The London Generator was the first in a chain that now includes hostels  Venice, Barcelona, and coming soon in Paris and Rome, each with the same emphasis on contemporary design and style and, sixteen years after its original opening, the London branch was felt to be looking a little tired compared to its newer counterparts.

London themes are everywhere, including this DJ booth in the bar area. Photo: courtesy of the hotel

Stylish and fun upgrades with a London theme

In terms of looks, the makeover is pretty impressive. There’s a London theme throughout, from the Mind The Gap signs to the huge red double decker bus in the bar used by DJs on club nights. In the café area, the comfy seating and the wingback chairs make it a more attractive place to hang out and check your emails than many other London cafes.

What’s even more appealing is that the design has been done with a sense of fun. Each floor is devoted to a different famous fictional Brit, ranging from the sublime, in the examples of Alice in Wonderland or Mary Poppins, to the more ridiculous Ali G and Austin Powers.

The rooms have a modern and bright feel with a few colorful touches to liven them up. Photo: Frances Ambler

Affordable and bright (but still small) rooms

However, when it comes to the rooms the revamp has, unfortunately, had to be a little more limited. As the hostel is housed in a listed historic building that once provided accommodation for the local police it means they haven’t been able to make any structural changes to address the complaints about small rooms that frequently crop up in online reviews. The only rooms with ensuite facilities remain the twin rooms. Furthermore, each room has been given a colorful paint job to make it feel a bit brighter and clever under-bed lockable storage helps maximize the space.

Tasty food & cocktails but no kitchen

Another possibly divisive factor is that the hostel contains no self-catering facilities for its 870 guests. There’s a full café and bar menu, with appetizing sounding dishes such as bacon, leek and Stilton tart with a watercress salad or a toasted flatbread with hummus and roasted red peppers, goats cheese and rocket at competitive but not bargain basement prices. Perhaps more indicatively there’s also an extensive reasonably priced menu of cocktails and shooters.

The bar is pretty to look at, but the youthful scene might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

The lively scene may not be for everyone

To its credit, London’s Generator is trying to keep the sociable aspect of hostel staying alive, with nightly DJs, film screenings and events such as quizzes. There’s music playing throughout the reception area too, making for a lively feel—perhaps too lively for some. In fact, comments about the noise remain the most common complaint in online reviews.

The care and attention to detail that have been put into the revamp definitely make it worth checking out, that is if the idea of staying in a large, buzzy and irrepressibly lively hostel appeals. For a more sedate time, you might be better looking at a smaller hotel, even if the chairs aren’t quite so handsome.

Read our full review of the hostel here, along with dozens of other affordable London hotel options.

The post A new look for London’s Generator Hostel appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Choosing a budget hotel in London can be a truly daunting task. But fear not, Cheapos; it is possible if you know where to look!

I recently spent several weeks visiting budget-friendly hotels, B&Bs and hostels in London for EuroCheapo’s London hotel guide. It’s hard to pick three favorites, but, if pressed, these would be my top three budget places to stay in London:

Relax in the Arosfa's garden. Photo: Nina Derham

1. Arosfa Hotel
83 Gower Street, Bloomsbury

Basics: The Arosfa is a truly charming and unique accommodation. Nestled amongst a large number of other B&B’s and student digs, the Arosfa stands out as a place that has truly been cared for. Owner Nicolas, is rightfully proud of his creation. Each room has a different color scheme and all are equipped with flat-screen TV’s and fantastic en suite bathrooms (complete with luxurious fittings such as rainfall showers).

Extras: Home-cooked breakfast is included in the price and there is also an ultra-modern living room where guests can catch up on emails and relax on comfy sofas after a busy day of sightseeing. Nicolas encourages guests to make use of his beautifully manicured garden, a very unusual thing to stumble across in central London!

Location: The hotel is slap, bang in the middle of Bloomsbury, making sightseeing by foot easy. The British Museum is within easy reach and a quick walk through Soho will take you to the National Gallery. The Arosfa is just a few minutes walk from the shops of Oxford Street. Some of London’s best theaters are just around the corner and fashionable Charlotte Street is also nearby, offering an excellent range of restaurants and pubs.

Read more and see additional photos on our review of the Arosfa Hotel.

PRICE: $109-$234
BEST FOR: Couples looking for a romantic London break in stylish surroundings, and families looking for affordable and comfortable accommodation.

This is no standard Generator. Photo: Nina Derham

2. The Generator
Compton Place, Bloomsbury

Basics: Hands down one of the craziest hostels I have ever visited, The Generator sits somewhere between nightclub and hotel. Take, for example, the bouncer stationed at the door of this 800-bed monster of a hostel and the UV lights in the metal-plated entrance hall. The staff all wear bright blue and fluorescent green uniforms and dance music plays throughout the day.

All beds are in dorm rooms and are pretty basic, with red metal frames and blue walls, but visitors here shouldn’t be planning on doing too much sleeping, so the simplicity of the rooms shouldn’t be a problem. There are some newer girls-only dorms which are painted pink and come with a mirror and dressing table for each girl–perfect for girly trips to London on a budget.

Location: The hostel is located close to Russell Square, so all the amenities of the lovely Brunswick Centre are nearby, including a foreign language cinema. The hostel is also perfectly placed for the British Museum and the West End; London’s shopping and theatre district.

