Sentry Mountain Lodge, Golden , Canada

Accessible only by helicopter, this remote backcountry lodge is perched at an elevation of 6,920 feet, deep in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada . 2005 Sentry Snow Report : 14-Feb-05 Height of Snow @ the Lodge (6,920') : 252 cm 24 Hour Snowfall : 6 cm New Storm Snow this week : 29 cm Comments: "Happy Valentines Day!"

Even though we're in the middle of a great season of skiing, many will already be thinking of summer and autumn vacation plans. If you're looking for some get-away-from-it-all peace, and thrive in the clean mountain air, then a world of tranquility, wilderness and magnificent panoramas is here for you. Wild flowers carpet the alpine meadows, lakes litter the landscape, and rugged peaks rise above it all. No cell phones (sorry!) – just an amazing peace, with great sunsets ! Enjoy short mellow strolls through wild flower studded meadows or long interconnecting ridge hikes overlooking pristine alpine lakes and tarns along with the potential to summit a peak or two. Awe-inspiring views of the Canadian Rocky and Selkirk Mountains abound.

Photos © Alan Maudie

Low season rates available to Unusual Hotels of the World

The Lodge can hold groups of up to 8 guests, but sorry, we can't accept under 19's for the winter season due to the extreme nature of the terrain.

A warm welcome awaits for Unusual Hotels of the World visitors!

For bookings and further details click here.

Sincerely Yours,

Grand Hotel La Florida, Barcelona

Gran Hotel La Florida is located 300 meters above Barcelona and offers impressive panoramic views over the town and Mediterranean Sea . La Florida set out to create an emblematic hotel for the city of Barcelona while at the same time respecting the original façade of the building that has been declared a historic landmark. The award winning designer Dale Keller and his wife Patricia handled much of the interior design of the hotel with their usual flair. Keller is the mind behind many of the world's greatest hotels including Aman Nusa and the Four Seasons Resort in Bali.

From the art hanging on walls and in guest areas, to the minimalism of the Zen Zone spa, La Florida marries the charm of a bygone age, with a design-led urban chic. Even the food is exceptional. Executive chef Daniel Bausá presents innovative Mediterranean dishes based o­n the freshest seasonal produce in the L'Orangerie restaurant. Barcelona and the Mediterranean - welcoming, dynamic, innovative, pioneering, modernist, gothic, recreational, spectacular... with as many places to discover as stories to tell. Gaudí and Picasso, two of the greatest innovators of their time, have left behind numerous treasures to discover in Barcelona .

Barcelona also boasts a 5-km Shopping Line, which stretches from the sea to the uptown Diagonal district. Here the most unique and fashionable shops in the city are strung together in what is without a doubt o­ne of the biggest open-air shopping centres in Europe . All this, only 15 minutes away from the city centre and 20 minutes by car from Barcelona airport.

Check out the “offers, trips and deals” section at the end of this newsletter for details of the La Florida Easter Escape package for Unusual Hotels of the World travellers.

For bookings and further details click here.

Aurora Ice Museum and Chena Hot springs, Alaska

Join us for our Centennial Year celebrations in 2005.

2005 is the Centennial Year and the Ice Museum has been given a makeover worthy of the only ice museum in the United States .

Rent a gallery for two in one of our private thematic ice rooms - the igloo, the artichoke room, Empress Anne room, Alaska room or our Honeymoon hideaway.

Winter season activities Our Winter season runs through to the end of March, although we're keen to keep the Ice Museum open through the summer with insulation and refrigeration technology ! Dog Sled Rides and Dog Mushing School Now this is fun! Don't miss Alaska 's state sport. Learn how to "mush" your own team of dogs on the trail

Copyright © Patrick Enders

Guided Snowmobile and kids Mini “Z” Rides

Chena Hot Springs Resort's trails are perfect for snow machine riding. For children ages 4 through 10, Chena Hot Springs have mini “Z” snowmobiles available.
Safely see the best with our trained guide.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides and Snow Coach

A Chena Hot Springs Resort favorite. Take the whole family on a 1.5-mile excursion. The famous Chena Snow Coach will take you up to the top of the hill to enjoy the sights to watch the sunset or enjoy the Northern Lights.

