Goldfish Flickr Photo by thephantomlio

Imagine checking in at the airport and handing over your pet goldfish for safekeeping to the check-in clerk. The world’s first goldfish hotel at the Amsterdam Schiphol airport is raising eyebrows and garnering awards for being one of the most unusual pet hotels in the world. Travelers who worry about where to take their pets when they go on holiday can now rest assured that their fishy friends will be well looked after in the world’s first goldfish hotel. The hotel, which houses 80 permanent residents, is a large aquarium including a tennis court  and a pool with a slide. Passengers will be able to view the hotels 80 residents while in transit through Schiphol Airport.

The fish-sitting service, which was opened by Olympic long-distance swimming champion Maarten van der Weijden, is part of an advertising campaign for a Dutch travel agent called “D-Travel”. Passengers who booked their trip through them can put their fish up in the hotel for free. Each goldfish receives it’s own private suite so that it doesn’t get mixed up with other guests. Furthermore, the hotel will provide another fish to take home if a pet fish happens to pass away while the owners are away.

The Goldfish Hotel at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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Galactic Suite Space Resort, Barcelona, Spain

Claramunt expects other space hotels to follow. As such, he has established the world’s largest chain of space resorts, Galactic Suite Limited (GSL). The cost for a three-night stay at Galactic Suite is steep at €3 million per person. Despite the cost, the hotel has seen a total of 38 bookings made since January 2008, with the majority of reservations coming from the United States. The three-bedroom suite will comprise of four modules that connect to a central enclosed area. Each module will have a window that slides back for a view of Earth. Each room is 7 meters in length and 4 meters in height, with protuberances that will allow guests to attach themselves when they are eating, viewing or sleeping. Specialized Velcro suits are provided to guests to allow them to stick to the walls to avoid the feeling of weightlessness.

The world’s first outer space spa will also be introduced at Galactic Suite, featuring a zero gravity spherical container with a water bubble of 201. Guests can ‘play’ with the water bubble, dividing it into an infinite number of separate bubbles in a weightless environment.

The project, in addition to its orbiting hotel, will also include a spaceport on an island in the Caribbean. The facility be provide astronaut training to passengers lasting 18 weeks. During training, guests will be allowed to bring their families to the spaceport to relax in the lush tropical accommodations in the days leading up to departure.

Unusual Hotels: Galactic Suite Space Resort in Barcelona, Spain is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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1. Nickelodeon Family Suites (Nick Hotel) by Holiday Inn

This family-themed hotel with Nickelodeon characters and a giant orange and green water park has everything a kid could ask for. Why bother with Disneyworld when you can have play dates and sleepovers with your favorite Nickelodeon cartoon characters 24/7? Nothing could be more fun for the kids than grabbing some shut-eye in a two-bedroom suite that has been modeled into something that Spongebob Squarepants or Dora the Explorer would love!

The 24-acre complex boasts two interactive pools with waterslides, water jets, a 400-gallon dump tank, climbing nets, a basketball court, a mini golf course, a shaded kids play area, live nightly entertainment, a kiddie mall, a Kids’ Spa, Nicktoons Café, an arcade, and a cocktail lounge for adults. Leave it to Nickelodeon to introduce the whole family to fun without ever having to leave the hotel.

2. The Edgewater Hotel

Staying at this unusual bed and breakfast, located on the second floor of the historic Edgewater Hotel, is like taking a step back in time. At its opening in 1927, the Edgewater was considered to be one of the most technologically advanced hotels of its time.

Since then, the hotel has been painstakingly restored to retain as much of its original state as possible. Guests can enjoy antique furnishings including sinks and fixtures as well as an original 1926 Otis elevator mingle with modern comforts such as wireless internet and climate.

The 22-mile trail located right across from the front door is a great attraction for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Rent a bicycle, bring your rollerblades, run or walk to your heart’s content.

3. The Florida Mall Hotel

Shop til you drop knowing that you’ve only got to walk few steps before you can sink into bed. The Florida Mall – one of Orlando’s largest indoor malls – is just steps away from the main lobby of the hotel. Shopping on vacation doesn’t get much easier than this.

