Drop In: Hotels near World-Famous Skate Parks

“At its core skateboarding remains true to its roots in urban counterculture. But it’s been a long time since skating was the sole preserve of rebellious youth. Whatever they tell you, it’s never too late to skate – and whether you’re a Thrasher-reading, skate-or-die hardcore skateboarder or just dabble, it’s a great excuse to travel. These five hotels put you in world-class skateboarding destinations around the world.

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Hôtel Le Mistral, Marseille, France
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Thanks to its beachside location and iconic graffitied bowls, Marseille Skatepark has remained one of the world’s top skateparks since it opened in the 90s and is familiar to millions as one of the parks that entered skate lore as a setting in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Throughout the summer the bowl complex gets busy with skaters, bikers and bystanders – especially when there are competitions taking place. Hôtel Le Mistral is ideally located less than a 10-minute stroll (or even quicker skate) from the park and 20 minutes from the city centre. Some rooms have sea views, and there’s an onsite bar where you can relax after a day of bowlriding and beach lounging.

If you want to see more hotels in Marseille, visit our Marseille hotels page.

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Hotel Erwin, Los Angeles, USA
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Where better to nail your street skills than the birthplace of the skate industry? Venice Beach Skatepark has an extensive 16,000-square-foot course and is a great place to spend a few hours in the sun, whether you’re tackling the epic snake run or watching pros show you how it’s done. For a stay just steps from the famous skatepark and the bustling Venice Boardwalk, try Hotel Erwin. With ocean views, a relaxed rooftop bar, and a sandy beach right on the doorstep, the hotel is a travelling skater’s dream.

If you want to see more hotels in Los Angeles, visit our Los Angeles hotels page.

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Ohboy Hotell, Malmö, Sweden
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Malmö is known as one of the most skate-friendly cities in the world thanks to its numerous skateparks, city council skateboarding coordinator, and skateboarding school. Stay at Ohboy Hotell and you can enjoy direct access to one of Europe’s biggest concrete courses, Stapelbäddsparken. Time your stay with one of the international skating events or festivals and enjoy uninterrupted views of the skatepark from your balcony. Be sure to take advantage of the hotel’s free bike rental service too and explore the city further.

If you want to see more hotels in Malmö, visit our Malmö hotels page.

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Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
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Looking to combine your skate trip with a beautiful tropical setting? Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach enjoys a prime beachside location and is just a 15-minute drive to the Black Pearl Skatepark. With an impressive 62,000 square feet of park, it’s one of the world’s biggest outdoor skateparks and is suitable for beginners and intermediates as well as pros. Lessons and equipment are available, and there’s also a wave machine if you surf (visit in winter and you can even get some decent swell off Seven Mile Beach).

If you want to see more hotels in Seven Mile Beach, visit our Seven Mile Beach hotels page.

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Quality Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
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Stoke Plaza is a mecca for street skaters in the UK. The sprawling plaza is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and lies within a forested city park. With some innovative lines and features, there’s an abundance of rails, stair sets, ledges, snake runs, and bowls, with safe zones for spectators to hang out. The centrally located Quality Hotel is just a short walk from the plaza and Stoke’s main shopping and entertainment areas.

If you want to see more hotels in Stoke on Trent, visit our Stoke on Trent hotels page.”