I’m a travel writer and this is where I stay if I’m paying

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I ignored it at first – surely pure coincidence? – but then one of my best friends from London tapped me on the shoulder. I’d had no idea, but she happened to be at a conference in Scotland’s second city and, being of a like mind, had checked in there too.

CitizenM Glasgow’s urban chic facade.

Because these hotels tend to attract the kind of people who appreciate value and style – and their friends.

They have lounge rooms that are painted in vibrant primary colours, with great lighting, highly individual artwork adorning the walls and intriguing sculptures and craft objects on display.

Bright and cheery furnishings at CitizenM Paris Opera.

Bright and cheery furnishings at CitizenM Paris Opera.

At the New York Bowery citizenM, for instance, there’s a model of a giant baboon, and on the frontage of the hotel on Seattle’s Pioneer Square, there’s a giant RYAN! Feddersen mosaic mural that illustrates the neighbourhood’s history.

They reflect the city they’re in, with touches like Queen Elizabeth II wallpaper at Tower Hill, manga graffiti at the entrance of the Taipei hotel, and the walls of the staircase at the 21-storey New York hotel painted by 21 artists of the 5 Pointz Street art project.

When CitizenM started in 2008 with their first Amsterdam hotel, they proved a major disruptor of the industry, with rooms all the same small size, and a paid-for loyalty program that offers 15 per cent off all stays. Since then, they’ve had many imitators, but none do it quite as well.

It reminds you that travel should be fun… CitizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle.

It reminds you that travel should be fun… CitizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle.

They term it ‘affordable luxury’ and while it’s not dirt cheap, starting from about $134 a night, I think all that bold, creative eccentricity is the perfect foil for the cultural homogenisation we see so much in travel. And, of course, it reminds us that travel should be fun, and puts us in the mood for that from the get-go.

Four more affordable hotels

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Z Hotels
The alphabet has it! Also check out Britain’s Z Hotels for similarly well-designed compact rooms in fabulous locations, with great Wi-Fi, Sky TV, tea and coffee-making facilities and – just to start your trip off right – complimentary cheese and wine.

Yotel
Yotel is another favourite; seriously small rooms, some with beds that electronically fold up into sofas, inspired by Japan’s capsule hotels but which have spread throughout Europe and the US and have now hit Singapore too.

Moxy Hotels
Marriott’s Moxy Hotels are gaining in popularity as well, with their petite boltholes and stylish communal spaces now available throughout the world.

LyLo
Hospitality giant EVT has LyLo in Australia and New Zealand offering self-contained pods and ensuite rooms, fully equipped workspaces if you need to catch up while away, and spaces to socialise.

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