In a rare moment of not-so-low-budget travel, I had a short holiday in a spa resort south of Vienna that’s unlike any other, because no wall is straight, no window is the same shape as any other, and every colour is everywhere. I’m talking about the Friedensreich Hundertwasser-designed Rogner Bad Blumau spa resort, the scene of one of my favourite holidays ever.

Usually I’m all for staying in hostels and getting out to see the sights and culture during the day, but since I’m such a big fan of Hundertwasser’s artwork and architecture, the experience of staying in Bad Blumau was something quite different. There are natural thermal baths there, and several different accommodation options. How it looks is something that only pictures can show, and while some might find the lack of corners and the bright primary colours quirkily irritating, others – like me – will want to move in permanently.

Of course, such a resort has a bigger-than-youth-hostel price but it’s more than a place to stay, it’s also a destination. I’ve sent several family members and friends on to a stay at Bad Blumau and everybody’s found it worthwhile. At the same time, the price is not so astronomical – for example their website’s advertising a special of €395 for 3 nights.