It’s going to be a while before the fantasy of booking a room in outer space or on the moon becomes a reality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still geek out for the night here on Planet Earth.
Here are my picks for five of the coolest sci-fi themed lodgings where you can indulge in the fantasy of staying on another world or in space:
Hotel Sidi Driss in Tunisia
1] Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Tunisia
The name of the hotel may not ring a bell, but if you’ve ever watched Star Wars, you’ll recognize it as Luke Skywalker’s childhood home on Tatooine.
And if you ever happen to be trekking around the North African country of Tunisa and find yourself in the city of Matmata, you can stay at the Hotel Sidi Driss starting at only $10 a night (approximately). Breakfast of coffee and Tunisian bread is included in this price, too.
[6070 Matmata Ancienne, Tunisia; phone (05) 230005]
[photo: scottrobers/Flickr]
Capsule Inn Akihabara in Tokyo
2] Capsule Inn Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
Fancy sleeping on a spaceship? The Capsule Inn Akihabara may be the closest you’ll get for now.
For 4000 Yen a night (approx. US$45), you basically get a private sleep pod with a TV, radio, and an alarm clock, with bathrooms being shared amongst the other pods occupying the same-sex segregated sleeping floors.
My first thought on seeing the photo of the pods was the ship scene from The Fifth Element. Unfortunately, having Leelo or Dallas Corbin as neighbors isn’t guaranteed.
[6-9 Akihabara Taito-ku Tokyo 110-0006 Japan; phone (81) 03-3251-0841]
[photo: Capsule Inn]
The Hobbit Motel in New Zealand
3] The Hobbit Motel in Woodlyn Park, New Zealand
Feel like you’re transported to The Shire in Lord of the Rings by spending the night in one of these two Hobbit habitat-themed rooms. Each unit sleeps six with two sets of bunks and a double bed in the separate living room area. Also included in each unit is a kitchenette and private shower/bathroom facilities.
Short men with big hairy feet not included in the nightly rate of NZ$195 (approx. US$) for double occupancy, with an extra NZ$15 for each extra person.
[1177 Waitomo Valley Road, RD7, Otorohanga, New Zealand; phone (64) 7-878-6666]
[photo: The Hobbit Motel]
Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida
4] Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida, USA
This is probably the only lodging that requires scuba gear to get to your room, and that’s because it’s totally underwater.
For $375 per person/per night, you get accommodations in the pod (named after Jules Verne), use of dive gear, unlimited dives and both dinner and breakfast. You can also earn PADI certification for an additional $150 per person. Other packages also available.
It’s not cheap, but if you’ve ever wanted to sleep under the sea, this is the only lodging currently available to do so.
[Key Largo Undersea Park, Key Largo, FL USA; phone 305-451-2353]
[photo: Jules' Undersea Lodge]
FantaSuite Hotel in Burnsville, Minnesota
5] FantaSuite Hotels in Burnsville, Minnesota and Dodgeville, Wisconsin, USA
Ok, so technically only one suite in each hotel has a sci-fi theme, and granted, they are pretty cheesy. But the Space Odyssey suite at the Burnsville location and the Tranquility Base suite at the Dodgeville location are both themed as the Gemini rocket’s landing on the moon, complete with a capsule-themed bed and lunar rock walls.
Rates start at $149/night (Burnsville) and $174/night (Dodgeville) for these fantasy suites.
[250 N River Ridge Circle, Burnsville, MN 55337 USA; phone 800-666-7829]
[3658 State Road 23 North, Dodgeville, WI 53533 USA; phone 800-666-7848]
[photo: FantaSuites Hotels]
Honorable Mention:
Full Moon Hotel in Baku
The Full Moon Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan – This hotel is still being built, but in artistic renderings, the exterior looks a lot like a certain space station made popular in the original Star Wars trilogy of films.
No word if your concierge will be a Dark Lord of the Sith, but if you’ve ever wanted to sleep onboard the Death Star, you can do so (sort of) when this hotel eventually opens.
[photo: Heerim Architecture]
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10 Responses
Aha, LOTR and Star Wars both made the list!! I was going to be awfully disappointed if at least one didn’t make it.
Pretty cool … especially the Tunisia & New Zealand suites.
However, when someone has a Serenity ship suite, I’m booking that pronto!!
Great article.
:~)
I looked for a Star trek one but couldn’t find one. I would love a Serenity one, too! How about a whole hotel of themed sci-fi suites. That would be sweet, eh?
Now that would be pretty clever. Each floor or section would be a different sci-fi film with amenities catered to it
[...] 5 Cool Sci-Fi Themed Lodgings To Stay At [...]
I have been drawing plans for a full size Star Ship Enterprise but of corse it will take some doing to acquire the capital, unless all the sci-fi fans chip in and a few millionaires. estimated cost around 280 million.
But it does have 2000 bunk quarters for 2 and 400 suites that sleep 6-8 and don’t forget the “Captains” quarters, 20 of those that are the penthouse style with kitchens.
You will be able to find every sci-fi movie and and famous replicas throughout the ship w/ night clubs and a massive theatre on the bridge, did I mention that it will be built in such a way that if the world starts to fall apart It will be able to float like a ship?
Lets make this a reality shell we.
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