The World's Ten Most Oddball Hotels
When a standard hotel just won't cut it, try sleeping in one of these creatively offbeat accommodations. From rooms that look like UFOs to a house made of cake, these quirky lodgings will make your next trip one to remember.
From the Library Hotel's Dewey Decimal System-inspired floors to the Mirrorcube's picture-perfect exterior, these unique hotels will take your vacation from average to extraordinary.
1. The Library Hotel
A bibliophile’s dream, this hotel takes its Dewey Decimal theme to the hilt. Besides the card catalog towering over the front desk, every floor is themed with books (many rescued from the Strand bookstore) suited to the specific category of the floor’s overall topic.
Rooms are decorated with padded button headboards, dark woods and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. While lacking a few features you might expect at this price point, this boutique midtown Manhattan hotel makes up for it with thoughtful extras and its unique theme.
Its prime location is steps from the New York Public Library, Bryant Park and Grand Central Station. Shopping at Fifth Avenue is also within walking distance. The hotel’s own Madison & Vine restaurant and Bookmarks lounge are also great places to start the day and end it. A range of premium services are available to guests, including babysitting and child services.
2. The Mirrorcube
This amazing hotel, located in Harads, Sweden was designed by the architects Tham & Videgard. The 'Mirrorcube' is attached to a tree and clad in mirrored glass, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the forest around it.
The cube, which is accessed via a bridge that sways among the trees, is four meters high and has six windows that offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding forest. Inside, it is furnished in minimalist Scandinavian style and can accommodate two people. It has a bedroom with a double bed, bathroom, lounge and rooftop terrace.
The Mirrorcube is just one of seven rooms in the Treehotel, which offers a truly unique way to reconnect with nature. The hotel also offers a variety of activities, from kayaking down Lule River to watching the Northern Lights. For more information, visit the Treehotel's website.
3. The Null Stern Hotel
Not all hotels are made equal, and this open-air Swiss hideout takes minimalism to the next level. Located at 3,937 feet in the Alps, this "room" features nothing but a double bed and two nightstands with lamps—and the view is to die for.
Designed by conceptual artists (and twin brothers) Frank and Patrik Riklin, the open-air Null Stern Hotel—which translates to Zero Star Hotel—is more than just a bedroom installation. It's also a place to reflect on modern issues such as climate, security, and equality.
The $250-per-night suite doesn't come with some of your standard hotel amenities, like walls or a toilet, but guests are assisted by "modern butlers" who help them settle in and offer breakfast in bed. In case of bad weather, a nearby Alpine hut serves as backup. This is one getaway that Stanley Kubrik would love.
4. The Hobbit House
A hobbit house is a home that resembles the underground burrows of these diminutive creatures. Although most people have never seen a real-life hobbit, one can stay at these unique Airbnbs that look like they came straight out of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
In Preston, England, a secluded spot has been transformed into a unique home. The earth-covered structure features a circular door and windows and is topped by a green roof.
This cozy home has all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay. Relax in the Elvish canopy bed, enjoy a fire pit, or play a game of darts. There is even a claw foot tub and a kitchen with all the essentials. This is the perfect place to get away from it all and relive your favorite movies and books.
5. The Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a beautiful 19th-century manor house that sits on the edge of Nairobi’s Giraffe Center. The Manor itself is a blend of beautiful Georgian architecture and African-inspired decor, while the Giraffe Center is home to a variety of Rothschild giraffes.
Staying at the Manor is an amazing experience. It includes accommodation, drinks and snacks, afternoon tea, and of course giraffe encounters. Giraffes often poke their heads into rooms, at the entrance, or even through the windows!
The hotel is family-friendly and has two family suites. However, the giraffes only visit Edd, Arlene, Helen, Kelly, and the Finch Hatton Suite. If you book a room at the Manor, you can stay one night or book a Special Pass for use at Sasaab, Solio Lodge, or Sala's Camp. These passes include breakfast, lunch, and a giraffe encounter.
6. The Tree Hotel
Amid a rugged pine forest just south of the Arctic Circle, a young couple has built up an extraordinary treehouse hotel. They started with just one room but have now added seven more, ranging from the vertiginous 'Cabin' to the dizzying 'Mirrorcube' and the whimsical 'UFO'.
Guests can choose to stay in a cabin that suits their own personality. Each design has been created by a different architect, with the latest addition being a wondrous charred-timber creation by Snohetta.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can hike or bike around the forest in summer. Or, if you prefer to embrace winter, you can go snowshoeing or dog-sled riding. Either way, it's an experience that will leave you with memories for a lifetime. The rooms are not cheap but they offer a truly unique way to spend your holiday.
7. The Underwater Hotel
If you've ever dreamed of sleeping among the fishes, you can now make that happen at a hotel. A new phenomenon called underwater hotels offers a truly one-of-a-kind marine experience, from rooms you can only reach via scuba diving to full-on submerged suites.
The Utter Inn in Sweden is an example of a fairly affordable underwater hotel. This modest room resembles a small Swedish house floating on the water, and it provides visitors with a stunning view of underwater wildlife from their bed.
Other underwater hotels are more luxurious, such as the Manta Resort in Tanzania. This hotel is built into the ocean floor and offers guests a chance to sleep with sharks, sting rays, and tropical fish from their beds. They even have a one-of-a-kind restaurant!
8. The Ice Hotel
The world’s first ice hotel (more of an igloo/art gallery, really) opened in 1990 in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. Each winter it is rebuilt from blocks of ice harvested from the nearby Torne River.
The rooms, with beds covered in reindeer hides, are unique fantasy spaces, hand-carved by ice sculptors from around the world. Each room is a different design, so no two stays will be alike.
The ice hotel also features saunas and hot tubs, strategically placed to provide warmth amidst the frosty surroundings. You can sip cocktails out of ice glasses at the ICE Bar, but don’t be tempted to have too many drinks! The cold will take a toll on your body. It is best to wear thermal winter clothing and sleep in a sleeping bag. It is not recommended to stand or walk for too long in the chilly hotel.
9. The Liverpool Guesthouse
The Liverpool Guesthouse is a boutique hotel that offers guests the chance to stay in a converted Grade-II listed building. Guests can enjoy a range of luxury features including central heating, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel also has a bar and restaurant.
This unique hotel is located in Liverpool, England. It was once a municipal building and has since been converted into a luxury hotel. Guests can enjoy the hotel's beautiful gardens, delicious food, and deluxe rooms.
The hotel is conveniently situated just a short walk from Liverpool's most popular attractions. Guests can take in an event at the M&S Arena, indulge in some retail therapy at Liverpool One, or step back in history at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from in the area.
10. The Sand Hotel
An intimate boutique stay with historic connections and contemporary design flair. The hotel is nestled above the family-run Sandholt Bakery, one of Reykjavik’s most cherished institutions. Here, generations of skilled bakers have produced an enticing range of artisan bread, exquisite pastries and show-stopping cakes.
Each room is a retreat from the activity of the main street, with upscale furniture and contemporary artwork creating a comfortable and stylish atmosphere. The beds are fitted with premium Duxiana duvet and pillows to ensure a restful night's sleep.
The rooms are designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, whose signature style is evident throughout the hotel. He has created an elegant fusion of mid century modern and Moroccan inspired furnishings. Rooms and suites feature Dyptique bath amenities, vintage crystal stemware and Waterworks brass fixtures.
