What’s more important to you when you travel: Choosing a brand you know will offer a quality experience or choosing something unique, that you haven’t yet tried?
For many, it might depend on the destination.
For instance, during trip to India, I booked with well-respected hotel brands because I wanted accommodation I knew I could trust, no matter what city I’m in.
But travel is also about trying something new.
Travellers today want quality without being cookie-cutter. So, what if there was a hotel chain that provided consistently solid service in different locations without being the same old room you’ve seen in a million other cities?
That’s exactly what 25Hours Hotels is trying to do. Having stayed at their locations in Berlin, Hamburg and Zurich, I can say that it is the coolest hotel brand in Europe.
Here’s why:
You know one, you know none
25 Hours Bikini Berlin Jungle Room
Although they have 8 different locations across Germany, Switzerland and Austria, 25Hours’ motto is ‘you know one, you know none.’ That’s because each hotel is unique, with its own style, theme and design.
The brand works with local designers, artists and partners to create something totally different at each location. Head to the port city of Hamburg and you’ll find stylish nautical themed rooms, while the Berlin location sits right between West Berlin and the Berlin Zoo, inspiring its ‘urban jungle’ theme.
And you’ll find flecks of gold dotted around the location in West Zurich, reflecting the city’s history in finance and banking.
Not only are the hotels different from each other, they also offer a twist on your traditional hotel stay. You’ll find funky, hand-painted designs throughout the halls, stairways and rooms, unique layouts and meeting spaces and gift shops that look more like an Urban Outfitters store.
They’re focused on connecting locals and tourists
There’s a common issue with many traditional hotel lobbies and cafes: there’s often no one in them (at least for long). What caught my attention at each 25Hours location was that they all seemed to be popular places for not only tourists, but also locals to meet or hang out.
The hotels are designed to encourage collaboration and interaction. The breakout spaces, cafés and restaurants are packed with locals from nearby offices meeting and working.
The Monkey Bar, which overlooks the Berlin Zoo from the top floor of 25Hours Bikini Berlin location, was filled with the after work crowd, even on a Monday night.
It made me feel like I was staying in ‘the place to be’ wherever I went.
It’s all about the extras
If staying in a place that looks awesome isn’t enough for you, 25Hours also offers some of the most fun perks of any hotel I’ve seen. Through a partnership with MINI, guests can rent cars for free (you don’t even have to pay for gas!). Considering the price of a rental car can quickly exceed several hundred dollars, a free ride is a huge bonus.
For those who prefer two wheels, there are also free bike rentals at every location. Some of the rooms even come with their own bike.
Did I mention that Wi-Fi is also free? One of my biggest pet peeves is when hotels charge extra for Wi-Fi, so this is definitely a plus.
You may think that a hotel room is just a place to crash. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
But a hotel should also reflect the personality, history and culture of the city it’s in. So if you’re heading to Europe and looking for something a bit different, I know a few good places to stay.