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Weird Hotels / Boat Hotels / Boatels / China Hotels / → All Tags

'Boatels' Go Big Time as China Gets an Aircraft Carrier Hotel

First there was the brothel-boatel in the Rockaways, then came the Ellis Island ferryboat B&B, and now there's an entire decommissioned Soviet aircraft carrier being retrofitted to become a "luxury" hotel on some beach in China. The boatel trend has officially gone too far, too fast.

The Kiev, an old Russian aircraft carrier, was sold to a Chinese company back in 1996 and now they've finally gotten around to doing something with it. Billing it as "China's first aircraft carrier luxury hotel"—though we're pretty sure it's the world's first—Tiajin Aircraft Carrier Hotel preys upon the Chinese people's new fascination with aircraft carriers, seeing as how the Chinese military only just put their very first active one through sea trials.

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Odd Hotels / Rotterdam Hotels / Boat Hotels / Cruise Hotels / → All Tags

The Cruise Hotel Will Let You Stay On The Open Seas, Of Rotterdam

Where: 3e Katendrechtse Hoofd 25 , Rotterdam, Netherlands, 3072

Imagine this, only in Rotterdam

Much as we love the idea of staying on a boat on one of Amsterdam’s canals, we’ve never quite dared take the risk, because most of them sound a bit like floating hostels.

So if we want to dip our toes in that particular type of water, we’ll probably hot foot it to Rotterdam, rather than Amsterdam, and to the new Cruise Hotel that’s opening on February 15.

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France Hotel Reviews / Boat Hotels / → All Tags

Sleep on a Luxury Boat in France

Where: France

If you're sick of staying in French hotels that are bolted to the ground (we like to call them, simply, buildings), then it's time to get into a stylish French boat hotel. The Times UK this week raved about a night on the Napoleon, a luxury hotel boat in France. A 129 foot long converted barge, it sleeps 12 people, and comes with all the luxuries you'd want like heated towel rails in the ensuite bathrooms, a sundeck whirlpool bath and even fresh flowers for each "room".

The reviewer was also rather smitten with the "handsome young crew" who served up champagne and fancy snacks as guests checked in. Private excursions or day sightseeing tours can also be included. If you don't mind your hotel room chugging along at about 5 miles per hour, this might be the holiday for you. Trips are usually on the Rhone through Provence. But luxury hotel boats come at a price--almost $5500 per person for a five day trip, based on two people sharing a double room.

[Photo: ClydeHouse]

Related Stories:
· Boat du Rhone [Times UK]