There are budget hotels—and then, there are hay hotels, the newest sleeping sensation sweeping across Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. Yes, you sleep on hay. As in, from a barn. In fact, the hay-filled lodgings are converted outbuildings and barns located on family farms.
The idea has been a hit with ecotourists, budget-conscious travelers and outdoorsy families on cycling or hiking tours. Hay hotels (or Heuhotels as they’re known in Europe) are inexpensive—as little as €8 (about $12) per night—and the second-harvest hay that’s used is softer to sleep on than the coarse stuff you may have encountered in hay rides. Plus, your hosts serve up a hearty breakfast, fresh from the farm. A few rules: BYOSB (bring your own sleeping bag) and absolutely no smoking.
Check out www.heuherbergen.de, which has an English Web page and lists hay hotels in the Schleswig Holstein, the northernmost state in Germany (and the region with the most hay hotels). Here are a couple of other Heuhotel Web sites in German … but grab someone who can translate for you: www.heuhotel.de and www.heuhotelferien.de.
