Original Hotels

In the last few years, there has been an increase in the demand for themed hostels and hotels. In several countries, ancient prisons have transformed themselves into hostels for the most adventurous guests.

Some of the abandoned jails have been remodelled into hostels, hotels and museums. This type of lodging offers guests the opportunity to sleep between bars.

Ottawa Jail Hostel.

The Ottawa Jail Hostel is located in Ottawa, Canada. The jail was built in 1862 and was shut 110 years later. Several decades ago the building was remodelled into a hostel with several large cells, or rooms, that can accommodate groups, and several private cells for couples, the largest of them being the Jailer’s room.

The building is built in a Victorian style. There are several types of rooms. The largest cells can accommodate groups and are located in what used to be the jail’s hospital wing. The double rooms are located in the actual prisoner’s cells. The largest room is located in the room where the supervisors worked. There is a small museum, the Carleton County Gaol Heritage Centre, located on the eighth floor of the hotel, a floor which has not been remodelled and where tours telling the history of the prison and ghost tours take place.

The hostel has a kitchen with several refrigerators where guests can store their food. The jail’s ancient chapel has been converted into a recreation room with a television, game consoles and board games. What used to be the visiting area is now the Internet room.

The hostel is located in the centre of this city. A few blocks away from the hotel guests will find the Rideau mall, Byward Market and several landmarks and museums, including the Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum and the National Gallery of Canada.

The Celica Hosterl is located in Ljubljana, in Slovenia. This former Yugoslav prison has been transformed into a themed hostel with its own art gallery.

The hostel has 20 rooms, and each room is an old cell. There are several types of rooms. The large cells can accommodate up to 12 people and have a shared bathroom, one bathroom for men and one for women. The medium cells can accommodate up to seven people and have their own bathroom. The smallest cells share a bathroom per floor, and have a maximum capacity for three people. Some of the cells have access for people with mobility problems and an adapted bathroom. All rooms have the original bars both on the doors and windows. Price is usually up to 28€ per night.

There is a kitchen area with several fridges, and a restaurant with hookah pipes. There are safes and a luggage storage area for the guests to use. Books and board games can be used for a small extra price. There are several city and region maps and guides at the reception desk, and city tours can be organized.

The interior design of the building is artistic, with many colourful murals and paintings on the walls. Part of the ancient building is used as an art gallery.

Napier prison is located in New Zealand. The hotel organizes tours around the old jail and the city and group activities, and part of the building has been rebuilt to host guests.

Guests will be able to sleep in the old prison cells. Several cells have been remodelled into modern rooms that can accommodate groups, while other cells have become double rooms with a bathroom. Some of the cells remain unchanged, and the most daring if guests will be able to sleep in these real cells. Price for a bed in the large room is 12€ per person, while double rooms cost 15€ per person per night.

The Old Jail is a hostel located in Mount Gambier, in Australia. The hostel used to be a jail, and even now the building resembles a prison more than a hostel.

The hostel has basic accommodation, although they do offer guests a taste of the old jail. Each room is a scarcely furnished cell, and the shower rooms are the same the prisoners used. The rooms where the supervisors used to stay are now triple rooms. The only element that differentiates the rooms form the cells is that now the doors can be opened from the inside. Price is between 15.70 and 32€ per night.

Despite the very basic accommodation, the old kitchen has been transformed into a renown restaurant. The Turnkey restaurant offers a wide range of delicious dishes and local wines. There is a television room with a pool table, while another meeting room has a fireplace. The hostel’s façade has been restored in order to look like the original 1866 one.

Karosta prison is located in Liepaya, in Latvia. This old military prison offers guided tours around its territory, and the most adventurous of guests will have the possibility to spend a night behind bars.

The bravest guests will be able to sleep in one of the cells of this prison, which closed its doors in 1997, and enjoy the same food the prisoners had to eat. For those guests who want to go a step further, the hostel offers the option of sleeping, eating and being treated as a prisoner. Price is 11.20€ per night. Many people choose the latter option as a theme night for stag parties, and many of the fake prisoners even try to escape their cells.

The Taylor Falls Old Jail Bed and Breakfast is located in Taylor Falls, Minnesota, in the United States. This small local jail only has four cells and three suites.

Guests will be able to stay at Jail Cottage, a small cabin that was the main jailhouse. The jail’s façade is made from wooden blocks, an unusual feature in its day. The cabin has several double rooms, each with a private bathroom, an equipped kitchen, a fireplace and a private balcony. When the bed and breakfast was still a jail, a saloon stood next to it, and its building has been transformed into a guesthouse with three suites. The Cave suite is located inside the original structure of the building. Price is 99€ per night for those who want to stay in the cells in the Jail Cottage, and 106€ per night for those who stay in the saloon.

Anchorage Historic Hotel was one of the first hotel built in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. The hotel is located in an historic building and it is said that several ghosts live at this hotel.

The rooms and prices.

