Venice | Generator Hostel

Italy’s on the Generator map, and the hippest hostel in the boot is in Venice. The radical urban accomodation group, now comprising 8 concept hostels in 7 of Europe’s hottest city destinations, has opened a predicatably super-stylish super-hostel in what was once a quayside grain store on the island of Giudecca, facing Piazza San Marco across the lagoon. At Generator Venice you can choose a private room with its own bathroom from around €100, or just a bed and storage cupboard in small or large dormitories (some female-only)  for less than €20 per night. Brilliant if you’re travelling with enough friends to fill up a room/dorm – and Generator not only welcomes groups but offers them extra services and organisation.

So that’s the sleeping arrangements sorted. But Generator Venice, like all the others, is ‘more than a hostel’. In sassy, open spaces under the original 19th-century exposed beams, travellers eat, drink and generally hang out at the hostel. An eclectic décor mixing vintage and contemporary just sucks you into lounges, the Generator Bar, and probably the best hostel eatery on the planet. Plenty of events to enliven the urban adventure too, usually involving music and dancing. Add to that details like breakfast for a small extra fee, free and fast WiFi, a laundry service, power showers and a travel shop, and affordable travel takes on a whole new allure. Venice Carnival events this year run from February 15th to March 4th, just in case you’re tempted.