For travelers that enjoy the unique and different, finding a truly adventure-worthy place to stay may seem like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack, but from transparent rooms that hang on the edge of a sheer rock space overlooking Peru’s Sacred Valley to glass igloos in Finland and rooms built around a bullfighting ring in a Mexican metropolis, at least one of these ingenious options are sure to fit the bill.
Treehotel - Harads, Sweden
Located in the pine forest near Harads, Sweden, the Treehotel offers unique “treerooms”. These aren’t your usual treehouses, and each offers a very distinct look, like the lifelike Bird’s Nest and the mind-blowing reflective Mirrorcube that makes for an especially fabulous hideout among the trees, camouflaged by mirrored walls that reflect the surroundings. The UFO, pictured here, offers the chance to live your childhood dreams in a room reminiscent of the final scene in the film, “E.T.” It was cast in a durable composite material that has a comfortable, modern interior built for five, complete with a double bed, three separate twin beds, a bathroom and a living room.
Skylodge Adventure Suites - Sacred Valley, Peru
Welcome to Natura Vive Skylodge, offering some of the most jaw-dropping views on earth from what may be the most terrifyingly thrilling hotel rooms ever constructed. Adrenaline-seekers can sleep in the transparent glass pods that cling to one of the highest peaks in Peru’s Sacred Valley. If you’re brave enough to endure a night, you’ll soak up majestic views across the heartland of the Inca Empire. If you think you’ve got the courage to stay the night, you probably need to know that there is a catch. To get to your room, you’ll have to climb a 400-foot cliff face.
Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas - Zacatecas, Mexico
Hotel Quinta Real Zacatecas was crafted from the grandstands of a 17th-century bullring which saw its last bullfight in 1975. Blending the luxury of a modern, all-suite hotel with the splendor of original colonial architecture, it faces the city’s ancient arched viaduct. Among the accommodations, the most appealing is the high-end suites that offer views of the cobblestone-paved bullring. Beds are recessed under a stone or wooden arch. The hotel also provides a memorable setting for dining with views of the ring, Cathedral of Fatima and aqueduct. The brick-walled bar in the old bullpen hosts live music on the weekend and serves wines from Mexico and across the globe.
Whitepod - Les Cerniers, Switzerland
Accessible by shuttle, ski lift or snow bike, Whitepod offers a spectacular outdoor retreat in the Swiss Alps at an altitude of nearly 4,600 feet. Accommodations are in 15 pods designed to resemble igloos that are actually dome-shaped tents set up on raised wooden platforms surrounding a refurbished 19th-century alpine chalet. Each is well-insulated, heated by a wood-burning stove, and features a private front terrace that overlooks the valley. Guests can also enjoy a Swedish sauna, massage area and communal space where breakfast is served and evening drinks are sipped around the fireplace. Activities, in addition to just being mesmerized by the stunning snow-covered mountain views, include guided snowshoe tours, ski lessons, cross-country skiing and dog sledding.
Hotel Kakslauttanen - Lapland, Finland
If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to live in an igloo, here’s your chance. Hotel Kakslauttanen, adjacent to Urho Kekkonen National Park in remote Lapland, is home to the famous Igloo Village with Glass and Snow Igloos. Built of thermal glass that was designed to stay frost-free, the unique guest rooms offer the chance to watch the northern lights from the comfort of your own bed from about late August to late April. Not only are you practically guaranteed a peaceful night’s sleep with the snow muffling out any sounds from the outside world, but you can also enhance this unforgettable experience by embarking on a reindeer-pulled sled tour or an excursion to the nearby Arctic Circle.
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
If you’ve never been on a safari, Giraffe Manor offers a great introduction in an iconic Nairobi building enveloped in history with lush, green gardens and a sunny terrace that feels as if you’re walking into the film “Out of Africa.” But it offers a lot more than that – part of its extraordinary appeal, and uniqueness, is its herd of resident Rothschild giraffe. The majestic creatures frequently visit during the morning and evening hours, even poking their long necks into the windows in hopes of a treat. The 12-acre lawn that surrounds this boutique hotel is literally crawling with giraffes, which make their way over from the neighboring forest sanctuary. The property also makes a great launching pad to experience a safari or take day trips to places like Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where you can feed baby elephants.