The rooms has 26 double rooms and suites decorated in pastel colours. All rooms are double with a bathroom and all of them are no smoking rooms. Two of the rooms have access for people with mobility difficulties. All rooms have large television screens, Internet access and an alarm clock.  There is a spacious working area with a desk and chair, a safe and free newspapers. The bathroom amenities are Aroma Botanicals. There is a coffee machine and a wide selection of teas and coffees, and a microwave is available on request. Guests can use the iron and the ironing board. The hotel can arrange long term stays.

The standard rooms have a classic décor, with a bathroom and either a queensize bed or two twin beds. The price is usually 78€ per night.

The Junior Suites are large suites with the same amenities as the standard rooms. The suites can have either a kingsize bed or two queensize ones. There is a living room with a bar and a sofa which can be converted into a queensize bed. Price is around 135€ per night.

The ghosts.

It is said the spirits live in this hotel. The second floor is visited by a young woman who roams the hallways. One of the hotel’s celebrity ghosts is Black Jack, named John J. Sturges, who was the town’s first chief police officer. The ghost returns to the hotel every 20th of February at 21.15 since 1921, the day he was killed. The rooms 215 and 217 are haunted rooms where guests usually feel the presence of a ghost. Some of the bathroom curtains in several rooms tend to move of their own accord, and some tap open and close without anyone touching them. The ghost of a bride-to-be committed suicide the night before her wedding, and now her spirit walks down the hallways. Another guest who passed away haunts the stairs, going up and down. At the reception desk guests will find a book where they can write down and ghost sightings.

The building.

The hotel was founded in 1916. During many years, it was the city’s only hotel, and at the start of the century it was used as a place for cotillions, charity fund raisers and other social events such as dinners with silver cutlery, china crockery and sparkling white tablecloths. The hotel is located in the centre of the city, and the recently reconstructed building is considered to be a National Historic Landmark.

Breakfast, dining and conferences.

Guests will be able to enjoy a delicious continental breakfast. Breakfast includes several type of cereal, fresh fruit, Belgian waffles, freshly squeezed juices and a wide selection of tea and coffee.

Near the hotel guests will find Rumrunner’s Old Towne Bar and Grill. This bar and restaurant specializes in gourmet grill and during the weekends gusts dine while listening to live music.

There is a concierge available 24 hours a day. The hotel has its own souvenir shop and a small tourism office which provides information about the town to visitors. At the souvenir shop guests will be able to buy copies of traditional local artefacts and other objects related with the history of the region. There are photocopying machines, faxes and a laundromat available.

The hotel organizes conferences and banquets. There is enough space for 150 guests, and several different conference rooms are available for all kinds of events. All the meeting room are equipped with audiovisual technology and a catering service can be provided on request.

Location and Excursions.

The city of Anchorage is a lively city with natural views. Less than five minutes away from the hotel guests will find the William A. Egan Convention Centre, a space for conferences, conventions and events. Near the hotel there are several historical landmarks and museums. Sydney Laurence, a known painter, used to live at this hotel.

During the summer months the hotel organizes excursions and ecological tours. Guests will be able to enjoy many activities, including fishing, bird watching and hiking the Alaskan trails. Visitors can haunt, explore the trekking routes and kayak, and gold classes under the midnight stuff can be organized. There are 26 glaciers nearby. During the winter months, guests will be able to participate in many sports activities, ranging from mushing to hockey and ice skating. Many visitors come to the hotel to enjoy the Aurora Borealis.

The Farnsworth House Inn is one of the best known bed and breakfasts in the United States. The hotel is located in te historical city of Gettysburg, and it is said that several ghosts who died during the Battle of Gettysburg still live there.

Rooms and prices.

The hotel has several rooms and suites. Each room has a double queensize bed and a bathroom with either an engraved bathtub or a jacuzzi, with decorations dating from the battle. All rooms has a television set, although five rooms have another form of entertainment in the shape of ghosts.

Custer room is a room with a rustic décor that reminds one of the Wild Wild West. There is a chimney and the floor is covered by a large buffalo hide. Price is around 105€ per night.

Schultz room is located in the main building of the hotel. It has a classical décor, with a queensize, cherrywood bed and a claw foot bathtub. Price is 105€ per night.

The Jeannie Wade room was built in honour of the only civilian who dies during the Battle of Gettysburg. The room is decorated in jovial yellow tones and has a large bed, a fireplace and a bathroom with glass decorations. Price is 105€ per night.

The Sweney room is a room decorated in pastel colours with flowers. The room has antique furnishings, including a large wooden wardrobe and there is a claw foot bathtub in the bathroom. The price is 105€ per night.

The Eisenhower room is decorated in honour of Mrs. Eisenhower. The rooms has pink decorations and in the centre stands a large, Victorian era sofa. Price is 105€ per night.

McFarlane room is located in the oldest part of the main building, which dates from 1800. The room is decorated in a vintage style, and there is even an antique sewing machine. Price is 105€ per night.

Another room, the Sarah Black room, is decorated in a Victorian era style. The room is covered in crocheted fabrics and lace, and all the table tops are marble, and a claw foot bathtub stands in the bathroom. The rooms costs 127€ per night.

