When a nice but typical motel won't do, look for something unique.
When the average hotel just won't do, think outside the tall, rectangular shaped box and try one of the more unique options offered. From cave dwellings, beagles and ice castles to escape pods that have seen service on former oil rigs, the world is peppered with strange and unusual places that are more than just a place to sleep at night; they're destinations in and of themselves.
Dog Bark Park Inn
Dog lovers can sleep in the largest beagle bed and breakfast in the world.
Dog lovers can have the chance to sleep in, well... a dog.The world's largest (and only) beagle bed and breakfast is located in Cottonwood, Idaho. Visitors sleep in the two-story wooden beagle, named Sweet Willy. The B&B offers all the amenities one would require and the bathroom? Of course, it's disguised as a fire hydrant. The grounds also have a gift shop where the owners sell their custom made, chainsaw dog carvings.
Dog Bark Park/Inn Bed & Breakfast
2421 Business Hwy 95 at the Dog
Cottonwood, ID 83522
208-962-3647
dogbarkparkinn.com
Kokopelli's Cave
Visitors can rough it in luxury when they stay at Kokopelli's Cave in Farmington, New Mexico. The 1,650 square foot, one bedroom vacation rental was carved into the face of the sandstone cliff, built in a semi-circle design with glass doors that open to balconies, below which the cliff face drops hundreds of feet. There is a small hike down to the entrance, but the cave is outfitted with all the modern luxuries, including a waterfall-style shower and a jacuzzi.
Kokopelli's Cave Hotel
3204 Crestridge Dr
Farmington, NM 87401
505-326-2461
The Hôtel de Glace
Five-hundred tons of ice are used in the creation of The Hotel de Glace
Only open three months a year, The Hotel de Glace in Canada is made from 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow. Every year the hotel is redesigned and rebuilt, from the ground up. It takes 5 weeks to build this ice castle and the wall art, the drinking glasses, the furniture; it's all made from ice. Reindeer pelts cover the tables and beds and arctic sleeping bags are provided.
Hôtel de Glace
9300, rue de la Faune Qu bec
Qu bec Canada G1G 4G4
418-875-4522
icehotel-canada.com
Propeller Island City Lodge
Propeller Island City Lodge is in the heart of Berlin.
Each of the 31 rooms in this hotel are designed by the German artist Lars Stroschen and are completely unique. There is the Mirror Room, which is diamond in shape and completely lined with mirrors. Furnishings hang from the ceiling in the Upside Down room, the Coffin Room features real coffins as beds and then there's the Prison Cell Room, which is meticulously designed to replicate a cell, complete with hole in the wall for escapes. Some rooms are wild and extreme, like the Cage Room, but others are soothing and contemplative, like the Cloud Room.
Propeller Island City Lodge
Albrecht-Achilles-Straße 58
10709 Berlin, Germany
030-89-9016
propeller-island.com
Palacio de Sal
The Salt Hotel is made completely from salt blocks. The floor, the ceilings, the walls and even the majority of the furnishings are made from salt. It is located in Bolivia near the world's largest salt flat. The salt flat itself is home to geysers, volcanoes, cactus and an odd assortment of animals; flamingos, rodents and llamas. There is a game room, a nine-hole gold course and a spa. It is, however, recommended that visitors do not lick the walls.
Palacio de Sal
Uyuni, Potosi, Bolivia
palaciodesal.com.bo
Magic Mountain Hotel
In Southern Chile, there is a hotel with a waterfall that cascades down the side and flawlessly blends into the surrounding ecosystem. Located in the heart of the Huilo Huilo nature reserve, the Magic Mountain Hotel takes a cue from mother nature and is decorated and designed with her in mind. Even the hot tubs are made from huge, hallowed out tree trunks and they overlook the forest. The hotel is known for it's Chilean wines and the food it serves.
Magic Mountain Hotel
Panguipulli, Chile
huilohuilo.com
Capsule Hotel
Definitely not for everyone, the Capsule Hotel in Den Haag, Netherlands is not for those seeking luxury. Visitors stay in bright orange survival pods that were once on oil rig platforms. Basically unaltered from their original condition, they are 4.25 meters or about 14 feet in diameter and fit up to three occupants. The pods were first created in 2004 as an art project by owner Denis Oudendijk and there are more in the works. Currently, different packages are offered, including the James Bond themed stay. This includes silk lined sleeping bags, disco ball, vodka bar miniatures and a complete DVD collection of Bond movies.
The Capsule Hotel
Verheeskade 287,
Den Haag,
Netherlands
capsulehotel.info
Utter Inn
Visitors to this property in Västerås, Sweden sleep underwater in what is essentially an aquarium. An art project created by local artist and sculptor, Mikael Genberg, the floating hotel is located in the Swedish lake, Malaren. The hotel has one room, which lies approximately 10 feet beneath the water and the room itself features two twin beds and a table. Visitors are taken out onto the lake, nearly one mile to the hotel, where they are then left with an inflatable boat and instructions. If they request the deluxe package, dinner is taken to them by boat later that evening.
Utter Inn,
Kopparbergsvägen 1,
Västerås,
72213,
Sweden
Baumhaus Hotel
The whimsical tree houses at the Baumhaus Hotel are approximately 30 feet off the ground, child friendly and are decorated in a rustic style with bright colors and crazy angled windows. The themes of each of the five tree houses are modeled after local legends, fairies and trolls. There is also an outdoor recreational area, open-air showers and a mini-bar stocked full of beer.
Baumhaus Hotel,
Zentendorfer Str. 55,
Neißeaue,
02829,
Germany
Jumbo Stay
A vintage jumbo jet has been remodeled into an unusual place to stay.
In Sweden, a vintage 1976, 747 jumbo jet has been grounded and converted into a 27-room hotel. Visitors can choose from the Cockpit Suite, where pilots once sat. This deluxe room features a bathroom, flat screen TV and breakfast. There are also the dorm beds, the jumbo single, the private1-2-3 and others to choose from. There is an on-board cafe and conference room.
Jumbo Stay
Jumbovägen 4
Arlanda,
Near Stockholm,
SE-190 47
Sweden
jumbostay.com
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