Hotels have existed as early as the mid-17th century. Coaching inns, also known as roadhouses, served as resting places for travellers and their horses. In this article, we will introduce you to the ten most unique hotels in the world.
The word Hotel is derived from the word Hospital, which refers to the French version of a building that sees frequent visitors and provides care rather than a place for just accommodation. Sit back as we introduce you to the ten most unique hotels in the world.
Today, we have different types of hotels that vary in size, function, and cost. Most hotels have set widely accepted industry standards, and each hotel can be classified into one of these groups: international, upscale full-service, lifestyle luxury, extended stays, or motels.
There are over 700,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. The industry is thriving and is worth over $570 billion worldwide. Every day, people from around the world travel for various reasons, and today, we will show you the ten most unique hotels in the world for when you travel.
Most unique hotels in the world – WBL top tips and advice
- We advise you to book well in advance, especially if you intend on travelling during the festive seasons.
- Research the Location before booking. Some of these hotels are in the most remote places.
- Respect local customs, wildlife, and ecosystems. Follow any guidelines provided by the hotel to minimise your impact on the environment.
- Keep an open mind and be prepared for unexpected surprises. Remember that the experience is about more than just accommodation—it’s about creating lasting memories and stories to share.
1. Conrad Maldives – a tropical paradise
Overview: The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a luxurious resort, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean known for its beautiful coral reefs and over-water bungalows. It is found on two private islands, Rangali and Rangalifinolhu, in the south Ari atoll of the Maldives.
The hotel is close to: Velana International Airport.
IN HIGH DEMAND: This beauty is a blend of luxury, natural beauty, and dedicated hospitality, making it one of the most sought-after hotels in the world for those who want to enjoy this tropical getaway on their honeymoon, vacation, or relocation.
Key features include:
- An underwater restaurant, guests enjoy gourmet cuisines while being surrounded by the marine life of the Indian Ocean.
- Luxurious over-water villas, each with its own private deck and access to the clear waters below.
- Private dining where guest can enjoy themselves on the beach, in their vila, or a more secluded sea bank.
- Luxurious facilities such as world-class dining options, swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centre, and boutique shopping.
Address: Rangali Island, 20077, Maldives
2. Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita – historic cave dwelling
Overview: The name Sextantio refers to the sixth sense; this hotel aims to evoke this through its immersive and historical connection to the past. The hotel, located in Matera, is known for its ancient caves which have been inhabited for thousands of years.
The hotel is close to: The Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario anthropology museum.
IN HIGH DEMAND: The hotel preserves the authenticity and history of the caves while providing modern amenities for its guests, allowing them to enjoy and experience the rich history and culture of Matera, making it one of the most unique hotels in the world.
Key features include:
- A serene and peaceful atmosphere for guests to escape the hustle of modern life.
- Local cuisine serving traditional Italian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
- Wellness experiences such as spa treatments and massages.
- Cultural activities such as guided tours of Matera, cooking classes, or traditional art and craft workshops.
Address: Via Civita 28, 75100, Matera Italy
3. Attrap Reves Hotel – eco-friendly setting
Overview: Attrap Reves is located in France, Canada, and Switzerland. This unique hotel offers guests the opportunity to sleep in transparent bubbles in the middle of nature. The name Attrap Reves translates to dreamcatcher in English.
The hotel is close to: The Palais Longchamp Museum and Gardens and the Friche Belle de Mai Cultural Centre.
IN HIGH DEMAND: Each bubble in the Attrap Reves provides a panoramic view of the surrounding environment while being equipped with the basic amenities of a hotel, such as comfortable beds, lighting, and a small sitting area, depending on the bubble the guest picks.
Key features include:
- A telescope is provided in each room for stargasing, allowing guests to enjoy the night sky.
- The bubble rooms are situated in forested locations, allowing guests to feel truly connected to nature.
- Each bubble comes equipped with a king-sized bed, a table for two, electricity, and a shower.
- While the bubbles themselves are quite basic, guests have access to a nearby main building that provides meals, an outdoor jacuzzi, and other amenities.
