Feel like Roman emperor Nero observing burning Rome from combat vehicle

Nero Suite
Spend the night in a bed in shape of a Roman chariot in front of burning Rome

Rome may not have been built in one day, but in this suite you can at least feel like an emperor for one or two nights, while you can relax on the chariot converted into a bed with the sounds of a harp. 

Recovered in this way, it is necessary to explore the secret of the imperial bookshelf that leads to your hidden "throne". Afterwards you will probably climb the marble steps to the elegant sunken whirlpool and enjoy the view of burning Rome in the background.

Opulent murals give rise to famous Roman buildings and landscapes between columns and arches, while special lighting and themed films such as Ben Hur or Gladiator conjure up antique moods and tempt you to unimagined heroic deeds.

You are cordially invited to bring your Caligae (Roman leather sandals) and purple tunic with you, but you don't necessarily need them to rule over your secret realm as the undisputed emperor. Only you will find the door to your very private' Therme', where the' Drei Grazien' offer you an imperial reception. 

At the blazing fire of the marble palace-fireplace you surrender to the pleasures of wine, woman and song in the late evening with a party of' lady'. Even the belligerent Julius Caesar would have stopped such temptations from the Gaul campaign. 

The 'Nero Suite' is only one of a total of six fancy themed suites and is located in a historic mansion dating back to 1864, which was moved by the Californian Nipomo to its current location in the Santa Ynez wine-growing region in 1980. 

Over 200 experienced craftsmen, craftsmen and artists spent almost 10 years designing the unusual hotel rooms. The fresco painter alone took more than two years (at over forty hours of work per week) to complete the wall decorations.

Hidden baths, cast-iron spiral staircases, a 340 kilogram cannon coffee table, a gypsy carriage, an Egyptian sarcophagus, a massive stone door weighing more than half a ton, a chariot and an original 1956 Cadillac cabriolet are just a few of the many curiosities that make the Victorian villa one of the world's most beautiful and beautiful buildings.

The original owner, was a creative visionary. He renovated the neighboring hotel, a former Wells Fargo stagecoach stop, and designed themed suites that soon attracted guests from all over the world before Santa Ynez Valley became a famous wine-growing region.

After his death, the current owner took over the hotel in 2007, which he had visited many years ago as a guest himself. He not only protected the jewel from decay, but also restored it to its former glory by an elaborate restoration. He shares his dream of a' Disneyland for adults' with the actual builder. Two further suites are planned for the future, a treehouse suite and a' Castaway' suite, for which a sailing dinghy built in 1914 for the King of Denmark will be used.

The Victorian manor house is ideally located in the Santa Ynez wine-growing area - a Californian wine-growing region that gained international fame through the film "Sideways". Located directly on Freeway 101, this small town is a perfect stopover on the way to visit Hearst Castle or San Francisco. Also from Santa Barbara or Los Angeles the property with its imaginative six suites separates only a short romantic drive.

Learn more on provider's website

and book your unique stay here

Healthy underground Glamping in the depths of a Polish mine pit

Salt Mine Chamber
125 meters below surface, Poland can claim one of the deepest situated bedrooms in the world

Deep underground time ticks differently. World affairs on the surface suddenly appear relative, while the special microclimate strengthens body and mind. A Polish salt mine near Krakow now offers individual guests exciting and pleasant overnight stays at a depth of 125 metres at constant temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees Celsius. 

In addition to sports facilities for leisure activities, the unusual hotel with 48 comfortable sleeping places offers a reading room, a disco and an underground restaurant. Free of noise and air pollution, this unique underground accommodation guarantees allergy sufferers undisturbed sleep and fabulous dreams. 

As the crowning glory of a nocturnal underground stay, a visit to the fantastically designed mine is a must. Its countless chapels, salt figures, illuminated halls and winding corridors need not fear the comparison with an underground city with a touch of 'Game of Thrones'.

The oldest salt mine in Poland, which has been in uninterrupted operation since 1248 and is thus the oldest industrial plant in Europe, is reminiscent of an extensive underground labyrinth full of mysterious and unique sites after eight centuries of mining. 

