There’s nothing better than planning your next holiday, but do you ever get the feeling you’re hankering after something a little different than your average beach hotel or city break? Luckily, there’s a whole host of unique stays out there, offering weird and wonderful experiences for adventure seekers and luxury lovers alike. From floating lake palaces in India to glass igloos in Lapland and romantic cave-rooms in Italy, there’s something to suit every taste and budget. Read on to discover my list of the most out-of-this-world hotels for a stay like no other.
1. The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Review Score: 9.3
A stay in the Maldives is always a blissfully otherworldly experience, where you find yourself happily installed on your very own paradise island and surrounded by the crystal-clear azure waters of the Indian Ocean. But this hotel takes the whole experience up a notch by adding in a first-of-its-kind underwater suite, so you can literally sleep with the fishes. The split-level Muraka Residence at The Conrad features an outdoor deck with an infinity pool and an ocean-facing tub upstairs, or head down the spiral staircase to find yourself beneath the ocean in the main bedroom. A true architectural marvel, the bedroom has been designed as your own private aquarium, with a 180-degree curved acrylic dome where you can spot shoals of fish swimming above your bed as you drift off to sleep. It’s hands-down one of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever encountered.
2. Icehotel, Sweden
Review Score: 8.5
You’ve heard of ice bars, but did you know that ice hotels also exist? The original is the Icehotel in Sweden, which was hand-sculpted from vast ice blocks harvested from the nearby Torne River in 1989. Today it remains one of the world’s most unique stays, a cross between luxury property and ever-changing art installation. Open from December to April and built anew each year (the property melts as soon as the warmer weather arrives in spring), there are around 20 standard ice rooms to choose from, each with a simple design. But my top pick would be one of the 12 art suites, which are meticulously sculpted by top artists from around the world to create fantastic, completely original hotel room masterpieces. One year you could be sleeping in an ice-carved candy store, another in an igloo manned by huskies. No two experiences there are ever the same.
3. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
Review Score: 8.5
The adult playground of Las Vegas is famed for its themed hotels, where you can stay in everything from an Egyptian pyramid to the Eiffel Tower. But perhaps the most famous of them all is The Venetian, a staggeringly impressive replica of Venice, which features imitations of all the city’s most instantly recognisable landmarks, including the Rialto Bridge and the Doge Palace façade. Here, as you wander along the Grand Canal and listen to the opera-singing gondoliers, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d been transported to the Italian city itself. Take a ride in one of the gondolas and indulge in a spot of retail therapy in one of the many shops before heading to the grand neo-classical pool deck. The rooms here are no less luxurious, with over 4,000 suites to choose from: the best ones come with sunken living rooms and elegant Roman tubs.
4. Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Review Score: 9.7
Ever dreamed of staying in the clouds? Well, you can at this remote Ecuadorian lodge, which is hidden away amongst the Chocó-Andean Cloud Forest. A three-hour drive from Quito, on arrival it feels as if a boutique hotel has been taken and dropped right in the middle of a jungle, surrounded by the incredible nature of the neighbouring rainforest. The hotel itself has been built to make the most of its location, with floor-to-ceiling walls of glass bringing those captivating, mist-strewn views straight into your bedroom. This is the place to come if you want to get up close and personal with the local wildlife, whether that’s birdwatching from the hotel’s panoramic terrace, discovering dozens of species of butterflies in the on-site garden, or spending the day exploring one of the property's numerous hiking trails.
5. The Fish Hotel, United Kingdom
Review Score: 9.0
At some point in our childhood, everyone has had a fantasy about sleeping in a treehouse – now that fantasy can become a reality thanks to the beautiful treehouse rooms at The Fish Hotel in the English Cotswolds. Set amidst the trees in this gorgeous Oxfordshire countryside retreat, these are treehouses made for kids and grown-ups alike, complete with plenty of luxury touches that will keep the whole family happy. Each of the three treehouses – which are accessed by a rope bridge – has been designed to blend in with the natural surroundings, with open-plan lounges and bedrooms clad in wood. Kids will love sleeping in the custom-made bunk beds, but the best feature has to be the two heated outdoor baths on the deck. They’re fitted with an intercom, so you can lie back, soak up the sounds of nature, and get drinks and room service delivered straight to your tub.
