Fun Rocking

Burj – ul – Arab Tennis court

The worlds highest tennis court hovering 1000 feet above the ocean at the luxury hotel Jumeirah in Dubai. The helipad of the hotel was converted temporarily to tennis court just to make a world record.

Hotels in Calabria – Italy

Italy offers so many unique and interesting experiences; it can be difficult to narrow them all down for one vacation. Perhaps the best way to approach Italy is to plan to follow several different itineraries and focus on a few unique places. You might decide to combine a visit to Sicily with a driving trip that takes you from Rome to Milan. Another option is explore southern Italy and hit Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the remote area around Apulia. A unique option would be to head inland and explore the mountain towns and lake regions of Italy.

If you wish to bask beneath the romance of a Tuscan sun, look no further than Locanda dell’Amorosa, which was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Most Romantic” hotel. The hotel is located in what once was a small village, which has been converted into a hotel, restaurant, extensive wine cellar and wine-making facilities. You can wander the grounds, take a dip in the pool or sip a glass of wine from one of the well-appointed common areas and share your daily adventures with other guests. The guest rooms are simple, yet elegant with a few antiques and lovely views. The hotel’s restaurant boasts an amazing setting, perfect for a romantic Italian dinner.

Sweden Ice Hotel

The Original Ice Hotel is located in Jukkasjarvi, a small village at 200 kilometers north of Arctic Circle in Sweden. Only the alliance between the nature’s beauty along with the human touch makes creating a wonder possible. And this is what has happened with this hotel. Long back when the place used be a vacant land covered with snow, a small brook called the Torne used to flow through its bosom echoing the silence of the land. This river is the life source and backbone of the Ice Hotel. For the hotel has been created with the ice and snow from this river.

An ice hotel is a temporary hotel made up of snow, sculpted blocks of ice, and some steel framing. They are promoted by their sponsors and have special features for travelers who are interested in novelties and unusual environments, and thus are in the class of destination hotels. Their lobbies are often filled with ice sculptures, and food and beverages are specially chosen for the circumstances.

10 000 tons of crystal clear ice from the ‘ice manufacturing plant’, the Torne River, and 30 000 tons of pure snow generously supplied by Mother Nature are needed to build the Ice Hotel every year. The hotel sleeps over 100 guests, and every bedroom is unique.

Covering more than 30,000 square feet, the Ice Hotel includes an Ice Chapel, the hotel itself, an ice art exhibition hall, a cinema and last but not least, the world famous ‘Absolut Ice Bar’.

At the Ice Hotel, you can find every bit of luxury, fun and entertainment. It offers two types of unique accommodations – cold and warm. To enjoy Ice Hotel at its best, it is suggested that you stay at least for one night at the cold accommodation and then shift to the usual warm accommodation. The hotel has all types of luxurious facilities with eye feasting interior decoration and wonderful natural beauty all around.

At the Ice Hotel you can spend your evenings at the absolute ice bar with cool music playing in background. You can also simply walk around at the art and design exhibition center and let yourself be mesmerized with the fleeting beauty of the ice sculptures. And if you are a regular churchgoer, you do not have to miss the Sunday service for you will find the Ice Church which holds regular mass at such an unusual ambience. You can also plan your wedding at the ice chapel to spend the most beautiful day of your life in the most exquisite way.

However, if you want thrill and excitement, then this hotel will not disappoint you. You can taste the ecstasy of adventure at Ice Hotel on spot. You can even go for safaris and special excursions which include the famous arctic trail snowmobile safaris. To celebrate in the excitement of speed, you can participate or watch the ice-driving event. Do not forget to pamper your taste buds at the restaurants here for the Ice hotel is known for both exotic and homestead cuisine. You can also spend some enchanting moments at the wilderness camp.

Hydropolis Underwater Hotel

Hydropolis is the world’s first underwater luxury hotel still under construction. It is located 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, just off Jumeira beach in Dubai. Its transparent constructions will allow guests to see the aquatic life. It will consist of three aspects; the land station, the connecting tunnel and 220 suits. The visitors will be welcomed at the land station. The tunnel will be used to transfer people by train to the main area of the hotel. This unique architecture will occupy an area of 260 hectare.  There will be a variety of facilities like a cosmetic surgical clinic, a marine biological research laboratory and conference requirements. It will also have a huge aquarium. This project is supposed to be completed in the year 2009. Have a look at this luxury hotel which will be an attraction in Dubai. You can experience your stay underwater after its launch. This hotel aims to create awareness about the sea and the marine life. Shopping, dining, partying, travelling and staying in Dubai are majestic experiences. Live life king size while holidaying in Dubai. Have you ever though of spending holidays under water? Try it out at Dubai.

The £300m, 220-suite hotel was due to open by the end of 2006 but has experienced delays and is now scheduled to open in 2009. It will incorporate a host of innovations that will take it far beyond the original blueprint for an underwater complex worthy of Jules Verne.

There are only a few locations in the world where such a grandiose dream could be realised. A high proportion of today’s architectural marvels are materialising like fanciful mirages from the desert sands. We have come to expect extravagant enterprises to be mounted in the Middle East, and especially in Dubai. “This venture could only be born here in Dubai,” says Hauser. “It [has] a very open-minded, international community – and that’s what makes it so special.”

The land on which Hydropolis is being built belongs to His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. It was his last free beach property on this stretch of coast. The project is a fantastic one, yet Sheikh Mohammed’s success record with comparable schemes instils confidence that science fiction can become fact. With his support, several companies have been formed to kick-start this phenomenal project, and around 150 firms are currently involved.

“There have been many visions of colonising the sea – Jules Verne, Jean Gusto and several Japanese architects – but no one has ever managed to realise this dream,” says Hauser. “That was the most challenging factor, and that’s what makes it so fascinating. Despite being a dream of mankind for centuries, nobody has ever been able to make living underwater possible.”

MARINE ARCHITECTURE

This structure promises to be a conceptual as well as a physical landmark. While human beings accept the existence of water, we have only a superficial appreciation of its significance. “We waste it, go swimming in it and generally take it for granted,” says Hauser. “Humans could actually live self-sufficiently underwater, generating energy, nurturing food supplies and so on. This is why we are starting a foundation to demonstrate something of the importance of water in our lives.

“My general plan was to create a living space in the sea. My initial proposal was a deep-sea project, which looked very different. I had to adjust to the local reality of the natural surroundings and change to a shallow-water construction.

“We want to create the first ever faculty for marine architecture because I believe that the future lies in the sea, including the future of city planning. I am certain that one day a whole city will be built in the sea. Our aim is to lay the first mosaic by colonising the sea.”

Hauser plans to incorporate many different elements associated with the sea. The cosmetics will be ocean-based, the cinemas will screen films that focus on aquatic themes and a children’s seaworld will educate as well as entertain.

He views his creation as a place where those who do not dive – or do not even swim – can experience the tranquillity and inspiration of the underwater world. “We are expecting around 3,000 visitors a day in addition to the hotel guests. The aim is to inspire people to develop a new awareness of the sea.”

As well as emphasising the positive aspects of water, Hauser also believes we are systematically destroying marine life, and thus wishes to draw attention to various dangers and problems, such as the loss of algae and the destruction of the coral reefs.

FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT

Dreams, however fabulous, remain unfulfilled without the cash to support the commitment. “The hardest part of the process was finding sponsorship to the tune of €550m,” admits Hauser. “That’s what brought me to Dubai. Still, it was a battle which took two-and-a-half years and proved tougher than developing the project itself. No bank would pay such an amount. It’s a risky investment, as there are no pilots. We had to convince investors that it is safe and will bring returns on investment.”

With official blessing, the Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA) established a framework to handle grants and authorisations. Once the financial backing was guaranteed, the sonar analysis of the seabed complete and 7,000 anchors in place, construction began in summer 2005.

“We are sure that this hotel will set a precedent,” says Hauser. “Crescent-Hydropolis is now planning a chain of underwater hotels, and nine countries have shown interest. Some will be the realisation of my initial deep-sea design.” Hauser has even chosen to make his permanent home in Dubai. “And that won’t change after the project [is finished], regardless of where our next project will be. The infrastructure is exceptionally good here – and it seldom rains!”

Cool Hotels

• Death Star Hotel

This structure is being built in Baku, Azerbaijan (an ex-Soviet country between Russian and Iran). Now I’m a firm believer in honesty being the best policy, so why they’re trying to construct this under the guise that it’s to be the “Full Moon” Hotel is a mystery to me. Just come out and say it already, Azerbaijan. This is not a 521-foot-tall hotel with 382 rooms on over 35 floors. This is the end of life on earth as we know it. That thing is going to blow up the damn planet. I, for one, am scared.

• Hotel Slovenia

Slovenia is a beautiful country in the heart of Europe, offering many interesting tourist attractions and each year, more tourists are visiting this country. If you are planning on visiting Slovenia in the near future, you can check some of the best hotels in Slovenia. Every week we will present more and more hotels you can choose to stay at, so that prior to your arrival, you will already know something more about your accommodation possibilities.

Slovenia attractions attracts many tourists that can explore the variety of this small but versatile country. Slovenia attractions are worth to be experienced, because the visitor can really enjoy the beauty of nature and reach culture heritage. One should definitely visit Ljubljana, Bled, Maribor, or experience the beauty of Slovenian seaside, cave of Postojna and much more. One can stay in pleasant hotels where can relax after sightseeing. Hotels are known of its quality service and pleasant staff. There is a long list of hotels that enables you to find the hotel Slovenia that you really like. One can visit original hotel Slovenia that offers comfortable services that will satisfy your needs. Original hotel Slovenia is a right choice when you plan to visit Slovenia attractions.