Tuesday, December 8, 2009

A Glimpse of the World's Most Unique Hotels

By Damian Papworth

It used to be that hotels were merely for business stopovers, they were a place you stayed simply for the bed and a nice meal. Now however, the whole concept of the hotel has changed. They are no longer merely a place to rest your head for the night; today's hotels are places to immerse yourself in another world.

Today's hotels are about creating a new experience. Rather than being a home away from home, they have become an escape from home.

Take a look at the hotel scene and you'll find a whole new crop of themed boutique hotels springing up in every nook and cranny of the world. There are chic new designer hotels that have been designed with the latest design and aesthetic trends in mind. All big metropolises and even smaller locals now have at least one art hotel or one music hotel or one design themed hotel. It's all the rage. People love them and they pay a pretty dollar to get the experience.

Of course, that doesn't mean that your standard luxury hotel has gone out of fashion. These are still very much in vogue. Sitting in the lap of luxury by the seaside sipping Mai Tais and other umbrella cocktails is a standard, especially for the jet setters and those on vacation. You can't visit the pristine beaches of Phuket or the labyrinthine passage ways of Venice without finding a chic and exclusive hotel featuring big screen LCDs and 24 hour room service. These hotels will always be popular. You can always count on the big luxury chains like the Hilton or Four Seasons to offer you every creature comfort in the book.

Nevertheless, nowadays people are seeking more. They're looking for something different, an authentic experience, whether it be a clean, green hotel in the Amazon jungle or a small artsy boutique in Manhattan. There's no lack of edgy, cool hotels out there.

Here's a brief introduction to some of the most unique and remarkable hotels from around the world.

Venture down to South America-to the south of Chile-and you'll find the Magic Mountain Hotel. Located smack dab in the middle of the Huilo Huilo Reserve in Panguipulli, this hotel has nothing to do with the Disney ride of the same name. Rather, it is a hotel that's built in the shape of a mountain. From the peak comes a torrent of water that flows down the sides, creating a spectacular water fall. The hotel is located in the middle of one of Chile's most incredible forest landscapes. In the area you can go hiking, indulge in a round of golf, explore the white water rapids, or go skiing. You can end your day relaxing in the outdoor hot tubs. A night's stay costs around $170 USD.

In Sweden, visitors to Jukkaskjarvi can stay in a hotel made out of pure, solid ice. Although there are several ice hotels in the world, this one was the original Ice Hotel; it's also the world's largest hotel made out of ice and snow, covering some 5500 square meters. The hotel started out as a small igloo built on the Torne River, as an art exhibit. Some visitors decided to sleep in the igloo and the ice hotel concept was born from there. Today there are several ice hotels all over the world.

In the Netherlands, visitors can head over to the Harlingen Lighthouse and stay in this charming tower. While the tower only houses two, and must be booked well in advance, it makes the perfect romantic weekend getaway. Although it doesn't come cheap, it's great for couples looking for an escape from the stress of daily life.

In Rome, visitors can stay at the Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel, located just a few steps away from the Vatican in the Prati quarter. This hotel is dedicated to good tunes-each room comes equipped with a state of the art sound system and you can borrow CDs and vinyl records in the lobby.

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