If you see hostels as falling somewhere between dorm roomsand jail cells in terms of their chicness and comfort, these properties will elevateyour opinion. Gone are the musty lounges with beanbag chairs; the rusty lockersof questionable security; the plain rooms with flimsy mass-produced furniture.In their place, you’ll find urban artwork, design-conscious furnishings, andlounges so hip, they’re destinations for locals, too.

And this explosion of uber-chic budget spots -- dubbed “poshtels,”as in posh hostels -- aren’t just for the junior backpacking set. Artsyurbanites of all ages are drawn to these properties -- both the recent gradsand the recent grandads. Ultimately, though, the most game-changing element of thesebudget beauties is that they’ve transformed hostels from places only suitablefor sleeping to ones that you’ll happily linger in during daylight hours.Here are our 10 favorite hostel hotspots.

1. Cocomama, Amsterdam

Cocomama is proof that properties can

embrace their history and local culture without being stuffy, uncool, or loaded

with dusty antiques. The self-described “boutique hostel” in Amsterdam has

individually decorated rooms with Dutch themes (e.g. “Tulips” or “Van Gogh”).

Windmills, clogs, and Delft-blue pottery abound, but never without a touch of

cheeky humor — just witness the cow figurines in the private “Farm” Room. The wood-beamed ceilings, a narrow

staircase, and a resident cat are conventionally Dutch, too. But bold orange

and blue accents inject the historic town house with a jolt of youthful fun.

2. Freehand Miami

Even the bunks get fashionable flourishes at the Freehand.

The looping cursive graffiti by the pool reading “love love”

pretty much sums up our feelings for the Freehand. The building is pure 1930s glamor; the

furnishings are mid-century hip; and the pool scene is cool. Private rooms are available,

but even the Quad bunk-bed rooms are thoughtfully designed, with jaunty navy

accents and little privacy curtains between the bunks. Retro bikes with

lipstick-red frames and leather seats are available to explore the area, should

you ever want to leave.

3. Generator Paris

It’s a theater of pure design at the Generator Paris.

This

high-design gem has quickly become a media darling. From the front desk with metal rivets and a

bright marquee sign baring its name to the communal bathrooms

with tiles that spell out cheeky messages like, “Text me, I dare you,” delightful

little details abound. It’s these touches that make the rooms feel more luxe than what you’d expect at a hotel.

Private rooms have fold-away nightstands and trompe l’oeil bookcases behind the

beds. But even the shared rooms have nice details like leather butterfly

chairs. If you’re visiting the City of Love with your paramour, consider the

private Twin Terrace Room with a little balcony furnished with striped loungers

and a hammock. And if you’re going solo, you may find romance en route to the

Generator’s bar, decked out in curved subway tile to mimic a stop on “Le

Metro.”

4. The New York Loft Hostel

New York City’s epicenter of cool

long ago decamped from Manhattan, and while the Wythe Hotel makes a good

argument that Williamsburg is where it’s at, The New York Loft Hostel (and just

about every episode of HBO’s “Girls”) will tell you it’s in Bushwick. This

property is a primer in all things “Brooklyn cool.” Bright, punchy arrows lead

guests all over the property, to the shaded courtyard with grills and sun

loungers, to the shared kitchen with its looming ceilings and exposed brick,

and to the rooftop lounge complete with purple ping-pong tables. The slinky,

red-lit bar has room for bands to play, too.

5. Space Hotel, Melbourne

True to its name, this hostel is far from the typical

cramped, dark backpackers’ den. Instead, it’s airy and streamlined practically

to the point of being aerodynamic. The communal kitchen has sleek chrome ranges

and built-in refrigerators; tables are white lacquered surfaces paired with

backless benches; bunk beds have industrial frames and flat ladders — even the

black sun loungers are made up of arcing metal legs joined with mesh. The decor may avoid embellishments, but the

amenities, including a sprawling roof deck

and giant hot tub, add plenty of bells and whistles to the property.

6. Clink78, London

Loud and proud — that’s the design philosophy at Clink78.

In many ways, Clink78 was the property that kicked off the

invasion of the poshtels; its blend of historic building with punky,

fashion-forward decor is the blueprint that other like-minded properties strive to copy.

Stencil graffiti and graphic patterns climb the walls of this 19th-century courthouse all the way up to the lobby’s stained-glass skylight. Occasionally,

it takes a Banksy-esque turn, like the stenciled coat rack with real hooks

protruding. Some of the rooms are converted jail cells and have the reinforced

doors to prove it. The bar, named after The Clash who faced trial here, is a

riot of color with teal leather couches, red-tasseled lamps, and foosball and

pool tables.

7. Golly&Bossy Design Hostel, Croatia

Views from the balcony showcase the quaint surroundings.

Most hostels are decorated in clashing

colors and a cacophony of graphic patterns, but Golly&Bossy bucks that trend. Rooms, both shared and private, are a study of

white-on-white minimalism, with white platform beds, white walls — even white

flat-screen TVs. There’s no in-room artwork to detract from the airy serenity,

and built-in storage lockers are devoid of handles. But one accent

color — the hue of a sour apple Jolly Rancher — keeps things from looking

institutional. And it radiates off the lacquered floor of the restaurant, which

is illuminated by bare bulbs hanging from tendrils of wires. It’s the perfect jolt of electricity to wake

up guests before they tumble out into the terrace and back into the Technicolored

world.

8. Generator Barcelona

Blowing out design trends is what the

Generator does best: If one paper lantern is pretty, why not cover the entire

ceiling of the restaurant? The result is a hostel that feels like a design fun

house with swing-arm lamps the size of fridges and couches upholstered in two

different fabrics. Barcelona has a legacy of flamboyant design — this is the

land of Gaudi, after all — and the Generator clearly brought it’s interior

design A-game to the city. But it’s not

a museum piece. Guests can be found cramming into the photo booth, playing

foosball, or swinging from suspended loungers. Overall, the lively energy here and

fresh look give its Paris sister property a little continental competition.

9. Stay on Main Hotel and Hostel, Los Angeles

Stay on Main makes a grand entrance.

L.A.’s Stay on Main has an exterior that’s red-carpet

worthy. And the lobby, with its columns, statues, and balconies, looks like

it’s been dipped in gold — thanks to brass and gilt trim used generously

everywhere. The lobby bar is a nod to Hollywood Regency style, with white

leather tufted banquets and mirrors in a jumble of frames. (Note the bar’s

small popcorn-maker — only in L.A.!) But rooms are a bit more modern and

simplified, with boldly printed sheets and hand-shaped chairs. Its location,

between The Standard, Downtown L.A. and The Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles,

completes a sort of hipster golden triangle.

10. Casa Gracia Barcelona Hostel

If the high-octane design of many of the previous properties

gives you a headache, consider the calm Casa Gracia. There’s no splashy

graffiti or throbbing lights. Instead, the understated elegance of a boutique

hotel quietly hums throughout. Parquet floors, wall moldings, and white columns

set the backdrop, but a dash of chrome light fixtures and weathered leather

furniture keep things from getting precious. The result feels like a marriage

between Restoration Hardware and Urban Outfitters. Rooms, even the ones that sleep six, have regal details like crystal pendant lights or tiny wrought-iron balconies. It’s

a civilized little hostel that’ll give you cause to linger long after the free

continental breakfast has ended.