4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Imagine a 33-acre wildlife preserve where over 30 species of animals roam free while you chill out in a lodge with African-inspired architecture and furniture; traditional African handicrafts, and evening campfires with storytelling. If it’s an African safari that you want to experience, look no further than Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

5. Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel

Experience what it is like to live in style in a turn-of-the-century Florida mansion with a modern twist that includes a variety of restaurants and a Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The main attractions are three gorgeous glass atriums have been recreated into environments that echo the Everglades, Key West, and St. Augustine. Likewise, the hotel’s 1,406 guest rooms are all based around these themes.

6. The Grand Bohemian Hotel

Designed with an early 20th century European/Bohemian theme, the Grand Bohemian Hotel sits in downtown Orlando. The hotel is home to one of only two Imperial Grand Bösendorfer piano’s in the world. Also on show are over 100 pieces of rare artwork from world-famous artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

7. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

If Italy is a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting, you don’t have to look any further than the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. Experience the sights and sounds of the Italian Riviera when you stroll through the harbor piazza. The hotel is quipped with three themed swimming pools, a Mandara Spa, and a range of dining options that are guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for Italian cuisine.

8. Hard Rock Hotel at Universal

The “Best Hotel in Orlando to spot a celebrity” is none other than the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. It has also been voted as one of the “Top 50 Best Family Resorts in the U.S. and Canada”. There’s no better place in Orlando to party like a rock star.

9. Waldorf Astoria

The first Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Orlando – since the original 1931 Waldorf Astoria in New York City – opened in October 2009. Guests enjoy a championship Rees Jones golf course, luxury poolside cabanas, a spa by Guerlain, signature restaurants, stunning interior design, and impeccable service.

10. Ritz-Carlton

Recreational activities abound at the Ritz Carlton. Tennis courts, a life-size chess board, horse-drawn carriages, fitness center, spa, a zip line and ropes course, and a giant swing are just some of the activities on offer at the Ritz Carlton. Not to be missed are the eco-tours and on site fly fishing.

The Ritz Carlton, Orlando, Florida.

10 Unusual Hotels in Orlando, Florida is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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A guest article by Nick Ball, author of the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

The dramatic volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote have enjoyed a starring role in many a motion picture. Most recently the latest film release, Broken Embraces, from the Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar, which stars Penelope Cruz. It was shot on location in and around the island’s famous Fire Mountains, which were forged by enormous eruptions in the 1730s.

Over the years Lanzarote has also welcomed a whole host of VIP visitors, including famous actors such as Peter Sellers and Rita Hayworth. The King of Spain also maintains his own royal residence at Las Maretas, just outside the popular resort of Costa Teguise.

Now visitors can also enjoy their very own VIP vacation on this small island located just off the coast of Morocco by booking a stay at LagOmar, the former home of the famous actor, Omar Sharif. This breathtaking and unique holiday hideaway, designed by the famous local artist, César Manrique, was built into the side of an extinct volcano.

During the late 1960s Manrique was earning international plaudits for his creation of unique visitor attractions, such as the Jameos del Agua. At Jameos del Agua, he transformed a collapsed lava tunnel into a breathtaking underground auditorium and concert venue.

His work helped to put Lanzarote on the map as the hot new holiday destination. This resulted in a slew of VIP visitors such as Omar Sharif – fresh from his lucrative starring role in the box office smash Doctor Zhivago. Sharif was so blown away by Manrique´s creations that he commissioned his own property on the spot.

Working to Manrique´s design theme – loosely based on the Arabian folktale of 1001 Nights – the house was built by local architect Jesus Soto. It features tropical gardens, pools, fountains and numerous intimate nooks and crannies.

However, Sharif, an inveterate gambler, promptly lost the property in a high stakes game of bridge and left the island in a fit of pique, never to return.

