YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

HAUTE HOSTELS

Hostels aren’t just for dorm-loads of students. Many have chic private rooms which make a brilliantly central — and reasonably priced — city base. GLAM IN MILAN

ON HISTORIC Via Medici is Ostello Bello, a ten-minute walk from the elegant Duomo Cathedral and only a little further from La Scala theatre. The hostel has a terrace with hammocks, garden and BBQ.

INSIDER TIP: Be back in time for a typical Italian aperitif and free dinner between 7pm and 9pm.

DETAILS: Double private rooms from €134 (£118), ostellobello.com. Flights to Milan around £60 return in July, easyjet.com.

PARISIAN PIED A TERRE

AS THE sun sets over the Sacre Coeur, sip on a cocktail at the rooftop bar of The Generator Hostel in the 10th Arrondissement. The hostel has a basement bar and café serving croque monsieurs, omelettes and even snails.

INSIDER TIP: Nearby Canal SaintMartin is ideal for a shaded stroll.

DETAILS: Twin rooms from €78 (£69) a night, generatorhostels.com. Eurostar to Paris from £58 return, eurostar.com.

HATS OFF TO MADRID

THE Hat, a boutique hostel in a central Madrid mansion, serves buffet breakfast on the terrace and evening drinks on the roof.

INSIDER TIP: Lunch at the elegant covered market San Miguel is a five-minute walk from the hostel.

DETAILS: Twin rooms around €60 (£53) a night, thehatmadrid.com. Flights from £82 return, ba.com.