The Bell Boyd room has views towards the gardens. The room is decorated in various shades of blue. The bathroom holds a jacuzzi for two. Price is 141€ per night.

The Lincoln room is one of the largest rooms at the hotel. The room is painted in blacks and reds, and there is large double bed, a chandelier, a black marble fireplace and a jacuzzi for two people in the bathroom. Price is141€ per night.

The building.

The building of the hotel is considered to be an historic building. Several soldiers hid there during the Civil War. The façade still has the bullet holes dating from the battle.

The hotel was built in memory of those who lost their lives during the Battle of Gettysburg, which lasted from the 1st to the 3 of July 1863. Many say that the ghosts of the dead still wander around the hotel.

The hotel organizes candlelit ghost tours. During these ghost tours, which start from the attic and end with a walk around the city, all of which is done by the light of a candle, guests will be able to learn the history of this important building and of the battle itself. During the tour a guide dressed as they did in that era tells the history of the city and the battle, and shares entertaining stories and anecdotes of ghosts who still exist in many buildings.

What ghosts lived there? To be continued!

It is said that fourteen ghosts live in this ancient mansion. The ghost of a young woman called Mary is the hotel’s main attraction. A father and his son, who died on the hotel’s territory, roam the hallways. Several soldiers who died during the battle can be heard moving boxes around in the attic. One of the walls of a bathroom on the second floor has phantom blood smears from a soldier who died in the attic.

This bed and breakfast serves delicious breakfasts made from locally grown ingredients. The Tavern is the hotel’s restaurant, where guests can enjoy lunches and dinners while listening to ghost stories. The restaurant is decorated with antiques and has a small patio with a fountain.

The wine cellar and the attic host guided ghost tours. The hotel has a library filled with literature about the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.

The Triton Hotel is an artistic hotel located in San Francisco, California, in the USA. The hotel has an eclectic décor with many references to pop culture and has become favoured by many artists.

The hotel is part of the ecologically friendly Kimpton hotels. Each hotel has a different theme, and this particular hotel is all about pop culture.

This is an ecological hotel where all the paper based products are recycled and the cleaning products are free from any toxic elements. One of the floors at the hotel, the seventh floor, only has ecological rooms, with special low consumption light bulbs, fixtures to save water and towels and bedlinen made from ecologically grown cotton. The design of this floor is full of greens and its message is about sustainability and the importance of using biodegradable materials.

Rooms and suites.

Each Standard room has a different interior design, full of colour and artistic decorations. The double rooms are small and have tomato red walls and bamboo floors. All rooms have a double bed and a bathroom with ecologically produced bathroom amenities. The furniture has a curvy style. There are iPod dock with a alarm clocks on the bedside tables and bathrobes for each guest. The minibars are filled with organic food. Each room has a Nintendo and each bathroom has a black rubber duck. There are larger rooms available such as the Deluxe and the Executive rooms, which have larger beds and a lounge.

The hotel has several suites. The Celebrity Suites and the Zen Dens are larger rooms with free WiFi and complimentary newspaper and tea and coffee each morning. Each suite is decorated like the room of a celebrity, an historical figure or as a particular commercial brand, and is decorated according to the theme.

The Zen Dens are rooms which follow the Zen philosophy. Each room is decorated in relaxing light shades and is decorated with statues representing Goddess Tara and bamboo furniture.

The Sweet Suite is a large suite decorated like a Häagen Dazs shop. The suite’s walls are painted in vanilla and caramel colours, and there are many scented candles which smell like some of the brand’s most bought flavours, such as crême caramel. The bed’s headboard is shaped like a carton of ice cream and the bed itself is covered by a large quilt which looks like a waffle. This suite has a freezer filled with many Häagen Dazs ice creams, and special spoons and bowls are provided for those guests who want to enjoy their favourite flavours. Part of the room’s revenue goes to the hotel, while a certain percentage goes to charity.

Kathy Griffin’s D list Suite is a suite inspired on Kathy Griffin’s life and her TV series My Life on the D List, which tells the story of a minor Hollywood celebrity. Even though it’s called a D list Suite, the décor is all about the bling, with modern furniture painted in pearl, chocolate and green colours.

The Jerry Garcia Suite is a suite dedicated to the singer from the Greatful Dead. All the furniture is upholstered in silk and the wardrobes hold some of Jerry Garcia’s costumes. The giant bed is covered by a woven duvet. From the walls hang some of the musician’s own art works, and one of the walls holds his giant autograph.

The King Triton Suite honours the lost kingdom of Atlantis. The suite is coloured in several different shades of blues, silvers and deep greens. The bed has silver hangings and reading lights. Next to the bed there is a large jacuzzi with its own television set.

Theme.

The main theme of this hotel is the influence of pop culture on our lives. Popular culture appeared in this city during the 1950’s and has greatly evolved since, something which is reflected in the décor and design of this hotel. There are many paintings inspired by Andy Warhol’s masterpieces. On the ground floor of the hotel guests and visitors will find a rotating art gallery. The gallery has a large collection of paintings made by local artists. The lobby is a giant mural of the history of pop culture.

