Jail hotel experience

Posted by Jackie Hewett on Wed 14th January 2009 at 03:49 AM, Filed in Unusual Hotels

Fancy a Night in Jail?  Probably not if you have recently been detained at ‘her majesties pleasure’.  However, if you are looking for a really different hotel experience, or even in the name of research Trip Inspiration have uncovered what must be some of THE most unusual hotels around – and yes, incredibly there is more than one of them!

Karosta Prison, Liepaja, Latvia

This hotel was built in 1905 as a navy prison for mutinous sailors and was used by the Soviets, Nazis and Latvians.  It was changed to a hotel in the 1997.  For under £20 you get to sleep on real prison benches / mattresses, see the graffiti left by inmates, be subjected to bed checks and be abused in Russian (for the real KGB experience) by hotel ‘guards’.  The hotels motto?  ‘Unfriendly, unheated and uncomfortable’.  I wonder why there are no reviews on Trip Adviser for this one?!!

Napier Prison, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
This place was built in 1858 using stone quarried by prisoners on hard labour.  It lasted as a prison until 1993 and re-opened in 2002 to offer tours and backpacker accommodation.  You can either stay in a reasonably comfortable cell converted into a double room with loo and sink, opt for a dormitory (still OK), or go for a more original cell.  You’ll pay something like £10 per person per night – less for a dormitory.  Napier boasts heating, Sky TV (just like a real prison then!!), fully made up beds and bike / BBQ hire.

The Old Jail, Mount Gambier, Australia
This former South Australian State Prison closed in 1995 and has been kept as authentic as possible.  Whilst facilities are very basic they are less austere than at Karosta above.  They offer a mixture of cells – 2 doubles, 19 twins, 2 three bed rooms and 3 dorms and a separate self contained unit.  Showers are shared, the games yard can be used for indoor cricket and soccer, and there is a small guided tour, restaurant and bikes for hire.  For these luxuries you’ll pay more like £25 per person per night. 

Jail Hotel Loewengraben, Lucerne, Switzerland

Built in 1862 this building lasted as a prison until 1998.  Now billed as a ‘boutique hostel’ – by that I guess they mean a themed hostel – this place again offers fairly close to an authentic prison stay experience.  However – one that doesn’t lock its doors as many visitors complain about the lack of security which led to unwanted intruders in their rooms in the small hours and concerns about the fact that codes for rooms are not changed so prior guests / occupants to easily enter the room you are staying in whether you are   Apparently lighting is very bright, doors and windows have grills, you sleep on bunk beds and there is ventilation for hot summer months – but there are a few suites for the feint-hearted.  Some describe the experience as awesome or memorable.  Situated in the heart of Lucerne’s old town it has a great location

The next batch of hotels started life as prisons, but certainly can’t claim to offer anything close to a prison experience.  I have just included them in case you wanted something a little different but don’t feel the need to get too close to the reality of behind bars.…..

Langholmen Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
This establishment ceased life as a Crown Prison in 1975.  After a renovation job it as reopened as a modern hotel in 1989. You can either stay in the hostel in 2 – 4 bed cells, or in a room in the hotel section. There a mini café open all hours and apparently the separate Inn provides some of the best food in Stockholm.  The most authentic aspect is probably the heavy cell doors, but little else of the original interior has been retained.  Bathrooms are fully modernised and there are even conference and wedding facilities.
Malmaison, Oxford, England
Also known as the ‘Oxford Hotel’, this (now) luxury boutique hotel is located in the heart of the historic city of Oxford.  They have suites and four poster beds, a gym and fine dining.  Many guests complain of the expensive parking, the practice of deducting a £50 pre-authorisation charge from your debit card on check-in and others state the hotel is overpriced.  Rooms can be variable – larger ones can be more darkly lit and have less character.

Hotel Katajanokka, Helsinki, Finland
This has been converted into a 102 room luxury boutique / business hotel run by Best Western.  It was a county prison (called Nokka) for 150 years – the prison doors closed for the last time very recently – in 2002.  Surrounded by a beautiful park (where outdoor concerts are held), the Katajanokka boasts conference facilities, a restaurant (aptly names Jailbird), summer terrace with outside grill, junior suites with private saunas, air conditioning throughout, internet connections and flat screen tv’s.

Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA

This is hotel opened its doors to the (paying) public in September 2007 and has won numerous awards for design.  The lobby atrium and beautiful, but it seems to turn into a nightclub on Saturday nights.  Reading reviews it seems that most people feel that whilst the re-furb and location are great, service could be better

Four Seasons, Istanbul, Turkey
Famed for luxury and style the Four Seasons group initially tried to play down the origins of their Istanbul hotel building believing it would be bad PR.  However, they found to their surprise that once word got out it was actually quite a draw.  The 65 rooms and suites are arranged around a courtyard and as per most Four Season’s establishments - there is the obligatory spa.  It was even named best hotel in Istanbul in 2008 – it’s come a long way since its 20th century origins then.

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