Holiday in a Tiny House: Out into the countryside
Cosy, quiet, in the middle of greenery - if you want to retreat to nature for a few days, you should take a holiday in a Tiny House. In the small but nice holiday homes you can really relax and get back to the essentials. Without big frills and distractions, you realise that it doesn't take much to be happy.
We went on a search for the most beautiful - and sustainable - mini houses in Germany and tell you about the advantages of your holiday in a Tiny House.
Holiday in a Tiny House: What does that mean exactly?
The name already hints at what a Tiny House is. "Tiny" is English and means "small" or "tiny". That is why Tiny Houses are also called mini houses. They usually have 15 to 45 square metres of space, which is used efficiently. The furnishings are absolutely well thought out. You don't have to do without anything, although furniture and co. are reduced to the essentials. Everything is stored in a space-saving way.
This living minimalism is also what makes up the Tiny House movement (which, by the way, originated in the USA). The focus is on ecology and self-realisation. Adherents of this lifestyle express that they want to live more environmentally conscious and differently from the average.
Advantages of a Tiny House holiday
- Reduce stress: A Tiny House holiday is a unique experience. While in our everyday life we are flooded with information and stimuli, here we can really switch off and escape from the excess of impressions. The less we have around us, the more we come to rest.
- Create privacy: Holidays in large hotel complexes often make it impossible to simply be alone and take a deep breath without being disturbed. On a Tiny House holiday, things are different. Not only do you have your own four walls; the houses are often built in the open countryside.
- Protecting the environment: Of course, it depends on the Tiny House. However, if it is built sustainably from wood and steamed with hemp wool, for example, one can speak of "environmentally friendly living". In addition, many are now built with their own solar panels on the roof to enable self-sufficient living. In any case, the built-up area of mini-houses is smaller - and so is the amount of sealed soil.
- Learning minimalism:Those who have spent their holidays in a Tiny House feel inspired to take minimalism into their own four walls. You have seen how easy it is to get by with little(er) possessions. This saves resources, the environment and your own wallet.
Your Tiny House holiday
Tiny Houses are all super individual. No two look the same. This is mainly because there are different variations of the mini houses.
The 3 types of Tiny House
To help you decide which Tiny House you like best, we'll introduce you to three different types of accommodation:
1. detached: If you want absolute peace and quiet, you should rent a Tiny House that has been built in the open countryside. This can be by the lake, in the middle of the forest, on a green meadow or even in a tree. Small tree houses are our favourite. They fulfil childhood dreams - no matter what age.
2. with neighbourhood: If you want the perfect balance of privacy and community, look for a mini-settlement or campsite where Tiny Houses are located. Don't want to be self-sufficient? Then look for a cottage that is on the grounds of a hotel.
3. on wheels: Tiny Houses were also born out of the idea of being as mobile as possible. In the USA, there are therefore many mini houses on wheels. In Germany, it is forbidden to drive onto the motorway with a house, but you can still find standing, converted lorries and the like for your holiday. Especially exciting: you can even spend your holiday in an old train carriage.
Rent a Tiny House: The best accommodation in Germany
Whether it's an active holiday or relaxation - you can plan your time out in a Tiny House just the way you like it. To give you some inspiration for your planning, we went in search of the most beautiful mini houses. These six are our favourites.
Tiny House holiday in a settlement
1. Destinature holiday village
The destinature village, a nature hotel and holiday camp directly on the Lower Saxony Elbe Floodplain Biosphere Reserve, invites you to relax in the midst of nature. A total of 25 cosy Tiny Houses are located on a former garden plot.
The centre of the village is the organic bistro where you can enjoy high-quality, regional organic food.
Sustainability is generally a top priority here: The Tiny Houses were built with wood from sustainable forestry. You sleep in textiles of certified organic quality; on high-tech mattresses with eco-wool toppers. Everywhere in the village you can charge your smartphone using solar energy.