Pet policy.

The hotel allows guests to bring their pets for an extra charge. Animals are only allowed to stay in the Standard rooms, but are provided with their own beds, organic food, water and toys. There is a pet sitting service offered at the hotel.

Food and Drink.

The hotel is located next to the Café de la Presse, a coffee shop belonging to the hotel. The coffee shop is decorated as a stereotypically bohemian French café, and serves international cuisine which guests will be able to enjoy directly in their rooms.

Business.

The hotel has a business centre equipped with fax and photocopy machines. There is Internet connection throughout the building. The hotel has several conference rooms equipped with the latest audiovisual technology and the hotel can organize events for up to 40 people.

Activities.

The hotel organizes several activities for guests. Coffee is served in the morning and freshly baked cookies are served each evening, while after dinner guests will be able to join wine tasting activities. Each night the hotel offers guests the opportunity to taste wine, listen to live music, enjoy a massage or even have their future read by a clairvoyant. All guests receive complimentary newspapers and a yoga kit which they will be able to use in the hotel’s gym.

Location.

Hotel Triton is located in Chinatown, a neighbourhood which starts at the ornate Dragon Gate. Only a couple of blocks away is the Union Square and the city’s financial district.

The Art Factory Hostel is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city. This hostel is located in the centre of the city, and its clean and modern rooms together with a colourful interior design make this one of the best places to stay for those travelling on a budget, in groups and those visiting the city for a couple of days.

The hostel has several types of rooms. Some of the rooms have a shared bathroom, but for a small extra fee guests will be able to have a room with a private bathroom. There are individual, double and triple rooms, as well as large dormitories for larger groups.

Each room has an individual design, since each one of them was painted and decorated by a different group of artists who each had their own take on the décor. This concept has transformed this centric hostel in a boutique hostel.

The shared dorms are decorated with street art such as graffiti and murals, and cost around 9€ per bed, which comes with bed linen and towels. An individual room with a shared bathroom costs 22€ per night, while an individual room with a private bathroom costs 27€ per night.

The double rooms can either have two individual beds or a double bed, and each one of these rooms has a different theme. A double room without a bathroom costs 27€ per night, while a double room with a private bathroom costs 35€ per night.

Triple rooms are slightly larger and have three individual beds. A triple bedroom with a shared bathroom costs 33€ per night, and a triple bedroom with a private bathroom costs 39€ per night.

Prices include bed linen and towels, and a continental breakfast served at the hostel. There is WiFi in all bedrooms, and the hostel’s common areas have fast Internet connection.

The hostel has its own bar and a terrace. There is cable television in the common areas. Check out is at 11 am, although guests can leave their luggage at the hostel if they still some time to enjoy the city before their departure. There is a large kitchen where guests can cook their own meals, and fresh fruit is provided at breakfast. The hostel has a library filled with books and magazines. Guests can hire a transfer service from and to the airport.

The hostel regularly organizes football competitions and guests can rent bicycles for touring the city. Depending on the day, the hostel can organize Spanish lessons or tango classes.

The hostel organizes theme nights. Several days a week guests will be able to enjoy an authentic Argentinian steak, and vegetarian options are provided for non carnivore guests. On other nights guests will enjoy live music by local independent bands and classical  film nights. Guests can participate in the Caminata Secreta, a guided walking tour across the historical streets of the San Telmo district.

The hostel is an artistic place strategically positioned for those guests who want to discover Buenos Aires at their ow pace. Every corner of the hostel was designed by a different group of artists, architects and designers. The hostel is located in one of the cities most centric districts, San Telmo, a contemporary and colonial neighbourhood with vintage shops, art galleries and places of historical interest.

The hostel is located in the centric district of San Telmo. Only a five minute walk away is the Plaza de Mato, which is considered the city’s main square. The hotel is communicated with the rest of the city by two nearby metro stations. Nearby guests will find Plaza Dorrego, a square where outdoor markets and market fairs are organized every weekend. A short walk away from the hotel guests will find many bars and restaurants, many of which organize live tango and music shows. Puerto Madero, the city’s most chic area, is a short distance away. San Telmo can be considered one of the most artistic barrios in the city, where art galleries, temporary exhibitions and permanent museums can be found within walking distance.

The Shattuck Plaza Hotel is located in a 1910 historical building in Berkeley, California. The hotel has been recently remodelled and refurbished, and now has an individual style with its trademark red walls and ergonomically designed decorations and furniture.

The hotel is located in a building built in 1910 and is considered to be the first hotel in the city. This hotel is an ecologically friendly place which promotes green tourism and uses recyclable goods. The hotel has gone through some major changes and now has 199 rooms with 199 individual themes.

There are several different types of rooms. All the rooms and suites at the hotel are either individual or double rooms with a private bathroom and a large, laptop sized safe. There are flat screen television sets and iPod docks in each room, and the chandeliers are actually energy saving lamps. There is a working area with a desk, an ergonomic chair and Internet access in each room. The individual or double beds have top notch linen, the furniture ensures maximum comfort and guests will be able to choose between down pillows and hypoallergenic pillows. There are complimentary bathrobes and shower and bath amenities for guests. The rooms can have views either towards Berkeley, with vistas to the Golden Gate Bridge or facing the city of San Francisco instead.

