Very often little attention is paid to choosing a hotel when planning a trip and many see it a just a place to get some rest. But, is it possible to make accommodation an important part of the adventure on your trip? For some travellers who long for something more than a conventional hotel room and search for a more enriching experience when choosing their accommodation, TripAdvisor, has discovered 10 of Europe’s quirkiest, top-ranking hotels to experience a unique stay. Let’s see what’s on offer.
- Spitbank Fort, Portsmouth, England
When it comes to a stay at Spitbank Fort, the phrase “to get away from it all” has never been more appropriate. The hotel, located on a historic sea fortress in the Solent between the Isle of Wight and England, comes with eight luxury suites, a bar, hot pool, sauna and naturally enough, stunning panoramic views. The best part is that it’s located on a remote island, so even if you stay partying into the early hours, you’ll never disturb the neighbours. Like the hotel says, what happens at Spitbank Fort stays at Spitbank Fort!
- La Villa Cheminée de Tatzu Nishi, Pays de la Loire, France
This classic French cottage was created by the Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi on top of a 15-metre lighthouse structure as a nod to the nearby chimneys of the Cordemais power plant. Sleeping two, with a wood-fired heater, the villa also has a garden and boasts incredible views of the Loire Valley.
- La Balade des Gnomes, Durbuy, Belgium
Located in Durbuy, a 17th century Belgian town, La Balade des Gnomes consists of 10 unique rooms, inspired by fairytales and legends. Travellers’ favourites include theStays giant Trojan horse room and the ‘Macquarie Island’ room, where your bed is a boat that appears to float on real water.
- STF Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, Skinnskatteberg, Sweden
Also known as “Sweden’s most primitive hotel”, the STF Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge is definitely not for those looking for all the creature comforts of home. Guests return to the basics, without electricity or showers, for an unforgettable experience and to simply enjoy the rustic life. Located in the forest beside Lake Skärsjön, visitors will find twelve camouflaged cabins, each with a cosy fireplace and two wooden beds covered with sheepskin rugs.
- Utter Inn, Västerås, Sweden
Utter Inn (Otter Inn in English) is a lot more than it seems at first glance. In fact, the room at this floating hotel in Vasteras, east of Stockholm, is submerged a few metres below the surface of the Swedish lake on which it sits. Guests who stay here can watch fish swimming by the windows of their room. The rooms, similar to a Swedish cabin, have a kitchen on the surface and an outside deck to admire the views of the natural habitat.
- Golden Crown Levi Igloos,Lapland, Finland
What better way to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights than from an igloo? If you’re lucky, this is what you’ll get when you stay at Golden Crown Levi Igloos in Lapland. An unforgettable whether you see the Northern Lights or not. Guests are treated to a luxuriously decorated, high-tech interior with a non-fogging glass roof to make sure you enjoy the spectacular sky views and surrounding scenery at all times.
- Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland
We’ve probably all seen hundreds of cranes working along the horizon on many occasions, but you’ve probably never thought about sleeping on one. Well, you can do just that at the Crane Hotel Faralda in Amsterdam. The hotel, a revamped industrial shipping crane with three suites, takes the concept of quirky accommodation to a whole new level, boasts incredible views of the city that constantly change as the crane moves with the wind.
- V8 Hotel Motorworld Region Stuttgart, Boblingen, Germany
The V8 Hotel is a dream come true for car lovers with 34 themed car rooms. Each of the rooms has its own special touch, inspired by car manufacturers such as Mercedes, Morris Minor and Volkswagen. There are even car wash and petrol station rooms. Car enthusiasts can also see the historic restoration of some models.
- Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden
Jumbo Stay offers guests the chance to stay on a decommissioned Boeing 747-200 on a disused runway at Stockholm Airport. The plane has 33 different room, a luxury suite in the cockpit.
- Mil Estrelles,Gerona, Spain
The sphere-shaped rooms at Mil Estrelles offer guests the opportunity to see the open sky at all times and give you the feeling of sleeping outdoors while being protected by the surrounding cosy bubble. The rooms themselves are actually inflatable bubbles that stand about 3m high and 4m wide.
