Arnie, if you’re ever looking for a futuristic hotel
HE said he’d be back! This week, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the role that made him an i nternational s uperstar with t he release of Terminator Genisys. Arnie, pictured, once again travels through time to save mankind from a horde of sophisticated cyborg-killing machines. All of which is a good excuse for trivago.ie to roll out a guide to the top futuristic hotels including Dublin’s very own Marker Hotel.
1. Icehotel, Jukksjärvi, Sweden: Sculpted out of ice and snow, this is a hotel and art exhibition. Each year, artists travel 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle to chisel away at 1,000 tonnes of ice and design the hotel’s suites. Though temperatures border on the extreme, the rooms never drop below -5C, and Icehotel provides thermal clothing and sleeping bags. After a night of polar conditions, guests switch to a warmer chalet-style accommodation next door with all modcons. Guests can experience an overnight dog sled expedition and then watch the Northern Lights from the Aurora Sky Station. Rooms from €106.
2. The Marker Hotel, Dublin, in the heart of the Silicon Docks has an six-storey checkerboard facade inspired by Irish rocks. By night, the Grand Canal Square’s neon lights shine on the hotel exterior. The rooms are vibrant, are designed with geometric interiors and have marble en-suites. Guests can unwind in the spa and wellness centre, which boasts an infinity pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. There are three dining options, including the contemporary Marker Bar, with long workbench, directional lighting and docking points. Rooms from €289.
3. Hotel 1000, Seattle. Electronic doorbells scan rooms with infrared sensors to detect body heat, telling staff if rooms are occupied so guests are not disturbed. An intelligent minibar also i nf orms t he hotel when it needs topping up. The hotel’s virtual Golf Club is an immersive experience that lets players swing balls on 50 of the world’s best courses without ever leaving the hotel. Rooms from €321.
4. NH Collection Madrid Euro-building: This four-star, 431room hotel boasts a huge, ever-changing curved LED screen over t he l obby. Guests can speak to reception faceto-face from their rooms via video supported-tablets. Best of all is the 3D telepresence system that lets guests interact remotely by hologram. Rooms from €195.
5 Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE: ‘The world’s only seven- star hotel’. Each suite overlooks the Gulf and includes a 21-inch iMac, a four-carat gold iPad and widescreen smart HD TV, as well as 24-hour butler service. Eat at the Al Mahara, which serves seafood i n an aquarium. Suites from ¤1,034.