Want to check-in somewhere completely different? From treehouses and cave dwellings to converted vehicles and even a glass igloo frozen into a lagoon, there are plenty of extraordinary lodgings out there. Here, we've rounded up the most weird and wonderful places to stay around the world.
As the name suggests, this place is all about the view. The first-ever hotel to be built on Navajo Tribal Park land, The View Hotel is owned by Navajo people and was designed to blend in with its sacred setting. The sunrise over Monument Valley’s sandstone rock formations, known as the Mittens, is extraordinary. Every room has a private balcony gazing at the rust-red and apricot rock, while StarView rooms, on the top floor, also have clear views of the night skies.
Reconnecting to nature is easy by camping out in a tripod in a disused slate quarry on Cornwall’s north coast. Built from larch, glass and galvanised steel, these off-grid huts include suspended beds, a lounge and vast windows with superb views. Days spent here are all about wild swimming, chatting by the fire pit or soaking in a forest hot tub.
This luxury suite suspended beneath Reefworld, a permanently moored floating pontoon on Hardy Reef which lies off the coast of Airlie Beach, is pretty spectacular. The two double-bed suites feature large, reinforced glass windows so guests can watch reef life in action from their bed and bathroom – trevally, coral trout, turtles, reef sharks and barracuda are all likely to have a snoop. The pontoon, managed by tour operator Cruise Whitsundays, also offers a glamping experience on its upper deck.
In the depths of southern Chile, in the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, you’ll find the remarkable Montaña Mágica Lodge, a conical volcano-like hotel. Blending into its surroundings, the jungle hotel features waterfalls and is only accessible by foot. Once guests have located it, they have to make it over an elevated swinging rope bridge to enter their cabin-like room. Nerves can be calmed with a soak in one of its hot tubs carved from gigantic tree trunks.
Why stay in a conventional mountain chalet when you could stay in an igloo-shaped pod? Ultra-exclusive Whitepod in Les Cerniers in the Chablais Valaisan region offers adventurous hikers and keen skiers a chance to camp out year-round in its 18 dome pods high in the Alps. Surprisingly spacious, they all sleep up to four and have wood-burning stoves. All meals are delivered directly to the pod and guests can enjoy private ski slopes or head off on snowshoes to explore the forests.
Nestled in medieval Eisenach, a city at the edge of the Thuringian Forest, The Wartburg has been extremely important throughout history as the seat of the Landgraves of Thuringia and as the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. Part of the castle is The Romantik Hotel at Wartburg with 37 guest rooms and plenty of historical charm. The hotel's faultless restaurant Landgrafenstube is another highlight, with breathtaking views stretching far across the forest to the Rhön Mountains.
Nestled within the Cederberg Mountains, these 10 unique man-made cave-like suites and five spacious thatched huts were constructed to integrate with the natural sandstone formations. Each suite is unique and features a small terrace looking out to the sprawling landscape beyond. Far away from the city, this is a quiet and peaceful retreat.
The world's first guitar-shaped hotel, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Florida's Hollywood takes a love of music and dials it up to 11. This masterpiece of engineering and architecture soars 450 feet (137m) into the sky and packs in 638 luxury guest rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and rain head showers. The hotel also has a huge swimming pool – the equivalent of nearly three football pitches.
Arctic wilderness surrounds guests snuggled up in a warm and cosy wagon at the Apukka Resort in Finland. The high-spec caravans can be transported to different parts of the beautiful frozen landscape, offering even more seclusion to guests. Whether you choose to stop on a snowy hilltop or a frozen lake, you'll be bowled over by the icy scenery and have a prime position for Northern Lights gazing – the wagons have glass ceilings above the beds.
Forget tranquil, subtle, peaceful vacations: for a full-on, over-the-top escape, California’s Madonna Inn, which is almost entirely Barbie-pink, is just the ticket. With several differently themed rooms (including Madonna Suite, Love Nest and Everything Nice, among others), pink tennis courts, a colourful gift shop and plenty of picture-perfect food on offer, this is a place to escape mundane everyday life.
