Hostels: Not just for backpackers

Why are they becoming more popular and more deluxe? In part, it's due to economic demands and a changing clientele. People of all ages are looking for quality accommodations at a budget price.

"The credit crunch is having an impact," Hostelworld spokesman Aisling White told the UK Guardian. "A new generation of young 'flashpackers' are looking for more luxury, but at the other end, 'grey gappers' are using them too. They used hostels in their youth but want more comfort now."

More than just a bed

Though hostels are becoming more like hotels, many offer experiences that go beyond than the "usual" accommodations -- but without a high price tag. For example:

- Get some fresh air. The Slane Farm Hostel is located on a working farm in Newgrange, Ireland. About an hour outside of Dublin, this hostel is ideally located for exploring the towns in Boyne Valley and their attractions, including the historic Hill of Slane, Trim Castle and Loughcrew (one of the oldest known graveyards in the world). This hostel also hosts a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling and golf. If dormitory-style accommodations aren't your style, there are family rooms available and private cottages located on the grounds.

- Go to jail. At the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel you'll be sleeping in a former jail cell in the heart of Canada 's capital. Don't worry: it's been converted to more comfortable accommodations with modern amenities like laundry facilities, a walk-in fridge, cable TV and internet access. You can also sleep in the prison hospital, or rent the "Warden's Quarters" for a private apartment stay. In addition to being minutes away from Ottawa's many attractions, the hostel houses its own museum about prison life. (Other former-prison-turned-hostels can be found in Stockholm, Sweden, Christchurch, New Zealand and Ljubljana, Slovenia.)