Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/245179
The un-Hotel Tired of generic 'bed-in-a box' accommodations? Try one of these European alternatives BY JANET GYENES Burg Wernberg castle hotel in germany's Bavaria region; (below) a cave hotel in granada, Spain. CASTLeS: Scores of castles throughout Europe, especially in the u.K., Germany and France, have been transformed into stately hotels and manor houses. Mod-cons and period furnishings are the norm, although rooms may be small. Since most castles crown hilltops, they have commanding views, but tend to be far from city centres. Burg Wernberg, which occupies a 12th-century castle in Germany's Bavarian Forest, even has a moat and drawbridge. CAVeS: Located primarily in southern Spain and Greece, cave accommodations are carved right into an area's natural stone. The cool, often-whitewashed rooms offer creature comforts at reasonable prices. At Aspa Villas Santorini in Greece, for example, suites carved into a pumice-stone slope capitalize on views of the brilliant blue sea. FArMS: Many European countries have caught on to the farm stay, a hands-on way for overnight guests to experience rural life. For the price of a stay in a hostel or B&B, you can feed fallow deer in Denmark. or, head for an Italian agriturismo, such as Terre Bianche Holiday Farm, near padua in the north, which offers farmhouse rooms set among grapevines and centuries-old olive trees. 20 W e s t W o r l d a l b e r ta | S p r i n g 2 0 14 Best Western Jasper Inn.indd 1 p16_25_TravellerTypes.indd 20 14-01-03 12:03 PM Book your dream stay with AMA. AMATravel.ca GUeST HOUSeS: It's easy to get overwhelmed in grand old cities, so staying in a family-owned B&B, guest house or pension, as they're often known in Continental Europe, adds a welcome personal touch, and may save you some euros. The front-desk clerk might be the owner, who'll happily show you to your room, suggest sights and teach you a few phrases of the local language. MONASTerieS: Seeking solitude? In France, Italy and Spain, among other countries, working convents and monasteries welcome overnight guests – religious or not – at heavenly rates. Expect fuss-free rooms, typically with twin beds, and be prepared to obey house rules such as curfews. There is a guest house at paris's famed Basilique du Sacre-Coeur; however, most religious retreats are located in rural areas. W (toP) relais & chateaux, tourism granada 14-01-10 3:41 PM