The 10 Most Unusual Places to Stay Around the World
Photo: Avanti
While some travelers opt for traditional hotels, all-inclusives, or mega cruise ships for their vacations, others desire accommodations that are more unique. This is where travel advisors can really shine, recommending standout properties that give their clients elevated, once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, along with impressive bragging rights.
Anita Sears, travel advisor, Dream Vacations, says: “I love when I get a phone call and the client says, ‘We want to go somewhere new and different, do you have any ideas?’ My response is, “I always have ideas! I ask a lot of questions to understand what kind of experience they are seeking, and when I suggest out-of-the-box accommodations, I am usually met with a delightful response! It is my job (and pleasure) to curate the most wonderful experience that’s the best fit for them.”
She goes on to say: “Many people desire this type of travel, but don’t know how to make it happen, or have hesitations about the safety or logistics. I hope that I can assist them in making their interests a reality!”
Many of the most unique properties are off the beaten path and out of the city centers. Some will choose to spend their entire vacation on property. But others may wish to pair their uncommon accommodation stay with a city visit. For instance, on one trip, they can explore Copenhagen and Oslo along with a few nights at a Lapland snow hotel. Travel advisors who suggest itineraries and accommodations like these, which many people do not even know exist, are sure to stand out to clients who are predisposed to the avant-garde.
Here are 10 of the most unusual places to stay around the world.
1. Snowhotel Kirkenes (Kirkenes, Norway)
Travelers venture into Norway’s far north for the magical wintertime allure of this out-of-this-world, 4-star property, the first hotel made of snow and ice. They enjoy an abundance of Scandinavian spectacles including reindeer, snow-themed suites, and panoramic windows for viewing the Aurora Borealis.
2. Haeinsa Temple Stay (Gayasan National Park, Korea)
The magnificent Haeinsa, “Temple of the Ocean Mudra,” is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Korea as one of the “Three Jewels Temples.” Built in the ninth century in traditional style, Haeinsa is the home to Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of 81,258 wooden printing blocks that represent the world’s oldest and most comprehensive Buddhist canon in Chinese characters. An exclusive stay here features monastic meals, Seon Meditation, Buddhist teachings, as well as hearing the beating Dharma drum in the crisp morning air, and visiting the mountain hermitages above the temple.
3. Las Qolqas Eco Resort (Ollantaytambo, Peru)
“I fell in love with this resort!” reports Sears. “It is nestled in the hills with stunning views, sunsets, landscapes, and a natural vibe. Glamping at its finest. It is first class, while also making one feel a part of nature. They have a library, a telescope for stargazing, gourmet food, a spa, and a welcoming staff. It seems remote, but the cool town of Ollantaytambo is very close – great shops, incredible restaurants, and access to Machu Picchu. This is a hidden gem that upscale and nature-loving clients would adore.”
4. Gora Kadan (Hakone, Japan)
This minimalist, five-star, luxury property is a superlative example of a ‘ryokan.’ It is a traditional Japanese inn that features tatami-matted rooms, kaiseki cuisine, and therapeutic baths.
5. Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (Rovaniemi, Finland)
Surrounded by a pine forest away from SantaPark (a famous Christmas-themed attraction), this 4-star, cozy accommodation built inside modern structures features elegant Scandinavian design. The well-appointed rooms come with massive floor-to-ceiling windows, enabling breathtaking views of the otherworldly Lappish landscape bathed by the Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun.
6. Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita (Matera, Italy)
Visitors relish in authentic Italian hospitality at this 4-star collection of renovated dwellings in Matera’s ancient Civita Caves. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the carefully restored cave-style rooms offer a one-of-a-kind experience bursting with rustic charm.
7. Likuliku Lagoon Resort (Mamanuca, Fiji)
This is a Fijian fairytale where tradition and luxury blend with island harmony. Guests bask in Fijian-style bures and overwater bungalows, with sweeping views of beautiful Likuliku Lagoon and the ocean. Luxuriously appointed, the five-star accommodations are built around authentic architecture, with natural materials and traditional features such as local Vesi floors, hand-carved wooden window pelmets, hand-woven magi magi art, and Soga internal thatching woven by authentic artisans from the remote Lau Group of Islands.
8. Parador de Cardona (Cardona, Spain)
Perched atop a hill that overlooks the Catalonia countryside, this 9th-century parador resembles a fairytale with stately towers, beautiful stone archways, and classic Spanish-style features and furnishings. This 4-star property offers an appealing city break en route to Northern Spain.
9. Memories Aicha Camp (Wadi Rum, Jordan)
“Oh my, to spend the night in the desert under a clear dome? What a dream!” says Sears. “Jordan is an ancient and exotic location that is high on my bucket list.” Nestled in the heart of Wadi Rum’s majestic desert dunes, this three-star accommodation offers an unparalleled desert oasis within its luxurious glamping grounds. With 40 exquisitely appointed tents and select bungalows enclosed by state-of-the-art clear domes, visitors enjoy a blend of modern comforts with the traditional furnishings and landscapes of Jordan, complete with the cultural experience of authentic Bedouin cuisine and live music on a sweeping terrace.
10. Treehotel (Harads, Sweden)
Guests sleep among the treetops of Sweden in a selection of highly unique cabins that resemble majestic, one-of-a-kind shapes ranging from a bird’s nest to a UFO. With modern design and environmental values in mind, this property immerses visitors into local nature and culture.
Whether travelers stay in a majestic castle, luxurious desert camp, exotic rainforest lodge, sustainable eco-hotel, traditional ryokan, or other truly unique accommodations, they are increasingly choosing to embark on extraordinary journeys that transport them across space, time, and cultures. The job of a travel advisor is to ferret out the clients who prefer rare and uncommon adventures over mass-market travel.
Sears tells us why she feels travelers are interested in these types of experiences: “I think travelers these days are seeking authentic and immersive experiences. Our priorities and personal lens has changed since 2020. More people are living for today, the here-and-now, and not delaying their dreams.”
FROM THE SPONSOR
Since 1981, Avanti Destinations has been selling independent travel products and custom-crafted vacations in Central and South America, Europe and the UK, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the South Pacific exclusively through travel advisors. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator has expanded service hours with the addition of a second reservations center based in Manchester, England allowing advisors to book customized vacations over the phone Monday-Friday from 6am-8pm Eastern Time.
Avanti offers a wide range of vacation components including air, rail, rental cars, hotels and unique accommodations, sightseeing/attractions, transfers, and hard-to-find experiential travel options. Avanti specializes in hand-picked hotels in both large and small cities; and in connecting all the pieces of complex, multi-destination itineraries for individuals and custom groups of 15-100 passengers. For more information: https://book.avantidestinations.com.
