New Hotels With Old-Style Prices

Finding economical, clean, safe accommodations is the first hurdle young independent travelers face in new destinations. Fortunately the number of budget hotels and independent and internationally affiliated hostels is increasing. Here are some new locations in New York City, Toronto, Hawaii and Colorado.

After a multimillion-dollar refurbishment in 1997, the Malibu Hotel in New York City has reopened and is catering to travelers on limited budgets with rooms without baths from $48 per night.

The Malibu has 100 guest rooms. Rooms with private bathrooms can accommodate two or four people and are priced $79 to $129 (continental breakfast is included).

The hotel is located on Broadway at 103rd Street in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, close to Central and Riverside parks, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (the world’s largest Gothic cathedral), Grant’s Tomb and Columbia University. For further details, contact the Malibu Hotel, 2688 Broadway, New York, NY 10025; telephone (212) 222-2954 or (800) 647-2226; fax (212) 678-6842.

Toronto has a new hostel, Global Village Backpackers, that is going through a $225,000 refurbishment. It’s open to visitors now, but by May its much-needed face lift should be completed.

The hostel is in the old Spadina Hotel. With 150 beds, Global Village Backpackers is the largest international travelers’ hostel in the city. Its location is a convenient walk from the CN Tower, Skydome, the theater district and the entertainment opportunities of the Queen Street West neighborhood.

By May, 200 beds will be available. Most rooms have four beds, but some private rooms also are available. Guests have 24-hour access, and there’s a kitchen, laundry room, game area and common room. The new reception area will have a travel information desk where visitors can book local tours. There is a separate area for groups, with a private kitchen and bath.

Global Village Backpackers dormitory bed rates start at $16 per night, plus taxes. Double rooms are available for $32 plus tax. There is no membership requirement; however discounts are offered to members of Hostelling International, ISIC cardholders (International Student Identity Card) and members of VIP Backpackers.

For reservations, call (416) 703-8540, toll-free (888) 844-7875, or write to Global Village Backpackers, 460 King St. West, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5V IL7.

Budget travelers interested in exploring volcanoes in Hawaii have a new hostel to use as their base. Hostelling International has announced the opening of the 10-bed Holo Holo Inn on the Big Island of Hawaii at 19-4036 Kalani Honua Road, Volcano, Hawaii 96785; tel. (808) 967-7950. For $15 per night, guests have use of laundry facilities, a sun deck and sauna, and are provided with complimentary coffee and tea.

This is one of three new HI hostels that recently have opened. The others are in Crested Butte, Colo., and Elma, Wash.

The newly built HI-Crested Butte International Hostel (615 Teocalli Ave., Crested Butte, CO 81224; tel. [970] 349-0588) is just down the road from the Crested Butte ski area, and within walking distance of shops, restaurants and the free ski shuttle. It can accommodate up to 52 guests in four-bedded rooms at a cost of $14 to $21 per person, per night. The rooms can be reserved by couples or families. The hostel also has laundry facilities and a fireplace. It is one of 40 HI hostels located in U.S. winter ski resort areas.

For further information on any of these facilities, contact American Youth Hostels--HI, 733 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. (202) 783-6161, Internet site: https://www.hiayh.org.

Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. She can be reached at https://www.izon.com.