The Most Interesting Places You Could Stay on Holiday

8 Nov 2014

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Hotel Costa Verde 727 Fuselage (Costa Rica)

You've probably never thought about how badly you want to stay in an exclusive two-bedroom suite built right into the converted hull of a Boeing 727 in the Costa Rican jungle. The best part? You can "enjoy an evening on the terrace while sipping a glass of wine and observing your tree top neighbors: sloths, toucans, monkeys and more."

Mirrored Home (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

The reviews of this AirBnB listing are in, and the home is apparently as amazing as it is interesting-looking. And it is very interesting-looking.

Hotel Au Vieux Panier, France

At the Hotel Au Vieux Panier, every room is a work of art, and that art changes every year. Titled "Panic Room," this one was designed and executed by street artist "Tilt," who spent days spraying it in 2012.

Palm Beach Teepee Village (Hong Kong, China)

When I think about traveling to Hong Kong (or anywhere in China), the absolute last think I'd imagine staying in would be a teepee. Then again, at $122 a night, it might be worth it just to say you did.

The Boot Bed and Breakfast (Tasman Bay, New Zealand)

There once was a lady who lived in a shoe, and for $300NZ-a-night you can too.

The Manta Resort (Pemba Island, Tanzania)

It has long been a dream of mine to live underwater, somewhere off the coast of anywhere. This might just be the closest we're going to get, just off the wild and beautiful island of Pemba in Africa's Tanzania.

Converted Train Caboose (Agoura Hills, California)

A gem from AirBnB, this stationary defunct caboose near Malibu has been modified to include a California King sized bed, fireplace, wee kitchenette, and comes complete with a patio for lounging.

Llandudno Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast (Wales)

For living out your salty seaman fantasies, this fully-equipped lighthouse in Wales delivers nothing but the finest ocean-view stay.

Air Hotel (Belgium)

Made of recycled refuse, these ever-changing part-art part-hotel pods are a testament to the growing interest in ecotourism, as well as sleeping in trees.

Hotel Kakslauttanen (Finland)

You know what they say about people who live in glass igloos? Apparently they get spectacular views of the aurora borealis.

Steve's Backyard (Napa, California)

This right here is why we have services like AirBnb--so that resourceful entrepreneurs can provide the world with the services it clearly desires. In this case, that desire is to rent a patch of dirt for the low-low price of $40 a night. And that patch of dirt gets pretty stellar reviews.

Kolarbyn EcoLodge (Sweden)

At Kolarbyn, you can reconnect with nature, by having everything (housing included) be made from the earth.

Attrap Reves (France)

For the glamping elite, nothing about the Attrap Reves resembles the experience you might expect from the great outdoors--unless those outdoors are from the future in a galaxy far away.

Cabane de Capitaine Némo (Nantes, France)

As you might have gleaned from the name, this duplex in Nantes is outfitted with all sorts of paraphernalia with a distinctly Jules Verne feel. The Cabin of Captain Nemo even offers a wine and meal service, so you can focus on steering the Nautilus and brooding.

Mira Mira (Crossover, Australia)

A place of fantasy and whimsy, Mira Mira (near Mount Baw Baw) boasts seclusion, wildlife, and "undulating grasses."

Hostel Celica (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Hostel Celica in Slovenia boasts that it has transformed a former prison into the "Worlds No.1 Hippest Hostel," and while I'm sure some would beg to differ, it was a fabulous reconstitution of an otherwise solemn place.

Capsule Hotel (The Hague, Netherlands)

If you're looking for a small space that feels like it's from the dystopian future of the past, these survival pods from the '70's are your ideal destination.

Liberty Hotel (Boston, Massachusetts)

Formerly the Charles Street Jail, the Liberty Hotel in Boston is now an ultra-swanky luxury hotel, outfitted with bars the patrons will actually enjoy.

Container Home (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)

I love it when people find creative reimaginings for things, like this converted shipping-container-turned-suite in Spain. It's got everything you'd want for your stay in Spain, at $109 a night.

The Mirrorcube TreeHotel (Harads, Sweden)

If you're not looking closely, its possible you'd miss it altogether. More than just a room, a mirror, a cube, and a treehouse, the Mirrorcube Treehouse Room is the ultimate conversation starter of a hotel.

Blow Up Hall 5050 Hotel (Poznan, Poland)

One part art, one part adventure, your stay at Blow Up Hall 5050 Hotel in Poland will be a unique and exclusive experience, guaranteed. The rooms have no numbers, there's no reception, and guests are given an iPhone that serves as a virtual concierge, as well as a guide and key to access to their room for their stay.

