7 hostels so beautiful they could be hotels

Not every hostel features shared rooms with sparse bunkbeds and dingy interiors.

In fact, some hostels rival hotels in terms of beauty and comfort.

We teamed up with Hostelworld, a database of 33,000 hostels in 170 countries, to identify some of the world's prettiest properties.

From a nature retreat in Ecuador to a trendy but retro spot in Chicago, here are the haute hostels you'll want to book for your next vacation.