Mixing it up

Based in Chicago and Miami, and with another site planned for Los Angeles, The Freehand caters for a growing population of Flashpackers – travellers looking for a more luxurious social travel experience. Along with its beautifully designed Shared Quad rooms, The Freehand offers Private Quads for ‘grown-up sleepovers’, king- and queen-sized beds, and a penthouse for families. Designed by New York interior designers Roman and Williams, The Freehand is a place ‘inspired by summer camp and bunk houses’, combining a ‘mixture of naiveté and sophistication’ that speaks to a new generation of travellers.

The Big Picture: Hostels have been growing up since we first identified the Designer Bunks microtrend back in 2013, showing that even consumers on a budget understand and demand quality.