GO WEIRD:Looking for somewhere a bit wacky and beyond the norm? TONY CLAYTON-LEArounds up some of the oddest looking accommodation around
New Zealand
The Boot B&B
Jester House Estate, 320 Aporo Road, Nelson, South Island, theboot.co.nz, 00-64-(0)35266742
What's different?Let's get the "boot-ique" accommodation joke out of the way first, shall we? Celebrating its 20th birthday as a place for people to rest their heads (and feet, of course), the Boot B&B is one of those unique luxury retreats that offer the kind of peace, privacy and surroundings you really don't get in our neck of the woods.
Located in the heart of the Ruby Coast at the top of the South Island, and cosseted within a grove of hazelnut trees, The Boot is what it is – a ginormous brown, fairytale-type structure that is deceptively roomy.
While it’s a luxury experience (with a luxury price), it also caters for those into a more sustainable lifestyle – guests can wander along the paths of the 2.4-hectare gardens during their stay, while seasonal organic fruit is readily available from the on-site orchard.
Where to eat:in 2006, the nearby Jester House Café (jesterhouse.co.nz) was rebuilt and re-opened in "modern medieval" style as a perfect example of eco-friendly construction. Food is fresh and organic, and comes from the region, as does the wine.
Room rate: NZD$300 (€170) per night per couple, with a 10 per cent discount for two or more nights.
Get there:Air New Zealand (airnewzealand.co.nz) operate daily flights from London Heathrow to Auckland. Air Nelson (airnelson.co.nz) flies from Auckland to Nelson Airport.
France
Le Carré Rouge
Route de Santenoge, Villars-Santenoge (58km from Dijon), Haute-Marne, 00-33-03-25842210; jf.guenin@free.fr, tourisme-langres.com
What's different?Unusual? You most certainly could say that. This is possibly the most unfussy accommodation option you'll ever pay for. It's a red cube, with a surface area of 60sq m (646sq ft), and it has no running water or electricity.
If you fancy mixing down time with conceptual art and a rigid return to nature, then this modern piece, designed by artist Gloria Friedmann, is just for you.
It sounds spartan, we agree, but it might (and we stress the word might) work as an unusual romantic outing.
If you want people to think you’re losing your marbles, however, you could always pitch this as a family holiday. How the kids will react to the chore of having to walk to and fro for water via a nearby pump is anyone’s guess.
Did I hear you mention lighting? Not to worry – oil lamps and candles are available. Heating? The wood-burning stove (chopped logs are provided) capably heats the space, which is split into two levels and sleeps six people comfortably.
Where to eat:you have the option to cook in or eat out in a variety of cafes, bistros and restaurants in the locality.
Room rate:€130 per weekend or €280 for seven days.
Get there:the closest airport (just less than 200km) to Villars-Santenoge is Geneva. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies direct from Dublin to Geneva.
Austria
Das Park Hotel
Ottensheim Rodlpark, Linz, dasparkhotel.net
What's different?Welcome to a new kind of hospitality: the nine-and-a-half ton concrete pipe. From the outset, Das Park Hotel was designed (by Andreas Strauss) to use global standard-issue concrete drainage or sewage pipe sections as room space.
If you’re after a strictly utilitarian, virtually monastic accommodation experience, then this one takes the dry biscuit and cold tea.
In some ways, this makes perfect sense for the backpack-and-bicycle crowd. For starters, it’s cheap, it’s clean and relatively user-friendly.
Facilities are functional but ideal for those that aren’t used to five-star treats: wall art by Austrian artist Thomas Latzel, a double bed, a light, a power socket, internet access, a blanket and a sleeping bag.
The only downside is that toilets and showers are a few minutes walk away. (Note, also, that a second Das Park Hotel has recently opened at Bottrop-Ebel, near Essen, Germany.)
Where to eat:Ottensheim is a quick taxi trip from Linz, at which there are numerous eating options.
Room rate:there is an honesty-box policy for payment. As a rule of thumb, €20 is acceptable for one night, but leaving more ensures that this art project benefits the community.
Get there:Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies to Linz from London Stansted. Other airlines flying to/from Linz include Austrian Airlines (austrian.com) and Lufthansa (lufthansa.com).
Holland
Euromast TV Tower
Parkhaven 20, Rotterdam, euromast.nl/en, 00-31-010-4364811
What's different?The sheer romance (two suites, one called "Heaven", the other "Stars"), the giddy height (112m above Rotterdam), and the dubious design touches (black toilet tissue).
The Euromast has been a feature of the Rotterdam skyline since it was built in the 1960s, but since the luxury suites were added some years ago, it has attained a different level of kudos.
Once the tourists have had their fill of rooftops and departed for solid ground, the overnighters are free to wander about in suites that abound in style.
One of the perks of being able to afford such accommodation is that balcony access is yours and yours alone until 10am the following day. Added attraction? If you wish to check-out in a thrill-seeking manner, why not abseil down?
Where to eat:at 96m, there is the Euromast Brasserie, which mixes views of the largest port in the world with a highly regarded menu – as well as very eye-catching dark and light interior stylings by designer Jan des Bouvrie.
Room rate: €380 per night per suite.
Get there: there are no direct flights from Dublin to Rotterdam. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies to Amsterdam while Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies to Eindhoven. Rotterdam is easily accessed from both cities by public transport.
Finland
Hotel Kakslauttanen
Saariselkä, Lapland, kakslauttanen.fi, 00-358-16667100
What's different?Two words – glass igloos. While snow igloos are hardly passé, you have to admit that if you want to experience the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from the comfort of your duvet-covered bed then glass igloos are the way to go.
Located in winter-wonderful scenery in the vicinity of Urho Kekkonen National Park, over 20 glass igloos are positioned in such a way that they afford the best possible views of the Northern Lights.
Using temperature-resistant glass, these igloos are warm. Outside, it’s a nippy minus 30 degrees. For daytime fun and games, you can experience husky safaris and ice-fishing trips.
Where to eat: you're spoiled for choice between the Smoke Sauna restaurant, the Log House restaurant, two Tent restaurants and – wouldn't you know it – the Snow restaurant.
Room rate:snow igloos (€200 per person a night or €300 per couple); glass igloos (around €350 per night per couple). Discounts apply for longer stays and families, while special packages apply for Christmas/New Year stays.
Get there: regular flights from Helsinki Airport to Ivalo Airport, which is 35km from the hotel. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies direct from Dublin to Helsinki.
Latvia
Karosta Prison Hostel
Invalidu Street 4, Karosta, Liepaja, 00-371-26369470, karostascietums.lv
What's different?Karosta is a former KGB jail that has been adapted to cater for extreme adventure-type clientele.
The establishment promises an ambience that is “unfriendly, unheated and uncomfortable – all year round”. Once “checked in”, you are treated like a prisoner, complete with threats from “prison guards” and fellow “inmates” that scream throughout the night. The only toiletry item allowed is a toothbrush, the “concierge” barks orders in Latvian, and if you respond with a snippy remark you are sent into solitary confinement for a period of time.
You also have to make your own bed, which is then inspected (if you don’t pass quality control, you are ordered to do it again). Reality tourism such as this is, apparently, popular with corporate team-builders looking for an unusually harsh bonding experience for their employees. It’s important to note that only those who have signed an agreement with the conditions of the overnight stay will be allowed to check in.
Where to eat: the only food you receive is stale bread, pickle and sweet Russian tea. Enjoy!
Room rate:a two-bed cell costs around €20.
Get there:Ryanair (ryanaircom) flies to Riga from Dublin. Liepaja is around 220km from Riga, and is accessible by public transport.
Mexico
Quinta Real Zacatecas
Av. Ignacio Rayon, Col Centro, Zacatecas, quintareal.com, 00-52(55)-11-05-1000
What's different?Say hello to one of the most unusual hotels in the world – the Quinta Real Zacatecas is built into the grandstand of the restored 19th century San Pedro bullfighting ring, which hosted its last corrida in the mid 1970s. You really have to see this to appreciate the feat of architectural engineering and scope of vision (it's no surprise that the restoration project received the International Architectural Award on its completion in 1989).
Where to eat: the hotel's main restaurant is La Plaza which, at three levels, forms part of the bullring's sun stands. There are other options, however, in the pretty Unesco World Heritage site city of Zacatecas.
Room rate:Doubles from $199 (€150) per night.
Get there:Zacatecas is a seven-hour drive from Mexico City. Mexicana (mexicana.com) flies between Zacatecas and several US cities (including Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver). Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies direct to Chicago and, in partnership with JetBlue and United Airlines, to Los Angeles and Denver.
