Back to The Classroom With Tripeden.com For Stays in Old Schools
With only a few weeks until a new academic year pulls students back to school, Tripeden.com offers travelers the chance to sample some travel experiences with an educational twist. When questioned, 44%* of global travelers put their hands up to say they wanted to stay in unique accommodation when they visit a destination, so we have studied over 29 million listings across more than 175,000 global destinations to come up with the answer - six unique stays in former schools that have found a new life away from the curriculum. From a former Art Deco-style Swedish girls school to a beautiful former Bangkok elementary school, there’s no need to practise times tables before joining classmates at the gates of these former institutions.
McMenamins Kennedy School, Portland, Oregon
Located in Northeast Portland, 3 miles (5 km) from Oregon Convention Center, the historic McMenamins Kennedy School opened its doors to students in 1915 and served as a public elementary school until 1975. Today, the building is a unique hotel with some rooms featuring original classroom details like chalkboards and cloakrooms. Guests can watch a movie in the old auditorium, sleep in the classroom or sneak a glass of whisky in the former detention area. Beyond the hotel, travelers have the beautiful city of Portland to explore with activities including the Portland Bike and Food Cart Tour to learn about Portland’s culinary history, and the self-guided Weird and Wonderful Portland Tour, perfect for exploring the city streets.
Miss Clara by Nobis, Stockholm, a Member of Design Hotels, Stockholm, Sweden
Set just a short walk from Drottninggatan shopping street in central Stockholm, this Art Deco building was transformed from a former girls’ school into a luxury hotel in 2013. Featuring Art Nouveau-inspired furnishings and limestone bathrooms, the building was designed by the Swedish architects Hagström & Ekman and completed in 1910. Today the former famous educational institution offers a modern environment combined with timeless and stylish elegance. The hotel is also the perfect base to explore some of Stockholm’s many highlights, including the baroque Royal Palace and Royal Chapel in the Old Town. Visitors who are looking to perfectly capture a moment in time should join a Highlights of Stockholm Photography Tour, a photography session with tips from a photographer guide who might help transform holiday snaps into works of art.
La Classe, Denée, Belgium
Nestled in the picturesque village of Denée in Namur province, this sizable former school is ideally located for travelers to also visit the historic medieval cities of Namur and Charleroi, as well as the nearby Maredre Abbey. The seven-bedroom and seven-bathroom residence offers stylish, modern decor with facilities to satisfy most tastes, including a games room, children’s play area and a TV room with a cinema-style setup complete with beanbags.
Schoolhouse Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Located in Ballsbridge beside a peaceful canal and a short walk from the center of Dublin, Schoolhouse Hotel was a working school between 1859 and 1969. In 1997, the building was transformed into a unique boutique hotel complete with a beautiful outdoor garden and a relaxed gastro bar. With the heart of Dublin just steps away, guests can take on the challenge of The Exploration Game to Visit Dublin Landmarks, a self-guided tour combining a scavenger hunt with an outdoor escape game. It’s a fun way of learning facts and lesser-known stories of the city's landmarks through solving puzzles and locating clues.
Il Salviatino, Tuscany, Italy
Resting in the rolling Tuscan hills and less than 2 miles (3 km) from the center of Florence, this luxury hotel offers panoramic views over the historic city. The completely converted Renaissance villa from the 15th century was Stanford University’s headquarters in Italy during the 1970’s and ’80s with classrooms, offices, library, dining facilities, and students' rooms. With the center of Florence just a short drive away from the property, guests can book a Sightseeing City Walking Tour to discover Florence's top sights and some hidden gems or reserve a ticket to visit one of the city’s many museums to brush up on their history lessons.
Feung Nakorn Balcony Rooms and Cafe, Bangkok, Thailand
Situated in a peaceful heritage district on Fuang Nakhon Road, one of Thailand’s first roads, Feung Nakorn offers vintage-style accommodation in a refurbished former elementary school. Retaining much of its classic structure and design, this beautiful hotel serves local delicacies at its open-air restaurant, set within a landscaped garden. Thanks to its location in the middle of the Old Bangkok neighborhood, the property is an ideal base to explore some of the city’s best attractions. For those travelers whose favorite subject in school was history, don’t miss the Self-guided Audio Tour of The Grand Palace, where stories will be told about the temple’s past, the Emerald Buddha statue and legendary battles between kings.
*Travel Predictions 2024 research commissioned by Tripeden.com and conducted among a sample of adults who plan to travel for business or leisure in the next 12-24 months. In total, 27,730 respondents across 33 countries and territories were polled (including 1008 from Argentina, 1012 from Australia, 505 from Austria, 1001 from Belgium, 1002 from Brazil, 1009 from Canada, 1009 from China, 1002 from Colombia, 508 from Croatia, 504 from Denmark, 1011 from France, 1011 from Germany, 1016 from Hong Kong, 1004 from India, 510 from Ireland, 504 from Israel, 1014 from Italy, 1004 from Japan, 1009 from Mexico, 1014 from The Netherlands, 1015 from New Zealand, 500 from Portugal, 502 from Singapore, 1010 from South Korea, 1009 from Spain, 502 from Sweden, 507 from Switzerland, 504 from Taiwan, 1003 from Thailand, 502 from the UAE, 1007 from the UK, 1005 from the US and 1007 from Vietnam). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2023.