Tag Archives: hostel

Kex Hostel, Reykjavik

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Iceland is an expensive place to visit; a hostel can be a great way to save on the cost of accommodation. Kex, however, is so much more than a hostel.

Housed in a former biscuit factory (Kex translates to biscuit), this industrial building has been revolutionised by co-owner and designer Halfdán Pedersen. Opened in 2011 in downtown Reykjavik, Kex is now a destination for hip, thrifty travellers and a hangout for local creatives.

There is a choice of 43 rooms, from private doubles to large dorms. Many offer views of Faxaflói Bay and Mount Esja. Each room is individually decorated with quirky vintage furniture and stocked with informative second-hand books. We stayed in a guesthouse-style double room with a view of the ocean. The room was simply equipped with locker storage and a desk and lamp. Despite the large window I found the room a little dark, which was particularly noticeable in the evenings. Wifi is free and fast throughout the hostel which is a massive help to tourists needing information or email services. Shared toilets and shower facilities are located near to the bedrooms on each floor and we found these to be clean and efficient, with hot powerful showers.

The communal areas are very sociable and the big retro sofas encourage guests to use these spaces. Salvaged materials and found objects adorn the main reception area, lounge and dining area, giving Kex an eclectic but contemporary character. The design is beautifully arranged with thought and care; I could have spent hours examining every detail.  Men in need of a quick trim will be grateful for the tiny barbershop, which is found on the main floor of Kex. Open every Thursday, it costs about 4000 ISK (£20 approx.) for haircut and shave.

In the mornings guests can enjoy a simple Icelandic style breakfast in the main dining room. Hot coffee, freshly made bread and juices and jams are a welcome wake-up meal. Youngsters cram the wholesome food in, vital sustenance before exploring the cold landscape outside.

The fashionable hostel trend is growing at alarming speed and Kex Hostel is a prime example. The unique venue has become a destination for tourists and locals to sleep, eat and drink. A brilliant base camp for all your Icelandic adventures.

Book a stay at Kex Hostel here.

Many thanks to the Reykjavik Tourist Board for their help with this trip.

Generator Hotel, Barcelona

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Weekend breaks in Europe can be just as expensive as a longer international holiday, so locating cheap chic accommodation is a blessing. The Generator Hostels brand is gradually expanding, providing young travellers with a thrifty lodging option in Europe’s best cities. The flagship establishment, Generator Barcelona, combines both hostel and hotel offering the very best in Catalan style and culture to its visitors at affordable prices.

Located in Barcelona’s trendy district of Eixample, Generator offers private hotel rooms with en-suite bathrooms and shared hostel dormitories. There is everything you need on site: a 24-hour reception, free private lockers and free Wi-Fi in public areas and private rooms. There is air conditioning and heating throughout to allow for diverse weather conditions, as well as individual power sockets and reading lamps for each bed. Female-only dormitories thoughtfully include magazines, hairdryers and other amenities. The eclectic and colourful communal areas are lovely spaces to eat, drink, work and chat.

Those interested in sightseeing will be pleased to know that Diagonal and Verdaguer metro stations are within five minutes walk. The Gràcia district, which has a multitude of boutiques and bars, is also just a short walk away. We enjoyed fine tapas at nearby restaurant La Pepita, and if you are peckish at night try the 24 hour churros outlet Xurreria Trebol.

In our 7th floor hotel room we found everything we needed for a very comfortable stay,I completely forgot I was in a hostel. The en suite bathroom had a small shower, sink, mirror, toilet and toiletries bag and the walls were covered in ornate tiling. The bed was made up in soft linen with plump pillows and an attractive rug hung on the wall above. Thick dressing gowns were folded at the foot of the bed for us to use. Outside we had a little private terrace with a lounger, perfect for soaking up the summer sun.

Guests can have a fresh daily breakfast at extra cost. Generator Hostel Barcelona also has a communal lounge with computers available for rent and a luggage storage service.

The décor in the main reception is reminiscent of festival celebrations with hundreds of paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and patterned arrangements on the walls. The look and sound is all about fun and everywhere you look people are enjoying themselves, so obviously Generator is doing something right!

More information and book here.

Many thanks to the Barcelona Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Generator Hostel, Venice

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I am ashamed to admit that until last month I had never stayed in a hostel before. Student friends who have backpacked round the world recount horror stories of bug-infested hellholes, places to rest your head but certainly not fall into a deep, carefree sleep. Walking into one of Venice’s few hostels, Generator, late at night, my opinion of hostels was instantly reformed – a happy stylish home for cultured and creative travellers… my kind of place. Located on Giudecca Island (a few minutes boat ride from the main island of Venice) you can only reach this idyllic strip of land by boat.

Travelling towards the historic property, moving slowly through the shimmering water, I felt like a character in a continental film; despite the surrounding darkness I felt the magical structure of this city, beautiful basilicas rising majestically in the distance. Gen Venice is an immaculately designed converted grain house, with traditional Fantini mosaic tiling, an elegant Murano glass chandelier and grand Rubelli textile curtains. For the tech-savvy visitors, modern quirks are placed throughout the bedrooms and common areas, a photo machine for memory making, free wifi throughout and even hair straighteners in the private rooms!

Downstairs at Gen Venice, there is always something exciting going on, from live music and DJ nights to art installations and sport watching. In the dining area rugged wooden tables with stools accommodate the hungry travellers. Food is fresh and flavoursome, all priced very competitively.

We stayed in a lovely private room, slightly removed from the corridor of dorms. It was the ultimate in simple luxury, blissfully easy and relaxed. The rooms exude rustic charm, the original features of the building are kept intact while offering contemporary features for all your 21st century needs. The double bed was cleanly dressed in pristine white sheets, a small table with leather armchair and the wooden floorboards was covered in a decorative carpet on the floor. I appreciated the easy access plug sockets and bedside lamps. The spacious en-suite bathroom had all the necessities and more, a power shower, separate toilet, two sinks, complimentary towels, hairdryer and straighteners and even miniature toiletries. A welcome bottle of Prosecco and personalised travel notebook made me feel very special and well looked after.

I was so comfortable at Gen Venice that I soon forgot we were in a hostel and tried to find the phone to call the concierge! And although this is something you won’t find at a hostel, Generator caters for curious travellers and the staff are happy to help you out with directions and recommendations.

Opening the shutters in the morning let in the natural light and sea breeze, I gasped noticing the captivating scene in front of me. I doubt there is a hostel anywhere in the world with such an enchanting view. Generator Venice is a wonderful, characterful and cost efficient way of experiencing this magical city.

More information and book a stay at Generator Venice here.