Cross-Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing

For those that want to enjoy the trails and walks around the resort.

Alaskan Rejuvenation

2005 begins 100 years of Alaskan Rejuvenation at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Guests who stay in the ice hotel or the regular hotel during 2005 will get a chance to win a sizeable gold nugget. We're not afraid of celebrities and 2005 will see us featured in a summer ad campaign. Hurry to book your trip so you can tell your friends “I've been there” when it hits screens this summer.

Prices are from US $580 for a double gallery and room.

I hope you'll be able to join our year-long centennial celebrations.

Brenda Hewitt,
VP of Marketing and General PR
Chena Hot Springs Resort

For bookings and further details click here.

The Desert Cave Hotel, Coober Pedy, Australia

The world's only underground International Hotel. It's an experience to remember for a lifetime. The Desert Cave Hotel allows you to sample the unique calm of sleeping underground. Most visitors say that sleeping underground gives them the best night's sleep they have ever had Coober Pedy and Opal – the national gemstone of Australia Opal was discovered in 1915 by a 14-year old boy who was camping with his fathers gold prospecting party and, by 1916 Big Flat was established as the principle field.

Opal at Coober Pedy is found in deeply weathered white to mauve Bulldog Shale of Cretaceous age. Within the porous ‘sandstone' host rock, opal may be found in horizontal ‘levels' or in steeply dipping “verticals” down to 25m below the surface.

Our History

Many of the locals live in dugouts (underground homes) where the earth gives natural temperature control. Temperatures remain between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius underground all year. Visitors have always been fascinated by this underground way of living. The dugout style of living introduced by the influx of miners after the First World War gave the field its name which is derived from the Aboriginal Kupa piti, meaning “white mans burrow”.

Coober Pedy provides the ideal stop-over for travellers heading from Adelaide to Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock).

The town is located approximately 850km north of Adelaide and 680km south of Alice Springs on the sealed Stuart Highway , one of the best highways in Australia .

Climate

Coober Pedy has a hot, dry desert climate. The annual rainfall in this area is only 175mm.

The weather is at its most gentle from April to October with warm sunny days and cold nights. Summer temperatures range from 35 to 47 degrees Celsius. Summer nights are balmy. The Outback stars are a sight to see.

Population

Coober Pedy is bigger than you think with a population of more than 3500. It is a multi-cultural town with residents of more than 44 different nationalities. The town delights in its multi-cultural elements, and visitors are very welcome to enjoy the facilities of the various ethnic community clubs around the town.

In 1989, the Desert Cave Hotel won both the South Australian and National Tourism Awards for Tourism Development. The Desert Cave Hotel again won the South Australian Tourism Award for national standard accommodation in 1990 and 1991.

For bookings and further details click here.

Gamirasu Caves, Cappadocia, Turkey

Gamirasu is the name of an exquisitely restored eighteen-room cave house opened in 1999, in Ayvali Village near Urgup in the heart of Cappadocia , Turkey . The hotel is located in a restored one thousand year old Byzantine monastic retreat which offers modern conveniences without distracting from the spiritual feeling of the area which has been known to be inhabited for more than five thousand years. Gamirasu has eighteen rooms. Part of the hotel was used by Christian monks until recently. Some of the rooms were actually monk cells.

Food is Important !

Breakfast is presented as an open buffet where you can find home made jams, locally dried apricots, pure village honey, and cream straight from the owner`s cow !!!

Dinner is six courses. First is the soup, then one hot, one cold appetizer follows as a starter. Salad comes with the main course and the whole event is finished with dessert

Then the Dancing begins !!!!

When to Visit ?

Spring is a good time to visit, but be prepared for some rain before March. The weather outside can be chilly, but inside the caves you'll find the temperature a constant 17 to 20 degree's c

SAADET BECET - The Cook I was born in a small mountain village near Kayseri . I had no opportunity to study but my best teacher was my mother. I learned from her all the delicious traditional Cappadocian Turkish cooking as she did from her mother. Have a diet before coming!

For bookings and further details click here.

