Hay bed awaits you at German 'heuhotels'

KASSELL, Germany, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The manager of a "heuhotel" in Germany says guests get up close and personal with nature by sleeping on a bed of hay at the tourist site.

The manager of the Hofgut hay hotel in Kassell, Germany, says sleeping in a bed of hay can be enjoyable if guests are able to embrace their childish side and find comfort in a natural sleeping setting, CNN reported Saturday.

"I suppose some people might find the idea unappealing," said the manager, identified only as Sarah, "but for anyone who wishes to snuggle up close to nature it's perfect."

"Think back to when you were a child -- this would be heaven! What's changed since then?"

Since the hay beds help heuhotel managers avoid bills for cleaning bed sheets, the savings are passed along to customers who typically pay around $11 a night to sleep in the all-natural beds.

Heinz Laing, who operates a heuhotel near Hamburg, told CNN the hay beds also have a unique appeal to lovers.

"For lovers, there's nothing more exciting than a night on the hay," the former Greenpeace activist said.