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A lovingly converted horsebox, The Oat Box's interior is the definition of rustic charm with plenty of attractive details. Set on a private farmland, the 1968 Bedford TK Horse Lorry sleeps two and even has its own shower. There's a wood-burning stove inside and a fire pit outside – logs are provided to cook comforting meals or toast marshmallows as the night falls.
Straight out of the pages of a storybook, it's hard to imagine a prettier cottage than Dovecot. The 17th-century stone cottage was once home to hundreds of pigeons but is now a romantic bolthole with plenty of quirky charm. Surrounded by gorgeous gardens, it feels a world away from city life, but is actually just a stroll from Edinburgh's historic centre.
Dubbed the '21st century chateau', the stunning Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection hotel, was designed by architect Frank Gehry. With undulating shapes and contrasting materials, it’s a truly unique structure that contrasts with the surrounding vineyard landscape. Set on the oldest wine estate in La Rioja, it’s perfect for both oenophiles and design lovers.
Truly one-of-a-kind place to spend the night, this cosy retreat comes in the shape of a renovated cable car. Nestled in Germany's picturesque Black Forest, the charming gondola was once part of a ski lift in a resort in France and has been renovated to fit a comfortable double bed. Guests have access to hot showers, a large communal kitchen and compost loos within a short distance at the Black Forest camp.
With its myriad windows and vibrant mosaic tiles, stepping into this rooftop apartment is like walking inside a piece of art. There's a bathroom, bedroom, fully equipped kitchen and an expansive terrace, where guests can sip Italian coffee and admire the views. Best of all, it's just a 20-minute bus ride from Rome city centre but feels like a world away.
This adults-only treetop hideaway, perched high on stilts in the thick forests of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, is well worth seeking out. It’s tempting to spend the entire stay hanging out up in the homely eyrie with just the birds for company – and thankfully the rustic-chic treehouse has everything guests need to do just that. There's a spa bath, kitchenette, fireplace and queen bed, along with jaw-dropping vistas of Bowen's Creek Gorge and the forests at every turn.
A petrolhead's dream, the V8 HOTEL just outside of Stuttgart is an ode to the motoring industry. Named after the revolutionary eight-cylinder engine, the hotel's rooms are individually designed with plenty of car industry-related memorabilia and even car-shaped beds. Both the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums are in striking distance and tours can be arranged in the nearby Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen factory.
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This renovated cave hotel, nestled in the famous Turkish landscape of Cappadocia, offers a magnificent view over the famous magical fairy chimneys. The hotel is built into the volcanic rock forming the landscape and includes rock features reminiscent of the traditional cave dwellings the area is known for.
One for avid readers, Book and Bed in Tokyo is a hostel-library where compact bunk beds are part of a massive bookshelf filled with excellent titles. With over 3,000 books to choose from, guests can slip into a pod behind the shelves, close the curtains, turn on the reading light and feel like a kid reading under the covers again.
Adventure Suites in North Conway is home to 18 fabulously kitsch-themed suites including a haunted castle and a mansion from ancient Rome. The Love Shack is a 1970s-style suite complete with a two-person hot tub and a disco ball while film buffs can book themselves into a suite that's a private movie theatre.
Jutting out from an otherworldly lava field backdrop, the ION Adventure Hotel is as extraordinary as its surrounds. The striking luxury hotel was built at the base of Mount Hengill, an active volcano (although it last erupted around 2,000 years ago), and is close to the majestic Thingvellir National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, there’s a lovely restaurant, bar and spa, or guests can explore the unusual landscape while glacier trekking, fly fishing, kayaking or on hot spring hiking excursions.
Escaping to the mountains and unwinding at this romantic cottage in the remote village of Trieblach, 87 miles (140km) from Graz definitely sounds tempting. With views over the river Drava and the Karawanks mountain range, it's stunning in any season. The two-storey cottage has a downstairs living area as well as a bedroom with a balcony upstairs. It's the perfect base for escaping everyday life and exploring the dreamy area on day hikes.
Keel-billed toucans, green iguanas and mantled howler monkeys are just some of the creatures that can be spied from this lofty abode deep within Panama's Soberanía National Park. The former security tower, which was built in 1965 to help defend the Panama Canal, is now an unusual eco-lodge with a choice of rooms and a couple of suites. Guests can dine at the treetop restaurant and head to the observation deck to see what amazing wildlife they can spot.
A romantic mirror-house, this gleaming glass suite is hard to spot. Perfect for romantic luxury and wildlife spotting in western Estonia's forest, the cutting-edge design really contrasts with the unspoiled natural surroundings. The glass cube sleeps two and has a cosy and modern interior, a kitchenette and a deck with outdoor seating.
There's much to love about this unique beach home, lovingly designed and crafted by owners Max and Judi. Boasting exceptional views of the wild coast of the Scottish Isle of Arran, the cosy home has an upturned boat for a roof, a wood-burning stove and the blissful absence of a TV. There's still plenty to do, though – guests can take a scenic walk to the Eas Mor waterfall, head to the tranquil Loch Garbad or stroll along the seafront to The Kildonan Hotel for fish and chips.
Fogo Island Inn is about as remote as hotels can be. The minimalist masterpiece, all sleek edges and stilts, is tucked away from the world in a traditional fishing village on the northern coast of Newfoundland's Fogo Island. The 29 suites all come with access to a wood-fired sauna, rooftop hot tubs, cinema, contemporary art gallery and a library specialising in Newfoundland's history.
Design lovers will adore this award-winning architectural wonder on the edge of the Bardenas Reales National Park in Navarre, Spain. Guests can choose to spend the night in a bubble (excellent for stargazing), futuristic cube or in one of the 10 rooms in the main house. The interiors are minimalist but they're delightfully comfortable and the restaurant serves excellent local produce.
Just off the equator in Kenya’s northern Laikipia region, Loisaba Conservancy boasts breathtaking night skies. And why watch them from a window when you could be directly beneath them? The Loisaba Starbeds are just as magical as they sound: handcrafted four-poster beds on wheels, which are rolled out onto raised wooden platforms for lucky travellers to gaze at the sunsets and sleep under the starry night sky.
It'll feel a world away from city life in this three-room treehouse but it's actually located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The popular Airbnb property is a beautiful and unique hideaway for two. It's open to the elements but the luxurious bedding ensures guests are super cosy. And, as the bed is on wheels, it can be rolled it out onto a platform (with roof) that overlooks a stream to really be at one with nature.
It's easy to imagine what life on a canal boat would be like aboard the Blackbird. Guests will find the boathouse in a secluded lake in the heart of North Devon with some of the area's best beaches just a short drive away. Beautifully restored, the houseboat sleeps two and has everything needed for a peaceful and relaxing stay, including a well-equipped galley kitchen, a king-sized bed and a secluded alfresco dining spot.
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One of the highest hotels in the world, Hotel Everest View doesn’t disappoint: it really does offer first-class views of the famous mountain from its perch on a ridge in Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. Located 13,000 feet (3,962m) above sea level, the hotel has 12 rooms with panoramic views, a restaurant serving regional Khumbu cuisine and a bar. Guests can arrive via helicopter transfer from Kathmandu or, for a real Himalayan adventure, after a trek.
There are themed hotels and then there are Puy du Fou’s themed hotels. The medieval La Citadelle is all about tasteful attention to period detail. Guests can visit the medicinal herb garden or enter the portcullis and roam the warren-like corridors to find their chamber where carved oak beds await. While the setting is straight from the Middle Ages, there are thankfully a few mod-cons such as flushing toilets, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
The Blessom family have owned this charming Norwegian sheep farm since the 17th century and it's one of the oldest in the Gudbrandsdalen valley. In summer, guests can spot sheep grazing in the rolling green hills and in winter, cosy up by the stone fireplace of the wood-panelled house. It's a place to slow down, relax and soak in the mythical surroundings.
For a truly off-grid escape, it's hard to compete with Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia. A collection of gers – traditional felt tents – overlook the Gobi Desert and the Gobi-Altai Mountains, and have all the home comforts guests need, including the Bulagtai Restaurant and traditional massages on offer. It's a completely wild and remote experience.
Disappearing for a few days off-grid is easy at this isolated but cosy little beach hut in South Devon, England. The adults-only accommodation is set on its own private beach and can be only accessed via a short but slightly challenging path. There's no mobile phone signal or Wi-Fi but there are magnificent views, a barbecue, gas hob, wood burner stove and hot tub. Lights are solar powered and there's a compost toilet and open-air shower.
This place is like nowhere on Earth – perhaps because it isn’t on solid ground at all. The Underwater Room at The Manta Resort is the perfect way for guests to disappear for a while. The upper deck is an open-air lounge area while the lower deck's bedroom is submerged and surrounded by glass so its occupants can look out into the ocean and observe the marine life around. Apart from meals delivered at predetermined times, there's no other contact with the outside world.
A high-rise hotel room isn't the only way to enjoy New York's mesmerising skyline. For a night in the Big Apple with a difference, Collective Governors Island is the top choice. Located on Governors Island, a former military-base-turned-public-space, this peaceful glamping retreat has unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan shore across New York Harbor.
An original 1944 Dakota and a 16th-century-style Dutch house with views of the Stirling Range are just some of the options at this collection of unique self-catering properties in southwest Western Australia. The reception is housed in a 1924 Federation-style railway station that was relocated here from nearby Gnowangerup and there's a handsome working windmill, which produces wholemeal stone-ground spelt flour and can usually be visited on tours.
In South Africa’s magnificent Kruger National Park, at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, guests can feel truly alone and away from the hustle and bustle in the lodge’s Tinyeleti treehouse. One of the three treehouses available, it allows for sleeping right under the stars and no electricity of Wi-Fi to distract.
Sleeping inside a seashell on Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancún couldn't be any closer to a story-book experience. It isn’t just The Seashell House's whitewashed exterior that follows the shell theme – inside, there are shell-encrusted mirrors, sinks and bathrooms. The shower water even sprinkles out from a shell. Outside, there’s a private pool and the beach is a 15-minute drive away.
Like something out of the pages of a nursery rhyme book, this boot-shaped beauty can be found on the Tasman Coast on New Zealand's South Island. It's not just a novelty stay; the giant boot is a delightfully cosy cottage. There's a roaring fire in the lounge that sits in the toe, a kitchenette complete with a well-stocked minibar in the heel and a wooden staircase that leads up to a charming timbered bedroom for two.
Remote doesn't begin to describe Bawah Reserve, a retreat of 36 suites and bungalows in Indonesia's Riau Archipelago. Located between Malaysia and Borneo, the reserve is only accessible by private seaplane. It's not all about sunbathing here, though. Guests are encouraged to explore the six islands' 13 beaches and three lagoons on paddleboards, sailing boats, kayaks and take on bird watching hikes or nature trails.
The setting for this luxury cave retreat in England couldn't be more idyllic: the ancient dwelling is hidden in Worcestershire's Habberley Valley on the edge of a forest and at the foot of a river. It might be prehistoric, but the four-room cave is wonderfully cosy and has many modern design touches. There's hot water and underfloor heating too to keep the guests nice and warm.
This one-bedroom, eco-luxe treehouse set among leafy palms in the grounds of UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa in Trancoso, Brazil is nothing short of spectacular. The rooms are split across three levels, each supported by wooden stilts, and include a deck with an outdoor hot tub. The clever and quirky structure was made from organic materials sourced around southern Bahia, including reclaimed wood, palm fibre and vines.
Whether you fancy the old station house or one of the two beautiful Pullman carriages with Edwardian fittings, both will transport guests back to the golden age of travel at this unusual B&B in Sussex, England. Pretty Petworth railway station was built in 1892 so that the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, could take the train to the Goodwood races. Guests check-in at the former parcels office while breakfast is served in the old waiting room or under parasols on the platform.
