An integral part to travel is obviously the hotel. As Milliennials continue to take the travel world by storm, we will require our accommodations of choice to fit our uniquely defined set of wants and desires. Hotels that cater to the Millennial generation differ from the grand and formal hotels of our parents past as well as the spirited hostels that defined our youth. Free Internet, socialization and a distinctive sense of place are critical to attracting the Millennial hotel guest.

In France, where accommodations can lean towards the expensive and stuffy instead of technologically advanced and lively, Mama Shelter is breaking all the rules.

Reception and lobby at Mama Shelter Paris (photos courtesy of Mama Shelter)

Crafted by design guru Philippe Starck and owned by the Trigano family of Club Med fame, the small chainlet has hotels in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux (there’s a fifth outpost in Istanbul too). Mama Shelter is at once a hotel, boutique, restaurant, bar and club with an open floor design and attention paid to every detail of the inspired decor. Exposed raw concrete, elaborate graffiti work and vibrant compelling  adornments dominate Mama’s multiple social spaces which include the lobby, restaurant and bar.

The restaurants at Mama Shelter Paris and Bordeaux (photos courtesy of Mama Shelter)

The bar and crowd at Mama Shelter Lyon (photos courtesy of Mama Shelter)

The rooms, on the other hand, are bright, simple and chic, making the most of  small spaces. Decked out in technological bells and whistles iMacs in every room pose as a TV, CD/DVD player and computer all in one and Internet is free and accessible throughout the property.

The rooms at Mama Shelter Marseille (photo’s courtesy of Mama Shelter)

At night, Mama comes to life. Each hotel has a number of buzzy communal spaces where guests along with the local hipster community gather to eat, drink and party the night away. On weekends there is often live music or a DJ taking charge of the bar. By encouraging visitation of the cool local crowd, Mama Shelter additionally serves as a gateway to the local community, allowing guests to mingle with contemporaries from the cities in which they are visiting.

Mama Shelter Paris at night (photo courtesy of www.luxe-lab.fr)

The hip cool that pours out of every Mama Shelter pore could easily come with a high price tag, especially considering the cities where each hotel is located. While not as cheap as the backpackers favorite shared dorm accommodations, Mama Shelter is not expensive- some would even consider the hotel group  “hip on a budget”, attracting everyone from the trendy jet-set to art and design buffs.

Mama Shelter (photos courtesy of Mama Shelter)

More than just a hotel Mama Shelter is an icon of the Millennial lifestyle. Artistic and social the five Mama Shelter properties are the perfect place to stay for those wanting a unique, local and with-it hotel experience in France and beyond.