Back when I travelled Europe by bicycle, I used youth hostels a lot. Over recent years I have begun to do that again (not bicycling), at least partly because hostels have changed significantly from the fetid rooms and kitchens impregnated with the odours of a million badly-cooked meals. Today they are hygienic and often offer single rooms, something I prefer because I snore. Many are now 18+ hostels too, the reverse of what they were in the ‘60s. I have also begun to use hostels more because of the existence of London-based Hostelworld, a website that gives reasonably honest (albeit upbeat) reports on member venues.

Recently, the site listed what it called the 10 trending destinations to visit in 2022, based on advance bookings by members. The results are fairly predictable and not at all original, but why should they be? I mean, seriously, would you be more likely to book ahead for an industrial town in the Massif Central, or for Paris? Oops, looks like I’ve given away one of the destinations … and it’s not the Massif Central. Each listing includes details of one hostel.

Here they are, from the tenth to the first places chosen by hostellers from all over the world, partly in Hostelworld’s (lightly) edited words. Fortunately, I have been to most of these destinations, so I can add a touch of motorcycle-relevant detail. Despite that, always check when you book if motorcycle parking is available.

10 Edinburgh, Scotland:Surrounded by green hills and beautiful countryside, Edinburgh is full-to-the-brim with culture, history and… pure charm. Among the sandstone bricks and winding medieval alleys of old, Edinburgh offers a bustling restaurant scene and an enormous array of hard-to-beat boozers. If you’re negotiating it on a motorcycle, beware the slippery cobbles.

Set in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, Castle Rock Hostel was built in 1846 and turned into a backpackers’ hostel in 1997. This grand old building is full of art, character and a whole load of antiques; security is rated highly, but there appears to be no motorcycle parking. There may be some available nearby.

9 London, England:I lived here for a few years, but I can’t claim to have seen anywhere near all of London. It is massive and a mishmash of cultures. Charming, age-old pubs nestle in every corner ready to set down a pint and a pork pie in front of you; in East London, trendy youth roams the weekend markets. A motorcycle is a good way to get around London, not least because it will get you through congested alleys, and cab drivers are motorcycle-wise.

One of the most central hostels, St Christopher’s Inn-Liverpool Street is in London’s business district, just a stone’s throw away from Brick Lane and Old Spitalfields Market as well as the gritty-yet-glamorous nightlife of Shoreditch town. The hostel sits above a pub (!) so it is not likely that there is motorcycle parking. If you find street parking nearby, make sure you lock your bike up securely.

8 San Jose, Costa Rica:This dense capital is as rowdy as it is friendly, the summary says. I would not know, not having been there. A traditional Central American city, it is heaving with history and culture, even though most buildings are rarely older than 100 years. The city is mainly used as a jump-off point to the tropical Eden beyond, but its gritty charm and authentic spirit recommend themselves

Expect steamy vibes and even steamier people in the slice of party paradise that is Costa Rica Backpackers. With hammocks, sofas, picnic tables and sun loungers, your chill vibes just kicked up a gear. Free bicycle parking is listed, so you’ll probably be able to put your motorcycle up there as well.

7 Paris, France:“I love Paris,” so goes the song and that goes for me, too. Food and drink, interesting people but above all lashings of culture are available. Favorites like the Louvre and Musée D’Orsay cement the city’s reputation as a leader of art, antiquity and style. Book your entry to museums ahead of time. Motorcycles and scooters are the choice of the locals to get around, so join them. Overnight you can chain your bike to a light pole or something on the footpath. That’s illegal but doesn’t appear to be pursued. The Louvre parking station is outrageously expensive and says “no motos” but—this is France, so that’s not enforced either.

Recently opened by three young Parisian travellers, Les Piaules is in the arty district of Belleville in a renovated Art Deco building. This stylish space boasts a rooftop terrace with an unbeatable view of Paris’ iconic monuments. Sundown revelers and day-trippers alike will love the carefully curated hostel bar, offering an unbeatable range of local beer, coffee and French specialties.

