Sometimes you merely need a place to lay your head. But once in a while, you find a quirky hotel that is an experience in and of itself. Hotels with particular themes, incredible settings, or eccentric architecture can often be the highlight of your trip. If you are looking for unusual travel accommodation, you should consider one of these unique hotel stays around the world.
Icehotel — Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Photo credit: Asaf Kliger and ICEHOTEL®
If you are looking for a winter vacation like no other, head to Sweden. From December to April, you can stay in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. Located 200 km above the Arctic Circle, Icehotel gives guests the opportunity to see the spectacular northern lights, while they sleep in a magical frosty wonderland.
The artsy hotel features walls, furniture, chandeliers, and sculptures that have been hand carved from blocks of ice. You have the option to stay in one of the fifteen to twenty standard ice rooms, or splurge on one of 12 individually designed art suites. True snow lovers may want to visit annually, because the hotel is reincarnated every year with a different design.
Icehotel 365 is a permanent structure on the property that offers year-round accommodation. The glass and stone hotel has icy hotel rooms inside it. You can choose from 9 art suites or 9 deluxe suites. The building also houses an impressive Ice bar where you can drink champagne out of handmade ice flutes.
Final note: to get to the hotel from Kiruna Airport or Kiruna Train Station, Icehotel offers transfers via bus or dog sled.
Giraffe Manor — Nairobi, Kenya
Photo credit: The Safari Collection
This stately manor house set on 12 acres of private land in the indigenous forest of Nairobi provides incredible animal encounters throughout your stay. The 12-room boutique hotel is home to a herd of Rothschild’s giraffes. If you are lucky, some of the resident giraffes may poke their heads into the manor while you are having breakfast.
Giraffe Manor is committed to giraffe conservation, and it is part of a breeding program to grow this previously endangered species.
While you befriend the animals, you will also enjoy hotel amenities such as a swimming pool, gym, spa, and cafe. Guests can treat themselves to a delightful afternoon tea on the terrace, or a private candlelit dinner in the orchid greenhouse (at no extra cost).
Skylodge Adventure Suites — Cuzco, Perú
Photo credit: Natura Vive
In the Sacred Valley of Cuzco in Peru, you will find a hotel stay that is not for the faint-hearted. Adrenaline junkies that love heights will be thrilled to hear that you can sleep hanging off the side of a mountain. Natura Vive’s Skylodge consists of three transparent capsules that hang vertically from the top of a 1200 ft mountain.
The 24 by 8 ft. weather resistant capsules are made of aluminum and polycarbonate. Each suite has four beds, a bathroom, and a dining area. The see-through domes also have privacy curtains.
To stay in one of Skylodge’s three hanging pods, you will need to climb 400 mt. of Via Ferrata or complete a 40-minute hike and ride a series of zip lines. It will all be worth it when you wake up to stunning 300 degree views of the valley.
Hotel Marqués de Riscal — Elciego, Spain
Photo credit: Herederos del Marqués de Riscal
Undoubtedly, you are familiar with the famous architect Frank O. Gehry. He has designed iconic buildings such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, and Fondation Louis Vuitton. Architecture buffs and wine connoisseurs will be thrilled to learn that he has created the spectacular Hotel Marqués de Riscal in the Rioja Alavesa wine region of Spain.
The striking avant-garde building features asymmetrical titanium and steel roofing panels that contrast with the medieval town and wineries surrounding it. The hotel, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection brand, contains 61 individually-styled bedrooms, a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, a spa, and a 100-seat auditorium.
Oenophiles have the option to tour the winery, or visit the hotel’s onsite wine bar and shop. Once you have tried the Marqués de Riscal vintages, be sure to explore some of the other nearby vineyards.
The Manta Resort & Underwater Room— Pemba Island, Tanzania
Photo Credit: The Manta Resort & Underwater Room
The old saying “sleeping with the fishes” has a whole different meaning on Pemba Island. In the Underwater Room at The Manta Resort, you can literally sleep surrounded by fish and coral. The hotel room is anchored to the ocean floor, in a “blue hole” (essentially a marine sinkhole).
This private retreat features a sun deck, lounge area, and bathroom on the surface, and a bedroom that is completely underwater. It houses a couple or single traveler, and the hotel has a three night minimum stay requirement. A portion of the guest fees go to help the Kwanini foundation with their reef conservation efforts.
If you want to enjoy the beautiful sites of Pemba Island on land, the resort also offers spacious private villas and garden rooms.
Honorable Mention:
Dog Bark Park Inn — Cottonwood, Idaho
Photo Credit: Dog Bark Park Inn
Unfortunately the inn’s owners have retired, but up until 2024 dog lovers were able to stay in a hotel shaped like a giant beagle! This bizarre two-bedroom guest house alongside US Highway 95 was carved with a chainsaw. While Dog Bark Park Inn no longer accepts overnight guests, you can still visit the roadside attraction to take photos or purchase chainsaw carved dog sculptures.
We are thrilled to see that hoteliers keep pushing the envelope. If you like the quirky hotels discussed above, you may also want to check out the Faralda Crane Hotel Amsterdam, Kruger Shalati – The Train on the Bridge, and Matices Hotel de Barricas — where you can stay in a Mexican tequila barrel.
If you are searching for other fun travel destinations, be sure to read our articles Destinations For Thrill-Seekers, Incredible Castles Around The World, and Waterfalls Worth The Trip.