The House of Collection (Brooklyn, New York)

I have often thought that my visit to New York was woefully incomplete, since I did not personally have the opportunity to relive an episode of Hoarders while I was there. Don't make my mistake, take up Paige & Ahnika on their offer to stay in their House of Collection in Williamsburg.

The Pavilion Fashion Hotel (London, United Kingdom)

For Rock 'n' Roll kitsch of the most unusual variety (like this room, the "Honky Tonk Afro" suite), consider a stay at The Pavilion while visiting London.

Hayema Heerd Oldehove (Netherlands)

Resorts are so passé, you've probably had enough down comforters, plush bathrobes, and jacuzzi tubs to last a lifetime. What you really need ares any of Hayema Heerd's exotic offerings, like their hay igloo, hay loft, and strawbale suites. Sleep on real straw, in luxury.

Boscolo Exedra (Milan, Italy)

Part of the Autograph Collection, Boscolo Exedra in Milan is all about earning its 5 stars through ultra-futuristic decor and its unbeatable location.

Casa Caracol (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)

Who knew that staying in a giant seashell was not only possible, but also gets amazing reviews? Bonus: "Wifi is provided for free in the QUEEN CONCH."

Tree Sparrow House (St. Keverne, England)

Form meets function in this ash-tree accommodation. Not only is it a treehouse (and therefore comes with all of the associated bragging rights of staying in a treehouse), but it's also a fabulous way to take in the English countryside.

Montaña Mágica Lodge (Chile)

If you've ever been to Magic Mountain at Disney World, then you'll notice right away that this is exactly nothing like that. This Magic Mountain is all about preserving the magic of nature, seated deep in Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve in the Chilean-Patagonian rainforest.

Propeller Island City Lodge (Germany)

The king of "WTF hotels," Propeller Island City Lodge is indeed more art than it is lodging. With dozens of rooms aimed to confuse, delight, and disturb, it truly must be seen to be believed.

Das Park Hotel (Osterreich, Austria)

Maybe sleeping in a cement tube designed for sewage is not your idea of a dream vacation, but a night in one of these would be distinctly different than crashing in a sewer. Designed in 2004 by Andreas Strauss, each tube-room comes with a hand painted mural by artist Thomas Latzel Ochoa to give them their own distinctive character.

La Balade des Gnomes (Durbuy, Belgium)

Drawing from stories and fairy tales around the world, architect Dominique Noel set out to design one of the most unusual resorts in the world. From Trojan Horse Suites, to space scenes, La Balade des Gnomes is a realm of pure imagination.

Celeste's Backyard Floating Bed (Mission Viejo, California)

Another must-see gem from the archives of AirBnB, this luxury floating bed in Celeste's backyard has 38 glowing reviews. 38 people have spent $65 or more a night just to sleep on this. And they loved it.

V8 Hotel (Stuttgart, Germany)

For car-lovers and all those boys and girls who outgrew their race car beds physically, but not emotionally, the V8 Hotel in Germany was made for you.

Yankee Historic Ferryboat (Hoboken, New Jersey)

What happens when an artsy couple takes over the last remaining Ellis Island Ferry, and decides to turn it into a boatel on the Hoboken Pier? You get Yankee Ferry, where the decor is strange and the eggs are fresh (apparently from onboard chicken coops).

Dog Bark Park Inn (Cottonwood, Idaho)

It's a giant beagle, and a bed and breakfast. What's not to love?

Jumbohostel (Stockholm-Arlanda, Sweden)

One of the original decommissioned and repurposed airplanes, Jumbohostel at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm turns the large cabin (and cockpit!) of a 747 into a 27-room mini-resort and lounge.

Kevin's '98 Honda Accord (Los Angeles, California)

Found yourself without a place to stay while visiting Hollywood? Got an extra $15? Then you're in luck, because this guy will let you sleep in his car.

Yellow Submarine Hotel (Liverpool, England)

For the hardcore Beatles fan, now you too can live in a yellow submarine located at Albert Dock in Liverpool. The interior is decked out with Beatles paraphernalia collected by owner Alfie Bubbles.

BaseCamp Bonn (Bonn, Germany)

Ever wonder what it would be like to stay in a trailer caravan, or a detached train sleeper car, a 16 person tour bus, or a couple psychedelic VW buses that are all parked inside of a warehouse in Germany? Of course you have, which is obviously why BaseCamp Hostel Bonn was created.