The smallest rooms at the hotel are the Business Class rooms, designed specifically for those travelling on business and with a cost of 155€ per night. The Traditional Double rooms are standard double rooms with a double bed, while the Traditional King Bedrooms are slightly larger rooms with a kingsize bed and a cost of 163€ per night.

The Plaza King and Cityscape King rooms both have similar characteristics such as a kingsize bed, more modern technologies and more space for the sleeping and working areas. The only difference between these two types of rooms are the views, and while one room faces the city, the other one has views towards the bay area. Price varies between 178 and 194€ per night.

There are 17 two room suites which are larger versions of standard double rooms. The suites have a spacious master bedroom with a television set and a kingsize bed which has a headboard with lights, and a separate living room with a sofa, a coffee table and a flat screen television. Guests are treated to daily newspapers and to complimentary bottled water. There are two types of suites which vary in décor, and while the Shattuck Suites cost 210€ per night, the Sophomore Suites have a price of around 249€ per night.

The hotel is equipped with the latest technologies both in the rooms and in the conference rooms. The high definition televisions in each room have satellite TV and can be synchronized with laptops, iPods or Nintendos.

The hotel has a lounge where guests and visitors will be able to try a wide variety of cocktails made from organic products. The hotel has its own restaurant, the Five, which is known for its décor, with arched windows, crystal chandeliers and delicious food. The restaurant has a large menu offering all kinds of products which support ecological agriculture and fair trade. By eating at this restaurant, guests will contribute towards helping the local farmers. The extensive wine list includes wines from more than 100 different vineyards in California. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Right next to the hotel guests will find the parking lot and the gym entrance. The hotel has access for people with mobility restrictions. The hotel can provide a butler service for guests with special needs.

The hotel has a business centre equipped with computers, multifunctional printers and faxes, and the centre is open 24 hours a day. There are several spacious conference rooms at the hotel, and all of them can be used to celebrate large events such as weddings and other banquets. The six conference rooms have all the necessary audiovisual material for a business meeting, and the seating can be arranged according to the type of event.

The Boiler room, one of the hotel’s largest halls, can be divided intro three sections. The Presidential Boardroom is another main hall. The Whitecotton Hall is a spacious banquet hall located on the hotel’s top floor which has views towards the city. The Crystal Ballroom is usually used for the most formal events, as this antique hall can be divided into two sections decorated with chandeliers, wall length gilded mirrors and turn of the century paintings. The hotel offers a full catering service, including maître d’ personnel and decorators, both for conferences and for events such as banquets.

The hotel has an urban and chic décor. The hotel is located near Shattuck Avenue, named in honour of Francis Kittredge Shattuck, and since it was built in 1910 now it is considered one of the prime examples of the traditional Californian architecture that used to reign in the city.

The hotel is only two blocks away from the prestigious University of California Berkeley Campus. The hotel is comfortably located near a BART public transit system. Guests staying at this hotel will find themselves only a couple of minutes away from the numerous museums and theatres the city has to offer, especially since some of the city’s main streets and avenues are near the hotel. The Shattuck Plaza is close to San Francisco, a major city renown for its culture, its monumental architecture and its fast rhythm all day, every day.

The Santa Teresa Hotel is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. This prestigious boutique hotel is located in the same building which decades ago housed a real Argentinian hacienda, a former colonial ranch.

From the outside the hotel looks like a small palace and has several suites. The hotel is known for its spa and its prestigious location. The old colonial ranch is located in the historical and cultural centre of Rio de Janeiro.

This hacienda used to produce coffee, and has been recently remodelled into a modern mansion. This sophisticated hotel has a tropical decoration inspired in the indigenous and African roots of the city. The hotel is known for its excellent service, its tasteful décor and its comfortable and centric location.

The hotel has several types of rooms. All rooms are quite spacious and equipped with a double bed and a bathroom. The rooms are decorated in ochre and golden colours and have air conditioning, a mini bar, a flat screen television and Internet connection.

The Superior rooms are 27 square metre rooms with a kingsize bed. The Deluxe apartments have 35 square metres of space and can either have a kingsize bed or two twin beds. Some of these rooms can be communicated between them and are ideal for families travelling together.

The 40 square metre Junior Suites are spacious rooms. These suites have a living room and a master bedroom which can either have a kingsize bed or two normal double beds. These suites have views towards the mountains. Depending on the suite, guests will be able to enjoy either a terrace or a separate lounge room.

The 60 square metre Master Suite is one of the most coveted accommodations at the hotel. There are several Master Suites and all of them have a large living room, a master bedroom with a kingsize bed, a bathroom with a bathtub and an LCD television set with DVD in the bedroom. These suites have views towards the mountains.