In addition to a 2.5 km long tourist route, overnight accommodation was created in two of the largest mining chambers at a depth of more than 125 meters.

Except the bed and sanitary area with showers, the first chamber also has leisure facilities such as multimedia terminals, table tennis, table football, a sports field and a discotheque. There is also a separate reading room on the mezzanine floor. Finally, a simple restaurant is available to cater for the guests.

The unforgettable underground experience promises, besides the uniqueness of the place, complete mental and physical relaxation through healthy sleep. More than a hundred meters below ground, the microclimate is free of allergens and air pollution, which not only helps allergy sufferers to a dreamlike night. 

The high content of trace elements also strengthens the immune system. As one of the most important biological needs, sleep is indispensable for the regeneration of the human organism. The silence and tranquility far from the hectic surface of the earth do the rest to put the guests of this unusual accommodation into comfortable deep sleep.

If you are looking for even more relaxation and relief from sleep problems or respiratory diseases, you should take several days time for a stay in the second chamber, which is under the care of a sanatorium. It is a cavity at a depth of 135 metres, which was also created by salt mining and was used as an underground stable until the 20th century. This is also the reason why the sleeping area with 28 comfortable single beds in double boxes looks a bit like horse boxes.  

Today, therapeutic stays with or without overnight stay are offered here under the supervision of qualified personnel. There is enough time to explore the modernly equipped rooms, to relax during a visit in the reading room or to inhale the salty air at the subterranean graduation work. Meditation music and semi-darkness that is gentle on the eyes have an additional positive effect on mood and condition. A wide range of activities ensures that no boredom arises underground.

The multilingual staff is also prepared for foreign guests. If you are interested in the rehabilitation program, you can order the registration card for a healing stay (in German language) directly from the provider

The adventurous overnight stays for individual guests are approved for adults and children from 4 years of age (only accompanied) and take place weekly from Saturday to Sunday (in July and August additionally on Fridays). The overnight stay starts at 8 pm with the journey underground, which takes place comfortably by lift, and ends the following morning around 8 am with the return to the surface. 

The package price for two persons includes accommodation, bedding and meals, including dinner on the day of arrival and breakfast next morning.

Learn more on provider's website 

and book your unique stay here

Disused jailhouse in Texas now available to tourists as quirky holiday domicile

Texas Cell Block

The most hospitable jail of the United States awaits his guests with luxurious solitary confinement

Imagine a place where you can escape the routine of everyday life to which only you have the key to happiness. Break the bonds of monotony and be committed to the most hospitable prison wing in Texas, where a luxurious solitary confinement awaits you and your companion behind bars! Only the duration of your stay is up to you.

This unique accommodation in a former city prison is located in the historic center of a small town in Bosque County, which is said to have a lively art scene. Numerous galleries, high-class shops and restaurants characterize the surroundings. 

The private 'Lock for two' is fully equipped with a queen-size bed, private bathroom, natural gas fireplace, roof terrace and a nostalgic vintage turntable with a selection of classic vinyl records.

The small town prison was built in the times of Bonnie & Clyde to accommodate occasional roughnecks and drunks. The night watchman used it as his office, as the prison had the only public telephone in town after dark. 

The current owner is aware of confidential confessions from former inmates who have been sleeping off their intoxication here for the last 40 years after a booze. The anecdotes are very reminiscent of the fictional character of Otis, who as a well-known drunkard in the 1960s regularly put himself behind bars in the TV sitcom 'Mayberry'.

 The story of the prison guard who used to play dominoes with friends is also well documented; and if there was once a man too few, they would have taken the game to the cell and let the prisoner play along. 

No cruel and unusual punishment here, unless good-natured members of the Braggadocio count. Long after the prison was no longer used to house prisoners, the old men continued to meet here for playing dominoes.

 If you want, you can take up this lovely custom with the handmade dominoes, which can be found practically as a reminiscence in a wooden cigar box in the accommodation. Guests who steal away secretly to hide behind Swedish curtains and fall for the domino game are responsible for the consequences: of course there is an acute danger of addiction!

There's no TV in this prison, but there are good alternatives. What do Folsom Prison, San Quentin, Back on the Chain Gang and The Secret Policeman's Ball have in common? These are the titles of some of the smuggled albums and singles that you can listen to through your existing vintage record player. 

The elderly will hardly be able to resist a nostalgic smile with the familiar crackling of music from the pre-digital age. A radio is also available for the selection of a local station in the event that the laying on disk degenerates too much into manual work.

You can hear the train coming with 'Johnny', because the tracks are only two blocks away, and the lonely whistling of the trains accompanies the basses of the song tracks as a tenor. Bring your dearest jailbird to rock the joint with Elvis sounds. Or come alone and quietly dance to the 'Cell Block Tango', which is worth every drop-out step.

Learn more on provider's website 

and book your unique stay here

Railway themed hotel room provides playful stay inspired by 50 Shades of Grey

Rails of Grey Suite

Spend the night on a extravagant bed built from steel railway tracks

In Styria's second largest city two unique themed rooms with a regional connection to innovative companies and their products can be found. In addition to Austria's first and only hotel room with an integrated beer dispenser, the so-called "Rail Experience Room" has been created - dedicated to Europe's largest railway track manufacturer, which manufactures the world's longest rail at 120 metres in the nearby steel mill. 

A bed of rail tracks is the defining element of the imaginative accommodation, which was designed and realized by two local artists in collaboration with regionally based companies.

In the rail room, the guest himself witnesses the enormous rail rolling process, which represents the casting moment of the iron rod with an expansive 3D image with light effects from LEDs. A railing in front of it gives the viewer the illusion of being in the middle of the action and yet protected. 

The unique bed construction imitates a stacking of rusty railway rails, above it a cross-sectional element that is lost in infinity due to mirror technology, giving the impression that the longest rail in the world crosses the room directly. In addition, a vertical safety ladder leads to the imaginary lifting crane on the upper floor, whose folding lever protrudes from the wall.

Other playful details such as a shift worker's locker or gas pipes as curtain rods emphasise the industrial character of the rail room. However, overnight guests do not have to do without the amenities of a hotel room, including a comfortable bathroom with towels, a mini-bar, balcony and room service.

Overnight package with Shades of Grey box

Feel like Anastasia Steele or Christian Grey and let your fantasies run wild! The eccentric rail room is the perfect setting for your personal version of Fifty Shades of Grey's film, in which a billionaire sexually enslaves an inexperienced student. Whether in the function of a romantic design room or as an exciting backdrop for erotic borderline experiences à la Shades of Grey, the decision is yours. 

Already on your arrival you will find a stimulating "Grey toy box" with a bondage scarf, handcuffs and a leather whip in the room number 111. The prelude, however, is a romantic candle-light dinner in a stylish partner restaurant that gets you in the mood for a tingly night of love that is far too good to sleep. The day after begins with an extensive breakfast buffet. Finally, a full-day visit to the spa area of the local spa resort is on the agenda, which includes admission to the extensive spa area with sauna bar.

Learn more on provider's website and book your unique stay here

Spectacular treehouse with mountain panorama and private treetop spa in Austria

'Tree of Dreams' Treehouse
Luxury hotel Suite in a lime tree with gorgeous view and open air bathtub

In the treetop of an ancient lime tree in a mountain settlement in northern Carinthia, lovers can spend fantastic hours at lofty heights in a romantic tree house made of local woods and environmentally friendly materials. 

After check-in at the neighbouring four-star hotel, guests are taken up a spiral staircase to the 12-metre-high living area, where the luxuriously furnished tree house suite with a small bathroom and shower is located. 

But only those who go up the stairs to the next floor will experience a real aha effect. There is a terrace with a heated wooden bathtub from which there is an overwhelming view over the roofs of the Alpine community up to the Karawanken. 

If the private open-air wellness tub is not enough, the hotel next door offers a wide range of spas with steam bath, Finnish sauna or fog grotto. No matter what time of year, here togetherness wins!


