Major online hotel reservation aggregators like Hotels.com and Expedia can leave travellers still searching if what you're after is something a little bit different - an Austrian castle, for example, a North American dude ranch, or even a converted European prison.

"If you're planning a visit to a popular tourist area and you're interested in a moderate to upscale hotel (a chain in particular), the major sites will absolutely do the job. But for out-of-the-ordinary places to stay -- which are often the most memorable, for better and for worse -- take a look at these out-of-the-ordinary Web sites."

CNN has an excellent list of websites with frankly cool hotel accomodations. On their list: resources for French Chalets, historic English inns, world wide Bed & Breakfasts, and the Unusual Hotels of the World site for converted caves, prisons and lighthouses. To this list I would add the site for finding and booking Spain's excellent Parador hotels - historic and unusual Spanish accomodation in the country's most fantastic locations.