Sawse - Stir it Up!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tags: Bizzare hotels, Strange accomodations, Travel