The winter-proof tree house in one of Austria's highest mountain villages can be booked all year round. A powerful heating system ensures comfortable warmth in all weathers, while a private bathroom with shower and WC ensures the necessary comfort high up in the treetop. 

The actual living space is 25 square meters, plus a balcony and an observation terrace ('Adlerhorst') with another 30 square meters. At a height of 14 metres, guests can enjoy not only a stunning panorama of the roofs of the old town and the surrounding area on the'Adlerhorst' (accessible via an outdoor staircase), but also a so-called'hot pot' for a hot bath for two next to the highest treetops. 

Of course, you can also uncork the bottle of champagne in the cosy bath tub, which is included in the overnight price along with a welcome cocktail.

In order to protect the 300-year-old lime tree in the best possible way, the tree house is supported by its own scaffolding built around the trunk. A flexible rubber ring guarantees the necessary freedom of movement and gives sufficient room for growth. 

The village lime tree has always been a popular meeting place and is generally regarded as a symbol of peace. Its heart-shaped leaves have always inspired lovers and romantic poets. So it made sense to place less emphasis on adventure than on romance in the design of the tree house. 

For the interior fittings, stored waste wood from a 150-year-old town in the Metnitz Valley was used. The furnishing of the unusual accommodation consists of pine and walnut, outside larch wood was used. The advantage of this hardwood is its special robustness. A triple UV protection against harmful weather influences also prevents the darkening of the facade, so that the guests can enjoy the sight of their airy domicile for as long as possible.

When selecting the fabrics, mattresses and bed linen, great importance was also attached to the highest quality. Coloured light therapy creates the right atmosphere in the bedroom. The desired colour can be selected by remote control. Red is inspiring, blue is calming. The light is absorbed not only through the eyes but also through the skin. Hardly anything was left to chance, so that the guests feel comfortable in their exclusive romantic tree house and keep their stay in lasting memory. 

Breakfast is delivered every morning from the neighbouring hotel and transported comfortably to the top by means of a crank and winch. The family-run hotel, which was first established in 1456 as an inn in a modern country house style, offers a restaurant and a spacious spa area with a steam bath, fresh water whirlpool, Finnish sauna, cold water mist grotto and shiatsu massage chair.

This wellness tree house is particularly popular with couples who want to revive their relationship or celebrate a special day such as a birthday or golden wedding. It can be booked as a surprise or gift. 

As experience has shown that demand is particularly high in the summer months, it is best to reserve the desired date 10 months to 1 year in advance. If you plan for a shorter period of time, you will have to make do with the few days of free windows left.  

Learn more on provider's website 

and book your unique stay here

Luxurious designed hotel suite with traditional gypsy caravan conveys the dream of a free wandering life

Gypsy Suite
Feel the freedom of vagabond life in a indoor gypsy camp

The enchanting Gypsy Suite will awaken your desire to travel when you experience an inviting campfire and a comfortable bed in a caravan. Forest noises surround you while you sleep peacefully, and gypsies decorate your hidden bathroom. 

A stream flows through the clearing into your sunken whirlpool in a wooded mural. The spacious campsite will awaken your desire for relaxation. Without the help of a fortune teller, you will know that your future is a special experience if you stay in this suite.

Vagabond life is cheerful 

Especially in this gypsy themed hotel apartment, with an inviting campfire, a cosy bed in the traditional gypsy caravan and forest noises in the background, the dream of a free wandering life in the open countryside comes alive. 

Your' bed on wheels' stands on a painted clearing, through which a brook cascades cascading into a lowered whirlpool: after all, even travelling people have a right to the amenities of a bath.

Over your resting place only the sky, and on the walls landscape paintings in the four seasons, in addition harmonious details like seat cushions around a car wheel-shaped table. 

After extensive bathing pleasure, stone markings in the floor show the way to a painted wall door, behind which a hidden bathroom protects against all too curious looks. 

If you can't wait for the exciting night in a wood-panelled gypsy car, you can get into a cinematic mood with King of the Gypsies over a glass of Californian wine or ask the tarot cards. But there is no need for clairvoyance and no special magical abilities to foresee that a stay in this spacious suite will remain unforgettable. 

