Ever felt a burning desire to design a hotel’s “do not disturb” sign? Here’s your chance: Embassy Suites has announced a “design our do not disturb” sign contest.

From September 7th to October 31st 2007, people can enter the Embassy Suites Hotels Do Not Disturb contest at embassysuites.com and create a unique and catchy slogan for their very own Do Not Disturb, and customizing it by choosing from a number of online designs, images and templates provided by Embassy Suites Hotels. Based on the top designs submitted, five Grand Prize Winners will have their designs placed in all Embassy Suites Hotels, and will receive hotel accommodations at one of the following destinations: The Embassy Suites Hotel-Waikiki Beach Walk (Waikiki, HI); The Embassy Suites Hotel Mexico City-Reforma (Mexico City, D.F.); The Embassy Suites Hotel and Spa-La Quinta, (La Quinta, CA); The Embassy Suites Hotel New York City, The Embassy Suites Hotel - Washington D.C. Convention Center.

It sounds like fun to me.

Loved this one, by comedian Don McMillan. Thanks to the MiForum listserv for the pointer.

From Alaska to Australia, quirky hotels abound, according to TripAdvisor.com.

Their top 10 list of 2007’s quirkiest hotels are:

1. Forget-Me-Not-Lodge The Aurora Express, Fairbanks, Alaska, where the rooms are old railroad cars. Sounds a little like a place my dad and I once stayed in Pennsylvania, which was duded up like a cross between a railroad car and a bordello. Wish I could remember the name of the place…

2. Icehotel, Marknadsvagen, Sweden, where the surroundings may be chilly, but the hospitality is warm.

3. Malmaison Oxford Castle, Oxford, England, “where lifelong dreams of becoming institutionalized come true.”

4. Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho, for those whose trips have gone to the dogs.

5. McMenamin’s Kennedy School, Portland, Oregon, a converted schoolhouse where you will never have to wear the dunce cap.

6. Gamirasu Cave Hotel: Ayvali koyu, Urgup, Turkey, a restored eighteen-room troglodyte cave house where you can cater to your inner caveman.

7. King Pacific Lodge, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for those who always wanted to have their own barge party on a floating hotel.

8. Fur N’ Feathers Rainforest Tree Houses, Tarzali, Queensland, Australia, where you can share your tree house accommodations with parrots and platypus.

9. Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona, for some kitchy chic fun on Rt. 66.

10. The Witchery by the Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, which is described as “an historic 15th century building that is only a stone’s throw from famous Edinburgh Castle, [where] visitors will enjoy an amazing array of antiques, and amorous ambiance.”