Upcycled Escapes Bringing Shipping Containers Back To Life

Sustainability is the order of the decade and it’s reaching into every part of our lives - including travel. Staying in eco-friendly accommodation is a great way to have a positive impact while enjoying your travel and upcycled shipping containers are all the rage. Let’s take a look at some environmentally-conscious lodgings that are unique, unforgettable, and stylishly sustainable.

Just a short walk from Hon Chong Beach in southern Vietnam is the Ccasa Hostel - a playful property with an industrial vibe. 12 shipping containers, brightly painted and stylishly arrayed, are stacked on top of each other to form this fun and funky hostel.

In addition to the comfortable dormitories styled after luxury train cabins, the hostel also boasts several multi-functional spaces including a large net on the rooftop which serves as a giant hammock. Whether you choose to spend the day relaxing with a book or enjoying the incredible street food and white sand beaches of the area, it’ll definitely be a holiday to remember.

Valparaiso sits on the coast of Chile, a little way north of Santiago, in the midst of the winelands of Aconcagua, Casablanca, and Leyda. And in the heart of Valparaiso, taking its inspiration from its surroundings, is the Hotel Winebox, a hotel and urban winery built from used shipping containers - the first hotel of its kind in South America.

More than 70% of the materials used in its construction and furnishing are recycled, including bottles, bathtubs, and old pallets. Not only is it unique and exciting, but also truly sustainable.

The winery on the property allows guests to have a taste of the local vintage and, if they happen to be there during the harvest season, even participate in the winemaking process. What more incentive does one need?

The Dock Inn Hostel boasts a chic industrial design, fitting for its location at the busy harbour of Warnemünde, on the German Baltic coast.

Not only is the hostel built from recycled materials, including shipping containers, but it also runs primarily on solar power.

In addition to the expected dormitories, there are also private rooms and suites where you can have an entire container to yourself. And not only that, but the property is also host to an in-house cinema - also fashioned from a shipping container - and a rooftop sauna with a fantastic view of the shipyard so you can really take in the dockside feeling.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, you need look no further than this converted crane apartment. The Yays - Crane Apartment, set in the Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam, is the brainchild of Dutch designer Edward van Vliet - completely in harmony with its surroundings.

This luxurious industrial-chic apartment consists of three shipping containers stacked within the framework of a monumental harbour crane, and features not only an incomparable view of the harbour but also stories recorded by the crane’s last operator for those who have an interest in the area’s history.

With a modern kitchen, stylish and comfortable seating area, snug bedroom, and luxurious bathroom, the apartment is an experience not to be missed.

Tucked away in the centre of London is StowAway, an apart-hotel comprising 26 upcycled shipping containers which create a special, space-saving, sustainable accommodation for both short- and long-term stays.

These compact apartments are perfectly cosy, eco-friendly, and have fully-equipped kitchenettes - but the property also boasts a wine bar and restaurant featuring special vintages from around the world.

Panagsama Beach is a popular destination for divers, especially those keen to see the incredible schools of sardines that gather in the area.

The Pig Dive Hostel, Moalboal, is just a short shuttle ride from the beach, and along with being made entirely of recycled materials, it also boasts a rooftop hang out that is perfect for enjoying the sunset after a day at the beach. Or, if you’d prefer, why not drive a little way south to the Kawasan Waterfalls for a perfectly picturesque day out.

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