Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These Great Micro Hotels Prove Good Things Can Come in Small Packages

As recently as the last century, most travelers seeking accommodations were starved for choice. Some could afford to splash out on a proper hotel room, but hardcore budget travelers and backpackers were relegated to hostels and questionable guesthouses. There was little in-between. Then, Airbnb changed the game completely. But many travelers still want the feel and familiarity of an actual hotel without the exorbitant nightly rates. Enter “Micro Hotels.”

The ethos behind this new breed of hotels starts with compact guest rooms (around 150 square feet). The thinking is that most young travelers prefer to spend as much time outside exploring the city as much as possible, so an oversized room of mostly empty space is a waste. They then ditch underused hotel amenities like the gym, business center, and redundant staffing. These simple changes allow micro hotels in major cities to offer room rates that are less than half of their traditional hotel competitors. They focus instead on designer decors, high-tech conveniences, and destination-worthy in-house events (live music, creative discussion panels, and exhibits by local artists) to draw a good mix of tourists and locals.

Recommended Videos

Basically, they guarantee everything most travelers want in a hotel room while sparing them from paying for things they’ll never use. These four designer micro hotels prove that even urban travelers can find good — and, more importantly, affordable — things in small packages.

The Jane Hotel

New York City

It’s impossible to visit New York City without suffering a severe case of sticker shock. Mid-range hotels average USD $200-300 nightly, and extras like parking, paid Wi-Fi, sky-high tourism taxes, and other hidden fees can easily tack on an additional $100 or more per day. The Jane Hotel helped pioneer the city’s alternative micro hotel scene back in 2008. Its “cabin hotel rooms” are modeled after the timeless luxury of vintage train cars. The entry-level Standard Cabin measures just 50 square feet, and the shared bathroom is down the hall. It’s a tight fit, even by hostel standards. Inside, however, it’s like a step back in time to the glory days of rail travel. Every room includes essentials like a TV, a phone, and free, super-fast Wi-Fi. Nightly rates start around USD $100 – a steal in one of the world’s most notoriously expensive cities.

Book The Jane Hotel

ZIP Hotel by Premier Inn

United Kingdom

ZIP Hotels

Capsule hotels are well-known to travelers in Asia. The concept was popularized in Japan, where overnight accommodations are often prohibitively expensive. ZIP Hotel by Premier Inn takes the capsule hotel model and peppers in a bit more space and a private bathroom to boot. At just over 90 square feet, the rooms are still compact, bordering on cramped, but well-equipped with a pod-like power shower, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and universal power outlets. For travelers looking for nothing more than a clean place to lay their head, wash up, and charge their gadgets, it’s an ideal setup. The best part is that rooms cost just £19 (approximately USD $24) per night.

Book ZIP Hotel

CitizenM

Worldwide

CitizenM

CitizenM might be the world’s most popular micro hotel brand. With their first Amsterdam location, the focus was on high-end design in a low-cost hotel. They nix things like a concierge, room service, ironing boards, and bellhops. Instead of a traditional reception desk, guests check themselves in and out at an automated kiosk. The sleek designer rooms are compact but with plenty of upscale amenities, including king beds, on-demand movies, bottled water, and fast, free Wi-Fi. They offer affordable nightly rates (think USD $127 per night in Boston and Seattle) in some of the world’s most famous cities, including London, New York City, Paris, and Copenhagen. What’s more: Every room is the same price.

Book CitizenM

Motto by Hilton

Worldwide

Hilton is well-known for its large, upscale hotels in cities around the world. But, their Motto by Hilton brand looks to be something altogether different. Guest room floor plans at Motto will average just 163 square feet. They’ll rely on space-saving techniques like wall beds, lofted beds, and Swiss-Army-knife-style furniture like beds that double as sectional sofas to ensure guests don’t feel cramped. Every room will focus on high-tech amenities like ultra-fast Wi-Fi and allowing guests complete control over the space – including lighting, climate control, and electric window shades – all through the Hilton Honors mobile app. The brand is scheduled to open its first location in London in 2020. Other big cities popular with travelers will follow, including Boston, D.C., Dublin, Lima, and San Diego.

Learn More About Motto

If you’re after a slightly different “designer budget” experience, these luxury hostels offer all the swagger of an upscale hotel with the vibrant community vibe of a traditional hostel.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Avoid the awkward: 5 basic flight etiquette rules you should always follow
Because nobody wants to be that passenger everyone remembers for the wrong reasons
Interior of a passenger airplane

A few months ago, I was on a red-eye flight trying to catch some sleep, and just as I started to doze off, the person in front of me suddenly reclined their seat with full force, nearly knocking my laptop into my lap. Moments later, someone a few rows over had their shoes off and feet resting on the bulkhead. It was a crash course in why flight etiquette matters.

Air travel puts hundreds of strangers in a small, shared space for hours at a time. When everyone follows a few unspoken rules of courtesy, the experience can end up being smoother and more comfortable for everyone. So, here are five flight etiquette basics that make a big difference.
1. The middle airplane seat gets both armrests

Read more
Visiting Norway? A new fee may change how much your trip costs
The tax could be implemented as soon as next summer
Bergen Norway

Norway, famous for its dramatic fjords and Arctic beauty, is the latest country to introduce a tourism-related fee in response to growing concerns over overtourism. In 2024, Norwegian accommodations recorded more than 38 million guest nights, placing increasing pressure on infrastructure in many of the country's most scenic areas. Now, following the lead of cities like Venice and Barcelona, lawmakers have approved a measure that allows municipalities to implement a 3% “visitor’s contribution” tax on overnight stays and cruise ship passengers.

Unlike nationwide tourist taxes in other countries, Norway’s version will be locally applied. Municipalities must apply for approval by demonstrating that tourism has significantly strained public services. Once approved, the 3% tax can be levied on hotels, guesthouses, Airbnbs, and cruise passengers. However, camping vans, tents, and recreational boats will be exempt.

Read more
New technology offers US citizens seamless entry back into the country
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expanding a new program, Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), which allows U.S. residents traveling internationally to have uninterrupted entry back home. The technology uses biometric scanning and high-tech software to clear travelers as they walk through the international arrivals area. Best of all, there are no application fees, memberships, or interviews.

The program is an even better alternative to Global Entry, which offers pre-approved, low-risk passengers a quick, smooth arrival back to the U.S. But even then, travelers have to stop at kiosks, and there’s a $120 nonrefundable application fee.

Read more