We’ve heard of hotels where you sleep on ice and ones where you hang out with animals. Then there are hotels where you can sleep in a tree house, out with the gorillas, or with views of elephants swinging their trunks. There are boat houses where you can sleep and places that allow you to put your head on a pillow attached to a hammock on some remote island beach. But a hotel that is shaped like a giant human colon?
The name is Hotel CasAnus and it has all the elements of a fabulous getaway. Located on a small island, between Antwerp and Ghent in Flanders, Belgium, the hotel is actually designed like a humongous intestinal tract, complete with an anus replica. No, I’m not kidding.
Hotel CasAnus is run by Belgian art collectors, Geert and Carla Verbeke-Lens, who purchased the anatomical masterpiece to add to their 30-acre Verbeke Foundation sculpture park. Nope, I’m still not kidding. They describe the experience: “guests are really happy to sleep undisturbed in a place surrounded by nature. They can see black swans and frogs and discover the stars in the night sky, as well as visiting all our different exhibitions. More and more travelers are coming to us from all over the world to explore what they call a ‘unique place’.”
If this doesn’t fall under the unusual, odd and eclectic, I don’t know what does. If you’re after unique experiences, Belgium may be your next stop. And, it’s apparently not that expensive either and is surrounded by nature and glorious skies. (providing its not getting that Belgian rain).
Photos: Anda Van Riet / Verbeke Foundation
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