The Loft Suite is a huge, 160 square metre suite with panoramic, 180º views towards the Bay of Guanabara. The suite has a comfortable living room with sofas and a television set. The master bedroom has a super kingsize bed with Egyptian linen and designer decorations. The bathroom has a huge bathtub as well as two separate relaxation areas which create a small spa. This suite has its own private balcony.

The décor in each one of the rooms varies between a more lively and tropical design to a more traditional, ethnic feel. The ornaments in the rooms are centred around coffee beans and cocoa plantations which used to be the primary source of income of this hacienda. Most of the construction materials used are ecological and natural products.

Some of the rooms have an individual theme, with a unique décor and ornaments following the same line of thought. One of the rooms is decorated with traditional, ethnic Brazilian designs, while another one reflects the legacy the Tupi Guarani Indians left behind. Another room has paintings depicting the African influence in Brazilian culture, while yet another room has mystical designs and ornaments typical of the Río de Janeiro and Bahia regions.

The Santa Teresa is considered to be one of the best hotels both in the city and in the country as a whole. The rooms and the hotel’s common areas are generally decorated with dark redwood furniture, slate floors which vary from golden tones to a darker bordeaux colour, and ornaments made from banana fibre. The hotel has tropical gardens and large swimming pools with views towards the hacienda.

Even the hotel’s spa follows the ethnic décor common throughout the hotel. The Santa Teresa Spa is a large spa where all skin care products are natural products. This sophisticated spa has tropical decorations and offers guests many rejuvenating and relaxing treatments. Guests will be able to enjoy all kinds of relaxing anti stress massages. The spa has a hammam, several saunas, traditional Japanese ofuro baths and several massage rooms.

The lounge bar, known as the Bar dos Descados, is one of the city’s trendiest bars. The bar is located in the wing that used to be used as housing for slaves. Nowadays the wing has been remodelled and it’s not unusual to see several international celebrities enjoying one of the hotel’s exotic cocktails.

The Térèze restaurant is known for its French inspired haute cuisine and its traditional Brazilian meals. Continental breakfasts are served every morning. The restaurant has views towards both the bay and the city. The restaurant and the bar can be rented for private events and special occasions.

The hotel can organize events and meetings in its conference rooms. The hotel can provide translators for meetings. Those guests who travel on business will have access to fresh newspapers each morning and will be able to enjoy a complimentary anti stress massage. The conference rooms can accommodate up to 70 people, and each hall is equipped with the latest audiovisual material. A security service can be provided upon request, and the hotel can organize corporate lunches and business dinners.

The hotel is located in the very heart of the Lapa district. The hotel is only a few minutes away from the Puerto de Marina da Gloria and the world famous Sambodrome. The Maracana Stadium is quite close to the hotel. Some of the rooms have views towards the Teresopolis mountains. The hotel has views towards the city of Rio as well as towards the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

Maison 140 is a boutique hotel located in Beverly Hills, California, in the United States. This chic boutique hotel has several rooms and suites which have been recently renovated and now possess an individual and trendy style.

The hotel is located in Beverly Hills, one of the city’s best neighbourhoods. The hotel’s décor is inspired by two very different designs, the tradition of the Mandarin culture and the Parisian spirit, which manage to harmonize at this hotel.

The boutique hotel has a total of 43 rooms. There are two types of rooms, Mandarin rooms and Parisian rooms. All rooms have a double bed, a private bathroom, a safe, a minibar, a television with a DVD, telephones with two landlines and Internet access. Some of the decorations and furniture are hand made, while others are pure vintage. The bathrooms are equipped with Neil George amenities and home spa products. Each room has beds with hand made mattresses and hypoallergenic pillows as well as ironing boards and both linen and bathrobes designed by Italian brands.

The hotel has two very different types of rooms. The Mandarin rooms have a more traditional oriental décor, just like their name suggests, full of chinoiserie elements. The Parisian rooms have a distinctive Bohemian touch with a modernist décor.

The Parisian rooms are slightly smaller rooms with either a queensize or a kingsize bed. These rooms have vintage and bohemian decorations and pictures of the turn of the century Paris hanging on the walls. Price is around 125€ per night.

The Mandarin rooms are more spacious, with a distinctive Asian feel and a kingsize bed in the centre of the room. These rooms have a minimalist décor, classical furniture and modern technologies. Price is around 140€ per night.

The decoration varies from room to room. In the case of the Parisian rooms, the walls of each room are papered in wallpaper with different motifs, all of them representing historical pictures of Paris. Some of the Mandarin rooms are painted in one solid colour, although the colour varies depending on the room. Some of these rooms are painted in bright red, while others are painted in grey and have Asian artefacts as ornaments. The room painted in yellow has monochrome, black and white furniture and decorations.

Guests who stay at this hotel will have access to the swimming pool located at the nearby Hotel Avalon. This huge swimming pool is shaped like a giant hourglass and has vintage decorations.

The hotel offers its guests delicious continental breakfasts made from organic products accompanied by fresh pastries. Guests will be able to enjoy a fresh tea or coffee in their rooms just by calling room service. A catering service is provided on request for those who come to the hotel for conferences and meetings.