Extras: The hostel boasts its very own nightclub with different theme parties each night (when I was there it was a “London tube” party, and everyone had to dress up as the name of a tube stop). There is also a large dining room where buffet breakfast and dinner are served each day, as well as a chill-out room with a big TV screen, sofas and Internet.

Read more and see additional photos on our review of the Generator Hostel.

HOW MUCH: $24-$126
BEST FOR: Lone travelers looking for a truly sociable environment, and big groups of girls or guys who want to party hard.

A very well-equipped Stylotel Suite. Photo: Nina Derham

3. Stylotel and Stylotel Suites
160 Sussex Gardens, Paddington

Basics: The Stylotel’s sleek new suites are quite a rare sight for the average budget traveler. While the original Stylotel sets itself apart with a spaceship-like design, minuscule bathrooms and metal-plated walls, the newly opened suites are an altogether classier affair. Located above the Stylotel’s very own pub, The Sussex Arms, the suites offer a selection of sleek studios and one bed apartments for 2-4 people, perfect for travelers looking for more independence.

Suites: The steep staircase leading up to the suites is adorned with somewhat futuristic neon lighting, but the suites themselves boast dark wood floors, chrome kitchenettes and plain white linen on the beds. Whilst breakfast isn’t included in the price, guests do have the necessary basic amenities to prepare food themselves, which for many, is a real added bonus.

Location: The location is ideal for exploring Hyde Park, and the shops of Oxford Street can be reached by foot. But the real draw has to be the proximity to Paddington station.

Read more and see additional photos on our review of the Stylotel.

HOW MUCH: $150-250 (for double room and for 1-bed suite)
BEST FOR: Single travelers on work trips, families and couples – anyone looking for a bit more space and independence on their trip to London.

The post Cheap London Hotels: Our favorite budget places to sleep appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Sleep super cheap.

Unless you have friends in Barcelona, you are going to have to pay for somewhere to sleep, which could be around €20 at Hostal Malda, the cheapest place in town. Unfortunately, you just spent your daily budget. However, this is a guide to €20 a day apart from accommodations. Read on…

2. “I’ll just sleep on the beach and save money…”

Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. Don’t sleep on the beach because A) You WILL be robbed (I know of several people who have been) and B) you might get run over by the sand-cleaning tractor that sifts the beach in the mornings.

3. Do FREE stuff, skip the expensive museums.

You can kiss goodbye trips to Casa Batllo (€18) and La Sagrada Famila, which both have steep entrance fees. Instead, see them from the outside, which is still impressive, or skip them and head straight for these cool freebies:

Parque Güell: Free and fabulous park by Antoni Gaudi. Hands-down one of the best sights to visit on a sunny day. Bring water and a snack, as there is not much up there (and what is up there is expensive). Cost: €5 or so in bus / metro fare. Safety note: Stay off the back trails if you are alone.

Beach Babe: Head to the beach. It’s FREE! Go with a friend so that you can take turns swimming. Never leave your belongings unattended at the beach. Better yet, take nothing of value. (P.S. I don’t swim at Barceloneta Beach, but other people do. It’s up to you.) Here’s our overview of Barcelona’s beaches.

Catalunya Caixa Casa Mila: Free Museum in one of Antoni Gaudí’s most fanciful buildings. Open daily. This does not get you into the Gaudí part, but into the rotating expositions. I love this place, and go frequently because of the high quality shows put on there. Check out their Web site for more information.

4. Eat at bakeries, avoid restaurants.

Are there more bars or bakeries in Barcelona? This is a chicken-and-egg question that is impossible to answer. Eat breakfast and lunch at a bakery and save big on euros. You can get a large sandwich and a coke/water/whatever for about €5 to €6. Many cafes and bakeries run breakfast specials where you can get a coffee and croissant for less than €3. Here’s a list of our favorite bakeries in Barcelona.

5. The kebab is your friend.

For a filling dinner, head to one of Barcelona’s 200,000 kebab stands or restaurants and have a filling meal for €5.

6. Enjoy a cerveza in the plaza.

So far we’ve spent €3 on breakfast, €6 on lunch, €5 on dinner, and €5 on bus fare up to the park.

If you skip the park and stay central, walking to your destinations, then you still have €6 to buy a couple beers off street vendors or from the grocery store. On summer nights there is nothing wrong with sitting in a plaza and sharing a bottle of wine or a couple cervezas. In fact, lots of locals do it, and you might end up meeting some interesting people.

7. Other euro-saving tips in Barcelona:

* Book at a hostel with a kitchen, like Pension Mari-Luz, and buy fresh bread and cheese. Make yourself some sandwiches and save on food.

* Buy a large gallon of water and fill up your water bottle throughout the day.

* Stay central so you won’t have to pay cabs and bus tickets. I recommend the Barri Gotic or Raval for being central.

* Barcelona has lots of free stuff going on in its parks in the summer. Many nights in July and August there are free concerts in Ciutadella Park, for example.

Your money-saving tips for Barcelona

Have more suggestions for ways to save euros while visiting Barcelona? Share with us in our comments section!

The post Barcelona on a Serious Budget: One day on less than €20 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.