Hay Hotels: Count Your Sheep—and Sleep Like Them, Too
Travel Blog • Elyse Franko • 07.22.08 | 9:03 AM ET
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Eco-conscious travelers might be pleased by the new accommodation trend that’s spreading through Europe: the hay hotel, which, as far as I can tell, is just an old barn that’s been freshened up a bit and (hopefully) doesn’t smell strongly of manure. Travelers sleep in a dormitory setting atop piles of hay. No pillows. No blankets. Just hay.
According to Intelligent Life magazine: “By offering accommodation of medieval simplicity (but with better bathrooms), they tick a lot of eco-boxes: no new construction, not much laundry (you can hire sleeping bags or bring your own), rural employment, and low-impact tourism (they tend to attract hikers and cyclists).”