Hotels as adventures – different type of travel

Travellers are a lot more demanding these days. In the times when categorization is no longer possible (or needed) and when all attention gets focused on whatever is new and different, we started changing our outlook on vacation. It’s still not hard to be original but, you can always exceed expectations.

Have you ever wanted to do something way different, try something uncommon, something you have never done before? Have you ever thought about hotel stays as adventures?

We all know about boutique hotels and themed hotels…that’s not it. More and more people are opening hotels in unusual places and it’s becoming rapidly popular.

You are familiar with

castles turning into hotels (they have been that way for years in Europe; some located in: Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain…) as well as

historic buildings like monasteries, churches and train stations (located in: Sweden, France, Ireland, Norway, UK, Italy, The Netherlands,Turkey, Belgium, Spain, Hungary…)

It seams like everything can turned into a hotel…and the crazier, the better!

lighthouses (The Netherlands, Norway…)

tree houses (Sweden, Germany, Turkey)

caves (Sweden, France, Turkey)

they can even be found in forests (Sweden)

underwater or floating (Turkey, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland)

made from ice (Switzerland, Andorra, Sweden, Finland)

as prisons (Sweden, Slovenia)

or inside planes and trains (The Netherlands, Sweden, UK)

even inside pipes in parks

As you can see, Scandinavia is at the leading edge at the moment. In my opinion, some ideas are quite interesting…why not change the way we look at accommodation and travel. If it can be more fun, more exciting, and if you are up for it, you already have a good choice. It’s definitely changes the concept of travel and adventure…

Are you up for this kind of adventure?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Design Hotels (TM)

One of the benefits while travelling is staying at great hotels. If you like art and design, you will afford to stay at a boutique hotel that appeals to you. On the plus side, every design hotel is a reflection of culture and art at its best, so wherever you go, you’ll have a different feeling. There are many interpretations, or styles, from which you can choose. In today’s developed (but still not enough) travel industry, there will always be a company to offer special services, discounts, and people and hotels who will remember frequent guests and give you a special treatment because you keep on coming back…no matter where in the world.

Design Hotels (TM) is a company that gathers some of the best design hotels around the world. Most of the represented ones are located in Europe, form capitals to coasts. Once you choose the country and the place, you’ll be shown a list of hotels. Every hotel is presented to you with a description, list of facilities, explanation of the design concept and accompanied by a gallery of exceptional photos. Also, on the right hand side of every hotel page is a booking option so, you can check availability and prices while you are there.

On the plus side of this (these) company is that they offer better rates and discounts then you would get sometimes when booking directly with a hotel or through some other websites. You can join Desing Hotels Club and receive benefits such as 50% discount for new members, special rate as long as you are a member and additional offers from time to time. Recently, Design Hotels (TM) introduced a 10% off for booking 21 days in advance.

GO PRIVATE + is a service that offers anyone to book the entire hotel for business meeting or vacations, weddings, gatherings… Whether it’s you with your friends, family, colleges or partners, you can call Design Hotels and let the arrange the booking for you. Sweet!

Which design hotel did you stay? Which ones you would like to go to?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

AirBed&Breakfast

AirBed&Breakfast is a newer online service for renting accommodation. I came across it searching the web quite some time ago but wanted to see how it was going to unfold. So, what is it all about…

I would explain it as an interactive online service where you can rent accommodation as a traveller or rent accommodation to other traveller coming to your city. AirBed&Breakfast offers travellers around the world to find accommodation all over the world, whether it’s just a room or a whole apartment. When you search for your stay, you can see the pictures, the description, information like breakfast and internet access, profile of a person who rents their place,a map and testimonials. The point is to get as much information and to communicate with each other. That way, you can choose the right stay and the right person you want to stay with. Another goal is also affordable accommodation. Depending on the location and the size and quality, you can find a stay for as low as €20 a night.

The service provides you all the booking options, as well as, cancellation one day in advance with a full refund. Payments can be made via credit cards and Paypall. As a host, it’s a great opportunity to make extra money or to present your room or any type of accommodation if you are already renting. You will receive a payment after providing the service via Paypall or a check. The great thing about it all is that every guest and every host must write a testimonial about each other that will be available for everyone to see. So far, people are mostly satisfied with the experience, being safe and inexpensive.

The idea came from the US; most of accommodation available is still across the pond but it’s slowly spreading all over Europe and other parts of the world.

In my opinion, having a host can be a very good idea. You have someone give you first hand information, meet local people and maybe even be shown around. But, the way I see it is private accommodation rental (you would search for somewhere else) put online where you can get to know a little better your host or your guest before you meet, or before you accept their request for stay. Not so bad, right?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Resort Boutique Hotels

Although having the same philosophy as city boutique hotels, resort destinations bring significant differences. Location is still one of the most important things, but now they are not situated as close as possible to populated places. It’s the opposite, well-hidden places are more appreciated. That doesn’t mean that they have to be on desert islands, on the contrary, they can be anywhere.

Resort boutique hotels are usually smaller in size and more intimate. Location and a small number of guests allows you to enjoy the quiet atmosphere and relax. One more thing that is the complete opposite from hotels in cities is the technological aspect. There are no electronic devices for entertainment or communication. Resorts are oriented toward rest and relaxation, a way to escape the city hustle and bustle. And they are serious about it.

Santa Teresa Resort, Sicily

One the other hand, resort design hotels need to be more distinctive, more recognizable than those in cities. In this case, design is again not enough. The attraction factor then becomes local produce, cuisine, special spas or activities like ridding and art workshops (painting, sculpture…). Boutique hotels can be owned by anyone. What’s important is that they are a reflection of the local community. As an example I took these pictures of a boutique hotel in the Sicilian archipelago (shown above). It is situated half-way between Europe and Africa which is recognizable in design and atmosphere, same as food: fish, couscous and Arabic sweets.

Sometimes resort boutique hotels are closed during winter time. That refers to warmer regions only. Because, as I said before, resort boutique hotels are not reserved for tropical islands only, they can be anywhere in the countryside, even close to cities.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

City Boutique Hotels

There is one thing that always comes first about city boutique hotels. It’s location. Many would say it’s logical, location is always important; the closer you are to the city center, the more attractive you are. But, there is more to it. In today’s vibrant cities, certain neighbourhoods are considered the popular ones, or the fancy ones. And they are different in a way because they have something that others don’t; it’s an artist’s area, it’s well-known because of the old architecture, it has a beautiful park in the area…and with all that come chic places, like cafes, restaurants and galleries. Again, the reflection of culture but this time, inside one city.

Technology is also an important factor. There isn’t a city designer hotel that doesn’t have rooms and suites equipped with flat-screen televisions, (computers with) high speed internet connection, cordless phones, dvd players. Some go a few extra miles with sensor lights, universal remote controls, special showers and music and TV in the bathroom. When you think a little better about it, every five-star hotel should have a few of those first things, it’s the 21st century! But the sad truth is they don’t; some are making it possible because they are realizing that the time of pretty little soaps and candies on a pillow is long gone.

The Hempel Hotel, London

The third criteria is entertainment. Only live music in bars doesn’t do the trick any more. Hip restaurants, lounges and bars, in hotels, with exceptional themes and design are what attract people and make them feel great.

Today, what’s considered good is no longer good. What’s considered safe is actually risky. We are all searching for something new, something different, looking for ourselves by taking what appeals to us. Hotel business, same as travel, is rapidly changing, and it’s reacting to what we have to say. This is where it’s taking us now.

What do you think about it?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Design hotels

Travel has changed. There are no unfamiliar places any more. Demands have increased and so did the choices. Now, travelers are able to persue travel experiences on a more individual level. Travel is not only about sightseeing any more. Every travel destination is defined in a way by a new approach in architecture, design, art and entertainment.

