0 Star Hotel Opens in Switzerland
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
If you will stop at nothing to find the best hotel deal available, I have some great news for you. The world’s first 0 star hotel (self-proclaimed) has recently opened in Switzerland. The Null Stern Hotel, in the small town of Sevelen, is built in a converted nuclear bunker. Dorm beds only cost $14 per night. That’s downright cheap by Swiss standards.
What does $14 get you? A bed in an unheated dorm room with concrete floors, concrete walls and a noisy ventilation system. Because there is no heating, it can get cold at night. But the hotel offers free hot water bottles to help keep the temperature inside your sleeping bag comfortable, or at least bearable.
That is not to say the Null Stern is completely without charm. Like the five-star hotels in Paris and Dubai, the staff leaves a chocolate on your pillow. There are a complementary pair of slippers left under each bed and a pair of earplugs to help light sleepers cope with the noisy ventilation system and the fact that they shared rooms are prone to echoes.
The $14 shared room is not the only variety available at the Null Stern. For $39, you can have your own private room. These are still furnished with the same bed, concrete and growling vents…but at least there is a certain level of privacy.
The concept for Null Stern was developed by entrepreneur Patrik Riklin and his brother Frank. If the location in Sevelen is successful, a dozen more hotels could be opened at similar bunkers around the country. The idea reeks of gimmickry, but at the same time, it is hard to find reasonably priced accommodations in this small, expensive European country. Price alone might be enough to keep the brothers Riklin in business for a long, long time.
