10 Quirky Hideaways You Can Actually Stay In
Unusual Places to Stay Around the World
From quirky to downright weird, take a tour* of the most unusual places to stay around the globe, featuring the world's best spaceship-esque treehouses in Sweden, ice suites in Finland, cliff-hanging escapes in Peru, and glass igloos in Bali.
10. Azulik
Tulum, Turkey
Looking for an off-the-grid, wellness-minded eco-resort to disconnect in? Look no further than the Maya-inspired architectural delight that is Azulik. Located on a sandy, clothing-optional beach directly south of Tulum, the adults-only Azulik Tulum is one of the most visually stunning and unique boutiques in the region. The hotel is in close proximity to nature which creates a rustic-luxe off-the-grid adventure. Electricity and Wi-Fi are in short supply here (including in rooms), and everything is made of wood and local natural materials. The clothing-optional dress code may not be for everyone but the unique design and idyllic location make the hotel an unforgettable stay.
9. Bubble Hotel
Bali, Indonesia
If the blandness of being engulfed by four walls whilst on holiday doesn’t compel you, consider a more spherical experience in a Bali Bubble room while being surrounded by pristine countryside and enchanting forests. An emerging trend in travel is one where guests are able to have a great time whilst being a safe distance from other people - these bubbles provide just that. Each bubble room comes with an outdoor sheltered bed/seating area, a hanging net, and a mini swing (think Instagram-perfect).
8. Xigera Safari Lodge
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Pronounced 'kee-jera' and named after the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve, the luxury lodge is hidden amid a canopy of majestic indigenous trees and features 12 suites, each suite individually designed to provide a unique experience of the Okavango.
Guests of the lodge can experience glass-bottom mokoro (traditional dugout canoes) trips and glide across the Delta’s waterways and have a unique sleepout experience in a cool baobab treehouse. Storytelling and stargazing take place around a totemic fire-pit sculpture by artist-blacksmith Conrad Hicks.
Adding to Xigera’s variety of unique artisanal pieces of art across the lodge, guests can lounge on human-sized woven ‘nests’, created by renowned South African artist, Porky Hefer.
Rates at Xigera Safari Lodge start from £1,847 per adult per night sharing. This includes accommodation on a fully inclusive basis, park fees and all activities.
7. Hotel Sun City Camp
Wadi Rum, Jordan
The Sun City Camp in Wad Rum, Jordan, is fast becoming one of the most sought-after hotels on the planet. Located just within the boundary of Wadi Rum, the raised wooden en suite chalets are covered with Bedouin tents, providing guests with an authentic display of Jordanian culture right from the word go. The large dining area in the camp is adorned with colourful carpets and traditionally low seating. An authentic Bedouin feast is served after sunset alongside the campfire lit each night under the starry desert skies. Renowned for the hashtag #TheMartianExperience, an otherworldly, post-apocalyptic stay is the name of the game at the Sun City Camp.
6. Magic Mountain Hotel
Chilean Patagonia, Chile
Set in the heart of the mysterious Chilean Patagonia, Magic Mountain Hotel is a Hobbiton-esque retreat offering the opportunity to disconnect and unwind amidst an enchanting forest. Montaña Mágica Hotel does not take its volcano resemblance for granted: the construction bursts with energy and ‘erupts’ every day, as water is sent cascading down the exterior of the hotel.
5. The Bird’s Nest
Northern Sweden
Constructed in 2010 by design group, Inrednin Gsgruppenf, the unique house forms part of a hotel in northern Sweden is skillfully incorporated into the trees and its surroundings. Built on the contrasts between the outside and inside, The Bird’s Nest imitates a gigantic bird’s nest that camouflages itself and becomes part of the surroundings. The interior features walls clad with wood panels and the windows almost disappear in the exterior’s labyrinth of branches. The room is 17m² and has a separate bedroom, bathroom, and living area.
4. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Saariselka, Finland
Sleep above the Aurora Borealis in glass igloos in the Finnish Lapland and revel in the surrounding Arctic wilderness. The resort is open year-round except for May and is located some 155 miles (250 km) north of the Arctic Circle. On your stay, expect spectacular winters, awe-inspiring views of the Arctic skies, and unusual reindeer safaris.
3. The Mirrorcube at Treehotel
Harads, Sweden
One of the most architecturally spectacular hotels on our list, The Mirrorcube, designed by Bolle Tham & Martin Videgård, is a treehouse suspended above the ground and features views across Lule River valley. The Mirrorcube is an exciting hide-out among the trees, camouflaged by mirrored walls that reflect their surroundings. Two people can fit comfortably in the 4x4x4 space, with a double bed, toilets, lounge and a rooftop terrace making for the perfect romantic surprise getaway.
2. Skylodge Adventure Suites
Cusco, Peru
For thrill-seeking adventurers looking for a death-defying sleep above Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas, SkyLodge Adventure Suites offer you the chance to sleep within a completely transparent hanging capsule, allowing you to appreciate the impressive view of the mystic valley below. Looking for a night to rest your tired legs after a trek up Machu Pichu? Look no further.
1. Mine Suite of Sala Silver Mine
Sala, Sweden
Labyrinthine tunnels twist 155 meters below ground at the Sala Silver Mine in Sweden where guests can lounge on luxury leather chairs underneath delicate chandeliers that hang from the roof of a room tunneled out of pure rock. Conditions are damp and cold but when you’re in a cave, it’s the experience that makes the impression.
* Please check the COVID-19 requirements of each hotel in advance should you travel to any of the destinations on our list.