6 Amsterdam, The Netherlands:By day, lovers of art and architecture will be spoilt for choice. For those who burn the midnight oil, candlelit coffeeshops and a glittering nightlife await in the dark. Amsterdam’s maze of Golden Age canals is lined by rows of tilted 17th-century narrow houses; this is a place of charm, magic, and masterpieces. The Soho of Amsterdam – De Negen Straatjes – with its quaint and quirky streets is big on personality and full of cosy cafés, buzzy boutiques and vintage stores.

Near Centraal Station, Flying Pig Downtown Hostel is a charming home away from home. This 18th-century townhouse has a hostel bar that is not to be missed, with the cheapest drinks in town, DJ nights hosted three times a week, and new drinking buddies on every barstool. No motorcycle parking, and it doesn’t look as if any of the city’s ubiquitous bicycle parking is nearby, either. Still, I have happily “hidden” my motorcycle among the pushies, and nobody has commented. Lock it up!

5 Berlin, Germany:Germany’s capital city has something for everyone, history buffs and alternative partygoers alike. History and culture are inextricably mixed here. A night-owls paradise, spend your night stumbling through industrial techno warehouses and subterranean cocktail oases. By day, explore the cities complex past among the blocks of the Holocaust Memorial, or satisfy your creative cravings in one of the capitals many theatres.

Ever dreamed of running away to the Circus? The Circus Hostel in Berlin makes those dreams a reality. Once again, no dedicated motorcycle parking (this is getting boring) but I would expect to find something nearby. I always did.

4 Rome, Italy:“永恒之城”是沉浸在古老的历史,from the iconic arches of the Colosseum to the architectural marvel of the Pantheon itself and of course the total avoidance of any obedience to the law. Travellers to Rome are rewarded with a full belly and happy heart; do try to avoid the most obvious tourist traps like those around the Spanish Steps, and instead roam the maze of cobbled streets.

Motorcycles and scooters have been exempt from the law barring private vehicles from the old Rome, so take full advantage of that. Park in corners or with the thousands of scooters – once again, lock the bike up securely. Rome’s exhilarating nightlife begins at the YellowSquare hostel. The infamous YellowBar, legendary in both price and atmosphere, attracts revelers from far and wide for its nine-hour-long happy hour.

3 Holbox Island, Mexico:The other pace I have not visited. Looks like internal combustion engines might be banned on the island, so I’ll skip this one. Time to reconsider when there are more electric bikes.

2 Barcelona, Spain:一个城市,我公司管理ld have thought impossible. It has combined being a tourist hotspot with being a pleasant place for locals to live. Tourists and locals alike stroll along the cobbled stones of Las Ramblas. Wander through the clustered stalls of La Boqueria Market to experience some of the freshest fish in Catalonia; or experience life through the canvas of the OG of abstract faces himself, in the captivating halls of the Picasso Museum.

TOC Hostel Barcelonais an interior designer’s dreamland. Neither dorms nor private rooms skimp on quality; their premium suites with private terraces are on par with any boutique hotel. Or soak in the scorching Spanish sun atop their private rooftop terrace, complete with a swimming pool. Motorcycle parking in Barcelona is effectively everywhere because it is not really ever policed. The drawback is that one of the established industries of Barcelona is thieving. Lock up, lock up and leave nothing on the bike.

1 Hawaii, Maui, USA:Travelers have been snapping up deals for Maui in 2022. Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian Island, and the most attractive to motorcyclists. Granted, there are resorts for those who want them, but this is an island that remains grounded in Hawaiian culture and Aloha spirit. And you can rent motorcycles like I did in Kaanapali. The classic ride is the road to Hana, but there are a lot of other choices.

传说中的香蕉平房毛伊岛旅馆主人ever-changing, multi-national crowd of the most amazing backpackers known to mankind, generating more pure fun here than anywhere else on the island. Well okay, it has a large Jacuzzi, tropical garden, and weekly keg parties. I can’t imagine there would be a problem with parking.

Thank you, hostelworld.com for providing the inspiration for this piece.No sponsorship was involved with this story.