Somewhere on the scale between tent and cabin lies the bubble hotel, an optionally transparent or opaque plastic retreat that is roomier than normal camping accommodations but more minimal than a traditional bed and breakfast.
Attrap Rêves provides such pods in sizes up to 13 feet in diameter in the rural hills of Marseille, France. They are made to be lightweight, portable and low-impact solutions for ecologically-minded travelers wishing to be closely connected to the environment.
Each unit comes furnished with nighttime essentials like a bed and nightstand as well as pair of chairs and table for sitting during the day. The opacity of the shell ranges from fully see-through to light-permitting depending on desired degree of privacy.
Airlock-style entry passages allow for an extra layer of separation from the flora and fauna of the outside world, as well as a de facto mudroom for shedding shoes and wet clothes as needed. Some units also sport outdoor decks for additional lounge space.
A nearby lodge acts as restaurant, check-in counter and managerial center for the set of pods strewn about the fields, forest and hillsides of the area. Apparently, the pod is back in fashion, at or at least has revived a bit of French passion.
