Gallery: The Bizarre World of Fake Vacation Destinations

  • Image may contain Water Human Person Waterfront Dock Port Pier Banister Handrail Building Railing and Boardwalk
    Reiner Riedler
    01
    Austrian photographer Reiner Riedler's series Fake Holidays documents artificial travel destinations around the world. Here, families swim at indoor Tropical Islands just outside Berlin.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person Wedding Gown Wedding Fashion Gown Robe Architecture and Building
    Reiner Riedler
    02
    At the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China, a couple gets their photo taken in front of fake Egyptian pyramids.
  • Image may contain Human Person Plant Tree Ornament Furniture Bench and Couch
    Reiner Riedler
    03
    Entertainers, dressed as Polynesian dancers, take a break at the Vichy Aqua Park in Lithuania.
  • Image may contain Plant Palm Tree Arecaceae Tree Summer Tropical and Outdoors
    Reiner Riedler
    04
    Riedler first became interested in the topic when he saw people going to pop-up, temporary city beaches in Europe.
  • After that he discovered a robust global business catering to the desire for an immediate getaway—no matter the...
    Reiner Riedler
    05
    After that, he discovered a robust, global business catering to the desire for an immediate getaway—no matter the integrity of the destination. Here, men chat at one of Dubai's indoor skiing halls.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Ice Snow Human Person and Cave
    Reiner Riedler
    06
    The indoor skiing halls in Dubai—a desert climate—even have ice caves.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Snow Plant Tree Ice Fir and Abies
    Reiner Riedler
    07
    Over the course of several years Riedler traveled from his native Austria to countries such as Germany, Turkey, the United States, China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
  • Image may contain Human and Person
    Reiner Riedler
    08
    Sun lamps stand in for the tropics at Centerpark Bispingen in Germany.
  • Image may contain Resort Building Hotel Human Person and Water
    Reiner Riedler
    09
    At the Titanic Resort Hotel in Turkey, guests can paddle up to a replica of the famous, doomed vessel.
  • Image may contain Human Person Water Outdoors Nature and River
    Reiner Riedler
    10
    The Movie Park in Bottrop, Germany, has six different areas with replicas of film sets.
  • Image may contain Human Person Building Water Architecture and Dome
    Reiner Riedler
    11
    A guest, clad as Superman, dives over a pool at the World of Wonder's Kremlin Palace in Turkey.
  • Image may contain Furniture Electronics Monitor Display Screen Lcd Screen Table Desk Computer Pc Human and Person
    Reiner Riedler
    12
    Diners at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas.
  • Image may contain Human Person Musical Instrument Guitar and Leisure Activities
    Reiner Riedler
    13
    The Star Trek Experience was a former attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton (it closed in 2008).
  • Image may contain Ground Nature Outdoors Animal Bird Penguin and Plant
    Reiner Riedler
    14
    Fake animals and a fake mudslide at the Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China.
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