Canada’s Capital can lay claim to one of the world’s most unique places to take a load off. Where else but the Ottawa Jail Hostel can you sleep off a night at the bar behind bars? Actually, as it turns out, quite a few places.
There’s the Clink78 in London, England, for example. This former prison and courthouse is close to where Harry and pals boarded the Hogwarts Express. It's also where The Clash were once convicted of the diabolical deed of shooting racing pigeons. Ohh, those rebellious punkers!
There’s also the Hostel Celica in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This used to be a military prison before it became a hip place to crash after being reinvigorated with the works of 80 artists. You can get locked up in the Prison Hostel of Anjuna, India, the Långholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, or the Alcatraz Hotel in –not so fast San Francisco—Germany.
While tossing globe-trekking travelers, sloshed students and bushed backpackers into the slammer isn’t exclusive to Ottawa, our Jail Hostel does offer a place to sleep on what was once Death Row. Think about it, you’re resting your head a few feet away from where other’s had their necks stretched. The place is said to be haunted too, so, hey, bonus ghosts!
But would you believe that these aren’t even some of the strangest spots to stay in your worldly wanderings? Here are ten more of the world’s weirdest hostels and hotels!
(Sydney, Australia) All aboard the train to nowhere! Located on the original Platform Zero of Sydney’s Central Station, these converted train cars are now your one-stop ticket to comfortable accommodations right in the heart of the city. The hostel claims to be one of area’s most laid back experiences with a pool and café. You’re a quick jaunt away from the famed Sydney Opera House, Harbour and Chinatown.
Kadir’s Tree House (Olympos, Turkey) When you were a kid did you dream of building the ultimate tree house escape in your backyard, a place you could retreat to with some comics, a couple candy bars and fantasy of becoming Chief of your own private Ewok village? Ok, maybe that was just me. In those youthful ambitions I never thought this big! Kadir, resting along some of the most stunning portions of the Mediterranean coast, is a natural lover’s paradise. Around you are gorgeous reserves and ancient ruins to explore but the real delight is what you return to. The rooms are built in the pine trees above you (or bungalows should you not want to venture skyward), are surrounded by lush woodland. These are the kinds of places you come to forget about the rush of the world's concrete jungles . . . or become an Ewok. Your choice. Yub nub!
Chili Kiwi Lakefront (Pucón, Chile) Embracing Ewok’ness not for you? How about going full Hobbit! Middle Earth comes to Chile in this Tolkien tribute that’s claimed top hostel in Latin America two years in a row. I know, you were probably thinking I was going to say New Zealand but it’s due time Sam, Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship had some second breakfasts somewhere else. With hobbit-themed dwellings that will make you feel like you’re in The Shire, your little home is right in front of lovely Lake Vilarrica and thankfully nowhere near the Black Land of Mordor . . . though there is an option to hike up a nearing volcano. Wizards optional?
HI Point Montara Lighthouse (Montara, California) Be the light you want to see in the world –or at least, stay in something that lights up the world—at this lighthouse hostel just 25 miles south of San Francisco. First established in 1875 as a fog signal station after a slew of ships crashed ashore, the place is still used as an aid-to navigation by the U.S. Coast Guard. Guests can now stay in their former quarters. The lighthouse itself is off limits but you still get breathtaking views of the Pacific. Nearby you can surf the mighty Mavericks break or possible spot Grey Whales and dolphins off the point just steps from your room.
Container Hostel (Edinburgh, Scotland) Over to Scotland now where what awaits you are rolling green highlands, medieval castle keeps and the world’s first hostel constructed out of shipping containers. One ofd these things is not like the other. They say it’s more than just a place to stay, it’s an experience. The design contrasts with the stone architecture you’d expect from a city like Edinburgh but doesn’t detract from it. In a way, the Container Hostel is historic in itself, re-purposing those old steel cases into roomy dwellings for travelers wanting to think outside the box while living inside one.
The Aydinli Cave Hotel (Göreme, Turkey) Right in the heart of picturesque Göreme is a rock solid hotel. I mean, it’s kinda’ gotta’ be as it's carved from the natural stone of Cappadocia. This “cave house” is a family run business that takes advantage of the areas famed lodgings. It’s like going back to the Stone Age with the rock cut ceilings and walls. The rooms are furnished with locally made carpets and family antiques and also boasts spectacular views of the village and snow-capped Taurus mountains.
Jumbo Stay (Stockholm, Sweden) Don’t you wish sometimes that, after a long flight, you could just catch a few winks on plane right after you land? While not directly on the tarmac, Jumbo Stay is about as close as you’re going to get! This hostel is actually a decommissioned 747-200 jetliner grounded at the entrance to Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. Inside are 33 rooms including the luxurious Cockpit and Black Box suites. Best of all, you don’t have to keep your tray table up or your seat in the full upright position!
Hotel Costa Verde 727 Fuselage (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica) That 747 in Sweden fully booked? No worries! Believe it or not, when it comes to crashing…err…let me use another word, spending the night inside a plane, you’ve got options! Salvaged from the San Jose airport, this vintage 727 air-frame is now one of the most exclusive hotel suits in Costa Rica jungle. Perched on a 50-foot pedestal at the edge of a National Park, you actually feel as though you’re flying over the jungle canopy. There are two bedrooms with hard-carved, teak furniture from Indonesia and a wooded “wing-deck” offering scenic views of the ocean. You may be able to catch of glimpse of your treetop neighbors, sloths, toucans and monkeys.
Eastern Comfort Hostelboat (Berlin, Germany) Hotel? How about a BOAtel? From the air to the sea…well, actually, river. The Spree in Berlin, to be exact. This is where these houseboat accommodations are currently moored next to the city’s most striking neo-Gothic bridge. Be snugly rocked to sleep as you float on the gentle river in the East Side Gallery. Splurge for one of the “first-class” cabins on the main deck or stay in a cheaper dorm rooms on the upper decks. Really want a pinch you pennies? You can pitch a tent on the boat in the summer months.
Das Park Hotel (Ottensheim, Austria) Want the weirdest of the weird? Voila! This Austrian hotel came up with an interesting way to recycle their drain pipes; stuff people in ‘em! Those looking for alternative dwellings need look no further than resting your head inside a tube of concrete. There’s not much space inside but you do get a comfy mattress, a lamp and a window. Where the rooms lack in space they make up for in value as the Das Park Hotel works on a pay as you wish system.