Subject: sleep
Hotels are often cold, lifeless places to return to after a day in a foreign land. If you're on a business trip, you might relish the chance to unwind and buffer yourself from the business day. But, a traveler likes to meet people, experience the culture and get a taste of the place that they're visiting. And, a hotel makes it entirely too easy to miss out on this experience.
If you're not naturally outgoing, staying outside of a hotel is even more important. In a hotel, it's easy to let your inner homebody ruin your trip. You're simply too comfortable. Instead, plan on staying somewhere where you have to interact with others. Good or bad, it will make for a memorable travel experience, where you can say you've lived like a local. I'll admit, I definitely have my days where I just want to hide in my room and ignore the rest of the world. But, my most memorable trips have been ones in the homes of others, getting dragged out to a party or on an impromptu siteseeing tour. Keep on reading for a few alternatives to staying in a traditional hotel.
Art, architecture and lodging in one, the Benesse Art Site in Naoshima allows you to spend the night at the museum. Designed by renowned architect, Tadao Ando, the art complex situated on a small island in Japan's Inland Sea features a luxury hotel complex and two art museums.
If you love vintage Americana, especially in the form of cool, restored trailers from the 1940s and 50s, a night at the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona needs to be added to your to do list. With nine trailers to choose (including an Airstream, a boat, and the Tiki Bus seen above) decorated with vintage mid-century modern decor, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time.
I've been looking at lots of hotels, apartments and B&Bs lately. And, I've started to think about the process I use to choose where it is I want to stay. When booking accommodation, it's so easy to become overwhelmed with the endless array of options, not the least of which is cost. Unlike choosing where you want to live, a hotel stay can be over and done with before you know it. Some may say that it doesn't make much of a difference then, but I'd argue the contrary. If you've only got a few days to spend in a place, you want it to be perfect for YOU. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by details like amenities, cost, or exact location, even. Get off those booking sites and take a step back and start researching neighborhoods. Just like choosing your first apartment, you want to make sure you choose the right 'hood for your needs.
Texas. Known for its wide open spaces, larger-than-life nature, and rugged independence, is a place unlike any other. Austin, its capital, stands out from the rest of the state as a bastion for people who stood out from the crowd, the weird ones. Why should you visit this oddball capital? It's home to an overabundance of great food, live music, great parks, and a vibrant culture that might just make you want to stay. With all these reasons to visit, there's no shortage of people coming to visit. But finding an affordable hotel in Austin is possible, just as long as you don't try to visit during South by Southwest.
A hostel like no other, Jumbo Hostel puts you back on the airplane as soon as you land. A decommissioned Boeing 747 serves as lodging for over 80 guests just a mere ten minute walk from Stockholm's Arlanda airport.
An art gallery, a hip hotel, or budget accommodation? The Arte Luise Kunsthotel in Berlin is all three.
A great hotel room is easy to find in New York, but a room that's both adequate and affordable, now that's a rarity. Check out some of our picks for a place to lay your head when you're in the Big Apple.
Do you always get stuck with that hotel room. You know the one next to the icemaker with the tiny bed. TripKick aims to help you find the perfect room for you in major hotels across the US.
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