2. PIER 9
You'll find not just one Tiny House - but ten of the pretty little houses - in Hamm/Westphalia. Pier 9 is embedded in a green oasis between Nordringpark and the water's edge of the Datteln-Hamm Canal.
Of course, you can always retreat to your own four walls and enjoy the cosiness of the lovingly furnished houses. Outside, however, a friendly neighbourhood awaits, with whom you can sit around the campfire or in the outdoor lounge.
You want to spend your holiday in a Tiny House with your dog? No problem, in a few houses four-legged friends are also allowed.
Tiny Houses with extra IMPACKT
1. Green Tiny Houses at Lake Salem
"Spend the night between forests and lakes on the outskirts of Hamburg" - that's what the description of the Green Tiny Houses at Salemer See says. The 22-square-metre house with a great panoramic window is located on a green slope of a nature campsite with a direct view of Lake Salem.
In the morning, you can refresh yourself in the lake before sitting down on the natural wooden terrace and enjoying breakfast under the open sky. At night, you can snuggle up under blankets in the sleeping loft and watch the starry sky through the skylight. Pure idyll!
The Tiny House is certified as a sustainable holiday property. It was built completely ecologically - from healthy materials such as carbon dioxide-impregnated wood and pure seaweed from the Baltic Sea - in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. Inside, a resource-saving astronaut shower, organic towels and Scandinavian stove for heating await you.
2. The yurt at Kunterbunthof
We at IMPACKT believe that you don't have to travel far to immerse yourself in a completely different world. A good example of this is the Kunterbunthof.
The owners - Andre and Jenni - spent 20 years travelling the world with backpacks and bicycles. And now they bring the most diverse cultures to their old farm not far from the Baltic Sea.
You can spend the night in one of the two yurts. These are traditional tents of the nomads in Central Asia. At the Kunterbunthof, they are made exclusively of wood, linen, a canvas and Breton virgin sheep's wool for insulation.
If you want, you can also join in with the farm work or current building projects while you are on holiday in the Tiny House. Absolutely exciting: every now and then events take place in the old barns and gardens. There are lectures and readings on the topic of "being mindful on the road" - inspired by your own travel experiences.
By the way: If you would like to travel with IMPACKT but prefer to sleep in a hotel, we have collected our tips on organic hotels for you here.
Unique Tiny Houses for rent
1. BERGHEIM Container Lofts
Imagine you are in a sea container that has been converted into a cosy mountain lodge. You've just finished a cool hike with lots of fresh forest air. Now you're completely at peace - with a panoramic view of the Vogtland. This is what a day in the Bergheim Container Loft might feel like.
In winter, you're right on the slopes. In summer, you can go on scenic bike tours. You will be able to enjoy a more sustainable holiday here all year round. Only organic soaps, detergents and cleaning products are used in the Design Container. Recycling is a top priority here. The technology is designed to use a minimum of resources.
2. Hamburger Harbour Crane
An overnight stay could hardly be more unique: In the middle of Hamburg's HafenCity - directly opposite the Elbphilharmonie - an old crane was converted into a Tiny Hideaway. On the 19 square metres you will find everything you need: a small coffee bar, a shower with fireplace, towels & bathrobes.
If it gets too cramped, you can simply step out onto the breathtaking terrace. This has another 12 square metres and invites you to linger. You're right in the middle of it all, and yet far away from everyday life.
Holiday in a Tiny House: the costs
Depending on which accommodation you choose, the costs of your Tiny House holiday will vary.
From 40 euros per night (in the Tiny House on the Kunterbunthof) to 360 euros per night (in the converted crane), everything is possible.
You can reduce your costs if you book early and take care of your train tickets in time. The Tiny Houses also have the advantage that you can cater for yourself and are not dependent on high prices in restaurants.
One last tip for your holiday in the Tiny House: travel with less luggage. The space in the Tiny House is limited. In addition, the journey is much more comfortable for you (no heavy lugging of luggage) and you start off in a really minimalist way. Our hand luggage suitcases, for example, are ideal for a Tiny House holiday.
