Hotels are meant to be your home away from home. Often, though, especially with the advent of boutique and luxury hotels, they are even more than that, they become experiences in and of themselves.
The trend in hotels is towards providing guests with an immersive experience. Hotels have become concepts; no longer is enough to be a stop over. Modern hotels are escapes; they act as little pockets of luxury, of freedom from the normal 9 to five grind.
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.
Still, the traditional luxury hotel is very much alive and well. From ocean front luxury resorts with vast swimming pools overlooking the deep blue oceans of the Caribbean to tropical bungalows in Bali and Thailand where eco-chic and haute cuisine mingle, those in search of creature comforts and exotic locals won't be at a loss. Nor is there any lack of refined and exclusive hotels whose names say it all. There are always your Hiltons and your Marriotts.
Still for those in search of something a little bit different, something with more edge and flair, there's a whole treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Here's a look at some of the world's most unique and unusual hotels.
The Magic Mountain Hotel, located right in the middle of the beautiful and scenic Huilo Huilo nature reserve in Panguipulli, Chile is indeed a sight to behold. The hotel is one of a kind-it was actually constructed in the shape of a mountain. Guests will marvel at the waterfall which springs from the peak of the 'mountain' and flows down the sides. As the hotel makes its home in the midst of a forest, guests can go for hikes, enjoy the natural hot tub made from giant wooden logs, participate in white water rafting and go on customized skiing trips.
You've probably heard about the famous Ice Hotel-in fact, now there are several in the world. The first, however, was built in a small town in northern Sweden called Jukkasakjarvi. The hotel started out as an art project, a small igloo constructed on the frozen Torne River. That igloo soon gave birth to the 5500 square meter Ice Hotel, which is made entirely out of ice and snow-it's an experience you won't forget.
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.
The Franklin Feel the Sound in Rome is dedicated to the aural pleasures, i.e. music. Guests can check out the hotel's extensive collection of CDs and vinyl records. Each room comes equipped with high tech stereo equipment, and the concierge will gladly point out all the concerts and shows happening during their stay.
The trend in hotels is towards providing guests with an immersive experience. Hotels have become concepts; no longer is enough to be a stop over. Modern hotels are escapes; they act as little pockets of luxury, of freedom from the normal 9 to five grind.
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.
Still, the traditional luxury hotel is very much alive and well. From ocean front luxury resorts with vast swimming pools overlooking the deep blue oceans of the Caribbean to tropical bungalows in Bali and Thailand where eco-chic and haute cuisine mingle, those in search of creature comforts and exotic locals won't be at a loss. Nor is there any lack of refined and exclusive hotels whose names say it all. There are always your Hiltons and your Marriotts.
Still for those in search of something a little bit different, something with more edge and flair, there's a whole treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Here's a look at some of the world's most unique and unusual hotels.
The Magic Mountain Hotel, located right in the middle of the beautiful and scenic Huilo Huilo nature reserve in Panguipulli, Chile is indeed a sight to behold. The hotel is one of a kind-it was actually constructed in the shape of a mountain. Guests will marvel at the waterfall which springs from the peak of the 'mountain' and flows down the sides. As the hotel makes its home in the midst of a forest, guests can go for hikes, enjoy the natural hot tub made from giant wooden logs, participate in white water rafting and go on customized skiing trips.
You've probably heard about the famous Ice Hotel-in fact, now there are several in the world. The first, however, was built in a small town in northern Sweden called Jukkasakjarvi. The hotel started out as an art project, a small igloo constructed on the frozen Torne River. That igloo soon gave birth to the 5500 square meter Ice Hotel, which is made entirely out of ice and snow-it's an experience you won't forget.
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.
The Franklin Feel the Sound in Rome is dedicated to the aural pleasures, i.e. music. Guests can check out the hotel's extensive collection of CDs and vinyl records. Each room comes equipped with high tech stereo equipment, and the concierge will gladly point out all the concerts and shows happening during their stay.
About the Author:
Damian Papworth enjoys helping travelers on their Gold Coast Holiday. As such, for additional convenience he has built a search engine to find Gold Coast hotels Australia.
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