Abali Gran Sultanato (Palermo, Italy)

1001 intense colors and wacky Arabian themes are the cornerstones of this B&B in Palermo. As an added bonus, apparently there are costumes in the rooms that match the decor and theme.

Giraffe Manor (Kenya, Africa)

Oh yes, the Rothschild giraffes are real, and you will get to meet them at Giraffe Manor in Kenya. Be it on the sprawling 140 acre reserve, the front lawn, or peeking in from the second story window. You will meet them, and they will meet you.

Nakagin Capsule Tower (Tokyo, Japan)

For $82 a night, you can stay at Capsule Tower in Tokyo which built in the '70's in the heart of the famous Ginza district. Sure, the rooms may be small and lacking in certain amenities like running showers, but reviewers say it's all worth it for the "history."

Karostas Cietums (Karosta, Latvia)

I'm of the mind that if you don't have to sign a waiver to stay somewhere, you're not doing it right. And, for those of us who want to drop too much money to spend a night in an old (and surely haunted) Latvian prison while being treated like a prisoner, Karostas Cietums is there for us.

The Atomium (Brussels, Belgium)

Originally designed for the 1958 World's Fair, the Atomium is patterned after iron crystals viewed on the atomic level. Originally designed as living quarters, the building has become a discovery museum of sorts, and allows class field trips to spend the night inside it, doing science-y things.

Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast (Farmington, New Mexico)

This B&B near Mesa Verde National Monument comes with everything you'd expect from a bed and breakfast that happens also to be in a cave (except, of course, the batmobile).

Kofftel (Lunzenau, Germany)

The self-proclaimed "world's smallest hotel," Kofftel wants you to know exactly how your clothes feel in your overstuffed suitcase by putting you, your stuff, your bunks, and a bathroom inside a small building shaped like a suitcase.

Whitepod Hotel (Switzerland)

The "eco-luxury and Alpine experience," Whitepod in Switzerland puts you inside a cutting edge geodesic dome-tent in the Alps, complete with woodburning stove. I'm not sure what sort of sorcery keeps the stove from igniting and/or melting the tent, nor am I sure that burning wood is the most eco-friendly way to heat a space, but I can say with certainty that any stay there would be an amazing one nonetheless.

The Round Room in the Sky (London, England)

It's a converted water tower in the middle of North Kensington, which is honestly the greatest idea I've ever heard. I bet the view up there is spectacular.

1950's Bristol Freighter Plane (Waitomo, New Zealand)

Seated in New Zealand's Woodlyn Park (and minutes from the famous Waitomo Glow Worm Caves), this demilitarized freighter plane from 1950's comes complete with two fully-equipped rooms. Bonus: Yes, that's a habitable hobbit hole in the background.

Hotel Everland (Paris, France)

Part epic hotel idea, part performance art piece, the Hotel Everland was a single luxury room that traveled between France, Switzerland, and Germany during 2002-2009. It was simply parked places and guests were invited to stay (and catch once-in-a-lifetime views of the cities they were in).

Hotel Galéria Spirit (Bratislava, Slovakia)

As colorful on the inside as it is on the outside, the avant-garde Hotel Galéria Spirit in Bratislava tops the charts as one of the most unusual-looking hotels in the world.

Sala Silvermine (Sweden)

Nothing says luxury like staying in a converted cave 510 feet underground, which is exactly what you'll get at the Sala Silvermine (the "world's deepest hotel").

Hotel de Glace (Quebec, Canada)

Every winter for the past 15 years, 44 suites full of art and sculpture arise from nothingness to the delight of guests and visiting tourists. Sculpted from snow and ice, and designed by a different batch of artists every time, the Hotel de Glace is one of the world's premier (and most photographed) ice hotels.

La Villa Hamster (Nantes, France)

Now those visiting France can add "spend a night like a hamster" to their travel to-do, as La Villa Hamster in Nantes puts you in the hamster cage. And they went all out with the experience, including hamster hoods to wear during your stay, organic grains in the "mini bar," a large pedal operated water spigot, a person-sized hamster wheel, and a large chamber of wood chips in the bathroom.

Hotel Pelirocco Brighton (Brighton, England)

Yarn bombing and puns abound in the "Do Knit Disturb" room of the Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton. One of several theme rooms (others include record shop, Star Wars, and nautical vibes), everything in the room is either covered in yarn, or made entirely of yarn (including a bedside display of knitted food items, and mock courtesy items in the bathroom).

