Hotels
don’t get much more bizarre than this. The bizarre Tianzi Hotel in Hebei
Province, China was
Austria's
Drain Pipe Hotel; This is about as strange as it gets. In a
quaint public park in Lintz, Austria, three drain pipes have been
transformed into mini hotel rooms. Christened the Das Park Hotel, each
room comes with a double bed, a bed light, linens and a side table .The
guests can pay what they feel a stay in the room is worth. As for
amenities, guests have to use the park’s public bathrooms and dine at
nearby restaurants. The hotel rooms are supposedly decorated with a few
cozy amenities and items that might remind one of home. The “rooms” even
come with electronic key locks which can only be opened with a key code;
this ensures that all of your belongings are safe while you visit the
local attractions. This is no doubt a great idea and an ingenious
rethinking of the uses of something as simple and not very attractive as
a drain pipe. However, people with claustrophobia are warned to consider
the ramifications of sleeping in such tight quarters. The hotel is open
between May and October, and anyone who fancies a quirky night in a
bizarre place, really should check this one out.
Hydropolic
Underwater Hotel; Dubai is famed for its unusual hotels, but
the Hydropolic Underwater Hotel does take the idea of interesting hotels
to the extremes. The hotel is actually 20m below sea level in the
Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Jumerah. The hotel was constructed on a
budget of 300 million pounds, and visitors will have to take a train
through an underground tunnel to reach the hotel. The resort covers a
mammoth 260 hectares which is almost the size of London’s Hyde Park. The
upper storey of the land station houses numerous facilities such as a
cosmetic surgical clinic, a marine biological research center, and
conference facilities. The sub-marine leisure complex houses 220 suites
with a single night costing upwards of £300. There are very few places
in the world where such a grandiose design could actually take shape.
But, contrary to what many people may think, Dubai is home to an
open-minded and contemporary community. Hydropolis was designed with the
idea of linking humanity and architecture. The basic blueprint is that
of a figure eight lying on its side and inscribed within a circle. The
spaces which are created within the basin contain areas such as theme
suites, restaurants, and meeting rooms. These are analogous to the human
organism, the nervous and cardio vascular systems with the central knot
representing the pulse of life. The ballroom which is located at the
nerve center will be connected to different floors via asymmetrical
pathways. A massive petal shaped retracting roof will enable the staging
of open air events. The central ballroom is flanked by catering areas
which enable food to easily be supplied during banquets. The lower level
houses the staff room, loading areas, and goods storage. The land
station features a top class restaurant and a high-tech movie cinema
which screens the evolution of marine life and the history of submerged
architecture. There exists a viewing platform at the front opening of
the sliding roof which allows for stunning views of the architecture as
well as light shows. The chief designer and developer Joachim Hauser had
a hard time drumming up investors as no one was willing to risk money to
the tune of €550 million. The Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA)
finally established a framework to handle the grants and construction
began in summer of 2005.
Sweden's
Ice Hotel; If cold weather is your thing, then head out to
the Ice Hotel in Sweden. Made of
over 6,000 square feet of ice, it’s the largest ice hotel in the world.
Guests ate provided with a specialized thermal sleeping bag on a bed
crafted out of snow, ice, and reindeer skin. The morning after a chilly
night, a cup of hot lingonberry juice is brought to your bedside. With
the temperature hovering around 17 degrees Fahrenheit, guests will want
to pack on many layers, or of course they can simply head out to the ICE
bar and down some shots of vodka to stay warm.
Brazil's
Truck Hotel; If you are the type who likes to explore the
land in detail rather than camping at a single base or visiting tourist
attractions, then this one is for you. This strange hotel on wheels is
based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but makes its way through Brazil, Chile and
Argentina. The hotel features a kitchen, 28 beds, hot showers, and 30
cozy leather seats. The hotel also caters to the guest’s desire for
adventure with activities such as hot air ballooning, fishing,
spelunking, scuba diving, and off road rally racing.
Japan's Mini Hotel; The Japanese are famed for their unique culture which blatantly contrasts with the west. Everything from their fashion sense and customs shouts of a distinct cultural signature. In Japan, an increasing number of hotels are shedding the extravagance tag while retaining their individualistic sense. A capsule hotel room is crafted out of reinforced plastic and is inspired from a jetliner’s cockpit. All of the required amenities such as adjustable lighting, TV, radio, and clocks are kept within your reach and everything can be controlled while in a reclining position. The hotel features WiFi access, a café lounge, storage space and best of all no closing time, which means you can check-in and out as you please. The hotel is split into two units, one for men and the other for women. The hotel takes the division pretty seriously as no men are allowed near the women’s area and there are plenty of signs as reminders for the men to keep their distance. The average capsule hotel charges 4,000 yen (£17) per night which is quite cheap considering regular hotels charge anywhere between 8,000 to 12,000 Yen per night.
Indias Tree Hotel; Wild Canopy Nature Reserve is located in Masinagudi, India. This hotels feature tree houses that are built in massive Jamun trees. Each tree-house is about 40 feet high and features amenities such as hot and cold water and Jacuzzis. There are however no televisions, radios, or phones. Visitors can either relax, or head out on a trek or safari. The estate is nestled in the foot hills of the Nilgiris mountain range and is almost 150 years old. It was originally the hunting lodge for a British soldier who was stationed nearby. A 130 year old Coffee store has been remodeled and converted into two large bedrooms and are furnished with antique furniture, ethnic designs, and modern appliances.