Hôtel de Glace - Quebec, Canada
Every December, artists begin constructing this incredible hotel that’s open from January through March. It requires around 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow and is redesigned and rebuilt every year. Everything within the structure is made of ice – including the fireplace and the glass you sip from. The hotel’s most luxurious, and largest, suite features a fireplace as well as a private spa. All rooms include mattress beds that sit atop foundations of ice, with arctic sleeping bags for staying warm and cozy. Area activities include ice fishing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. If you’re so inclined, you can even tie the knot in its chapel made of ice. When you’ve finally had enough of the chill, you can always head to the hot tub or sauna to heat up.
Finca Bellavista, Costa Rica
Deep within the woods of the Costa Rican jungle, you’ll find Finca Bellavista, the world’s only treehouse community. It includes whimsical treehouses, some of which are privately owned, and others that are rented out to the public. Each one comes equipped with running hot water, a kitchen and gorgeous views out over the rainforest canopy. The treehouses offer many of the comforts of home, along with the bonus of fabulous seclusion – other than encounters with sloths, toucans and the four different types of monkeys that are found in this region. If you don’t want to spend time cooking, the community base camp offers a restaurant that serves delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The common area is used to host a nightly cocktail hour and yoga sessions.
SAS Attrap'Rêves - Allauch, France
SAS Attrap’Rêves offers a very unique place to spend the night with bubble accommodations in a variety of different themes. The rooms are basically large, inflated transparent balls that are made from recycled materials and easily deflated at the end of the season to ensure minimal impact to the surrounding pine forest. Especially romantic, it’s an ideal spot to stay if you’d like to be lulled to sleep by the star-filled sky – and, if you want privacy, the 13-foot diameter bubble can be covered up at night. Packages are available to enhance the experience, including extras like a telescope and star chart, gourmet dinner, organic wine and massage.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
If you’ve got the cash and want the best money can buy, there are extreme hotel rooms out there that were made just for you. Every room at the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which bills itself as the world’s first 7-star hotel, is a two-level suite, however, the Royal Suite offers the best of the best. Within its opulent 8,400-square-feet, you’ll find a private cinema and a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom as well as sublime, uninterrupted views over the Arabian Gulf. Of course, that’s not all. Among the long list of features is a 24-carat gold iPad for use throughout your stay, upstairs and downstairs personalized private bars, a library and the world’s largest brigade of butlers, available 24 hours a day. When you lie your head down at night, your ultra-deluxe super bed with exquisite Egyptian cotton linens will be personalized to suit your specific posture preferences and you’ll have a selection of 17 types of pillows.
Crane Hotel - Harlingen, The Netherlands
Though this hotel is in a decidedly less-than-glamorous dockside location, once you get in, you can rotate your room 360 degrees to enjoy panoramic views of the Wadden Sea. The hotel is a genuine dockside, 150-foot-tall crane has been converted into a luxury hideaway for two. The external ladders were replaced with elevators to gain entry, while the old machine room in the body of the crane was transformed into a luxurious room similar to that of what you’d find in most modern, upscale hotels. It’s not only comfortable, it includes the latest flat-screen TV and audio equipment that will make living in your own personal, working crane a dream come true – at least for some, probably not for those afraid of heights. Breakfast is included and magically delivered via the internal lift to your bedroom.
Jumbo Stay Hotel - Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden
The Jumbo Stay Hotel lets guests spend the night in an airplane, without leaving the ground. The former Boeing 747 swapped engines for bedrooms to create a unique stay. You can choose between an en-suite room, twin rooms or a budget dormitory. The best room, a luxury cockpit suite, comes complete with panoramic views where you can watch planes landing at Stockholm Arlanda Airport next door, which is just 65 feet away. Guests can also hang out in the communal lounge in restored arm chairs or sip from martini glasses in the comfy onboard bar.
