| At one time, a hotel was just a regular building with | | | | Keeping with the water theme, ice hotels have also |
| lots of rooms, a dining room, bar and perhaps a gym | | | | been more popular over the last decade. The Ice |
| and swimming pool. But as more and more people are | | | | Hotel in Quebec, Canada hosts a nightclub, hot tubs, |
| demanding something different from their holidays, | | | | sauna, and a bar where drinks are served in glasses |
| hotels are becoming increasingly more elaborate and | | | | made of ice. Prices are around £175 per night. |
| extraordinary. | | | | But the Canadians weren't the first to make use of |
| The latest craze to hit the travel world is the | | | | ice as a tourist trap. The first ice hotel was actually |
| underwater hotel. And where else but Dubai for this | | | | built in Sweden, and has been operating since the |
| feat of hotel engineering? The £300 million | | | | 1970's. Every year, the IceHotel gets re-built as the |
| Hydropolis will cost roughly £2,780 per room | | | | previous year's ice perishes. |
| per night and boasts 220 guest suites, an auditorium | | | | Hotels are being built to suit just about every terrain |
| and a ballroom, both of which break the surface to | | | | and concept. There are hotels built underground, and |
| allow open-air events. The hotel even houses a | | | | in trees. Some have sections that revolve, some |
| marine biology laboratory and a cosmetic surgery | | | | have entire blocks of suites that revolve, giving the |
| practice. | | | | guest a different view every morning. And for those |
| But the Hydropolis is by no means the only | | | | who don't like staying in the same place, why not |
| underwater hotel. Fiji is constructing their own | | | | stay at a mobile hotel? The Exploranter is one such |
| Poseidon Mystery Island, located amidst a vibrant | | | | hotel which travels around Brazil, Chile and Argentina. |
| coral reef spanning 5000 acres. | | | | Made from a converted Scania truck and trailer, the |
| Poseidon will offer a library, 3000 square foot rotating | | | | Exploranter can sleep 28 people and has a kitchen |
| restaurant, and even a wedding chapel. Room prices | | | | and hot showers. |
| are set to be around £15,000 per person. It's | | | | Whatever you're into, you're almost guaranteed to |
| due to open in 2009, so start saving now! | | | | find a hotel to match it. The only limit is your pocket. |