing chillout music and the mojito bar in the corner. Go on, you slept in that shady place with ants last night. Tonight, you’re a queen.
I paid: €17