By Patrick Clarke
Just like sandcastles on the beach, the world’s first sandcastle hotels in the Netherlands can only be experienced for a limited amount of time.
In celebration of annual sand sculpture festivals in the Dutch cities of Sneek and Oss, the one-of-a-kind one-room hotels are located inside eight-meter-high (26 feet) sculptures, one of which is modeled after the Flintstones’ town of Bedrock, the other featuring dragons and tributes to the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army.
Constructed over the course of four weeks by festival organizers Global PowWow, the hotels were inspired by equally awesome Scandinavian ice hotels, CNN reported.
While the shower, bed, television and other key amenities are made of typical materials travelers would find inside any standard hotel room, these unique one-room suites are covered from floor to ceiling with reinforced sand, making the temporary digs a dream or nightmare based on one’s affinity for the beach.
Nonetheless, modern day features like windows and Wi-Fi service are sure to relax even the most wary of guests.
Although an overnight stay for two only costs $168 per night and includes a personal tour of the nearby festival, the pop-up hotels are fully booked for this year and are going away soon. They’re both set to close in two weeks’ time, with the property in Sneek closing Sept. 28 and Oss’ sand hotel shutting down Oct. 4.
Fortunately, operator Zand Hotel plans to reopen both properties ahead of next year’s sculpture festivals and hopes to expand its sandy accommodations into other popular tourist destinations, including Germany and the U.K
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