Both the New York Times and CNN have reported the rising popularity of hotels in Germany and other parts of Europe that offer a night's sleep on a bed of hay. While these heuhotels do have a certain ick-factor, the rustic simplicity of sleeping in a barn does have its appeal and who can say no to a good, old fashioned, roll in the hay?
Okay, plenty of people probably can. It’s a no frills kind of accommodation, where guests usually need to bring their own bedding and towels and sleep in close vicinity to each other (and possibly a few animals). But it is a step up from camping, it’s budget and eco-friendly, and we’re betting the milk in your morning coffee will be pretty darn fresh. A list of German heuhotels ca be found at www.heuhotels.de.
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Comments (28)
This is not a step up from camping in my estimation.
Ahhhh CHOO!
The idea makes me sneeze. No thanks.
Why would I pay for a roll in the hay?
I know that was bad.
Those are plain afwul, as far as style goes; and they're uncomfortable and dusty.
I don't get the point of this post. Is the "barn style" back ? When can I move to Mars ?
I used to play in hay as a kid and I would definitely NOT pay money to sleep in it as an adult. Hay is dusty and it will poke you everywhere as you toss and turn.
On an 'adventure' management course I ended up sleeping (with permission) in a hay barn and had a very warm and comfortable night's sleep. Hay has a great smell - so I would give this a try for a night - as long as the hay is fresh.
One word: Scratchy.
Man, these are cheap. Why not? Going on vacation does mean trying new things.
sounds great...if you're a guinea pig.
From a technical standpoint, it would be hard to bring your own linens if you were on vacation in Europe. Especially since they charge to even check a bag these days.
I would rather sleep on my compost pile.
Um, I grew up on a farm and hay splinters are the WORST! No thanks.
This is an idea whose time has not yet -- and hopefully never will -- come.
I would have an asthma attack, no thanks.
Would I try sleeping in the hay? Yes.
Would I want to pay for it? No.
This definately has a romantic, old-fashioned, caught in the rain feel to it. However, these things are usually more fun when they happen spontaneously. As a kitschy, touristy thing, I think it looses the appeal.
I also grew up on the farm and have to agree with the hay-nay-sayers. There is a reason we no longer use hay and straw ticks for bedding.
I imagine there's some market for this in Germany-- probably among the people who would want to vacation on a farm anyway, and there are plenty-- but I can't imagine why you'd want to sleep hostel-style among so many other people. I'm a light sleeper, and the sounds of 10-12 other people would keep me from falling asleep, no matter how comfortable the bed.
If I were on the type of trip where i already had my sleeping bag, and it was too rainy/chilly to make camping enjoyable, I'd be game. Then again- I'm not too hung up on privacy, am the type where once my head hits the pillow I'm out like a light, and I have pretty low standards for comfort (spent a couple of months sleeping on bare concrete in a gutted school building and it turned out to be the best sleep of my life- who'da thunk it!)
This setup will definitely only appeal to similarly inclined people- but it seems like fun if you happen to fit in that niche.
As someone who has rolled in the hay(with my husband), let me say ichy oh man get off, ohhh. is that a ... OMG the horses are watching us. That's just the first 10 seconds. Rashes appear soon after. Hey. nothin like a dame!
I remember sitting in the hayloft as a horsey kid, and that stuff itches more than grass! I might try it out for an hour, but the only hay I'm sleeping on is stuffed deep in a Hastens mattress with the mane of a dead horse!
This gives me the creeps in the same way that episode of Bones about the fetish club for people who like to pretend they're horses during sex did. I guess those people go here for vacation.
But even when people used hay and straw in their mattresses, it was... IN THEIR MATRESSES. They didn't lie in it.
I am itching just thinking about that...
What's the *ick*-factor there ? The american fear of germs? The hay is changed every day.
And this is for a lot of families a good and cheap opportunity for vacation.
Also, i guess it can be very helpfull to go back to the source from time to time to learn to appreciate the comfort we have achieved in our everyday lifes.
ridge_van_winkle -- Wow, another Bones watcher - I remember that episode. It was very weird.
On this, would I try it if it was free? Sure, why not. If I had to pay, hell no.
I'm German. I become itchy only looking at those photos. I'd not sleep on hay even if I was paid for it. Yikes!
Looks like a fancy stable.
...as long as you know going in whether or not you have asthma/allergies...