Boutique hotels, or popularly called design hotels, are one of those ingredients that can give your travel experience a more individual feeling. Boutique hotels are a lot different from chain hotels, in design, service, ownership and most of all, philosophy. They are operated by individuals or companies with a small collection and usually don’t have a large number of rooms. It depends on the location but the number is between a few and 150. Just enough to be unique and create a connection between customers and hotel staff.

Hotel Sezz, Paris

Design is the first and most important determinant when we are talking about boutique hotels. Most attention goes to interior design; furnished in a period style or modern, with different accents. Sometimes every room in a hotel is furnished differently to give a unique look and feel for every guest. It also happens that a particular hotel guest books the same room every time. Except styles, artwork and popular designer pieces, usually 20th century design, makes them so appealing. That’s where the term design hotels derived from and became more used than boutique hotels.

The George Hotel, Hamburg

They are not only a fancy place to stay in, they have a deeper meaning. Every place, that being a vibrant city hotel or a small resort, is a cultural reflection. As art and architecture, people are trying to distinguish themselves through designing new places; hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. So each of them has a story to tell, a story told in their own, unique way.

Next time you travel, add a personal note, in every aspect!

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Green hotels – sustainable hotels

There are many reasons today why hotels are deciding to go ‘green’. In part because their business guests are demanding it, part because hotels are finding that going green saves money and part because they are getting more conscious about the environment and realizing it’s the way to go. But why should you choose an eco-friendly hotel?

Hotel chains are becoming rapidly more environmentally conscious, people are talking about it all the time but not many are saying what’s in it for you. So let me explain what it all means…

Here are some examples of what do hotels do to go green:

- recycling; they recycle all the paper, plastic, glass, light bulbs and batteries (that way they save thousands of kilos of vaste from ending up in landfills, saving huge amounts of energy and millions of liters of water)

- all toilets are using a vacuum drainage system that uses only 80% of water that conventional systems use; water from sinks and showers is recycled for use in toilets

- all lights are converted to long-life and low-energy light bulbs and all the lightning is the building is controlled by a system that operates through your card key; it’s turns off the lights when you’re not in the room and other timing controls

- low or no toxicity paint is used through out hotel

- the bathroom toiletries are 100% natural for your skin and hair; the plastic bottles are recycled or there are installed refilling bottles

- hotels use biodegradable cleaning products (so you will no longer smell the chlorine or any other weird odour and the cleaning staff won’t be sick all the time)

- food is organic and as much as possible local fresh produce

- bottled water is supplied from the local or near area

- linen is are recycled so they are not treated with chemicals

- new built hotels use sustainable/natural or recycled materials

Reading through the list of things hotels do to be more eco-friendly you can see that it’s not something that will make your stay less comfortable or less luxurious. On the contrary, better food, fresh air, natural products and materials and all the other things that you maybe don’t see at first but you certainly get positive thoughts about when using such a facility.  Here is an example of a sustainable hotel One Aldwych in London to show you that there is no compromise at all when it comes to going green…

In the end, it’s up to you to choose. Hotel officials today say that evidence of eco-friendliness is driving demand. It’s high priority particularly for young people, who make up the growing percentage of business travelers. When you’re travelling, it doesn’t matter if it’s a trend or not, it’s you who matters.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

HOTELS & MORE book review

There are more ways to search for your accommodation when travelling that just online. You are absolutely going to go to their website but, before that I have an interesting source I want to show you. Taschen has published a number of books called “Hotels & more”.

Books are divided by sections; each section represents a number of hotels they picked to review located in certain part on the city. Every section has a very clear, hand drawn map with marked hotels. For each hotel you can find out a little history, about their philosophy, design and what they offer. Plus, at the bottom of the site, information on rates, types of rooms, cuisine, history (a note about the hotel building; ex. “A 19th-century building transformed into an unconventional designer hotel with an environmentally friendly philosophy.”), X-factor (a tip you didn’t know such as… “non-smoking hotel” or “hotel’s DJ plays music on Friday and Saturday evenings” etc.) and Interet.

