In big cities, space is at a premium, and the cramped hotel room is something travelers to cities like New York and London are familiar with — oversized and excess furniture in a too-small space.
But there's a new breed of small hotel: the microhotel. While the actual rooms might be small (think 250 square feet or less), the design is smart and sleek, with everything you need and nothing you don't. Plus, the rest of the hotel is spacious and comfortable, promoting relaxation and mingling with new friends.
SEE ALSO: This tiny house hotel is the future of affordable vacations
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Hub Hotels Covent Garden
Where: London, England
Located in the theater-friendly Covent Garden area, The Hub by Premier Inn houses tiny but sophisticated rooms with underbed storage, Smart TVs, pull-out desks, and comfy Hypnos beds. Perfect for the tech-savvy guest, you can use the hotel’s app to book a room and check-in — or use one of their easy kiosks. The app also syncs with your room to control the lights, temperature, and television. You can even use it to order breakfast. There's complimentary tea and coffee and super-fast Wi-Fi. The lobby and the ProvenDough Deli and Bar are perfect places to hang out or get some work done. The Hub brand has three other locations in London, with a fourth opening in August, plus one in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a second one there on the way.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s London Guide
Generator
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Yes, they call themselves a hostel, but what that means in this case is twin or quadruple rooms with en-suite bathrooms for budget-friendly prices. In a former university building adjacent to Oosterpark, Generator Hostel's tiny but modern rooms surround spacious social areas including a coffee shop and bar in a former lecture hall, a game room in the former library with grab-and-go coffee, and a café that utilizes honey from the rooftop bee colony. There's an outdoor terrace, and the old boiler room is turning into a hidden late-night bar later this year. Perks include free Vanmoof bike rentals (with a deposit), beer tastings, movie screenings, and other tailored programming for guests. Generator is currently in 10 cities across Europe, with two more locations opening this year in Rome and Stockholm.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Amsterdam Guide
CitizenM
Where: Glasgow, Scotland
Small but chic, the soundproof rooms in CitizenM feature XL beds and wall-to-wall windows with blackout blinds where everything from temperature to colored lighting to the alarm is controlled by a Moodpad. But the room is just for sleeping: if you want to relax, head down to the lobby, which feels like a comfy but modern living room with iconic Vitra furniture for lounging. Hungry? Go to CanteenM, open 24 hours and fully stocked with yummy treats and drinks from coffee to expertly mixed cocktails. There are also large meeting rooms equipped with audiovisual gear and wipe-clean walls. And there's free Wi-Fi throughout the building, plus free movies. With other locations in New York and across Europe, CitizenM is poised to become the hottest microhotel chain.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Glasgow Guide
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