Rabu, Februari 04, 2009

The planet's most bizarre places to stay.

The Dog Bark Park Inn, Idaho, USA

Sleeping in the doghouse is no bad thing at this bed & breakfast, imaginatively set inside a 12ft beagle. Created by a pair of "chainsaw artists", the lodgings benefit from a cozy alcove in the dog's muzzle.


Das Park Hotel, Linz, Austria

Who would have thought concrete could be comfy? These renovated sewage pipes are, thankfully, clean and functional and sit on the banks of the Danube, making them a perfect post-industrial bolt hole.



The Old Jail, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia

Independently minded travellers who yawn in the face of "bright, airy and spacious" should check out this budget hostel.


Two Lions - Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin

The hotel offers themed abodes ranging from the tame to the extreme. The Two Lions room, complete with cages, has a two-way mirror into the next room for real exhibitionists.


Upside Down - Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin

The rooms are created by German artist Lars Stroschen with the aim of altering guests' perceptions, something this "upside-down" room certainly achieves.


The Hobbit Motel, Woodlyn Park, Waitomo, New Zealand

Put aside your preconceptions of the soulless motel – these Lord of The Rings-inspired rooms invoke homely charms suitable for the most discerning of hobbits.


Magic Mountain Hotel, Panguipulli, Region X, Chile

Or how about a stay underneath a cascading waterfall on a fairytale mountain that, legend has it, can grant you wishes? An aerial ropeway takes you between tree-tops in the surrounding forest canopy.


The Poseidon Resort, Bahamas

Rooms at the Poseidon Resort lie 40 feet underwater, encased in a 4-inch acrylic outer casing, giving guests a glimpse of life under the sea


Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel, Brazil

35 miles from Manuas, this rainforest resort is built entirely at the level of the rainforest canopy.The hotel features four miles of walkways and a honeymoon suite, 110 feet up a mahogany tree.


Crane Hotel, Harlingen, Netherlands

But with a swish interior, rotating sea views and splendid sense of isolation, you can forgive this hotel's less-than-glamourous dockside location.


Capsule Hotel, The Hague, Netherlands

Unusual but indestructible, these orange "survival pods" were previously used on oil rig platforms and can be floated in different locations. A James Bond version boasts a DVD player and a Martini-making set.