Hostels are no longer limited to roving revelers and broke backpackers, and we aren’t surprised.
By booking a hostel, families get a large multi-bed room for a low cost, a kitchen they can use so they don’t have to drag the children to an overpriced restaurant and friendly staff, who are ready and willing to cater to your family’s needs. For these reasons, parents are starting to books hostels for their family vacas.
Looking for a change of scenery for your next getaway, clan in tow? With the help of HotelsCombined, we’ve compiled a list of the most family-friendly hostels in the world.
Stayokay Hostels, Netherlands
This Dutch chain (pictured above) boasts 26 properties, which will keep children entertained (a near impossible task) with various sports fields and indoor recreation options. The hostel franchise’s family card, which costs a nominal annual fee, provides discounts on accommodation, bike rentals and tours.
Palm Lakefront Resort and Hostel, Orlando, USA
Skip the overpriced Disney resorts and stay on the lake in Kissimmee. This hostel is a quick bus or train ride from Magic Kingdom and offers endless family fun for a day off from the theme parks, including a pool, barbecue pit and common room with a foosball table and video games.
Jugendherberge, Nuremberg, Germany
Photo via hostel Jugendherberge.de
With family-friendly extras like a play room, a kitchen, facilities for warming baby food and drinks, a bottle warmer, highchairs, cots, a toilet seat for children, a bathroom stool, a diaper changing pad and diaper bin, this hostel is practically begging families to visit. Plus, the generous breakfast buffet will ensure your family gets a hearty start to the day, at a low cost.
Hana Hostels, Japan
The games and cartoons in the common areas make this chain perfect for parents with young children. And with four locations across Japan—Fukoka, Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto—look no further for accommodations when planning your family trip across the country.
Adventure Queenstown Hostel, Queenstown, New Zealand
Photo via HotelsCombined
The party atmosphere for which hostels are notorious is what has deterred parents from booking them in the past. Eliminate that fear by reserving a family room at this cozy property that has a maximum capacity of 50 and isn’t near any late-night clubs or bars. The inn also loans out bicycles, DVDs and Frisbees.
Smiddy Bunkhouse & Blacksmiths Backpackers Lodge, Fort William, Scotland
Sadly, just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean the laundry doesn’t pile up and the snacks don’t run out. What you need are accommodations that have all of the facilities a family requires, so running errands doesn’t eat into vacation time. The Smiddy Bunkhouse & Blacksmiths Backpackers Hostel offers laundry machines, a mini-supermarket and a fully equipped kitchen so you don’t have to spend money dining out. At this hostel, even the planning is taken care of. We know, you’ve never heard those words before. The on-site residential mountain and river guide can organize rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing and skiing. Now, it’s time to relax.
Blue Mountains YHA, Katoomba, Australia
The discounted family rates make this Australian hostel a favorite among parents, and the arcade games and dedicated children’s corner make it a big hit with the little ones. It’s a win-win.
Maggie Parker is the assistant editor at Paste Travel.