Weird & Wacky Places You Can Actually Stay
Weird & Wacky Places You Can Actually Stay
If you're already abandoning your New Year's resolution, how about setting a new goal – one that you'll actually enjoy – such as travel more. And while you're setting new objectives, pick travel destinations that are as unorthodox as possible.
Litløy Lighthouse in outer Vesterålen, Norway
Would you like an island all to yourself but at an affordable price? This place is so remote, you have to literally cross the open sea in an open boat, and then climb 300 steps from the shoreline to get there. The lighthouse is an ideal place to stay for people looking for the ultimate peace and quiet. If you go this year, you're likely to witness the Northern Lights. The surrounding view is especially stunning when a storm hits. You can see how rough the Atlantic Ocean can get through the windows.
The Old Jailhouse in Ribe, Denmark
Hopefully you only get to stay in a jailhouse as a tourist as opposed to temporary resident. The prison cells have been turned into comfortable rooms but you can't escape the feeling that it was once a dark, cold jail. Some rooms are small and don't have hot water – so you feel exactly like a prisoner. Even breakfast is served at 7:30 on the dot and if you miss it, you'll be hungry. The building was used as a prison for a century until pretty recently – 1989.
El Cosmico, Marfa, Texas
Looking for a unique Texas experience? Stay in a 22-ft. diameter yurt with wood floors. It's relatively modern to suit everyone's tastes. The yurt has a queen bed, writing desk and a sofa, and electricity. You can take a shower nearby. This kind of adventure destination is a combination of the lifestyles of hipsters and nomads who have passed through the region over the years. You can also find tipis, tents and trailers to sleep in in Marfa.
Wigwam Motel, Arizona
This is a unique place to stay along your Route 66 road trip. The 15 concrete and steel freestanding teepees, each 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high, feature the original hand-made hickory furniture. Vintage automobiles are permanently parked throughout the property.
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
This is a vacation destination that allows you to get up close and personal to wildlife. How would you like to eat breakfast with giraffes? Stay at the Giraffe Manor and find out. They literally pop their heads through your window and surprise you. The unique and luxurious hotel is set on 12 acres of private land.
The Treehotel in Swedish Lapland
This tree-house hotel is among the most famous in the world because of it futuristic and high-tech design. One of the houses, the Mirror Cube, reflects the surrounding trees. You may be under it and not actually notice a tree house above your head. Talking about blending...Another tree house is a cabin and a third is looks like a huge bird's nest. Other than enjoy the awesome architecture, you can try Nordic skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding.
The Fairy Chimeny Hotel, Turkey
Have you ever spent the night in a cave? It can be a very cool (literally) experience in the summer. The guesthouse is located at the upper south-west end of the village Goreme, one of the most adorable small towns in Europe. Get out on unforgettable walks, see stunning lunar landscapes, the famous tufa caves, and "fairy chimneys" directly behind the inn.
Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
This is the world's first ice hotel. It arranges Northern Lights flights. Discover glistening snow clad forests and see reindeer from up close. Swap the luxurious silk sheet for a sleeping bag and switch lace for wool. The staff recommend to book one night cold and a couple warm, starting or ending with the cold night.
Sun Cruise Resort, South Korea
You can be on a cruise without the risk of getting sea sick. The idea of the hotel is to have a cruise experience even if you can't afford one. The ship sits perched high above the shores of Jeongdongjin. Go up to the gazebo at night to look down the beach. The view is stunning. There are 211 guestrooms, two restaurants, and a seasonal outdoor pool. There are lots of trails and picture taking locations.
Attrap Reves Hotel, France
Sleeping in a bubble can be quite the experience! It's like being in a transparent luxurious tent; imagine how clear the sky is at night. This is one of the best stargazing opportunities you will ever get. Enjoy the incredible views of true Provençal pine forest. Little rabbits and squirrels may be eating and sleeping right next to you, outside of course.