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Mindful solitude awaits at Le Monastère des Augustines, a wellness hotel in a historic wing of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery in Québec City. Dating back to 1639, it was originally founded by the Augustinian Sisters, an order of nuns sent from France by Louis XIII. It was thoughtfully redesigned and opened as a non-profit wellness hotel in 2017. It offers a unique experience which pays homage to its spiritual roots.
Doing time takes on a new meaning at this handsome and fascinating Landmark Trust property in a historic little Lincolnshire village. Once the gateway to a prison capable of housing up to 70 inmates, the House of Correction is now a cosy country cottage, complete with two bedrooms, a full kitchen and bathroom.
Crane Hotel Faralda in Amsterdam proves that there's no disused vessel or space that can't be turned into super-luxe designer digs. Despite its restrictive architecture, the crane's three suites are spacious with incredible interiors. And as you'd expect from up there, the views are something else. Those not keen on heading back to the ground can ask for a Champagne breakfast to be delivered to the room. There’s a hot tub on the top floor and daredevils can even bungee jump off the crane in summer.
A romantic night for two is on the cards in this converted snow groomer in La Plagne in France. Guests are taken to the ski resort by car, then onto the summit by snow groomer before being left to their own devices for the night. The remote suite has a spa bath, enormous bed (with a transparent ceiling for stargazing), and Champagne and macarons to set the romantic mood. There's a radio for communication, if needed.
Surveying the Suffolk coast is easy from this Martello tower, which was originally built to defend the UK from Napoleonic forces in the 1800s. Now a seriously special and secluded place to stay that sleeps up to six guests, Found Tower is set within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Beauty. There are three floors including a rooftop level, which is accessed via a spiral staircase. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto fabulous 360-degree views of the wild shingle coastline.
Why stay in a mundane hotel bedroom when you could glamp on the roof of a hotel? In a novel move, Bristol-based Brooks Guesthouse offers guests the option of urban glamping on its roof. A lookalike of the classic American Airstream, the British-made Rocket comes in three different sizes. All three Rockets are set in a roof garden and come furnished with a double bed, eco-heating, a micro bathroom and LED mood lights. The city views are fabulous.
The Amangiri resort offers extreme luxury and a spectacular location among the desert dunes and red rock landscapes of Utah's Canyon Point. Thousands of square miles of untouched scenery stretch around the resort so guests can expect seriously high-spec suites, a spa with desert views and a top restaurant. There are exciting activities available to sign up for during the stay too, like fossil digs and climbing expeditions.
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Combining sustainable and striking design with innovative technology, the Arctic Bath is an unusual wellness retreat that floats on top of the icy Lule river in Harads, north Sweden. There are six detached floating bedrooms, where guests have direct access from the shore, and six cabins as well as a suite cabin on land. The eye-catching circular hotel features a spa, cold bath, hot bath, different saunas, spa treatment room, lounge, shop, bar and a restaurant.
Free spirits will feel right at home in this otherworldly retreat on Vancouver Island. There are three UFO-like spheres suspended among the trees, appearing to float in the coastal forest. Two of the handcrafted treehouse spheres are made of wood and a third is made from fibreglass. They sleep two with clever and cosy interiors that make for an uplifting escape.
Those looking to switch off should consider going off-grid in the Arctic. The collection of striking eco-cabins on the Fleinvær Archipelago in northern Norway were designed by a jazz musician and composer with creative contemplation in mind. The cabins are accessed by boat and use of mobile phones is actively discouraged in the remote retreat (although there is Wi-Fi, if necessary).
Giraffe Manor, located just outside of Nairobi in Kenya, is a must-visit for wildlife lovers. While the stately home is stunning, the real highlight is the chance to share a meal with a herd of Rothschild's giraffes – one of the most endangered species of these animals. When guests aren't busy making friends, the hotel does a lot to educate its visitors about animal conservation and offers guided sanctuary walks.
A former Second World War bunker, this retreat is well-camouflaged thanks to its grass-lined rooftop set within the rolling Monmouthshire hills of the Welsh countryside. It's been beautifully fitted out and the views from the sitting room's portal windows are entrancing. The bedroom also has a lovely lookout to the mountains and there's a wood-burning stove for cosy and peaceful evenings.