Following the devastating Tsunami of December, our thoughts are with those whose loved ones are lost, and livelihoods shattered. We spoke to the management of the Huvafen Fushi Resort in the Maldives to check on how the rebuilding process is proceeding.

Although the Maldives were affected by the recent tsunami that swept through Asia , most resorts are open for business and operating as normal. Huvafen Fushi is the Maldives most island chic resort, set within its very own private lagoon amongst mesmeric settings of transparent ocean and designer everything. Showcasing the world's first underwater spa you will grasp the true meaning of imagination, devotion and natural harmony.

Huvafen Fushi , Maldives . Copyright 2004.

The resort comprises of only 43 bungalows. Additional services include Yoga Pavilion, over water gym, PADI SCUBA diving, water sports, Library/ Television area and a full range of daily excursions such as sand bank snorkelling and sunset fishing.

The Islands are now keen to start tourism, which represents one of the largest sources of employment for these small islands.

For bookings and further details click here.

Every edition we give a brief overview of the properties that are in a particular category – and some of the logistical challenges involved in construction, access or use !

For this edition of The Unusual we've put the spotlight on Ice and Igloo's.

There are currently 6 Igloo and Ice hotel properties in the guide, all in the Northern Hemisphere, plus a tented Igloo. What they share in construction, they differ in style, service and tradition. Of the 6 we detail here, there is a further one to add, specifically, the Ice Hotel in Quebec , sister to the Ice Hotel in Sweden.

Aurora Ice Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska USA This is the only Ice property in the USA , and due to the magic of refrigeration, they hope to keep it open year round. They were forced to drop their hotel title due to a much publicized argument with the USA fire marshal, who felt that guests could be at risk from fire… A snorkel and flippers would be of greater use potentially !!! However, guests can still stay – they just can't be charged a room tax for the privilege…. So travelers end up with a better deal, which is good news all ! Watch for the Centennial Dog Sled Passenger Race on April 1 from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with the most authentic mushing team winning a potential purse of $10,000! Copyright© Patrick Enders With a spa hotel next door, and Fairbanks Centennial celebrations, this place will be a good party destination for 2005. Prices from US$580 for a gallery room for 2 people to include thermal clothing hire as well as use of Moose Lodge facilities for one night. For bookings and further details click here.

Igloo Village, Kakslauttanen , Finland The home of the famous Igloo Village with the unique Glass and Snow Igloos and a World's Largest Snow Restaurant. Imagine yourself sleeping in an Igloo made of Snow. It is totally quiet. Lights inside ice illuminate the Igloo. These make the atmosphere so exciting that never get bored of marvelling it, until you fall to deep, comfortable sleep in your warm down sleeping bag. There are also five unique Glass Igloos, which provide a unique opportunity to sleep under the Lapp sky admiring the northern lights in a comfortable room temperature. In addition guests can enjoy all the other Lappish winter activities from Mushing and Reindeer activities, to snowmobiles, right through to The Northern Lights (Aurora borealis), visible from late August to late April. Copyright© Kakslauttanen The winter temperatures can vary anywhere between 0 and -40 C. For bookings and further details click here.

Whitepod, Swtitzerland Inspired by Sofia de Meyer, Whitepod is the only way to experience igloo living in mainland Europe . These Hi-Tech eco-tents follow a traditional igloo shape, but using space age geodesic technology and materials. Located above the ski resort of Villars near Geneva and only reached by snowshoes or ski's, Whitepod is an alpine retreat. Consisting of five pods pitched on raised wooden platforms around a traditional alpine chalet,- each pod has a private deck and uninterrupted views of its breathtaking surroundings. Equipped with a wood stove and insulated with the latest technology, the pods maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the day and night. From £240 per person per night, with a minimum stay of 2 nights. For bookings and further details click here.

The groups department of Unusual Hotels of the World have put together a specific package for WhitePod based on 5 couples travelling as a group.

For further information contact simon@uhotw.com

See also the package offers from Gran Hotel la Florida hotel in Barcelona and Kadirs tree house in Turkey

WhitePod, Switzerland

Group Package – 3 nights

Price: Swiss Francs CHF15,000 (Approx £670pp based on 10 people)

• 3 night exclusive use of 5 pods
• Full board with wine during evening meals
• Return transfers to Geneva airport

The following guided activities are also included:

• All hiking, fishing and mountain bike adventure activities
• Themed ‘search and pick' activity where guests forage the forest for evening meal ingredients

For bookings and further details click here.

Gran Hotel la Florida, Barcelona

Easter Escape Package from €1225 per double room

• 3 Nights accommodation
• 6 Buffet breakfasts served in the restaurant
• Two ½ hour massage sessions in the spa
• Two Tickets to the Tibidabo Amusement Park
• Easter Brunch or lunch menu served in the Restaurant
• Late check out: 14h00
• Upgrade upon arrival subject to availability

Cost:

• 1225 € Per room with a Deluxe Room Sea View package
• 1525 € Per room with a Junior Suite package
• 1675 € Per room with a Junior Suite Sea View package

Based on 2 people sharing a room.

Valid from: 24th to 29th March 2005 , minimum 3 night stay.

Flights to Barcelona and airport transfers extra.

For bookings and further details click here.

Includes:

• 7 nights accommodation in a bungalow with bathroom
• Breakfast & dinner daily
• Sea Kayaking with lunch
• Canyoning with fish lunch
• Mount Olympus ascent

Cost: £125 per person based on a couple sharing. Flights to Antalya and airport transfers extra.

For bookings and further details click here.

Check our Flight Links section for latest airfares.

Our partnership was formalized in December to contribute a ‘buck for every booking' introduced by the guide to our hotels. We're now working closely with them to grow the awareness of their work in providing clean water. 'Just a Drop' is the only global travel and tourism industry appeal to give children everywhere a right to life. From the grinding poverty of Cambodia to the dustbowl of Ethiopia , ‘Just a Drop' has been able to provide clean water to thousands of children and their families.

Water is the very essence of life. You can survive a month without food, but just a few days without water.

• Every 10 seconds a child dies because of dirty water.
• 4 million children under five die terrible deaths each year due to water-born diseases.
• 1.4 billion children have no clean water close to their homes
• Many children share the water they use to drink, cook and bathe with their livestock

Even before the Tsunami, towns and villages across the globe needed sanitation systems, piping, protected wells and latrines. Now these needs are ever more pressing with the added urgency to support children and families with clean water, portable water containers, water purifying tablets and health and hygiene packs.

What has Just a Drop Achieved?

The appeal has raised over £300,000 to build wells in Ethiopia, Swaziland, Tanzania, India, Sudan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Malawi, helped the victims of floods in both Mozambique, Central America and earthquake victims in Turkey, as well as funded a massive health and sanitation programme in Southern Africa.

Every edition we highlight where is hot for traveler inquiries.
This month, we're seeing lots of interest for:

Crazy Bear Hotel Oxford , UK		Hotel St Merry Paris, France		Heceta Head Lighthouse Yachats, USA		Amanwana Moyo Island Indonesia		Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcón Granada , Spain

We hope that you have enjoyed this edition of The Unusual. We've been asked to let readers know some of the places where you'll hear about Unusual Hotels of the World – and to share some of our plans looking ahead.

We promised to keep readers aware of coverage received for Unusual Hotels of the World and we're seeing the fruits of our initial launch efforts in the USA with an article in Arthur Frommers Budget Travel magazine, and top placement on MSN too. The UK have recently run a full page competition in Spirit and Destiny magazine which has provided us with a box of replies to sort through before the closing date of the 31st March. Our Nordic online coverage continues to impress us, matched soon by activity in Germany for GEO Saison and Madame DE .

What next for the site
Our Links and sponsors area is continually being refreshed to ensure that visitors are able to take advantage of the latest offers and deals provided by our links partners.

We have scheduled and lo-cost airline links as well as travel sites for those wishing to build their own packaged trips to Unusual Hotels mixed with nights in more traditional accommodation.

We appreciate your feedback and comments. Please let us know if there are features or links that you think we should add to site by registering your comments on the site, or by replying here.

Thanks as always for your feedback and comments.

Simon & Steve