Hostels get a bad rep. Dingy rooms, bed bugs and drunken top bunk fumbles (hey, we've all been there – haven't we?). But that's all in the past! Hostels are getting poshed up, and prices are staying low. Here are three beds to bunk in.
Jack Sprat Shack, Jamaica
Wagwan in Jamaica? Well, everything's irie at this hostel on the south-west coast. Rooms are all wooden, bunks and cream walls, but with the Caribbean sun blazing, and the rum flowing, who cares? Minutes from the shack is the Pelican Bar – a wooden booze-filled structure built a quarter of a mile out to sea. Chill man, it's easy to access – local fishermen will happily ferry you over. (Yeah, that's enough of us trying to speak Jamaican patois.) jackspratshack.com
Generator Paris, France
Expert hostel brand Generator has injected some serious Parisian chic into its latest 900-bed opening in the Canal St-Martin neighbourhood of the French capital. There's a stylish urban vibe, mattresses are thick and bunk beds even come with privacy shields so no one has to see your open-mouthed snoring face (just hear it). If you're feeling flush, book a private room with an ensuite and terrace. generatorhostels.com
YHA Black Sail, Lake District
Fresh from a £260,000 renovation, this converted mountain hut in the Ennderdale Valley is YHA's most remote retreat. It's a schlep to get there (the nearest road is 2.5 miles down a mountain path) but your efforts will be rewarded – guests are to treated to eco-friendly and cosy thermal insulation, LED lights, home cooked meals and, erm, outdoor bathrooms. Worth it for the views though, no? yha.org.uk