One of the hotel’s main assets is its trendy bar called the Noir Bar, which is decorated in black, white and red colours. This bar has a separate vintage lounge with eclectic decorations and over sized chandeliers. During the cocktail hour, guests are welcome to take part in L’Heure Vert, a traditional tasting of absinthe. A great variety of  exotic cocktails are served, always accompanied by cheese platters. The bar can host photo shoots, advertising campaigns and similar events, as well as private events.

The hotel has several conference rooms equipped with all kinds of modern audiovisual material. The conference rooms are decorated in neutral tones. The hotel itself is located near the city’s business district and several conference halls are a short distance away.

This hotel is located in the centre of Beverly Hills, one of the world’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Several major shopping streets are nearby, as well as many of the city’s landmarks. There are many trendy bars and chic restaurants in the neighbourhood, where guests will be able to taste the creations of some of the world’s best chefs. A short distance away from the hotel guests will find the Sunset Strip, the neighbourhoods of Bel Air, Santa Monica and Hollywood, as well as Universal Studios and Rodeo Drive.

The Vertigo Hotel, named in honour of Hitchock’s masterpiece film “Vertigo” is located in San Francisco, California, in the United States. A vertiginous winding staircase decorates the hotel’s façade, while the interior of the building is full of images of clouds.

During the Prohibition the hotel was a clandestine bar, a speakeasy, where alcohol could be easily found. Later on it was transformed into the Empire Hotel, later renamed as the York Hotel. The hotel’s current name alludes to the 1958 film Vertigo, directed by Hitchcock and recorded in this very same building, then known as the Empire Hotel. The film’s famous outside stairwell is still intact.

The hotel has 102 rooms. Prices vary depending on the type of room, although the lowest price is usually around 100.60€ per night. All rooms are double rooms with a bathroom, decorated with beds with white leather headboards and bright orange vinyl armchairs.

The traditional York rooms date from the time the hotel was known as the York Hotel. These rooms are painted in orange tones and have basic amenities, such as a double bed, a bathroom with shower products and a working desk.

The nearby renovated rooms are an upgraded version of the York rooms, and are equipped with flat screen televisions and iPod docks. There are small fridges in these rooms, as well as coffee and tea making machines. Guests are provided with fluffy bathrobes.

There are several types of modern, renovated rooms at the hotel. The Traditional Queen and Traditional Two Twin Beds rooms are basic rooms equipped respectively with a queensize bed and two individual ones.

The Petite Queen and Deluxe Queen rooms are spacious rooms which vary in size and have a queensize bed. The King Executive rooms are even larger, with bright decorations and a kingsize bed.

The Vertigo Suites have a main bedroom with a bathroom and a living room. The living room, like the rest of the suite, is decorated in bright shades of orange and has several sofas with orange embroidered cushions. The Penthouse 13 is the hotel’s most luxurious suite which has several bedrooms, bathrooms and a living room.

All rooms have ergonomic furniture and are decorated in the hotel’s trademark colour, orange. Bright orange curtains hang from the ceiling. Part of the décor reminds one of some of Hitchcock’s masterpieces, with paintings representing vertiginous scenes, Escher like staircases and whirlpools. Most ornaments are multifunctional and all the lamps have a different, almost infeasible structures. The table lamps are shaped like a horse’s head, while the lamps in the working areas are shaped like balloons.

The hotel is known for its eccentric decorations. Most paintings look like they can move and no one is left indifferent by the sphere shaped furniture. This hotel is an ecologically friendly space. In the lobby guests will find free newspapers and magazines. Pets are allowed at this hotel, though this must be stated in the reservations. Guests have free access to the hotel’s gym.

The hotel is located on Union Square, in the Nob Hill neighbourhood. The hotel stands in one of the city’s most trendy districts, full of modern shops and boutiques, cafés with a bohemian and chic feel and international restaurants. Guests will be able to enjoy long walks around the centre of the city and visit the theatre district. Only a couple of minutes away from the hotel guests who travel on business will find the Convention Center. Nearby visitors can visit the City Hall, the Opera House and Nob Hill.

The W chain of hotels is one of the most luxurious hotel chains in the world, located in the most important cities in North America and Europe. All the hotels boast a luxurious fusion between innovation and design. The W Hotel Hollywood is one of these unique and stylish hotels.

The hotel is located in the centre of the internationally renown Empire of Cinema, Hollywood, and is in sync with the never relenting rhythm of the city. With its grand restaurant, spacious rooms with modern furniture and stylish designs, the hotel is considered to be one of the best in the city.

The hotel has several types of rooms, all of them very spacious with a double bed, a marble bathroom with an in room spa, and modern decorations. The rooms boast large flat screen television sets, Internet access and all kinds of amenities that will make the stay at the hotel a comfortable and memorable one.

The hotel has 305 rooms and suites, and each type of rooms has a different décor. All bathrooms have a wide selection of spa amenities and products, while rooms have the best technology available as well as the traditional Munchie Box, a large box full of all kinds of snacks. Rooms have views towards Los Angeles, and the luxurious details are enough to make one feel as a real star.

