Oh, Switzerland.

In a subterranean fallout shelter in Sevelen, Switzerland, the Null Stern Hotel, biliing itself as "The World's First Zero Star Hotel" is preparing to open its crappy, crappy doors.

"Null stern" actually means "zero star," which is a little relieving. They're being clever, not insane. Normally, this is a cultural misunderstanding we have with Norway. Maybe we've misjudged Switzerland.

The Null Stern Hotel will cost between 6 and 18 euros per night, and includes former bomb shelter facilities, no daylight, slippers, earplugs, communal bathrooms and showers, and a butler (there was one in the photo shoot, I'm not sure he'll be there when you show up).

We don't know why they get earplugs.

The Null Stern hotel will open in early 2009, but recently opened up to volunteers for a test run. See the photos here.

What to do in Sevelen? I don't know. But at least you know there's a bomb shelter where you can stay. If you can read German, here you go.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal might just be over-exaggerating the tourist slump that is taking place here on the Hawaiian islands. As the article puts it, "dozens of pool chairs and canopied cabanas sat empty... restaurants had plenty of free tables... In town, "50% Off!" signs hung in the windows of many souvenir shops." I'm pretty sure this can be the case if you're walking around anywhere on the Big Island on a Saturday afternoon because people aren't interested in relaxing by a pool, eating at a restaurant, or shopping. I would hope they are doing more productive things like visiting the Volcano National Park, enjoying one of the island's many gorgeous black sand beaches, or hiking around waterfalls near Hilo.

Although I don't want to believe the article's proclamation, "There's trouble in Polynesian paradise," I'm sure the tourist industry is feeling some effects from a poor economy and the closure of ATA and Aloha Airlines - two of Hawaii's biggest airline carriers - earlier this year.

Economic woes got you down? Here's a solution: party nude with the Aussies. A holiday resort in tropical Queensland has planned a month-long bacchinalian for guests to get their naked grooves on.

The White Cockatoo Resort, which is located near the town of Mossman, apparently operates on three levels of functionality: nudist, clothing optional and fully clothed for family fun. These occur at different times of year so that the kiddies don't get confused from the nudies.

Next March, they are going for a full-scale, adults only party month as a so-called 'hedonism resort'. I did a little digging and it turns out that the White Cockatoo is just one of dozens of places around the world to take a hedonist vacation.

Essentially, this sounds to me like the type of place where Joe Office would go to fulfill his wildest fantasies: eating food that's bad for you, walking around naked, drinking in the morning and going all-night clubbing. Like Spring Break for grown-ups.

With the economy the way it is these days, hotel deals are for the asking. Although many deals are bundled into packages that include airfare, that's not the only way to save money.

In this New York Times, "On The Road" article, Peter Greenberg, the travel editor of "Today" recommends calling full-service hotels directly to find out what deals can be offered "right now."

Greenberg recommends asking to speak to the general manager and then asking that person in a congenial way what incentives he or she can offer. Although the published room rate may not go down, the incentives could sweeten the deal in your favor.

According to Greenberg, hotels' willingness to throw in perks will not last forever. The message is to strike a bargain while you can get one.

If you're looking for holiday R& R without the expense of out of town travel, add luxury to your life by looking for a hotel deal in your own backyard. Book a night in a luxury hotel where you live. Call around to see who will throw in the best perk by using Greenberg's method. Even though home may be just a few miles away, pretend. A night away is a night away.

The photo by drustar is of the front desk at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Yes, there are package deals on the hotel's website, but call to see what else you can get. It's a start.

I'm one of those uptight folks who hates the idea of stealing anything: I've scolded friends for buying bootlegged CDs and DVDs. My husband, however, isn't quite as ridiculous as I am -- in fact, I cringe every time he comes home from a business trip, in anticipation of what hotel towel he's decided to bring home with him as a souvenir.

However, I think I may have found a hotel where we can go and I don't have to live in fear: The Hotel Fusion in San Francisco actually encourages you to steal their towels! Stay with them for three nights or more, and they'll let you take home a towel, complete with the words "I didn't steal my towel from Hotel Fusion," to assuage any fears of any over-concerned spouses. The offer is good for stays between now and February 28, 2009.

Now if I could just find another hotel that has a similar offer for a flat-screen TV...

Russian architect Alexander Asadov is fighting global warming with innovative building designs. His latest concept is a floating Aerohotel, pictured above. This floating island features a 200-meter hub containing hotel rooms or residences, cafes, winter gardens, and restaurants.

