Traveller"s tale: Go straight to jail

Ever stayed in a refurbished prison? David Bowden finds the experience memorable

WHILE many hotels like to standardise their facilities and services, others strive to stand out from the crowd.

International hotel chains generally plan for everything to be in the same place as every other hotel in the group — the colour scheme of the room to be exactly the same and the contents of the mini bar not to deviate from some well researched list of popular global beverages.

They want guests to be truly homogenised to the brand so that they feel at home when they step in the door, regardless of the location around the globe. It’s all about globalisation, the brand and not allowing guests to think outside the box.

Others set out to be unique and memorable in offering an experience that reflects the local culture or, as in the case of design hotels, something quirky.

Recycling and reusing old buildings as hotels are nothing new but the idea is catching on around the world.

I have been fortunate to stay in some, ranging from old schoolhouses (Carr Manor Luxury Boutique Hotel and B B, Cripple Creek, Colorado), railway headquarters (MGallery Grand Hotel, Melbourne), a former jam factory (Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart), department store (Grace Hotel, Sydney), military training school (Hotel Fort Canning, Singapore), hospital (Hotel Charles, Launceston), shoplots (Straits Collection, Penang) and even an old Malay fisherman’s house (Bon Ton and Temple Tree Resorts, Langkawi).

 

GAOL BREAK

Probably the quirkiest recycled property I’ve stayed in, however is, Jailhouse Lowengraben Hotel which, as the name suggests, is a former jail.

While most travellers do their best to stay out of jail, many visitors to Lucerne in Switzerland are lining up to get in and more than willing to pay for the experience.

Visitors are discharged after a night or a few days for good behaviour and allowed to head off to explore the many other attractions in the country.

Which was what I did but not after discovering what it was like to be locked in for the night in the Jailhouse Lowengraben Hotel (www.jailhouse.ch).

This property was once the Lucerne Prison from 1862 to 1995 before it was closed and refitted as one of the world’s quirkiest hotels.

It was certainly the strangest night I had ever spent inside a hotel and it made me determined to obey all the laws of Switzerland just in case I ended up in a real jail for some misdemeanour.

When I say refitted, I should explain that this means very little has been changed to the interior since it operated as a prison. Guests, or rather inmates, now pay for the privilege of being locked up and the experience is certainly not cheap but then again, this is Switzerland. A minute modern cubicle with a shower and toilet is about all that has been added to the basic cell.

The small window with bars on it opened to the elements and I was pleased that when I stayed there, the weather was warm. I could only imagine how cold it would have been in winter.

Facilities are spartan and basic in line with the building’s original function and the bare wooden floorboards may have offered some protection during winter.

The hotel covers three floors and there is no lift, so it is additional torture for those with large bags when they get placed on the top floor.

There are four themed suites for those who appreciate just the minimum of luxuries. Standard rooms are minute and have two narrow and basic beds.

A substantive self-service breakfast is available each day in the cellar (or should that be dungeon) and the adjoining Alcatraz Bar is Lucerne’s hottest bar, especially at the weekend when the inmates celebrate an hour or two of freedom.

 

GLOBAL GAOLS

For those who are suckers for punishment, a number of other prison hotels can be found around the globe.

In Oxford, Malmaison (www.malmaison.com) now occupies the former Victorian prison in the grounds of Oxford Castle. This has seen a major refit with luxuries such as central heating, DVD players and LCD TVs and a price tag that reflects its quirky boutique qualities.

Also in England, the House Of Correction (www.landmarktrust.org.uk) in Folkingham was once a Quarter Sessions Court with an attached prison. There is no hardship in staying here but the handcuffs and ankle chains could make for an interesting stay.

In South Australia, get sentenced to a few nights at the Old Mount Gambier Gaol (www.oldmountgambiergaol.com.au) which is perfect for those with families or who like security as inmates are protected by a 4m high stone wall.

There are 57 beds in the facility and cells are offered as twins, doubles and dorms. Beds are very affordable and perfect for those travelling on a budget.

Communal showers are available in all but larger rooms and those who may be a bit concerned about staying in a cell, can always ask for the warden’s rooms.

To go on a global goal tour, check out other hotels in former prisons in Karosta (Slovenia), Clink 78 (London), Hostel Celica (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Langholmen (Stockholm).

So why would someone want to stay in a former prison for the night?

Everyone likes variety and staying in a prison can be a lot of fun especially if you’re travelling in a group.

I’m glad I made the effort and I suppose I have now ticked that off my bucket list.

Hotel Fort Canning is a former military training school.

Bon Ton and Temple Tree Resorts has a collection of fishermen’s houses.

Traveller"s tale: Go straight to jail