Is this the end of the boring hotel with fugly bedspreads, exhorbitant charges for "high-speed Internet connections," and where you feel like prisoners in your room? Could be....
A new generation of hip hotel brands — aka boutique budget hotels — are dotting the landscape, giving hope to every iPod-toting, wi-fi using couple who find fussy, dull, and old-fashioned lodgings unappealing.
Style and technology are these hip boutique hotels' trademarks. Touting affordable luxury, most offer rooms priced at under $200 a night, better bedding, free wi-fi, iPod speakers, and cool public spaces to meet like-minded travelers.
1. Edition is Marriott's Hip Budget Hotel Brand
© Marriott Hotels
Edition is a partnership between the stylish ethos of Ian Schrager (who invented the concept of the boutique hotel and whose trendy properties range from Miami's Delano to the exclusive Gramercy Park Hotel) and the resources of Marriott hotels. The objective for Edition hotels, according to J.W. Marriott Jr., is to be "the first truly global branded boutique/lifestyle hotel on a large scale and the next generation to set the standard for decades to come." The first property launched in Waikiki, Hawaii. “Each hotel will reflect the locale it’s in,” Schrager told FT.com. “When I see a city I am able to very quickly understand what needs to be done with the design, to fit the local environment and vibe.”
2. Andaz is Hyatt Hotels' New Boutique Hotel Brand
© Susan Breslow Sardone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Andaz is Hyatt Hotels' brand designed to appeal to modern travelers. Clean and casual, Andaz's minimalist look will appeal to those who relish smart conveniences and amenities. Guest room furnishings incorporate original ideas such as a rotating closet and freestanding flatscreen TV backed by a mirror. Its first New York property opened on Wall Street and was closely followed by a midtown Manhattan location. On the opposite coast is Andaz West Hollywood.
3. Ace is a Hip Budget Hotel Brand
© Ace Hotels.
The Ace’s hip new hotel reputation was born with its inaugural Seattle property. Ace Hotels now colonize Portland, Seattle, Palm Springs, and NYC. The brand lures post-collegiate travelers with a funky yet stark aesthetic that blends Pacific NW grunge, Japanese animé, and flea-market nostalgia. Some rooms have bunk beds and/or hallway johns. Service and fitness facilities vary. The Gotham outpost is upscale for an Ace, with bathrooms in all rooms and an on-premises gym. Ace Hotels are centrally located and pet-friendly, with critic-acclaimed in-house dining. Romantic travelers who are not of the tattoos-and-texting sort may eschew the Ace’s hipster-dorm approach.
4. NYLO is a Hip Budget Hotel Brand
© NYLO Hotels.
Unaffiliated with other hotel brands, NYLO is a new urban and green hotel concept. Brick-and-glass exteriors, floor-to-ceiling lobby windows, and exposed walls contribute to the edgy design. In loftlike quarters, couples find soaring ceilings, custom-designed furniture, and luxury linens. Free high-tech amenities include wi-fi, a large flat-screen TV with plug-ins for iPods and computers. There is also a gathering spot next to the lobby with an equally stylish bar and 24/7 restaurant, a game room, library, business center, and shop. In addition to the Providence, Rhode Island property, there are Texas NYLO hotels in Dallas and Plano.