6. Kruger Shalati, South Africa
Review Score: 9.4
Views don’t come much more spectacular than those at Kruger Shalati, a luxury train hotel on a historic bridge that spans the Sabie River in the South African Kruger National Park. From here, you can spot wild animals as they roam under the bridge, coming to drink from the river or wallow in its depths. As for the hotel itself, it’s one of the coolest I’ve ever seen, housed in a disused train carriage that harks back to the golden era of travel. The décor is grounded firmly in Art Deco glamour, with four-poster beds and geometric detailing. Every carriage has a small bar area with its own Juliet balcony, but my favourite spot has to be the circular infinity pool on the bridge. Built on what was once a stand for a water tank, it offers spellbinding views over the meandering river and wild plains below.
7. Amberley Castle, United Kingdom
Review Score: 8.9
This hotel in the English countryside dates back to 1103 and used to be a real castle, playing host to kings and queens including Henry VII, Charles II, and Elizabeth II over the years. Now it’s a luxury hotel where you can come to rest your head within walls steeped with history. Arriving here feels like stepping back in time, as you walk through the original portcullis and into the stunning landscaped grounds. The property is set within 12 acres of manicured parkland, which feel as if they’re made for romantic strolls along the topiary hedges – and there’s a charming croquet lawn beneath the battlements. Ask to book the Chichester room, which features an opulent four-poster bed, antique furnishings, and an original fireplace, perfect for keeping the chill out of those heavy stone walls.
8. Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita, Italy
Review Score: 9.5
It doesn’t get much more romantic than a stay at this cave-hotel in Italy, where the rustic dwellings date back to the 13th century. Set in the enchanting UNESCO-protected city of Matera, the location is as magical as it comes, overlooking the dramatic Gravina canyon and surrounded by medieval churches and Baroque palazzos. The cave-rooms themselves are starkly simple, making the most of those curved honey-coloured walls with minimal, pared-back furniture. The romance is amped up a notch by the fact that each room is lit by dozens of candles and lanterns – just don’t come expecting a TV or a mini-bar, as the rooms are purposefully free of any tech. Breakfast is eaten in the rock-hewn church that the caves are clustered around, before you head out for a day of exploring and trekking in the nearby Murgia National Park. Bellissima!
9. Apukka Resort, Finland
Review Score: 8.7
If you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, this might just be the world’s most spectacular place to catch them. Set in the heart of Lapland, the resort is made up of a series of glass-roofed, igloo-style cabins, where you can stargaze from the comfort of your own bed. There are private saunas and hot tub sessions in the snowy wilderness, as well as horse-drawn sleigh rides, but the jewel in Apukka’s crown is undoubtedly their ‘aurora wagon’, a mobile vehicle with a glass roof that’s driven deep into the forest, all the better for catching those elusive Northern Lights. Equipped with a double bed, small kitchen, and bathroom, you have everything you need for a night above the Arctic Circle, where you can indulge in the ultimate stargazing experience. It truly is an experience like no other.
10. Pioneertown Motel, California
Review Score: 9.2
Movie buffs will love this unique desert property in Pioneertown, which was originally created as a permanent film set in the 1940s to cater to the growing demand for Western movies. Now the spot just outside Joshua Tree National Park in California has become a hipster hangout for creatives and Angelenos looking for a weekend getaway with a difference. This quirky motel – which was part of the original set-up and hosted the likes of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry back in the day – is charmingly rustic and still features the original planked buildings that were built from railroad sleepers. The interiors, meanwhile, are pure cowboy chic – think cowhide rugs, woven throws, and staggering desert views that stretch all the way to the San Bernadino mountains. Come nightfall, it’s time to decamp to neighbouring Pappy & Harriet’s, the live music mainstay where Paul McCartney and Arctic Monkeys have played.
11. Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, India
Review Score: 9.2
There is something so magical about the first time you encounter the Taj Lake Palace in India, floating serenely on the waters of Lake Pichola. You’ll probably recognise the elegant white building from the James Bond film Octopussy, where it was used as a key filming location, but this hotel is about so much more than Hollywood glitz and glamour. Steeped in history – it was originally built in 1743 as a summer escape by the royal dynasty of Mewar, before being converted into a hotel in the 1960s – it remains one of the world’s most beautiful and unique stays. The tranquil spot feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Udaipur when in reality it’s just a short boat ride away. But frankly, you won’t want to leave once you set foot here, where every guest is treated like genuine royalty with their very own butler.
12. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand
Review Score: 9.1
Get up close and personal with the local wildlife like never before at this elephant camp and resort in Thailand, which boasts some of the coolest accommodation I’ve come across – a series of outdoor see-through pods (or ‘Jungle Bubbles’) where you can sleep in the natural habitat of the noble Asian elephants. Drift off to views of the night sky and awaken to the sounds of the jungle, as these majestic creatures roam freely outside. Meals are taken al fresco on your raised terrace, with nothing but native birdsong and a few friendly pachyderms to keep you company. If you want to learn more about these gentle giants, the hotel can also organise walking tours where you will meander alongside them as they forage for shrubs and tree leaves on the nearby Ruak River plain.
13. Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Review Score: 8.9
When it comes to the world’s coolest hotels, Costa Verde has to be right near the top of the list. Nestled in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle sits a vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe, which has been refurbished to house the spectacular two-bedroom Fuselage suite – definitely my top pick of rooms if you’re visiting the hotel. Jutting out from a 50-foot pedestal above the tree canopy, the views here literally make you feel like you’re flying. Inside, the furnishings have all been crafted from hand-carved teak, while the curved walls are lined with wood panelling, lending the room a warm, cosy vibe. My favourite spot has to be the outdoor terrace, which has views all the way to the ocean – keep an eye out for the cheeky resident monkeys and toucans while you enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine here.
14. Madonna Inn, California
Review Score: 8.7
If outrageously kitsch décor and fun theme hotels are your thing, you need to add the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo to your list of must-visit spots immediately. The cult Californian hotel is famed for its over-the-top interiors, where the 110 rooms are decked out in an array of different styles. All of the rooms and suites have inventive names that give a clue as to what you’ll find behind the door: Jungle Rock is designed to look like an untamed forest, with a waterfall rock shower and tree-bark coloured furniture, while Love Nest is an all-pink boudoir with a floral wallpapered bathroom (even the sink is covered in flowers). The rest of the property is just as delightfully wacky, with a Gold Rush-themed steakhouse with curved fuchsia banquettes and a gold chandelier, and Barbie-pink tennis courts. More is definitely more at the Madonna Inn.
15. Hotel Ještěd, Czech Republic
Review Score: 9.0
This eye-catching architectural marvel of a hotel is perched 1,012 meters above sea level, on top of Mount Ještěd in the Czech Republic. The unique property was the vision of renowned architect Karel Hubáček, who decided to place a television transmitter, restaurant, and hotel all in one tower. The result is this striking building, which wouldn't look out of place on the set for a science fiction movie. Thrill-seekers will particularly love arriving at Ještěd, which can only be accessed via a cableway (though if you’re even a tiny bit afraid of heights, I recommend you don’t look down). Each of the sleekly decorated rooms – which feel like luxe spaceship compartments – comes with slanted windows, to make the most of those snowy mountain views, while the restaurant features panoramic windows that almost make it feel like you’re eating outside.