The 'Gypsy Suite' is only one of a total of six fancy themed suites and is located in a historic mansion dating from 1864, which was moved by the Californian Nipomo to its current location in the Santa Ynez wine-growing region in 1980. 

Over 200 experienced craftsmen, craftsmen and artists spent almost 10 years designing the unusual hotel rooms. The fresco painter alone took more than two years (at over forty hours of work per week) to complete the wall decorations.

Hidden baths, cast-iron spiral staircases, a 340 kilogram cannon coffee table, a gypsy carriage, an Egyptian sarcophagus, a massive stone door weighing more than half a ton, a chariot and an original 1956 Cadillac cabriolet are just a few of the many curiosities that make the Victorian villa one of the world's most beautiful and beautiful buildings.

The original owner, was a creative visionary. He renovated the neighboring hotel, a former Wells Fargo stagecoach stop, and designed themed suites that soon attracted guests from all over the world before Santa Ynez Valley became a famous wine-growing region.

After his death, the current owner took over the hotel in 2007, which he had visited many years ago as a guest himself. He not only protected the jewel from decay, but also restored it to its former glory by an elaborate restoration. He shares his dream of a' Disneyland for adults' with the actual builder. Two further suites are planned for the future, a treehouse suite and a' Castaway' suite, for which a sailing dinghy built in 1914 for the King of Denmark will be used.

The Victorian manor house is ideally located in the Santa Ynez wine-growing area - a Californian wine-growing region that gained international fame through the film "Sideways". Located directly on Freeway 101, this small town is a perfect stopover on the way to visit Hearst Castle or San Francisco. Also from Santa Barbara or Los Angeles the property with its imaginative six suites separates only a short romantic drive.

Learn more on provider's website

and book your unique stay here

Stay overnight like prehistoric humans under a million year old rockfall

Stone Age Cave
Archaic cave lodging in Norway imparts primordially experiences of nature

Fjord Norway is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The magnificent nature with high mountains, long fjords and easily accessible glacier tongues attract people from all over the world. A millennial rockfall at one of the most important accesses to the Jostedal National Park contains an archaic type of accommodation.


The surrounding area, with a campsite and a tourist centre at the end of the Oldedalen, appears like a large park and is part of a farmstead that has been in operation since the mid-16th century. 

The owner-pair now manages the property in the fourteenth generation and has established the oldest rockfall of Norway a few years ago with extensive construction measures as an original event and overnight place. 

Back to Stone Age

Remains of wood were found during the conversion work, which could be dated to an age of 5,940 years after being examined at the University of Bergen and analysed in the USA. So trees and bushes were buried under the rockfall almost six millennia ago. 

In this way, the wood remains survived dry and sheltered from the wind. Huge boulders had created a large space through a mood of nature, which was called "Stone Age Cave" at some point in time.

The roof of the cave is made of 800 tons of stone. Two further huge stones form the majority of the walls. A copy of a stone age dwelling was used to build original walls and stairs in the interstices. In the middle of the cave there is a fireplace with numerous seats and 25 overnight places.

Between steep mountains, glistening glaciers and mighty waterfalls, guests can experience an authentic overnight stay in a stone age cave in the midst of an impressive natural backdrop. From the reception you can walk in less than an hour to the world-famous Briksdal Glacier. 

The landscape surrounding the glacier has many traces of climate change over the past 10,000 years. Interested visitors will find a lot of interesting information at many stations or can learn more about the Stone Age cave, its effects on the climate and the surrounding nature during a guided walk through the area. 

Wake the caveman in you!

Of course, fun should not be neglected. An open-air arena with dance floor, fireplace and benches is available for groups and events.

In the reception building there is a reception area with a café, toilets, showers, saunas, camping kitchen and washrooms. Right next to it is a barn with a fireplace and seating for 50 people, which also serves as a public lounge for the guests.

The Stone Age Cave is definitely more than just an original stopover during a trip to Norway. An overnight stay in a stone-age manner away from the stress of civilization releases primal instincts and enables you to experience nature directly. 