The hotel is one of the most ecologically friendly hotels in the city. All the technological gadgets have been designed to create a green environment, with larger windows allowing for more natural sunlight, special coated windows allowing the room to lose less heat and low energy light bulbs.

All the rooms have a large collection of movies available, as well as iPod docks, hypoallergenic pillows, a smaller make up and shaving mirror in the bathroom, plug adapters, alarm clock with radio, tea and coffee machines, free mineral water, a mini bar, extra beds, a safe, a working desk, a full length mirror and a bed for pets. The hotel also provides guests with warm bathrobes during the length of their stay and umbrellas in case of rain.

The Wonderful Rooms are known for their vistas, as well as for their retro décor, with vinyl sofas near the enormous windows. Each room has a flat screen television screen as well as a dozen of other technological gadgets in every corner of the room. Each room has a modern, comfortable lounge area with ottomans.

Spectacular rooms have views towards the world famous Hollywood sign standing on the Hollywood hills. These rooms have large windows with window seats where guests can relax while enjoying the views. These rooms have a lounge near the master bedroom, as well as a separate working area full of modern technologies.

The Fabulous Rooms are more spacious rooms with a modern design and views towards the most famous Los Angeles neighbourhood. These rooms have a sitting room area with a small sofa near the windows, as well as a separate working area with a brilliant white desk and a media library with many books, musical genres and movies to choose from.

The Marvellous suites have a large master bedroom, a sitting area with a sofa shaped like a semicircle, and a futuristic décor.  Each suite has all the latest technological details as well as the traditional W double bed with many cushions piled on top of it. The bathroom of each suite has an enormous bathtub, while the separate sitting area has its own bar.

The Corner Cool Suites are luxurious suites with a gigantic master bedroom located on the corners of the building. The suites have views towards the Hollywood sign on one side and the city of Los Angeles on the other side. The living room has a large sofa shaped like a semicircle, a flat screen television set with home cinema and other technologies, and there is a separate spacious working area with a telephone and a small business centre. These suites are decorated in pure white and furbished with contrasting dark wooden furniture.

The Fantastic Suites are the most technologically advanced rooms at the hotel, with a panel that controls the lights, climate and the windows. They are decorated as though they are a supehero’s lair, with a large bed on a dais in the master bedroom, two bathrooms, one of which has a bathtub for two, and a private terrace. The sitting room has a large television screen, several iPods and iPod docks, CD and DVD machines, a large media library and a small conference room with a table for up to eight people with all the necessary audiovisual equipment.

The Wow Suites can be considered the hotel’s visiting card, and are renown for their Oscar worthy décor. These suites have a private terrace with a decorative chimney in the patio, a large dining table for ten people and views towards the City of Angels. In the master bedroom guests will find a large double bed on a dais, while in the bathroom they will find a Jacuzzi with a mini spa. These suites have disabled access. There is an extra guests bathroom. The sophisticated living room boasts a giant sofa with several armchairs, and has a classical luxurious décor, with pearl grey walls and hardwood floors. The room has a panel which controls the intensity of the lights, a flat screen television set and thick carpets. Guests who stay at these suites will be able to use their own private kitchen, and those who travel on business will be able to use the large separate working area which has a hand carved working desk and all kinds of technological devices. Guests will be able to hire kitchen staff, and the suite has two separate entrances for this purpose, one for the staff and one for the guests.

The Extreme Wow Suites look like small scale palaces. These suites have enormous suites which occupy a whole wall from the floor to the ceiling and have views towards Hollywood. These suites have a spacious master bedroom with a bed upon a dais, plush sofas below the windows, quality bed linen and a large marble bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath for two. The bathroom is decorated in white and black tones and has two separate sinks and a separate shower for two. Next to it stands a smaller bathroom for guests. The suite has a living room, in the centre of which stands a large, dark sofa, and one of the corners has been converted into a private lounge room decorated with cushions thrown around a large carpet. There is a large table with faux snake leather ottoman chairs around it. These suites boast top notch technologies ranging from the huge plasma television screens to panel controlled blinds, shutters and lights. The suites also have a private kitchenette with a fridge full of gourmet food and an adjoining dining room with a capacity for up to seven people decorated in sombre tones reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

One of the hotel’s most notable features is their Whatever/Whenever service. This service allows guests to get whatever they want, whenever they want by pressing the Whatever/Whenever button on their phones. The service works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and some of the most extravagant wants include chocolate baths at 2am and jet service for a daytrip.

This hotel has a well known chic restaurant which specializes in haute cuisine, the Delphine, as well as a stylish VIP terrace called Drai’s Hollywood. The Living Room is a large hall where guests can enjoy a meal in a more informal setting.

In a place where glamour and beauty are taken to the next level, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the hotel has a large, luxurious spa, the Bliss Spa, full of saunas, jacuzzis and massage rooms. Guests will be pampered with relaxing dull body massages, aromatherapy and chocotherapy, as well as with different skin treatments.