9 Hourse Capsule, Tokyo, Japan
Want to get a good night's sleep for solid 9 hours? The rooms in this hotel, which are only big enough to fit one person while they are in a horizontal position, are equipped with ambient system to help people get the most of their long nap.
Free Spirit Spheres on Vancouver Island, Canada
Each of the three spheres is made from wood. They literally hang in the air attached to supporting trees with a synthetic rope. The tree houses are available too book all year round, which is not the case with many others. The spheres look like a yacht from the inside. In fact, they are built based on a sailboat construction. You can feel the spheres move "like a gentle rocking" when the wind blows.
Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho
At 30 feet tall, this can safely be said is the biggest beagle in the world. The B&B is the most famous hotel of its kind. It is a single room, complete with bathroom and loft, for visitors passing through the area, according to Atlas Obscura. The hotel is a roadside attraction for people who want to spend the night somewhere to relax.
Hotel Jested, Czech Republic
The unique hotel – a television transmitter, restaurant and hotel in one tower – was awarded the Perret Prize for its unique architecture. It is a national cultural monument and the building of the century in the Czech Republic. The capacity of the hotel is 59 beds. The summit can be reached by a cableway, another unique attraction.
Jumbo Stay Hotel, Sweden
Those who simply can't get enough air travel need to check out this converted Boeing 747 for the night. The plane-turned-hostel features 27 rooms (one of which is the cockpit suite) and a bar and café. It's located at the Stockholm Arlanda Airport—the views of the runway and airport are nothing short of amazing.
Magic Mountain, Chile
You can stay inside a mountain, even if it's an artificial one. That doesn't change the fact that you'll be under a waterfall as it blows like a volcano from the top. And you can only access your room by walking on a monkey bridge. This mountain hotel really shows you the magic of the native forest. Favorite tourist activities include rafting and paintball. In the winter people like to go snowshoeing and glacier trekking.
Zaandam Inntel Hotel, The Netherlands
The visually striking 4-star hotel will impress you with its design. The structure is a lively stacking of various traditional houses that are found in the Zaan region. The interiors reflect the history of the region as well, but you won't be missing any of the typical modern amenities. There is a Wellness Club with swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant. Stay overnight there while visiting Amsterdam; it's only a 12-miute train ride from Central Station.
Hotel de Glace, Canada
This incredible hotel is literally sculpted ice, including the beds. If you're looking for an original vacation, this one certainly qualifies. You're surrounded by pure white snow and ice, which allows it to change its décor as often as customers please. Nearby activities include dogsledding, cross-country skiing and spa treatments.
Lake Malaran Utter Inn, Sweden
This is an underwater hotel that will change your life. Upon arrival you will be taken out onto Lake Malaren to the Swedish red house. Stay overnight, approximately 10 feet below the surface, and enjoy the magnificent ocean views. Bonus: Take out an inflatable canoe to view the island and catch a glimpse of even more marine life.
Marmara Hotel in Antalya, Turkey
Do you want to be standing in one place but also moving? This impossible at first glance task glance is a reality at the Marmara Antalya Beach & Resort in Turkey. It is the only rotating hotel in the world. You wake up in the morning with a 360-degree view of magnificent Antalya. The hotel is floating on a pool of 478 tons of water and has six motors to do several circles around its orbit a day.
Faralda NDSM Crane Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
You can stay in this former industrial monument and you can also free fall from the top – it's only 164 feet. This is an astonishing and unique experience, far removed from the bland standard hotels all over the place. Some tourists even call the Faralda a romantic to stay, so maybe you should consider it if you haven't book a St. Valentine's vacation yet. Basically, staying in a converted industrial crane with luxurious rooms and a hot tub on top is a bucket list adventure.
Spitbank Fort, England
Have you ever wanted to get married in what used to be a gun emplacement? Probably not, but you can anyway because the Spitbank Fort in England is now a luxurious small island with a pool, sauna and a fire pit on the roof. A peace and quiet experience will rarely get more secluded than this. There is literally no one to bother you.