With a campfire, reindeer skins on the benches and flickering candlelight, this is the right place to celebrate a special company outing or a family celebration or to give your holiday a special touch. You can bring your own food or enjoy exciting local dishes. 

Learn more on provider's website

and book your unique stay here

Spend the night as a warlord in a converted Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)

Warlord Quarter
Thrilling accommodation in the only military themed hotel & leisure park of Europe

The APC quarter in the Romanian adventure military camp near Sibiu is unique in the world for its combination of military equipment and hotel rooms. 

This is where you can embed yourself in a genuine armoured personnel carrier (APC) that looks as though it had rammed the building from the outside. 

The impressive interior of the halved armoured vehicle can be admired and explored comfortably lying down from the room. In addition to the functional exit hatch, most levers and fittings were left in their original condition. 

The armoured bed is not only an original eye catcher in the otherwise simple hotel room, but also offers the ideal atmosphere for a visit to the theme park and the safest sleeping place in the wide area.

The Armoured Personal Carrier Quarter is one of the special overnight accommodations offered by the military theme park near Sibiu in Romania, which is unprecedented in Europe. 

During the Second World War, the site was home to Europe's second largest ammunition producer, and until the fall of communism in 1989, it was considered the most heavily guarded place in the country. 

Since its opening in 2009, the amusement park for adventurous recreational warriors and experience-hungry contemporaries has become a popular destination for active holidays and teambuilding all the way to China and is booked up months in advance for groups. The resort's own 3-star hotel accommodates a total of 230 guests. 

Eccentric holidaymakers can choose between simple officer quarters and fancy quarters such as underground bunkers, howitzer rooms or armoured infantry fighting vehicles, where you can spend the night in style. Without having to forego the amenities of a hotel.

Inside the APC Quarter, the bed is located in one half of the armoured vehicle, with the head end at the level of the steering wheel. Spartan but friendly accommodation is ideal for action lovers and tough individuals who only want to stay in a hotel room when they need a shower or some rest. The basic equipment of the quarter includes a television, heating, refrigerator and private bathroom.

With around 150 military exhibits, the outdoor area houses the largest open-air military museum in Romania, including tracked tanks, anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers, military vehicles, a military train and a combat helicopter. The military park extends over 88 hectares of partially forested land with a network of paths of about 12 km in length, which have been laid out for various activities.

There are numerous activities to choose from, ranging from the adrenaline kick of a power jump (variant of bungee jumping) from the water tower to adventurous rides in tracked vehicles to relaxing relaxation in the newly built Aqua-Park with 7 pools. Attractions await even the youngest children, who have recently opened their own "Activity Park" for children and young people up to the age of 13.

Skaters and cyclists have access to a skate park and 16 different cycle tracks. Those who want to go high can prove themselves at the climbing course. The six routes are colour coded according to the degree of difficulty. On the most dangerous, the one marked in red, you can climb up to 20 meters high. The 600-metre-long zip-line, which can be used to speed down from a height of 45 metres, is also popular. 

In addition, there is an artificial ice rink, tennis courts, game rooms, miniature golf, a fitness room and the possibility to do military training under real conditions (instructor). This also includes the offered shooting training with real ammunition. The target accuracy can be improved during archery or in groups with paintball or Airsoft rifles when simulating an indoor guerilla fight with helmet and full camouflage.

If you still have enough energy in the evening, you can watch a film in the open-air cinema, visit the program in the amphitheatre or exchange stories at the campfire. It's time for barbecue, music and fun. The culmination of an eventful day full of sport and adventure is the meal in the "officers' mess". The park restaurant with two terraces and field seating offers healthy and inexpensive food.

Learn more on provider's website 
and book your unique stay here

This hotel in a reconstructed Roman villa in Spain takes its guests back to Roman antiquity

Villa Romana
Dining, residing and enjoying bathing pleasure like ancient Romans...

This dream can come true for fans of sandals and Roman culture in the Spanish region of Extremadura. 

An overnight stay in the authentic 'Villa Romana' resembles a journey back in time to antiquity - with all the amenities that a luxurious Roman country house in the westernmost province of the Roman Empire could offer its inhabitants.

