If anyone is looking to get back to nature, this new Swiss hotel has just the deal for you.
It's a "hotel," but it's really just a bed that someone put out on a Swiss mountain. To be entirely fair, there also seems to be a floor, a couple of bedside tables and some lights. Hey, on close inspection, it appears an outlet exists to plug in one's phone charger. There are even sheets and pillows, and they look like nice pillows.
What there isn't, however, is hallways, a front desk, a ceiling or really even walls to speak of.
Again, it's just the one bed, on a mountain, in the middle of nowhere.
The concept comes to us by way of Frank and Patrik Riklin, a couple of conceptual artists who have pioneered "null stern" hospitality, or places to stay that are "zero star." The Swiss countryside concept is actually the second of their zero star hotels after a successful, budget offering inside an underground nuclear fallout shelter.
Here's a video of the experience, via YouTube:
The entire idea of zero star is meant as a bit of a protest campaign from the Riklins, who mock the idea of hotels adding sixth and seventh stars to their all-but-made-up ratings systems. If those hotels can triumph even small creature comforts as evidence of luxury, the Riklins want to strip it all away and manage to be successful doing that as well.
Accommodations at the mountaintop hotel are, um, quaint? Local farmers take turns donning white gloves and serving at waitstaff. Technically speaking, a bathroom exists at a local restaurant 10 minutes away. Though, non-technically speaking, most guests probably just use the second tree on the right.
[READMORE] READ MORE: How to Sleep in Two Countries at the Same Time[/READMORE]
Unlike the bunker, which could be had for pocket change, a stay at the Riklin's Swiss countryside experience is around $250, but that price tag and chance of being rained upon isn't stopping the onslaught of bookings. Their zero-star hotel was booked for the 2016 summer season almost right away and they're currently accepting bookings for 2017.
Their hope is to install similar "hotels" in various locations around Switzerland in conjunction with local tourism boards.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
