Oh the Places You'll Go

   With the temperature heating up and all the kids getting out of school, thoughts turn to vacation. We recently saw two places that we would love to explore and experience for a week (or more!).

   The first is the Attrap Reves, an outdoor bubble hotel east of Marseille, France.

Picture property of  Attrap Reves Website

According to their website (you'll want to use a translator tool if you don't speak French) the bubbles are not only eco friendly (they use the energy of a 55 watt light bulb) but give you all the luxuries of a four star hotel mixed with a night camping in the woods (sans bugs). The pods come with a private shower, sink and bath located outside of the pod. The insides of the pods vary with what package you get. The Zen package is decorated in a minimalist fashion and is entirely clear. The Nature package is similar but is decorated with a pastoral theme. The 1001 Nights bubble hopes to bring you the magic of Sceherazade with luxurious colors and a half clear bubble. The Glamour package clearly caters to a romantic evening having only the top dome be clear so you can sleep under the stars. Full linens are provided as well as a access to a telescope and star chart.  It also appears that a jacuzzi is on the premise and you can have food brought in as well as a masseuse. At 109 Euros a stay, this is definitely something we wouldn't mind adding to our travels off the beaten path list.
   Equally dramatic is the "Water Discus Hotel" in Dubai. While the bubble hotel is available now, the underwater hotel is in developing stages by Deep Ocean Technology.

Picture property of Deep Ocean Technology

The water disc located 10 meters underwater offers amenities that most hotels don't have. The hotel offers diving, 3 passenger submersibles for exploring the ocean floor, motor boats, water skiing, fast jet skis, underwater scooters and lessons in how to do all of the above. There are 21 rooms that surround a dive center and bar. The rooms are sound proof, I guess we don't want to frighten the fish, and come with curtains, again with not wanting to frighten the fish. You have phone and Internet in the rooms as well as a macro photography lens to let you see the majesty of the ocean up close. The finest cuisine is offered while you watch a panoramic view of the ocean floor. No price is yet listed, but it's probably going to be well worth the price if you can afford it. 

   The only thing off putting about the underwater hotel to us is the eerie similarity it has with the one in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters......