Chic and Green Urbany Coming to Barcelona Budget Scene

Where: Avinguda Meridiana 97, Barcelona, Spain, 08026

3/07/2008 at 9:29 AM
Tags: Barcelona Hotels, Hostels, Green Hotels, Hotel Hype

Whoever thinks traveling must be expensive and environmentally unfriendly hasn't yet heard of the Barcelona Urbany. The Urbany is actually a hostel, with plans to open from June 1 this year, but it's certainly not going to be a run-of-the-mill, downscale backpackers.

The green side of the Urbany has already begun with the building process. They're using a special material to create a noise-absorbing facade and installing a rainwater harvesting system, and when the hostel is up and running, they'll be recycling 50% of the water being used.

Since it's a new place, it's also easy for them to start out right with energy-efficient, low consumption lighting.

On the "we're more than a backpackers' hostel" side, Urbany will have free Wifi for guests, a large swimming pool, and as well as dorm rooms will also offer single and double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. In total, they'll be able to accommodate 400 guests in a 13-floor building.

Rates haven't been published yet, so we'll keep an eye on it closer to the 1 June opening date to find out if green and fancy can still translate to a reasonably-priced hostel.