The World's 5 Strangest Hotels Oksana Dmitrieva
Marmara Antalya Where: Antalya, Turkey What It Is: 208 rooms overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Taurus Mountains and city of Antalya. Why It's Unique: The world's first revolving hotel, the Marmara Antalya's spinning 24 -room loft provides guests with a constantly changing view. Floating in a pool of 478 tons of water and aided by six electric motors, it turns a full 360 degrees on its foundation several times a day.
Dog Bark Park Inn Where: Cottonwood, ID What It Is: A beagle-themed B&B that sleeps up to four guests at a time. Guests enter the body of the giant dog through a balcony. The dog's head houses a loft bedroom and an alcove within the muzzle, with a toilet disguised as a fire hydrant. Why It's Unique: The larger beagle, named Sweet Willy, is 30 feet tall, 34 feet long and 14 feet wide. It's made of wood (the owners are chain-saw artists) and painted stucco, with flaps of carpeting for ears.
Jules Underwater Lodge Where: Key Largo, Fla. What It Is: A retired research laboratory and the world's first underwater hotel. It rests on stilts 5 feet off the floor of a tropical lagoon, surrounded by swarms of aquatic wildlife. Why It's Unique: To get inside, guests dive 21 feet under the sea and enter through the floor of the apartment. Compressed air keeps the water from rising up and flooding the rooms. A 3 -hour scuba course is required for uncertified divers.
Sandcastle Hotel Where: Weymouth, UK What It Is: This seaside resort was made entirely from sand—about 1100 tons of it. A team of four sculptors worked seven 14 -hour days to finish the hotel in late July of 2008. It held up until the next big rainstorm. Why It's Unique: For about 15 dollars per night, guests fell asleep under the stars and woke up to the tide lapping at the door. Not appropriate for people who disliked getting sand in their bathing suits, or who required indoor toilets.
IKEA Sovhotell Where: Stockholm, Sweden What It Is: For those who have shopped until they're about to drop, Sovhotell is conveniently located in the middle of this Stockholm shopping center. Why It's Unique: IKEA provides pillows, sleep masks and soothing music for weary customers to recharge. They offer single and double beds, and a bridal suite. Perhaps the company was sick of waking up customers who were "trying out" the mattresses.