Hotels of the World

By Damian Papworth

The hotel has evolved throughout the years. Whereas once it was simply a lodging, a place where you could go and get a hot meal and kick off your shoes for a night or two, today, hotels are so much more.

The trend in hotels is towards providing guests with an immersive experience. Hotels have become concepts; no longer is enough to be a stop over. Modern hotels are escapes; they act as little pockets of luxury, of freedom from the normal 9 to five grind.

From art-themed, to book themed, to green and clean to haute cuisine and high fashion, hotels have clung onto every chic and hip meme out there, developing them into posh design concepts which easily attract the curious and smart from all corners of the world to lay down their heads and their dollars for a night's sleep.

Of course, you've got your standard beachside paradises, fully equipped with peace invoking reflecting pools, shabby-chic villas with mosquito netting romantically slung around the beds and organic chocolate covered coffee beans on the pillows; and you've got your upscale, metropolitan affairs, architecturally zeitgeisty structures that double as upstanding lessons on high class and elegance as well as those staid, institutional hotels which never go out of style.

Nevertheless, nowadays people are seeking more. They're looking for something different, an authentic experience, whether it be a clean, green hotel in the Amazon jungle or a small artsy boutique in Manhattan. There's no lack of edgy, cool hotels out there.

Here's a brief introduction to some of the most unique and remarkable hotels from around the world.

Venture down to South America-to the south of Chile-and you'll find the Magic Mountain Hotel. Located smack dab in the middle of the Huilo Huilo Reserve in Panguipulli, this hotel has nothing to do with the Disney ride of the same name. Rather, it is a hotel that's built in the shape of a mountain. From the peak comes a torrent of water that flows down the sides, creating a spectacular water fall. The hotel is located in the middle of one of Chile's most incredible forest landscapes. In the area you can go hiking, indulge in a round of golf, explore the white water rapids, or go skiing. You can end your day relaxing in the outdoor hot tubs. A night's stay costs around $170 USD.

In Sweden, visitors to Jukkaskjarvi can stay in a hotel made out of pure, solid ice. Although there are several ice hotels in the world, this one was the original Ice Hotel; it's also the world's largest hotel made out of ice and snow, covering some 5500 square meters. The hotel started out as a small igloo built on the Torne River, as an art exhibit. Some visitors decided to sleep in the igloo and the ice hotel concept was born from there. Today there are several ice hotels all over the world.

In the Netherlands, visitors can head over to the Harlingen Lighthouse and stay in this charming tower. While the tower only houses two, and must be booked well in advance, it makes the perfect romantic weekend getaway. Although it doesn't come cheap, it's great for couples looking for an escape from the stress of daily life.

The Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel in Rome is all about music. This place is dedicated to good tunes, good design and modern technology. Located a few blocks away from the Vatican in the Prati quarter, this hotel offers guests all the creature comforts including high quality stereo sound systems and vinyl records.

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