Unless you have very low standards or are fortunate enough to have friends all over the world, you will probably need a place to sleep when you travel. Hotels have become synonymous with vacations and business trips and one doesn’t plan a trip without considering accommodation. The airplane made international travel commonplace and now hotels, hostels, motels and every variant in between are commonplace in most areas. The US has nearly 5 million hotel rooms, while China holds the record for most overnight travelers in a year, at a whopping 83 million. 

While the first hotel that resembles something we might recognize opened in the 18th century, pre-modern travelers would often stay the night in what was called a coaching inn. Remember, before planes and railroads, it’s not just the traveler who had to rest, the horses needed some sleep too! These coaching inns actually were actually a vital part of European travel infrastructure, since they also fed and housed not just travelers, but messengers and postal service members as well. 

There are still exceptions, for example, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel in Japan. Built around hot springs and featuring a moon viewing room, you would be forgiven for thinking that it’s a modern establishment for nature tourists. In fact, it may be the oldest continually operating hotel in the world. Japanese records show that it opened in 705 AD and is still available for bookings. If that isn’t astounding enough, the same family has operated the business for 52 generations, albeit with some adopted family members.

Still, these were mostly rooms one could rent for the night and maybe a tavern or restaurant. Modern conveniences like room service came about during the early 20th century. The legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York is credited with inventing room service as we know it today. Now even some hospitals offer room service, like the Mater Private Hospital Brisbane in Australia. The Waldorf in general seems like it was a pioneering organization, as it also is credited with inventing the idea of the restaurant reservation and the eponymous Waldorf salad.

If you are bored, dear Pandas, of regular hotel experiences, you should look into some locations that are more than just where you sleep at night. Though it is in northern Finland and also has a name that I really can’t pronounce, an interesting option might be the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers guests the chance to sleep in an Igloo. The location also offers reindeer safaris (bet you never expected to hear those two words together,) and views of the northern lights.

For those of you that are like me and would prefer to avoid the cold, there is the Muraka hotel in the Maldives. From the outside it maybe doesn't appear that special, though the turquoise water more than makes up for it’s visuals. But the main attraction are the underwater suites, where one can bathe and sleep under the constant supervision of fish. Ok, maybe that doesn’t actually sound that fun, but I’m sure it would be a once in a lifetime experience.

If you prefer something more low-key, the Wigwam Motel in California allows guests to stay in wigwams (who would have thought.) And if you want to feel like royalty, check out the Ashford Castle Hotel in Ireland, where guests can stay inside an actual 800 year old castle. With things like running water and wi-fi of course. Personally, it's so interesting to see how far hotels have come. From simple beds to attraction in of themselves.

We also reached out to the seasoned travel blog ytravel to get some more tips on choosing a hotel. "From backpacking in hostels to camping in tents and luxury home rentals, we've stayed in all types of accommodation for our past 26 years of travel. Our focus is always on exploration and memorable moments, so accommodation is normally just a place to sleep at night. Before booking your accommodation, really tune into what's most important to you. This will help you have more accurate expectations and less disappointment with your hotel stays. I'm okay with staying in lower-quality accommodation because I want to use those money savings on experiences. But, this may be different for you, if comfort makes a more enjoyable experience for you."

We also asked for some red flags to look out for when booking acomnidation. "How current are reviews? If there haven't been any current ones, especially post-pandemic, something dramatic might have happened. I also check reviews for a balance between negative and positive. If it skews in either direction it could be a red flag. You also want to take into consideration differing opinions - some people may be more or less particular than you. Look at how the managers also respond to negative reviews. If they are rude and negative back, it's probably a customer service red flag. Compare photos from reviews to hotel photos. Do they match? Or are the hotels heavily photoshopped? Outdated websites are a red flag I pay attention to. You should expect an updated site with current information and easy-to-navigate booking options."