Over the years the property passed into the hands of the current owners, who transformed a section of the house into an upscale restaurant. Guest facilities have just been added and tourists can now rent a stylish apartment at this incredible property, with prices starting from £555 per week.

LagOmar – or Omar’s Lake – is located in the atmospheric little village of Nazaret which makes an ideal base for anyone interested in exploring the island and Manrique’s many creations. His former home and studio – now the César Manrique Foundation – is located just a ten minute drive away in Tahiche. The Fire Mountains, Lanzarote´s volcanic region, are a twenty minute drive.

View this and many other unique villas in Lanzarote by visiting the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

VIP Vacations on Lanzarote is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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1. San-Zhi Pod Village, Taiwan

This abandoned luxury vacation development on Taiwan’s northeastern coastline is known as one of the most haunted destinations on the island. There are several stories surrounding its abandonment, the most popular being a series of mysterious accidents that forced all further construction to a complete halt. The area was demolished towards the end of summer 2009, but that hasn’t stopped locals and tourists alike from visiting the haunted grounds.

2. The Walnut Tree Inn, Kent, England

The Walnut Tree Inn was once home to a gang of murderous smugglers. One night, during a rowdy game of poker, two members of the game became embroiled in a dispute that ended in bloodshed. Since then, visitors to the inn have reported hearing ghostly footsteps and horrible screams in the night.

Image source.

3. Glamis Castle, Scotland

Glamis Castle of Angus, Scotland, has a long history of scaring the pants off guests and visitors. The castle is said to be haunted by both the Grey Lady, who frequents the castle’s chapel, and the White Lady, a woman thought to be burned at the stake on charges of witchcraft and conspiracy. Other ghostly tales involve the Monster of Glamis. The person behind this story, Thomas Bowes-Lyon, would have been a Lord of Glamis. According to legend, he died on the day he was born. Another story disputes his death and instead claims that Bowes-Lyon was born with severe deformities. It is said that he lived out the rest of his days in a secret chamber within the castle and his spirit has haunted the castle ever since.

4. Berry Pomeroy Castle, England

The 13th century castle of Berry Pomeroy is said to be the home of a White Lady, the spirit of a woman by the name of Margaret Pomeroy, who was imprisoned in the castle dungeons by her own sister. Her anguished ghost is said to haunt the bowels of the castle dungeons.  Occasionally, her spectral figure appears on the castle ramparts.

5. The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana, United States

The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 and is known today as one of America’s scariest B&Bs. According to legend, the plantation is cursed for being built on ancient Indian burial ground. Up to twelve murders allegedly occured on the grounds of this spooky plantation.

6. Akasaka Mansion, Tokyo, Japan

This haunted mansion in Tokyo is full of paranormal activity, such as sudden changes in room temperature and ghostly apparitions appearing in the bedrooms. A night spent here is bound to be a spine-tingling evening of haunted fun.

7. Babenhausen Barracks, Germany.

The ghosts of German soldiers from WWII are said to haunt the Babenhausen Barracks in Germany, which have since been turned into a museum. Visitors here have reported hearing ghostly voices and marching footsteps.

Image source.

8. Monte Cristo, Australia

The Monte Cristo Mansion in Junee, New South Wales, is said to be Australia’s most haunted destination. According to legend, the owner of the house, Mrs. Crawley, lost her mind after her husband’s death. She spent the remainder of her life in her home, emerging only twice in 23 years. When she passed away, her ghost remained to keep watch over the house. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing floating apparitions, strange voices, and lights going on and off with explanation.

9. Waverly Inn Sanatorium Boutique Hotel, Louisville, United States

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium was once a former hospital for patients suffering from tuberculosis. It is estimated that 63,000 patients died here, and not just from the ravages of disease. Reports of patients being mistreated and questionable experiments also contribute to the sanatorium’s creepy history. The abandoned building has been the site of several paranormal camp-outs and has also been featured on the Sci-Fi Channel. It is set to open in 2010 as a first-class hotel and spa.

Torture rack in dungeons. Image source.

10. Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, Northern England

Several years ago, the bones of a young boy were discovered along with pieces of blue cloth in the walls of a passageway. Since then, visitors to Britain’s most haunted castle have reported seeing a young boy dressed in blue clothing appear in the halls and passages and hearing haunting cries in the night.

Ten Haunted Halloween Accommodations is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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The beauty of a frozen landscape is undeniable, but imagine enjoying it from the comfort of your own snow igloo. Wouldn’t it be even more exciting? Glistening lights embedded in ice illuminate your igloo, and the peaceful surroundings lull you into a deep sleep while you are sleeping in the cocoon of a toasty warm sleeping bag just 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finnish, Lapland is home to a famous Igloo Village with unique glass and snow igloos for your pleasure. It also has the world’s largest Snow Restaurant. Other attractions within the area include the world’s largest smoke sauna and a beautiful stream where guests can pan for gold.

Perhaps the biggest attraction to Finnish, Lapland – other than the unique accommodations – is the chance to view the Aurora Borealis, which are visible in the night sky from late August to late April. The Midnight Sun shines for two months here and the nights are clear and bright from May until the end of August.

The hotel boasts 32 log cabins, 20 snow igloos, and 20 glass igloos. From December until April, visitors can stay in one of 20 snow igloos within the Igloo Village. The village also has an Ice Gallery, a bar made of ice, and an Ice Chapel, which is quite popular for couples looking for a truly unique destination wedding. The Igloo Village also has five glass igloos, which allow guests to sleep under the sky and admire the mysterious northern lights in comfort.

Each guest is provided with a down sleeping bag, woolen socks, and a hood. The hotel guarantees that visitors will never feel cold because the temperatures inside the igloos always stay between -3c and -6c.After a night in your igloo, you can head to the sauna to warm up. Real thrill-seekers can take a dip in the ice cold water of a nearby river if they really want to shock their systems awake.

The Glass Igloos are built from a special thermo glass and remain at a normal room temperature. They are perfect for viewing a starry night sky and, I’m sure, are most interesting during a snowstorm.

Every year the best ice sculptors of the world come to Kakslauttanen to participate in an international ice-sculpting event. The event takes place in December and takes place at the Ice Gallery in the Igloo Village.  Guests are also welcome to try ice sculpting.

HOTEL KAKSLAUTTANEN – FINNISH, LAPLAND is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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[starthumbsblock tpl=25]Each 6×6×9 room comes with separate bathroom facilities, and the  overhead luggage compartments have wisely been left in each room for handy storage.

The hostel offers rooms for travelers on different budgets. At this time, the Jumbo Hostel is charging $43 (350 SEK) for a night in a dormitory room to $410 (3300 SEK) for a night in the cockpit.

Even folks who have a fear of flying will enjoy this flight. This is one airplane that guarantees a safe landing every time since it never leaves the ground.

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THE JUMBO HOSTEL – STOCKHOLM is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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The accommodations at the Pod Hotel are actually survival pods from an oil rig, and were allegedly built in 1972. Now, the bright orange capsules are moored in The Hague and are available to those who are brave enough to test their fear of small spaces.

The Pod Hotel is closed for the winter, but will reopen again this spring. Two more of these cozy little capsules have been added to their hotel accommodations, bringing the grand total of pods to four. They will also be boasting a bigger reception pod. The bright orange pods can be moored in different locations. At present, two are moored in The Hague. The other two pods are supposedly traveling to Antwerp. Packages depend on the interior, location and length of stay. One of these pods comes equipped with a disco-mirror ball, fairy lights and silk lined sleeping bags, while the other features a James Bond theme. It will be interesting to see what the other two are featured as. Hmmm….perhaps that Steve Zissou reference wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.

Prices for a night in one of these funky-looking capsules will run you between 5o and 150 Euro’s. Despite the price for such cramped accommodations, this funky pod hotel is guaranteed to be a conversation piece in any traveler’s journal.

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THE OIL RIG POD HOTEL – THE HAGUE is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

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