Writing about normal rooms reminded me of another possible (albeit odd) sleeping alternative to traditional hotels. I first learned about the Travelpod from this Age article by Benji Laynado: For those too posh to pitch recounts Benji's experience sleeping in one of Travelodge's mobile hotel rooms -- a transparent glass structure with clear polycarbonate walls, carpeting, AC, double bed and other furniture, but no shower. This is the second generation Travelpod, a revised version of the original room that was trialed in 2006, with added design features.

For about $65 bucks a night, the mobile hotel room can be transported from one of Britain's Travelodge hotels to any destination that allows permission for the room to be placed there. Benji chose a field for his out-of-the-box-while-in-a-box travel experience, and had a good night's rest in what he calls "the top of the camping chain." Interesting concept, but confusing, as Benji notes: "I came here to get outdoors, yet everything around me is trying to convince me indoors is great, too."

The book Sex in a Tent reviews love-making tips for locations other than a typical tent -- canoe, beach, sturdy tree -- but what about the Travelpod? Would hooking-up in one of these count as an outdoor sexual experience if the structure was simply plopped down in a rural location? Something unimportant to ponder, eh? And how come I can't find anything about similar structures in the US? Has any American hotel chain experimented with transportable hotel rooms yet? The whole thing seems quite silly to me, but still fascinating to follow these outlandish travel trends.

Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping