Malmaison Oxford Hotel, England

Malmaison Oxford Hotel, England

We've had a look at alternative valentine's day destinations, but why not break all the romance barriers and say I Love You in a most different and especially unique setting this year? Here are five prisons turned hotels for a truly memorable romantic getaway. 

1. Malmaison Oxford Hotel, Oxford, EnglandThink Prison Break meets contemporary cool and quirky charm; the Malmaison Oxford Hotel is an impressive property housing comfortable accommodation in what used to be a former prison in a trendy corner of this university city. One TripAdvisor user said: "This hotel is impressive and an amazing hotel to look at and stay in. Our room was a cell superior double and was a great size, had a superb bathroom with a roll top bath and a huge walk in super powerful shower." Another added: "Stayed here for the weekend as a bit of fun, and I have to say it really exceeded all my expectations!"

2. Hotel Katajanokka, Helsinki, FinlandIt's not often that you can boast about staying behind bars in one of Europe's most functional cities, but with the Best Western-style Hotel Katajanokka, you certainly can. The character of the former prison is still present with dark red, high-brick walls, but the rooms are very spacious as they are built using at least two cells. That is as far as the hotel builidng connects with its past, as there are no bars on the windows and the property even houses an excellent gym and sauna. One TripAdvisor user said: "We had a one-night layover in Helsinki and chose this hotel as it looked like fun. We were not disappointed. The room was clean and modern and much to our liking."

3. Liberty Hotel, Boston, USAPure banged up brilliance, the Liberty Hotel in Boston oozes genuine American charm even though the building used to be a jail. Its beautiful architecture, including stunning wall art, balconies with bar rails and high-hanging black shandeliers, all carry an essence of its former jail days which gives the hotel a feel of this historic site as well as giving it a new lease of life with comfortable accommodation. A TripAdvisor user said: "My husband and I stayed here last weekend for a special anniversary celebration. I'm so pleased we chose the Liberty. The architecture and design of the building is beautiful so just walking around the hotel is a pleasure. I felt like we were in a museum. The room was comfortable, modern, and luxurious."

4. Jailhotel Lucerne, Lucerne, SwitzerlandIf you want a taste of jail, then that's what you'll get at Jailhotel in Switzerland. The fact is that this property is still very much like a jail in decor and character, each room (or cell) has two doors, an outer heavy one made of hard wood and a thick inner door, presumably constructed to offer maximum security to would-be escapees. The bed and other furntiture is sparse but practical and the windows still have iron bars on them. You couldn't get a more authentic jail experience overnight than this, and to top it off the hotel is great for low budgets and has a fantastic central location. One TripAdvisor user said: "It really was a jail :) indeed an opportunity to get the feeling of staying in one... Great location in the center. Not expensive. Value for money when staying in expensive Switzerland for sure."

5. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, Istanbul, TurkeyProbably the least like a prison in appearance and the most luxurious on the list, this Four Seasons property is a tranquil gem in the heart of Sultanahmet. The hotel still carries a distinct Turkish neoclassical charm, mostly in its beautiful architecture that derives from the original dilapidated prison which was used for political dissidents. Everything is much more opulent, plush, warm and inviting, and guests are guaraneed a truly romatic stay here. A review on TripAdvisor reads: "This is a gem of a hotel, small enough to be intimate and for all the staff to know your name, large enough to have the amenities you want. The location is perfect for all the major sites of old Constantinople/Istanbul, and right next door is the fabulous 450 year old Hurrem Sultan Hammam (Turkish Bath), which is not to be missed."

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Have you stayed at any of these hotels or know of any other alternative Valentine's Day properties? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK

FemaleFirst

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