We think shipping containers are pretty cool, after they spend their lives moving products around the world they can be recycled into other products either by being squished up into a new metal item or being used as is for the very popular shipping container storage shed. Well here is another use for the humble shipping container, a hotel. Traveloge in London is constructing a hotel made out of shipping containers, the containers are fitted out in China and then lifted in to position to form a multi story hotel in Uxbridge, West London. It may be ugly but its recycled and construction has been fast and cheap, its also possible to move the hotel when the need arises making the concept a good idea for short term events also. Check out the video above and let us know if you would stay in a shipping container hotel. Read the rest of this entry »
Posts under ‘Hotels’
The Beatles Love in Las Vegas
The Vegas strip sure has had some great stage shows over the years, Elvis the King, Frank Sinatra, Ziegfied and Roy and and and more recently Elton John and Cilone Dion, but the most specatacular and talked about show at the moment would have to be the breathtaking Cirque du Soleil “Love” set to the Beatles greatest hits at the Mirage Casino. Beatles Love is the latest Album released by what many regard as the best band of all time. It originally started as an idea by George Harrison and his friend Guy Lalibert, one of Cirque’s founders. After years of planning original Beatles producer Sir George Martin and his son Giles went to work on remastering and remixing many of the Beatles greatest hits, while the circus was developed resulting in and amazing specticle. A special theatre was even built to house the elaborate set, called the Love theatre it houses 2013 seats and an amazing 6341 speakers and one of the most technically advanced stages which sits centally in th theatre. The show has shown to packed houses ever since and looks like being on the Vegas strip for many years to come.
Is it a Capsule Hotel or a Coffin
When it comes to interesting and odd inventions you can’t beat the Japanese. The Capsule Hotel was first developed in 1979 as cheap accommodation in space starved Osaka and the idea quickly caught on across all of Japan. Check out the video above to get an idea of what a capsule hotel is like, but essentially they are prefabricated fiberglass boxes that are large enough to lay down in. They are piled into a large room with each floor having shared bathroom facilities and possibly some lockers and a vending machine. If you have ever stayed at a backpacker hostel this type of hotel could be considered luxurious with its extra privacy of your own personal capsule. Capsule Hotels are generally located near train stations as their customers are normally drunk Japanese salarymen who have missed the last train home. Very few capsule hotels allow woman to stay and some don’t like foreigners at all, but if your up for a cheap and quirky night’s rest in Japan it would be worth hunting one down.
Be seen on Acapulco Beach
Before we heard of Cancun, Acapulco was Mexico’s most famous beach and is going through a renascence and is once again on the top of many visitors to Mexico’s holiday agenda. Acapulco is more than just a beach it is a huge city with a population of over 2 million known for having a good time, with bars, clubs and discos which seem to go all night. The magnificent resorts are homes to the rich and famous, movie stars, music stars or just celebs hang out by the pool being waited on hand and foot. Being set on a horseshoe the natural bay has beautiful sandy beaches and plenty of Mexican sun. You can just lazily lay by the pool or beach or get into some great activities including some of the worlds best sports fishing, golf on championship courses, every type of water sport known and of course shopping eating and enjoying the nightlife.
Las Vegas fun coming to Spain
Plans are underway to build a huge Las Vegas style city in Spain called Gran Escala in the Los Monegros Desert about half way between Madrid and Barcelona. The plan will feature huge resorts with 32 hotel- casinos, a race course, sports stadium, golf courses, equestrian centres and two major theme parks including a water park and spy themed park. Over 17 billion Euros have been committed to the project and over 25 million people are expected to visit a year once this stage is complete over the next decade. Tourism is a huge earner in Spain, it now makes up 12% of the country’s economy. It is hoped this development will further strengthen tourism and threaten France as Europe’s most visited city. We are not sure if there is going to be a Spanish Elvis or the wedding chapels and buffets but there’s every chance.
One hundred pounds of explosives brings down casino
The famous New Frontier Casino in Las Vegas is no more after a spectacular implosion brought down the historic building over night. The New Frontier is most famous for being the first of the Strip’s theme casinos and the first Las Vegas performance of Elvis Presley, the hotel has had other famous performers over the years including ex President Ronald Regan, Wayne Newton and Vegas favorites Siegfried and Roy. The Last Frontier opened in 1942 as a cowboy inspired casino then took on a bit of a space age theme for a while before returning back to the western theme with cheap hotel rooms and bikini bull riding to name a few of its features. In its place will be the most lavish resort and casino on the strip. Developers plan to spend about 5 billion dollars and expect doors to open some time late 2010 early 2011. The strip (as usual) is going through some huge changes with several billion dollar plus projects planned or under construction.
Who wants to sleep with the fishes?
We love a unusual hotel here at Tripandom, and we think this one rates right up there. Jules Undersea Lodge is a interesting hotel in Key Largo, Florida, it’s actually under the sea. Situated 21 feet under the surface this two roomed hotel features everything you want, a kitchenette with fridge and microwave, beds, TV and plenty of sealife just out the window. Imagine waking up to a squid, turtle or eel taking a peek in your window- you won’t find that in too many places. The hotel is very popular for honeymoons and quite a few weddings even take place there. The hotel even offers diving and snorkel course.
The Bellagio Fountains
The Bellagio Hotel in entertainment capital Las Vegas would have to be one of the world’s most beautiful hotels and you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars a night to enjoy some of the glamor. The Bellagio features what would have to be the world’s most amazing water display with a fully choreographed fountain display set to spectacular music in the forecourt of this huge hotel. The show happens several times an hour and is best viewed in the evenings when the incredible lighting combines with the sound and music to put on a incredible show with water being shot hundreds of feet into the air. Make sure you get there early to get a good spot as it is very popular.
300 Metre long crocodile found in Australian Outback
About two and a half hours drive east of Darwin in the heart of the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park you will find one of the worlds most unique hotels. A huge crocodile shaped hotel. This luxury hotel is at Jaburu in the heart of Kakadu. The hotel, created by a Darwin architect working with the local Aboriginal people, measuring over 250 metres long the head holds the foyer, reception, gift shop and restaurants. While the body is home to the 110 luxury rooms. The legs are the stairs to the rooms while the tummy of the beast is home to the pool and gardens. The whole reptile is covered in a green scale like metal cladding. Tourist coaches pull up in the jaws of the crocodile to offload and pick up the hotel guests.
