The term design hotel does not typically conjure up images of three interconnected 14th century buildings in a near perfectly preserved medieval town. But one probably also wouldn`t expect this same town to harbour a vibrant nightlife, cutting-edge fashion and design, and gourmet cuisines behind its centuries old facades. The Three Sisters hotel in Tallinn, Estonia shows that special properties sometimes come in unusual packages in unexpected places.

Tallinn -- a small metropolis with seemingly boundless energy -- has become an easily accessible destination for world travellers to explore. The Three Sisters hotel, with its prime old town location, perfectly illustrates the Estonian talent for deftly merging avant-garde innovation with the romance of a spot steeped in history and a strong cultural identity.

Dutch architect Martinus Schuurman and the young designer Kulli Salum, a native of Tallinn, spent two years transforming the three original merchant houses with their maze of different levels into a fluid design concept. The 23-room hotel is an interconnecting flow of galleries, walkways and staircases, and harbours every imaginable comfort and convenience for guests on holiday and those in town for business. Modern comforts and style seamlessly blend into a unique and magical atmosphere created by thick stone walls, wooden beams, hidden staircases and nooks and crannies lit by dozens of candles by night.

Kulli Salum, guided by the theory that no three sisters are truly alike, created rooms that reflect three different tastes. The bohemian whims of the youngest sister, evident in the mix of old and new, love of photography and rooms with romantic clawfoot tubs, is offset by the classic chic of the middle sister, reflected in the antique furnishing in her seven large rooms. She also houses the impressive suite which lends itself for intimate dinners and private concerts on its grand piano. The eldest, and by far the most contemporary of the three, delights with furnishings by Artemide, Casamilano and Le Corbusier. Also characterized as the liveliest, it is not by accident that this is where one will find Cloud Seven the wine bar where vaulted ceilings invite locals and guests to sample from the hotel`s impressive collection.

An array of special packages has been thoughtfully created with romantics, historians, explorers and even business people in mind. What`s more, the dynamic trio is well-schooled in catering to all types of guests. Extra perks include breakfast until 6 p.m., personal grocery shopping, access to a nearby gym, babysitting, limousine service, and even 24-hour in-room dining. Travellers planning ahead will also be able to take advantage of the hammam and luxury treatments at the hotel`s exclusive GO City Spa opening later this fall. Located just minutes from The Three Sisters, free admission is offered to guests of the hotel.