Starting with the architectural concept based on the original model with atriums, peristyle and authentic furnishings, through Roman bathing pleasures in the private spa to gourmet feasts with dishes based on ancient Roman recipes that can be enjoyed lying down just like in ancient Rome. In this unusual hotel with four suites, you can experience the Roman lifestyle up close.

The impressive Roman relics, which are only a few kilometres away and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also contribute to this.

Those who have always longed for an antique lifestyle and feel a tendency towards imperial greatness can expect a stay in the'Villa Romana' in keeping with their social status. You only have to bring your own toga.

The historically interested traveller looking for an old Roman hostel in the motherland of the Empire Romanum is strangely in vain. In order to move into quarters like a Roman senator and indulge in ancient pleasures, you have to go to the southwest of Spain. 

Here, the 'Villa Romana' welcomes its guests on the model of a typical Roman country house in the heyday of the imperial era.

The centre of the complex is a large peristyle courtyard surrounded by columns, which has a viridarium (garden), a natatio (outdoor swimming pool), a solarium and a small forest. According to the ideas of the ancient Romans, who distinguished two areas: one with its statues, fountains and cut bushes under human influence, and a second area, separated by a wooden fence, which symbolizes the unbridled nature. Fruit trees, spices and ornamental plants create a natural-looking mix of colours and shapes to imitate the forest as a symbol of nature. 

A Roman garden would be inconceivable without a water well, which then as now has three functions to fulfil. On the one hand it should provide for refreshment, secondly by its water play entertainment offer, and thirdly by its splashing birds are to be lured. According to ancient convictions, colourful songbirds and their cheerful chirping belonged to the beauty and natural richness of a garden.

The interiors of the 'Villa Romana' are grouped around two atriums, which are open upwards and also serve as pleasant places to stay during the sultry summer months. Breakfast is served in the blue atrium, while massages and relaxing treatments are offered in the red atrium at ideal temperature conditions. 

Both rooms are particularly popular with guests, not only because of their central location and access to the peristyle (courtyard with garden) and the upper terrace, but also as protected and at the same time open places that make the sun and rain in the house tangible.

Thanks to the thick walls and vaulted ceilings, the four spacious guest suites remain pleasantly cool even in summer and store the warmth in winter. If this is not enough, a modern air conditioning system is available in the warmer months and underfloor heating in the cooler months, as was already customary in antiquity. And nobody has to do without the achievements of the 21st century: all apartments are equipped with internet (Wifi), TV, iron and hairdryer.

The rooms are divided into an open living and sleeping area for two persons (additional bed available on request for an extra charge). Three of the suites also have their own kitchenette with glass ceramic hob, minibar, microwave, toaster, coffee machine and dishes for self-catering. The fourth suite with Roman-style interior design is primarily aimed at guests who attach particular importance to a romantic atmosphere and authenticity.

This includes a visit to the Roman garden restaurant, which prepares historically correct dishes according to traditional original recipes by Apicius, Martial or Virgil. Dining is traditionally served in the Biclinium (for two) or Triclinium (up to 9 guests). Tables are also available for less experimental guests. In the evening, under the sound of quiet music, Roman oil lamps are lit, whose light not only spreads the appropriate flair but also keeps mosquitoes away.

The kitchen itself was designed strictly according to Roman specifications around a specially built brick oven and grill, so that the best dishes of Roman imperial cuisine can be cooked as faithfully as possible to the recipe. Research is carried out here all year round for a real historical palate experience, which underlines the special Mediterranean character and promises a different taste. Seasoned with herbs, pepper, caraway, saffron, mustard woman, bay leaf, laserpicium, honey or garum (a Roman spice sauce based on anchovies). Specialities include roasts, spelt and rye bread, sauces and vegetarian dishes. 

A tasting menu contains 7 to 8 dishes, which are served aisle by aisle, just as it was usual at a real Roman banquet. Each course must be specially prepared, therefore a reservation is required. Allergiker or guests with incompatibilities can also indicate, if certain ingredients are problematic. Different alternatives are available for each court.

