Is this the world's quirkiest pop-up hostel?
Hostels these days generally go above and beyond the standard beds in dorms set-up, thanks to trendy offerings from the likes of Generator and Safestay - but Australia has taken the trend up a notch with a new pop-up hostel made of sand that is the first of its kind.
The Sand Hostel will be open from September 20-22 on the Gold Coast's Broadbeach. It has been designed by world champion sand sculptor Dennis ‘Sandman’ Massoud, over 21 days, using 24 tonnes of said coast's finest grains.
Guests will be able to enjoy activities ranging from surfing lessons to cocktail-making classes, before staying in either an eight-bed dorm or luxury private room. Completing the experience will be on-site yoga instructors, food trucks, beach volleyball, live music and DJs.
The world's first sand hotel opened in 2008 on the beach in Weymouth, hosting guests in a twin or double room for £10 a night, before washing into the sea. This is believed to be the first time that a sand hostel has opened.
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Other weird and wonderful construction materials for hotels over the years have included salt, key cards and, of course, ice.
The 28th ICEHOTEL, in Sweden's Jukkasjärvi, will open in mid December, designed by 26 artists from 11 countries using 700 million snowballs' worth of the white stuff, configured into 15 individually designed suites as well as a church and main hall with a chandelier featuring 1,000 hand-polished ice crystals.
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The Sand Hostel is the product of a partnership between Gold Coast Tourism and Hostelworld. Booking opens today (Tuesday, September 19) via hostelworld.com - so get in before the sands of time have run out on this one.
