Comfort in the cockpit at Jumbo Stay

Standard hotels are all well and good, but sometimes you just want something different. From an old crane to a renovated sewer pipe, Running in Heels takes a look at Europe’s quirkier accommodation…

Jumbo Stay – Stockholm, Sweden

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Jumbo Stay. At Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport you can jump straight off one plane and on to another; one that provides a guaranteed turbulence-free experience and a flat bed to sleep in without even having to upgrade to first class. The converted Boeing 747 opened as a hotel/hostel in 2009 and has since become a landmark at the airport.

For the ultimate (on the ground) flying experience, you can stay in the cockpit which has been converted into a deluxe suite. Behind the original pilot’s controls, there are two adjustable beds, so you can imagine flying the plane from your pillow. The Cockpit Suite also has a bathroom with shower, panoramic windows looking out onto the landing strip, and a flat screen TV displaying, among other things, arrival and departure times, so there’s no excuse for missing the flight home.

The remaining 26 rooms include the Jumbo Single ensuite, geared towards the business traveller; the spacious double ‘Black Box suite’ room, situated at the back of the plane and suitable for a family; and a selection of 2 to 4 bed dorm rooms for groups.

Harbour Crane Hotel – Harlingen, Netherlands

A crane may not sound like the most romantic of locations, but this converted crane moored in a port in Harlingen, just an hour from Amsterdam, has been transformed beyond recognition.

The old machine room is now a luxurious love nest, boasting a designer bathroom featuring a shower with colour changing lights that can be selected according to your mood, and although there are still hints of the industrial about the place, the conversion has been so skilfully executed it wouldn’t look out of place in any number of chic hotels; which perhaps explains why it is booked up eight months in advance.

External ladders have all been replaced by modern lifts so that you can arrive in style without having to navigate slippery rungs in your stilettos, and in the morning breakfast magically appears via an internal lift which goes directly into the bedroom. Other original touches have been kept, such as the observation windows looking out over the Wadden Sea, and if the romance of a night in the clouds hasn’t made your head spin, a visit to the old driver’s cabin certainly will. All the controls are still in full working order so the crane can be swirled and spun at your command giving a full 360 degree view of the docks. Hanging 17 metres above the ground you can also be sure that the only eyes that can get a peep of what’s going on inside are the seagulls swooping over the water.

Fancy sleeping in the Trojan Horse?

La Balade des Gnomes – Durby, Belgium

Step inside La Balade des Gnomes and step into a fantasy world. This is a hotel where dreams come true and fairy tales become a reality. There are ten rooms, each with its own enchanted theme, from a forest cabin made almost entirely of wood, where (stuffed) animals hide in the corners, to an outer space experience, complete with bath concealed in a lunar capsule and a double bed encased in a moon buggy. Or you can pretend that you’re an ancient Greek warrior and spend the night in a Trojan horse. The medieval themed décor may not quite totally historically correct, but it doesn’t make the idea of spending a night in a huge wooden horse any less novel; and with a split level suite, including a Jacuzzi bath and balcony, you can be sure that the accommodation is considerably more comfortable than that of the occupants of the original Trojan horse.

DasParkhotel – Linz, Austria

Looking for a dirty weekend? How does a sewer pipe take your fancy? Actually, the pipes at DasParkhotel are fully renovated and perfectly clean, and although they look pretty industrial, they are surprisingly cosy. They may not be the most spacious of rooms, if you can call them that, but the interior of each pipe has been cleverly designed to fit in a double bed, storage area, and a place to keep your luggage. They’re also hooked up to the mains, so not only are there electric lights to make sure you’re not plunged into darkness, but plug points so you can charge up your gadgets.

The old sewer pipes don’t run to ensuite bathrooms or room service, however, the river Danube flows right in front of the hotel so you can take a dip in there if you’re brave enough. Or, if you are looking for more conventional facilities there are showers on the hotel site. There’s also a restaurant, and the town centre with more dining options, bars and shops is only a five minute walk away.

Kakslautten Hotel & Igloo Village – Saariselka, Finland

What could be more romantic than lying in bed with your loved one, looking up at the famous northern lights? Well, at the Kakslautten Hotel & Igloo Village you can do just that. Specially made glass igloos give you the Eskimo experience, but without the freezing temperatures and an unobstructed view of the night sky. The thermal glass means that not only does your igloo remain a comfortable temperature; it also prevents it from getting iced up, even when temperatures drop as low as -30C. For those wanting to experience what it would be like to sleep in a block of ice, there are also traditional snow igloos, where the temperature inside remains pretty constant, between -3C and -6C; a perfect excuse to snuggle up, even if thermal socks, hoods and sleeping bags are provided.

The rest of the village is made up of cosy log cabins, each one equipped with a kitchenette, fireplace, and of course the traditional Finnish sauna. There’s also the world’s largest smoke sauna, with its own restaurant, and a Lapp tent restaurant serving up local specialities such as smoked reindeer.

Enjoy year-round 30C at Beach Sun Retreat

Beach Sun Retreat – Dymchurch, Kent

If there’s one thing you can rely on when holidaying in the UK, it’s that you can’t rely on the weather. However, come rain or shine you can now get your dose of sunshine year round at the Beach Sun Retreat in Dymchurch, without even stepping foot outside, because this boutique hotel is one of the first places in the country to have installed an innovative new sun simulator.

The hotel’s owners have created a St Tropez-themed room where, at the flick of a switch, you are transported to a world of 30C sunshine, with the sound of waves lapping at the shore, the feeling of sand between the toes and a warm sea breeze caressing your shoulders. The sun simulator will even leave you with a light golden tan so you can convince your friends you’ve been somewhere exotic, without having to shell out too much cash. And if you do hit the jackpot and actually manage to catch some sunny days, there is a real beach right on the doorstep.

Blow Up Hall 5050 – Poznan, Poland

The definition of Blow Up Hall 5050 falls somewhere between a hotel and an interactive work of art, one thing’s for sure, it’s not a hotel for technophobes. There’s no reception area or room key, instead guests find their way to their luxurious abode using an iPhone. After emerging from a black lift into an equally black corridor lined with black doors, the correct room lights up and opens at the touch of a button.

The hotel is part of Grażyna Kulczyk’s Project 5050, in which 50 per cent of any venture is constituted by art. Works of art are littered throughout the building, but the centrepiece, which stands in the lobby, is something every single guest contributes to – whether they like it or not. It is a collage installation created by local electronic artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, which features 2,400 scrambled CCTV images gathered from the hidden cameras scattered all over the hotel on constant record. Yes, you are being filmed all of the time, but you can rest assured that the footage displayed in the lobby is so well scrambled that no-one will ever know what you have been up to.

Les Hautes Roches – Rochecorbon, France

If you think a cave has to be damp and dark then think again. Rooms at Les Hautes Roches may be carved into the side of a cliff but they are anything but dark and damp. Once belonging to the Marmoutier Abbey, and the rooms occupied by monks, loving restoration and renovation has transformed the formerly stark areas into luxurious and romantic boudoirs, each one unique. Sumptuous soft furnishings have been carefully chosen to work in harmony with and complement the unique shades and textures of the rock face. The result is both stunning and unusual, and proves why Les Hautes Roches deserves the title of France’s leading luxury Troglodytic hotel.

Inside, sumptuous furnishings have been carefully chosen to work in harmony with the unique shades and textures of the rock face