New York City can be an expensive place to visit when staying in hotels, but there is an alternative: family hostels!

Hostels are best known for offering dormitory accommodation to travelers, but most hostels also offer private accommodation too.

Jazz Hostels has 6 budget hostels in Manhattan, offering both private rooms and dormitories. Our family private rooms have a double bed and a bunk bed and can accommodate up to 5 people.

Bathrooms can be ensuite and not much different than a hotel room, except less expensive!

Deal Climate is Still Hot
On the heels of a record 2005 where we witnessed over $17.1 billion in upscale and luxury lodging transactions, 2006 has already surpassed that level, reaching $17.4 billion through the first three quarters. While fewer assets have changed hands this year, the price per room has increased significantly, rising 70% year over year through the third quarter.

High profit levels and a rosy outlook for the next two to three years, coupled with the glut of funds targeting the lodging industry, have produced a record level of deal volume in the upscale and luxury lodging sectors over the past twelve months. During the period, over $22.5 billion in transactions occurred. The average price per room over the trailing twelve months was $239,000, a sizeable jump from the $169,000 level achieved in 2005.

Situated on Maui’s southwestern coast, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea takes advantage of its locale’s beautiful white beaches. The sparkling waters are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and whale-watching. The resort is designed in a clever U-shape with the open end facing the ocean, providing most of the 380 rooms with spectacular views. In addition to the beach, the resort offers a spectacular 1,650-sq. foot infinity pool that faces the Ocean. The state-of-the-art saline pool is equipped with an underwater music system and four bubble loungers. The resort has a championship golf course that wanders through the resort’s lush gardens and two tennis courts that are lighted for evening play. After a day at the beach or on the golf course, guests can relax at the luxurious spa featuring 13 private treatment rooms or dine at one of the many dining options at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, which includes a Wolfgang Puck Restaurant.

A Guide To Sleeping In Hostels

hostelOne of the most important considerations when traveling from country to country is where you’re going to crash and rest your weary head. With all this talk of economic meltdown across the world, more people are looking to travel on the cheap, which has really put the humble hostel on the map.

No longer just for backpackers, you can find different types of hostel in destinations all over the world, from traditional youth hostels to the chic ‘boutique hostel’ aimed at a new breed of budget traveler who doesn’t mind sharing rooms as long as the interior is cool, modern and stylish.

However, it can still be a bit intimidating sleeping in a hostel for the first time – what if all the horror stories about curfews and crowded dorms are true? For all the ‘hostel virgins’ out there taking the first steps away from faceless budget hotel chains, here’s a guide to sleeping in hostels.