The converted Melin Newydd windmill in rural Anglesey has a characterful living area on the ground floor, double bedrooms on the first and second floors, and another living room up the steep stairs to the third floor. The balcony has sensational views out over the surrounding countryside while the lawned garden with a patio is perfect for dining alfresco in summer.
Terrahaku is a website connecting potential guests with spiritual stays in some of Japan's many temples and shrines. Guests have a unique chance to immerse themselves in Japanese culture and experience the simple way of life of Buddhist monks and Shinto priests when staying at a shukubo (historically, a facility for worshippers). Featured temples include Mii-dera, also known as Onjo-ji Temple (pictured), near Lake Biwa-Ko in Shiga Prefecture.
Take your pick from a giant rabbit, enormous chicken or whopping great snail in this bizarre French nature park. Alternatively, would you rather check-in to a mushroom-shaped house or a magical manor in the trees instead? You're certainly spoiled for quirky choice at DéfiPlanet. Set within an oak forest in the countryside near Poitiers, the large camping ground also has the comparatively more mundane options of Mongolian yurts and caravans.
This unusual hotel with just one room is certainly extremely cosy. Located on top of a café in the hip neighbourhood of Vesterbro in Copenhagen, the cute one-room Hotel Central Café claims to be the smallest hotel in the world. The downstairs café is just as charming and those that bag a spot will find delicious coffee, pastries and banana splits.
Clinging to the side of a mountain in the Sacred Valley of Cusco, these transparent suite capsules will suit extreme adventurers. Gutsy guests must either climb 1,300 feet (396m) to reach their bed or follow an intrepid trail of ziplines instead. Each of the three suites has four beds (complete with cosy bedding), a dining area and bathroom. Guides deliver gourmet meals in backpacks and guests dine gazing across the valley where condors can often be seen swooping around.
Set in a former Boeing 747 jumbo jet, STF Jumbo Stay Stockholm is certainly unusual. For the ultimate plane experience, guests can book the cockpit suite and enjoy a restful night's sleep among the dials, levers and control wheels. There are also four single cabins inside the former jet turbines for those travelling alone or looking to shut the world out.
Located on a blissfully isolated lava field in southern Iceland, this glass cottage is an excellent chance to escape the world for a night or two. The night sky promises a mesmerising Northern Lights show that can be watched from the comfort of the bed or the outdoor hot tub. Inside, there's a well-equipped kitchen, contemporary furnishings and a modern bathroom.
As part of an exclusive new trip offered by Off The Map Travel, adventurous guests will be able to stay the night in one of these incredible glass-walled Aurora Huts on a hidden part of the Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon in southern Iceland. The two hotel rooms float atop the water's surface in summer, but in wintertime they freeze into the lake and can only be accessed via an all-terrain vehicle. Inside the 97-square-foot (9sqm) igloos you'll find a cosy double bed and ensuite bathroom, while there are panoramic glass windows on one side to maximise guests' chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
At first glance there's nothing particularly unusual about this red-tiled cottage, hidden away in the tree-covered Zalan Valley in Transylvania, Romania. The decor is a little more lavish than in your average guesthouse, the wood furniture a bit more antique, but you certainly wouldn't presume that it belonged to the British crown. King Charles III bought the property, near Dracula's Bran Castle, in 2006, and rents out rooms to punters starting at £95 ($106) a night. The rustic stay prides itself on "Transylvanian authenticity", and comes without Wi-Fi or television.
Ever got so comfy in a theatre you didn't want to leave? Thanks to Airbnb, you soon won't have to: you'll be able to bed down in the plush Box of Honour at the Opera Garnier, the iconic Paris opera house of Phantom of the Opera fame. With an amazing view of the stage, this is (literally) a once-in-a-lifetime stay, as the room is typically reserved for visiting dignitaries. However, on 1 March 2023 the platform will allow ordinary Airbnb users to request to book it for an overnight stay on 16 July 2023. Best of all, it'll only set you back 37 Euros ($40/£33) – 37 is the box number, after all.