Hotels in Space?

Sweden’s Ice Hotel, one our favorite Weird Hotels Around the World, announced that they’re working with Virgin Galactic to send paying travelers into space.

Tickets for the trip, which will blast off from the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden, will set you back about $200,000. Yes, I got my zeroes right: that’s two hundred thousand dollars. Travelers may elect to fly during winter’s aurora borealis or the midnight sun of summer.

How I imagine it, but with Sir Richard Branson

As I’m typing this, I’m thinking two things:

1. Crazy!

2. My incredulity may seem later as bizarre as stories predating the Wrights 1903 flight. ”Scientists report that persons living in future-times may use ‘flying machines’ to transport themselves from North Carolina to Texas in as few as nine hours. ‘Dubious, kind sirs! Flight was meant only for winged beasts, as the lord intended!’ comes the rejoinder of all sensible Christian men.”

Back on topic, Ice Hotel is just one of five “accredited space agents” Virgin Galactic named to sell tickets on its flights. Agents will be trained in medical issues, space technology and g-forces.

And what do you expect a space hotel will look like in 3 years? Since they’re working on purifying urine into drinkable water at the space station, I’m going to guess your mini-bar isn’t stocked with Voss and M&Ms.

Just sayin’.