From Bunk Beds to Co-Living: The Rise of Community-Driven Travel
- Steph Lecce
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
To dorm or not to dorm, that is the question.
A real Sophie’s Choice for millennials caught somewhere between transitioning into hotels and holding onto the hostel culture we’ve grown to know and love since our carefree backpacking days as 19-year-olds embarking on European escapades.
This article is for you-- who like us-- do a great deal of traveling and perpetually seek accommodation for the sake of enjoying more concert eventing time; without breaking the bank.
For a generation of backpackers that has spent decade (s?) travelling the world, surviving on street food, instant coffee, and cramped dorms, the reality is we are aging out of the hostel stay. And yet… many travelers, myself included, are still refusing to let it go.
Despite the loud snores, overflowing fridges, and sleepless nights, we hesitate to trade it in for the comfort of a hotel.
But the question is why? Because no one is actually yearning for a squeaky bunk bed in a room full of strangers.
It was never about the bed, it was about what came along with it.
The bunk bed with built-in friendships. The common room that catered to late-night conversations until sunrise. The feeling that you could land anywhere in the world and find your people. Friendships that form for a reason, season, or last a lifetime.
And it turns out, this isn’t just personal preference.
It’s generational.
In global travel studies, millennials consistently emerge as one of the most influential groups in tourism. They travel more frequently, prioritize experiences over possessions, and seek flexibility and connection. Travel isn’t just a break anymore; it’s a way of life.
I’ll never forget my first stay at Selina in Bogotá, Colombia. It was shaped almost entirely by what happened inside the walls of that hybrid hotel. A live music night on a casual Tuesday turned into a late hang with the artist and a few other travellers, ending in late-night street food and an invite to his birthday show at an underground art space. An early morning street art tour pushed me out the door before 9am (a huge feat in itself) and resulted in befriending the tour guide. Turns out Selina’s staff guide was also an art activist who then let me tag along with her while she painted her next mural on the hilltop of a local neighbourhood, a piece that represented strong female leaders.
Once upon a time in a Cancun co-working hybrid hotel, somewhere between a rooftop salsa lesson, a midnight coworking session fueled by sangria, and a chaotic karaoke night, plans became memories and strangers turned into family.
This is the magic.
And as the candles get added to the cake each year, something else starts to creep in: the desire for a bit more comfort, a little more privacy, and maybe a door that actually closes.
Which leads to the big question.
Is it possible to keep the connections without the bunk beds?
Enter the next wave of hybrid hotels and co-living spaces. They sensed the struggle, heard our “subtle” online complaints, and have introduced a solution…Or dare I say, a wanderlust millennial miracle?
Lub d is one of the leaders in this domain, acting as the first stepping stone.
More of a softer transition out of hostel life, by still offering dorms for tighter budgets, but with the option to upgrade. With properties across Thailand, from Bangkok to Phuket, it feels like a home base built for connection. Designed for digital nomads, backpackers, adventurers, and everyone in between.
Lub d understands something important: travelers may share the same passport-stamping addiction, but everything else varies—age, budget, work style, and intention. There is no one-size-fits-all model. That’s why you can spend your week weaving coconut leaves on Monday, joining a trivia team Tuesday, cliff jumping midweek, and ending it all at a Saturday pool party. If you’re like me, a fitness fanatic even while country hopping, knowing your stay includes morning yoga, beach volleyball, and run club makes it a no-brainer.
Then there are properties like lyf, which take this same idea and elevate it through intentional, award-winning design that invites connection into everyday moments.
Rather than relying on a basic “common area,” lyf reimagines how people interact within a space with Social Kitchens where people cook and linger, Social Gyms, and communal spaces that feel more like living rooms.
They’ve clearly nailed the design, and now they’re focusing on developing cultural, music, and creative programming.
I saw this firsthand during my stay over Songkran.
I was sitting in the second-floor coworking space when I heard the faint sounds of acoustic guitar. Curious, I shut my laptop and followed the music down to the lobby. Two Thai artists were casually sitting and jamming in a tuk-tuk.
They invited me to the rooftop show they were playing at sunset with a touring artist from Berlin. The best part? Free.
It ended up being a great night. Sharing drinks and stories with new people, and enjoying live music while the sun slowly disappeared behind Bangkok’s skyscrapers.
I later learned it was part of a new music series lyf was experimenting with that was in collaboration with Sofar Sounds and Front Page News, and other creative partners, supporting artists through intimate, community-driven experiences.
The start of something interesting at lyf.
Finally we have Node
The elevated top tier, the crème de la crème of co-living spaces. Catering to the working professional, the social entrepreneur, and the modern-day creative who’s no longer traveling on a shoestring budget. They can afford the finer things in life, like a bed that doesn’t require a ladder and curtains made of dangling towels, while still feeling part of a community.
Node spaces are designed for bigger budgets, longer timelines, and travelers who want a space that feels like a real home, without giving up the social perks of a hostel.
In cities like London, Barcelona, and Madrid, Node isn’t just building spaces, but thoughtfully growing ecosystems for sustainable connection. Each city has designated community curators that organize everything from rooftop mixology nights to garden BBQs.
Another desirable element is their exclusive app for residents. Through the Node app, you’re not just connected to your building, but the entire network across the city.
And for the modern-day creator, like myself, they’ve gone one extra (very enticing) step by including specific tools and spaces to help us create on the go.
Podcast rooms, music studios, and even creative spaces designed for collaboration.
Because today’s traveler isn’t just traveling anymore, they’re creating. Freelancers, remote workers, and digital nomads, categorize spaces that allow them to create as a non-negotiable, and Node recognizes that.
So maybe the question isn’t whether we’re ready to leave hostels behind.
This isn’t a battle between hostels and hotels, but a reflection of something bigger—the growing importance of community and our need for connection. The best parts of travel were never about the glamorous rooms. They were about the people, the moments, and the experiences.
The real question is whether the industry is ready to catch up with what the new wave of travelers actually value. These travellers would still trade Egyptian cotton sheets for a 4-person dorm that results in a night of sangria, salsa, and karaoke with strangers.
I could be persuaded to give up the top bunk, but I’m not giving up the magic. Connection will always win.
On that note, catch you at karaoke. I’ll be the tattooed artist gripping the mic on stage singing some kind of 90’s hit.
All strangers welcome.