Museumotel (France)

Also known as "The Bubbles Island," the Museumotel was built in the 60's by a "utopian architect," and recently renovated in 2007. The 8 "bubbles" can house 2-5 people comfortably, and come in a variety of decor options (most of which still look like they're fresh out of the 60's).

Cubehouse (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

The highly concept-driven Cubehouses in Rotterdam were designed by Piet Blom, and based on expanding attic-space into a useable room by tilting the cubic space on its axis, thus creating a "forest" of geometric tree-esque houses. Yeah, I didn't get it either.

Palacio de Sal (Uyuni, Bolivia)

The Palace of Salt in Bolivia is, as you might expect, made almost entirely out of salt. On the outer edge of the most famous salt flats in the world (the Salar de Uyuni), the Palacio de Sal we see today was built in 2007, and actually has a rule that prohibits guests from licking the walls.

Museum Hotel Atelier sul Mare (Sicily, Italy)

This art-museum-hotel features a host of rooms designed by a laundry list of well-known Italian artists (and bear names like "The Mouth of Truth," "The Tower of Sigismondo," and "I'm Boarding On A Paper Boat"). And yes, the emphasis here is on the word art.

The Balancing Barn (Suffolk, England)

The incredibly popular Balancing Barn in Suffolk is known for its playful design, and the incredible near-360-degree views of the surrounding land offered from the living room, suspended above the sloping hill. Yes, the floor is glass-bottomed so you can see the ground far below you, and yes, The Balancing Barn is almost completely booked up through most of 2015.

Barcelo Raval Hotel (Barcelona, Spain)

Sure, the design at the Barcelo Raval Hotel is modern to the point of almost being goofy, but we forgive it for its excellent reviews, four-star rating, and ideal location minutes away from the famous Las Ramblas.

Waitanic Ship Motel (Otorohanga, New Zealand)

While you might think that any allusion to the Titanic would do more harm than good when trying to inspire confidence in the safety and stability of your vessel, we'll let it slide for the Waitanic (since the ship is completely landlocked in a valley in New Zealand). Built in 1942, the hotel actually gets remarkably good reviews for an old ship that's basically in the meadow of nowhere.

Cocoa Island Hotel (Maldives)

On the other side of the coin, here's what doing boat-accommodations right looks like. The famous Coco Island Maldives resort consists of "33 overwater suites" docked across renowned white-sand beaches and surrounded by vibrant reefs.

Solent Forts (Gosport, England)

When "getting away from it all" means getting away from it ALL, now there's a place you can go to experience utter solitude. These converted forts were originally designed and built in the late 1800's to defend the harbor from nautical attacks, but have since been transformed into exclusive luxury-huts miles off the coast of Portsmouth, and are only accessible by private yacht and helicopter.

Aurora Express B&B (Fairbanks, Alaska)

More than just a single train car in the middle of nowhere, now you can stay at a full train in the middle of nowhere! With each car slightly weirder than the last, the Wilson family invites you to explore their once-mobile suites. And with names like, "Golden Nellie," "Immaculate Conception," and "Bordello," how could you not be a little bit enticed by their offer?

Seaventures Rig Resort (Pulau Mabul, Malaysia)

Ever wonder what it's like to stay on an oil rig? Well now you can, thanks to the folks at Seaventures who acquired and transformed this rig into a dive-ready resort. And by transformed, I of course mean "mildly converted" (their own description of the renovations, courtesy of their website).

Cappadocia Cave Suites (Goreme, Turkey)

Another renowned cave-hotel, the rooms at the Cappadocia Cave Suites are a TripAdvisor favorite. I think we can trust the 571 satisfied customers, and file this under a "must stay" location when visiting Turkey.

IceHotel (Jukkasjärvi, Sweden)

By now you've probably heard of the infamous Swedish IceHotel, which gets bragging rights as the "world's first ice hotel." Constructed out of sprayed ice, the IceHotel has become such an icon that last year over 200 artists applied for the prestigious opportunity to participate in the design of the Hotel's 2013 incarnation .

Arte Luise Kunsthotel (Berlin, Germany)

At Arte Luise Kunsthotel in Berlin, every room of the hotel is a mixed-media masterpiece of art, a festival of odd and intrigue. Personally, I've always wondered what life would be like inside a cartoon (and this looks like as close as I'm going to get).

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