The garden triclinium is ideal for several couples or groups of friends from four to nine persons. The 'table company' also dines here lying down, with the heads of the participants directed towards the middle, where there is a low basin with water. Small rafts drift on it with the food, which can be pulled or pushed further as desired. In the spirit of Epicurus, who demanded that food and drink must be divided into society if one does not want to lead the life of a wolf.

A Roman villa would be incomplete without the private spa, whose visit was part of the everyday life of wealthy Romans. Therefore, the thermal baths in the'Villa Romana' were built exactly as they were typical for the household of a noble Roman of that time. From the Apodyterium (changing room) and the Caldarium to the Tepidarium, Frigidarium and water basin, the complex contains all the components that made Roman bathing culture a model for modern wellness temples. Marble columns and mosaic floors give the bathing by candlelight an extra exclusive touch. 

Let yourself be spoiled with a kyrenic massage in the water (with costs) or impress your partner (or your partner), family or friends with a visit to the Roman spa, which you can reserve exclusively for you and your company (up to 6 persons). The use of the private spa is not included in the accommodation price and costs 12,- € per person and hour for guests of the 'Villa Romana'. 

If you've always wanted to live like a real Roman, come to the province of Lusitana (now'Extremadura') in Spain and spend glamorous days in the west of the Roman Empire! Guests who appear to be dressed up in Roman style receive a discount of up to 50% on hotel services. This is certainly not the only reason to travel back in time to Roman antiquity!

Learn more on provider's website 
and book your unique stay here

The cabins of Rhino Lodge at London Zoo allow unique sleepovers with torch-light tour

Rhino Lodge

Animal lovers should not miss the opportunity to spend the night at London Zoo among wildlife 

London is one of the most expensive cities in Europe when it comes to accommodation. But also one of the most exciting. 

Where else can you spend the night with a herd of white rhinoceros?! A night at the famous Thames City zoo offers such incredible animal views. 

Your "bedroom" is a wooden cottage, complete with all conceivable amenities in the smallest of spaces. Each of the nine accommodations is equipped with bed, heating and lighting to ensure a comfortable stay in the immediate vicinity of the rhino enclosure. 

The view in the opposite direction falls on the magnificent hilly landscape of the Chiltern Downs, which are under special protection as an "area of extraordinary natural beauty". 

Sleep on the wild side!

The guests live in their own private cabins, which bear the names of the most popular zoo animals. A total of nine houses are offered, five of which are equipped with two single beds each (penguin, elephant, bear, rhino, reindeer) and four with double beds (lion, wolf, giraffe, hippo). 

On special family nights (only on selected dates) up to two children can be brought along, who can be accommodated on the additional (sleeping) sofa.

For the interiors of the cosy cabins, the British Chocolate Frog Company, which specialises in ecological production and sustainable materials, deliberately opted for tailor-made oak furniture. 

Unforgettable experience for animal lovers

Guests can therefore enjoy their natural domicile with a clear conscience without having to forego a minimum of comfort and style. 

Within walking distance of the wooden pods there are separate male and female washing facilities, each with showers and toilets. Toilets for the disabled are also available in the sanitary building.

Staying at London Zoo is a fantastic experience for animal lovers of all ages or for those who are looking for a change and want to escape from everyday life for a night to experience something extraordinary.

Observing nocturnal activities

The 2.4 square kilometre zoo on the outskirts of London is already a very special place by day, but even more magical is the visit at night when the zoo inhabitants are among themselves. The special attraction of observing the nocturnal activities of the animals usually remains closed to the normal visitor audience.

Discover hectares after hectares of natural mighty adventures in Britain's largest zoo! Due to the spaciousness it is allowed to drive cars between the individual animal enclosures. The zoo also offers a bus service and a narrow-gauge railway.

A visit to London's Whipsnade Animal Park brings you closer to nature, with breathtaking landscapes and more than 6,000 animals in huge open-air enclosures. During your stay the zoo keepers will try to show you as many animals as possible. Of course you may still spend the day after your nightly experience in the zoo to make up for the missed stops!

Learn more on provider's website 
and book your unique stay here