All the hotels are reviewed with photos too. They are big and there are quite a few of them, showing entrance, lobby, rooms, restaurant, bar, terrace, pool and something unique about the hotel itself. You can find hotels to satisfy all tastes, from antique furnished ones to modern minimalistic or crazy designer ones.

But what I like even more about this books is that they are not only hotel guides. What you can find after every hotel review is two pages of interesting recommended places in the hotel souroundings. By that I mean restaurants, bars, clubs, shops (fashion, vintage furniture, markets, city sites, museums and even other hotels!) with a short short story about each place. Also including address, phone numbers, website, and how to get there from your hotel. Really great!

You can use it as a guide itself because it can help you with your hotel choice regarding what you want to have in the neighbourhood. The prices vary, you can find average priced hotels to luxury ones. I would absolutely recommend it to design conscious traveler, not because of the preety pictures, but because I think it’s a really useful and fun source of information. And not only to them, but to every traveler that is interested in cultural life or is just looking for a good hotel to stay in.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

What do hostels offer?

The good thing about hostels is that you usually get good location for a small price. Nowdays, the hostels are improving more and more their interiors and maintenance. Hostels are cleaner, you don’t need to have sleep-sheets, they provide you with linen and towels. And the number of beds per room has dropped. But, that doesn’t mean you should be careless when you’re searching  for your stay. Many websites provide visitors reviews. There will always be some good and some bad; take facts into consideration.

Rates are different. They depend on the location, quality, number of beds per room. And, some cities are more expensive than other. Make sure you know how many meals do they provide, is there self catering, do they cater for vegetarians etc.

Also, hostels are great for people who travel from town to town and are on a budget  because you can stay only overnight if you wish; as in hotels.

Consider that hostels are usually smaller places, and because they don’t provide as much services, they cost less. You can’t get as much privacy or silence. It is best not to have preconceptions about the site and the services at the hostel. Keep in mind – you are not paying for a five star hotel and it won’t be one. But do appreciate the atmosphere and all the interesting people you might meet.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

What you didn’t know about hostels

The hostel movement was started by a German school teacher named Richard Schirrmann in the summer 1907 (over 100 years ago!). At that time Nette School began providing overnight accommodation to young travelers. Each night the classrooms were cleared of desks and chairs and thin straw sacks were placed on the floor. It was a custom too, that in the morning, each hosteller helped to put the school back together and clean it up. The idea was, as Mr. Schirmann said: “Suppose that the thoughtful young people of all countries could be provided with suitable meeting places where they could get to know each other! That could and must be the role of our youth hostels, not only in Germany, but throughout the world, building a bridge of peace from nation to nation!”

Today, people from all walks of life, stay in hostels. Not only young people but families with young children and retired people too. Though, when travelling alone, with your friends, if you’re underage, make sure the hostel you’re staying at doesn’t have age restriction. Some of them do because they have bars and restaurants within the hostel.

Most hostels will not accept local residents. Some hostels only accept international travelers and sometimes you even have to have an on-going ticket to prove you are travelling. The logic behind the rule is that if hostels allowed local residents to stay it would not have space to provide accommodation for budget travelers visiting the area. If you plan to travel in your home country and stay in hostels you might want to invest in a passport to prove you are indeed an international traveler.

Hostels come in all shapes and sizes, from twin/double bedrooms to bedrooms for up to 30 people (which is very unlikely to find today anywhere). Most have kitchens so you can do your own cooking and in that way save on restaurants. Bathrooms, depending on the hostel, can be ensuite, shared between rooms or common for the whole floor. Dormitories are with bunk beds or normal beds, sometimes still separated by sex.

*From American Youth Hostels’ “First Fifty Years: Young at Any Age”

Stella – European Travelling Advisor