The Aerohotel is held aloft by a system of supports and three main legs anchored to the bottom of the site, and unlike man-made islands with tons of gravel fill, this design preserves the aquatic ecosystem below. Asadov's studio states that the construction costs and environmental impact of his design are significantly lower than gravel works projects.

This design can be installed in any body of water, and the plan includes docks for boats and a landing strip for zeppelins. Because if you're cool enough to live in a floating island, you're cool enough to travel by zeppelin.

The design is certainly interesting and futuristic, but is it aesthetically pleasing, or is it an eyesore? The idea is very appealing, but I'm not yet sold on the look. What do you think?

When the nights are long and the weather is icky, you can make like a bear and tuck in until spring, or you can make the most of it and have fun with the cold weather. Maybe you've outgrown your sledding and snowman days, but you can still live it up in a real winter wonderland at Québec's Hôtel de Glace.

Open every year from January through March, this ice hotel is newly rebuilt every year with a new design, featuring sculpted archways and enchanting ice sculptures. There are 36 rooms and theme suites for overnight visitors, all featuring ice beds with heavy duty sleeping bags. Temperatures inside the hotel are steady between -3°C and -5°C, no matter what the weather is like outdoors. The hotel's information guide tells you everything you need to know about dressing for a trip like this.

You can tour the hotel without spending the night, or you can take advantage of the special packages the Hôtel de Glace offers -- they have special couples packages, a dogsledding adventure, and even several wedding packages.

Visit the Hôtel de Glace website between now and November 26th, and you can enter to win a free stay at the ice hotel.



All photos courtesy Hôtel de Glace and used by permission.

'Tis always the season for exclusivity at a Four Seasons. This season, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (excessive names much? It's like having three daddies) has opened a brand new restaurant, Tydes Restaurant and Bar.

Tydes Restaurant and Bar was designed by Peter Marino at the legendary Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club. The "Coral Casino" has been through a $65 million restoration and is now an exclusive members-only club to which guests of the Four Seasons have access, and Tydes Restaurant and Bar has opened inside of that. Basically, if you want to go there, you probably can't.

That picture? Is a sketch. You can't even see it.

More about what you're missing:

"Critically acclaimed chef Pilar Sanchez, most recently known for her eponymous Napa restaurant, has crafted a tour de force menu that is authentically Mediterranean – creatively combining French, Italian, Spanish and Moroccan influences to create a harmony with the "Riviera" feel of Tydes' natural surroundings. Constantly in flux with the seasons, it stars fresh seafood such as loup de mer, turbot and daurade flown in from the Mediterranean daily, along with the best ingredients from that part of the world. Also featured are the local region's freshest produce and meats sourced from local purveyors, including one-of-a-kind artisan foods like bread and cheeses that have been custom created to Sanchez's own specifications."

Not exclusive enough? There's a private dining room within Tydes Restaurant and Bar which seats just eight guests and has views of the ocean and the mountains. The room also opens out onto a sundeck.

If you find yourself on that sundeck, you've probably broken out of the matrix. Watch for agents.

The newly designed website of VRBO--Vacation Rentals by Owner is a snap to use. Clicking on a particular region of one of the maps is one way to zoom in on a specific destination. Click on a state, for example, and whoosh, there you are browsing the bounties.

In each state, rentals are divided into regions. I went to Montana and then to Butte which pointed me to four vacation home rentals, two with rave reviews from people vowing to return, and two where people haven't left comments.

The world map gives you the option of heading to a specific continent and then narrowing down to a country search. Or you can browse the list of locations, also on the home page.

The homepage also has a section divided into two categories: Family Reunion or Group Travel, and Cabin Rentals and Beach Rentals. This is another design element that helps narrow a search.

If you have no idea what country or state will capture your fancy, start clicking away at the various options. Photos and detailed descriptions help with the yay or nay sorting. See what captures your eye.

With 110,000 vacation rentals and 21,000 worldwide locations, VRBO is great place to find that vacation spot to suit your needs. For people who are looking to post their vacation rentals, check this site out. You'll be in good company.

This Sunday's Columbus Dispatch travel section is devoted to Caribbean travel. With this morning's post on Caribbean vacations, written before the Sunday paper arrived on my front porch, I'm wondering if I'm getting a message.

One article, "Caribbean offers comfort for less cash" by David Swanson points out an option not mentioned in today's earlier post--Tobago. After reading about all of Tobago's high points, I'm hesitant to let the word out because, frankly, I want the bargains to be there when I show up.

Here's why Tobago sounds fantastic: