Tunisia’s Star Wars Hotel

Star Wars fans can now rejoice as they can experience a true Luke Skywalker fantasy by lodging in Sidi Driss, a hotel where was filmed scene of the hero’s childhood home on the planet of Tatooine.

Located in the village of Matmâta, small Berber speaking town in southern Tunisia renowned for its typical structures created by digging large pit in the ground;  Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by trench-like passageways.

Opened all year round the hotel offers affordable accommodation and can lodge over 145 guests in 20 rooms, grouped in four separate caverns. The fifth is dedicated for the hotel’s restaurant/bar. The traditional Berber hotel offers a historic and calm atmosphere. In Sidi Idriss you can delect yourself with traditional dishes, cave rooms and an exceptional bar. Prices are fairly cheap, ranging from 30 dinars per person to 47 dinars, with 12% discount for children aged below 10.

American filmmaker and entrepreneur George Lucas, picked Hotel Sidi Driss as an ideal location to film for his movie Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

After filming, most of the decorations used were removed by the owners but thanks to a French Star Wars enthusiast by the name of Philip Vanni, the hotel rooms were restored and in 2000, George Lucas filmed one of his prequels, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

The Hotel Sidi Driss is not a Universal Studios re-creation; it is authentic and real. The rooms are compact caverns dug into the base of a tall circular courtyard whilst beds are blankets placed on the floor. So if you are looking to have a full Star Wars experience, it can’t get more authentic than that.

Walk Among The Stars

Having a stroll among the stars might sound like a dream come true as it doesn’t only symbolize one’s ability to rub elbows with celebrities but take a walk along memory-lane.

Not much is known about the origin of the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is a sidewalk baring stars monuments for the icons of the entertainment industry such as the names of  musicians, actors, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and others. 

Rumors has it that Hollywood Walk of Fame was inspired by the iconic Hollywood Hotel‘s dining room ceiling which marked the favorite tables of its most famous celebrity guests. Others reports state, that Sugarman’s restaurant, inspired the concept because it featured on its drinks menu celebrity photos framed in gold stars.

The first star prototype was unveiled February 1956, featuring a caricature of John Wayne, inside a blue star on a brown background but due to the expensiveness of such concept, they decided to neither use caricatures nor the color blue.

In 1978, for the first time in its history, a star was appointed to an animated character Mickey Mouse.

If you happen to visit Hollywood Walk of Fame, you will remark that while more than 2500 brass stars are humbly embedded in the sidewalk, only one star hangs vertically. In 2002, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce broke tradition following Muhammad Ali’s request as he did not want people to walk on his name, citing prophet Muhammad.

Legendary entertainer Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have a star in all five Walk of Fame categories.

To celebrate Hollywood Walk of Fame’s 50th anniversary in 2010, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce buried a time capsule where it was first conceived. The ceremony was hosted by presenter Bob Barker, it included various items  to be opened in 2060.