Unusual Hotels Become Destinations
Properties offer unique experience for travelers
Hotels generally feature cookie-cutter layouts with tired decor and uninteresting restaurants. There are a few hotels, however, that have turned lodging into an art form.
Traveling almost always involves a hotel, but rarely is the hotel the destination. Throughout Western Europe - and the world, for that matter - there are a number of hotels that are truly destinations. The following 15 hotels in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and France are not only destinations, they each have some sort of interesting or unusual component that makes a stay at these hotels a unique experience.
Belgium
Quartier Latin - Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium (less than an hour drive from Brussels). Formerly an 18th century Jesuit church, the Quartier Latin brings together historic surroundings and traditional Belgian food and drink. For good measure, spa facilities are also available.
The Netherlands
Hotel Filosoof - Amsterdam, Netherlands. The 38 rooms in this hotel are devoted to philosophers, such as Nietsche, Marx and Aristotle, or schools of thought, like Zen.
Dockside Crane hotel - Harlingen, Netherlands (an hour drive from Amsterdam). Want to have something to write home about? How about a dockside crane that has been converted into a luxury “hotel” room for two. The Crane Hotel offers an unusual experience with a fantastic view.
Lighthouse – Harlingen, Netherlands. A sister property to the Dockside Crane hotel, the Lighthouse is located in the center of the Harlingen historic docks, not a remote locale. The property features an Art-Deco designed beacon.
Controversy Tram Hotel - Hoogwoud, Netherlands. Two city center tram railcars that previously ran on the streets of Amsterdam and Germany have been converted into four bedrooms.
Hemp Hotel - Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dedicated to the use of hemp in everything from food to fabrics, the Hemp Hotel is a friendly budget hotel with five themed rooms: Afghani, Caribbean, Indian, Moroccan and Tibetan.
The Arena Hotel - Amsterdam, Netherlands. A hot spot in Amsterdam, the Arena Hotel is a former orphanage converted into a trendy hotel and nightclub.
Germany
Propeller Island City Lodge - Berlin, Germany. The rooms at the Propeller Island City Lodge are more museum featuring one-of-a-kind pieces of art than hotel rooms.
Switzerland
Whitepod - Switzerland. Accessible only by skis or snowshoes, the Whitepod is a hi-tech eco camp located in the Swiss Alps.
France
Hotel Arbez - France/Switzerland. The Hotel Arbez straddles the French-Swiss border and offers guests the opportunity to sleep in either country and learn a little wartime history about both.
Airstream Europe - Manses, France. Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Airstream Europe is made up of original, restored Airstream caravans from the 50s and 70s and are filled with period pieces.
Hotel Saint-Merry - Paris, France. Tucked into the historic Marais quarter of Paris, this tiny, but outstanding hotel was formerly the prestbytery of the Saint-Merry church. The interior has been restored to its gothic 17th century origins and includes headboards made from confessional boxes.
Le Prince Noir - Les Baux de Provence, France. Carved out of rock, this bed and breakfast offers guests the chance to sleep in a Roman-era fortress that contains numerous pieces of art.
Les Hautes Roches - Rochecorbon, France. Les Hautes Roches features gorgeous rooms hand carved out of the rock making it part chateau, part cave with a French touch and haute cuisine.
Château De Bagnols - Bagnols, France. Set in the center of the rolling green hills of the Beaujolais countryside in southeastern France, the Château De Bagnols dates back to the 13th century.
For more information, including how to make reservations, prices and visitor reviews, about each of the hotels on this list as well as other interesting hotels around the world visit Unusual Hotels of the World.
