10 Unique Stays Around the World
Travel means different things to different people. Some people love the feeling of a true nomad lifestyle when they travel, living off street food and staying in local hostels and guesthouses. At the other end of the spectrum, some people prefer to create once-in-a-lifetime memories by staying in luxury accommodation or through unique, high-end experiences. You might be surprised to learn that in some destinations, a hotel is simply not enough, and people have created some incredible unique accommodation experiences. From having breakfast with giraffes to a hotel made entirely of salt, or sleeping in -20 degrees, these are some of the world’s most unusual and amazing stays.
1 727 Fuselage Home, Costa Rica
Have you ever been on holiday and thought, I wish I could stay on this plane forever? Well, you can actually do this at Costa Verde’s 727 Fuselage Home where you’ll stay in your own 1965 Boeing 727. Not only will you get to enjoy ocean views from your terrace, as this unique property literally hangs above the jungle canopy, but you’ll get all the amenities you could need.
The teak-panelled room features two bedrooms with queen sized beds, private baths and kitchen and dining area. Outside, you are entirely surrounded by jungle and while you sit back with a drink on the terrace, you might spot some locals – sloths, toucans, and monkeys who play in the trees.
Don’t worry about being disturbed by other guests, who may be staying in the smaller converted planes dotted around the area, as you’ll have a private entrance via spiral staircase – no waiting at passport control here!
2. Kakslauttenen Resort, Finland
There are myriad ways to admire the unique and spectacular beauty of the Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis, but the best has to be from your own private igloo. In Kakslauttenen Resort, you’ll find a selection of spacious glass igloos sitting in the middle of the Arctic countryside. The igloos are good for a couple or even a group and their location means there is minimum light pollution.
You’ll have a 360-degree view of the lights from your bed, and just in case you’re concerned about their elusiveness – there’s a special phone which goes off to alert you when the lights appear, even when you’re asleep. Although there is nothing but snow outside, you’ll remain toasty warm inside your igloo, which also comes with a shower and sauna. The best time to visit is Christmas, when you can book your very own appointment at the nearby Santa’s grotto. But if you’re staying here, what more could you really want for Christmas?
3. The Jaffa, Israel
The Jaffa may be ‘just a Marriott property’ but this hotel, housed in a former hospital and monastery, is anything but normal. If you’re heading to Tel Aviv, this is the only place to stay, and the masterpiece is the hotel’s central atrium which has high ceilings and looks just like a cathedral. The rooms too, have huge domed ceilings and pillars – little has changed here since monks roamed the halls. The original quadrangle structure forms the courtyard, where you’ll eat dinner in tranquillity surrounded by trees and foliage; it’s truly an oasis in the city. Obviously, all the modern amenities are available too, from a sparkling outdoor pool, to multiple on-site bars and integrated TV mirrors in your room.
4. Giraffe Manor, South Africa
It’s likely you’ll have already seen Giraffe Manor somewhere on your Instagram feed, especially if unique luxury travel is your thing. The hotel is just that – an expansive manor house located in the Nairobi outback, with 12 acres of private land sitting inside a huge indigenous forest. Its most famous attraction isn’t the guests inside the hotel, but rather the Rothschild giraffes that live outside.
At breakfast time, the windows are opened up across the dining room and you’ll find more than one giraffe sticking its head through to have a taste of your breakfast. You’ll also wake up to them outside your bedroom window, and the hotel staff will advise you on how to feed them. There are a variety of activities you can do with the animals, from afternoon tea to adopting a baby elephant. After these exhausting activities, you can head to the manor’s on-site spa, with hot tub, pool, gym, and treatment rooms.
5. The Manta Resort, Tanzania
The Manta Resort is another unique African gem of an entirely different kind. The main part of the hotel is located on Pemba Island in Tanzania, but the place to stay is The Underwater Room. You’ll get dropped off by boat to start exploring your new home. This three-floor room literally floats in the turquoise blue ocean, with floor to ceiling windows to allow you to admire the hundreds of tropical fish. Relax in your private lounge or stargaze on the rooftop deck, where you’ll be able to see the Milky Way with your naked eye. Sitting in a ‘blue hole’ in the centre of a coral reef, it is the perfect place to jump out of bed and into the water for some diving or snorkelling. You can always head back to the main property to lounge by the pool or grab a bite to eat, but the underwater room will be your own private slice of paradise.
6. Ice Hotel, Sweden
For the most unique stay of your life, the world-famous Ice Hotel in Sweden is unmissable. Each year, artists from around the world compete to be chosen as designers for the rooms in the hotel. From Games of Thrones to giant elephants, each room is entirely different, with intricately carved ice structures dotted around and with the hotel melting each year and new designers competing, you can truly say you’ve had an experience that no one else has.
Although everything from the glasses, chandeliers, and beds are made of ice, you won’t get too cold sleeping on a thick reindeer skin blanket. Plus, the bathrooms and showers are far warmer and sleeping in the ice rooms is normally just for one night. The hotel also features a restaurant, cosy lounge, and an ice bar, where you can have a cocktail in a glass made of ice – warm mittens included.
7. Skylodge Adventure Suites, Peru
For this one you’ll definitely need a head for heights. Made of aluminum and polycarbonate, these glass pods cling to a sheer cliff face in the Urubamba Valley. Be prepared to wake up to breathtaking (and slightly terrifying) views hundreds of feet below. To get your room you’ll have to venture up a steep combination of metal steps and aluminum wires, and in the morning you’ll zipline down to the valley floor.
This is the most basic unique hotel in the world – all your food, drinks, and supplies will come up with you in your backpack and you won’t find a gym, restaurant, or room service here. Yet, your hosts provide excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner in the ’dining pod’ made from local, fresh ingredients.
8. Kruger Shalati, South Africa
Imagine taking a luxury train into a safari park, breaking down and never leaving. That’s the feeling you get from Kruger Shalati, a hotel and safari lodge sitting on top of a 109-year-old abandoned bridge overlooking miles of African outback. The rooms, located in the opulent train carriages, are surprisingly spacious with panoramic views over the African plains and jungle – the lodge is one of the best places in Africa to spot lions.
Likewise, the river underneath is a daily watering hole for everything from elephants to giraffes, zebras and lions, all of which you can see from the balcony. Don’t think just because it’s in the middle of nowhere that the hotel scrimps on style, with a luxurious bar, pool, reception, dining area and open-air deck. The restaurant serves the freshest food you’ll taste, made from local ingredients and accompanied by excellent South African wine.
9. Palacio de Sal, Bolivia
Bolivia is extremely famous for its sparkling, reflective salt flats, Salar de Uyuni. If you just can’t get enough then staying in the world’s first hotel made from salt will be an unusual and authentic experience. Everything is made of salt, from the ceilings to the furniture, and you can also see salt sculptures scattered around the hotel. Many of the guest areas are far cosier than you’d imagine, with lots of living spaces, bars, and games area, as well as an on-site shop where you can buy alpaca jumpers and other traditional crafts.
There is also a full gym, spa, and pool for you to relax in after a long day on the salt flats. You’ll find your room is built like an igloo, with the walls made from giant salt bricks and your bed, despite also being salt, is extremely comfortable. The hotel also offers up a great restaurant serving three meals a day, with everything from western style breakfasts to the more unusual llama meat. You can safely assume you won’t need to search for any seasoning here though.
10. The Villa Casa Casuarina, Miami
An over-the-top unique stay, The Villa Casuarina is the former Versace Mansion, home of the great designer, so you can already imagine it will be entirely over the top. The hotel only has ten luxurious suites, which come with huge king-sized beds and marble bathtubs and each one looks like a palace, with everything from the floor to ceiling adorned in gold, tiling or artwork.
There are also three restaurants, Gianni’s, Onyx Bar, and Sushi by Bou – the latter of which is a private experience in Gianni Versace’s actual bedroom. The famous and widely shared 54-foot pool is decorated with 24-carat gold and Versace’s classic Medusa head logo, made of over one million mosaic tiles – the property is the second most Instagrammed building in the United States! You’ll also find a rooftop terrace, open-air courtyard, and an observatory. This is definitely one stay you’re not likely to forget.
Conclusion
There are so many amazing things to see around the world and even more amazing places to stay! This is only 10 of thousands of incredible and unique stays that span the globe. From underwater luxury rooms, to see through pods hanging off the side of the cliff - which one was your favourite?
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