Address: Chemin De La Ribassiere, 13190 Allauch France
4. Book and Bed – book lovers’ paradise
Overview: Book and Bed Hotel originated in Japan with the idea of creating a combination of accommodation and a library. The hotel features shelves of books lining the walls of private sleeping areas, creating a cosy and immersive environment for book lovers.
The hotel is close to: Seibu Shinjuku PePe Shopping Mall
IN HIGH DEMAND: This place is designed to cater to travelers who appreciate literature and want to experience a unique stay. This concept has garnered attention and praise for its innovative approach of blending hospitality, comfort, and reading.
Key features include:
- Accommodation is designed to resemble a cozy library, with bookshelves lining the walls of both the sleeping areas and the common spaces.
- Sleeping Pods: Instead of traditional rooms, the accommodation offers sleeping pods built into the bookshelves.
- The hotel boasts a diverse selection of books in various genres, languages, and formats.
- It’s within walking distance of Shinjuku Station, making it easy to access transportation options, shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Address: Japan, 〒542-0083 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Higashishinsaibashi, 1 Chome−19−11 UNAGIDANI SQUARE 3階
5. Giraffe Manor – live in the wild
Overview: What sets this place apart is obvious from its name. The Giraffe Manor is home to herds of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes in Kenya. The giraffes freely roam the premises and often approach guests to be hand-fed or petted.
The hotel is close to: Karen Blixen Museum
IN HIGH DEMAND: Due to its unique setting, the Giraffe Manor has become a very popular place for wildlife enthusiasts, honeymooners, and those who love to seek the memory and luxury of an African safari.
Key features include:
- One of the main draws of Giraffe Manor is the opportunity to interact closely with the resident giraffes.
- Historic property dating back to the 1930s. Its architecture reflects the colonial style of that era.
- The hotel is set on 12 acres of private land, featuring lush gardens, scenic pathways, and indigenous forest.
- Guests at Giraffe Manor can enjoy delicious meals prepared by talented chefs using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Address: Gogo Falls Road, Nairobi, Kenya
6. Faralda Crane Hotel – up in the sky
Overview: The Faralda Hotel, also known as the Faralda Crane Hotel, is one of the most unique hotels in the world. It is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This unique and unconventional hotel was built within a crane, and the suites are spread across different levels.
The hotel is close to: Dam Square and the Anne Frank House.
IN HIGH DEMAND: This venue also hosts events and gatherings such as parties, weddings, and corporate meetings. The venue provides a unique setting that makes it a very popular choice for special occasions and celebrations due to its stunning views from a lofty height.
Key features include:
- Faralda offers luxurious accommodation in three high-end suites: the Mystique, the Secret, and the Free Spirit.
- Guests have the opportunity to sleep in a converted industrial crane, surrounded by luxury and comfort.
- Each suite at Faralda comes with its own private jacuzzi on the terrace.
- Breathtaking views of the city skyline, including landmarks such as the A’DAM Tower, Central Station, and the historic canal district.
Address: NDSM-Plein 78, 1033 WB Amsterdam, Netherlands
4. Anthénea – sea escape
Overview: If you ever feel like the stress on land is taking its toll on you and you just want to escape to the sea to feel its peace, then this is the perfect spot for you. The Anthénea Hotel is located in France, and it’s the first-ever floating Eco-deluxe pod made.
The hotel is close to: Tourist Office of Lannion
IN HIGH DEMAND: These pods are a dream come true for guests who want to feel the peace of the waters in complete seclusion. The hotel resembles a futuristic pod that offers luxurious, eco-friendly accommodations to its guests.
Key features include:
- Anthénea features a distinctive circular design inspired by a spaceship.
- The hotel is powered by solar energy, with photovoltaic panels integrated into the roof.
- Each suite is equipped with a circular bed, lounge area, bathroom with a shower, and a terrace with a Jacuzzi.
- Anthénea is designed to be self-sufficient, with systems for water collection, filtration, and recycling.
Address: 13 Quai du Maréchal Foch, 22300 Lannion, France
3. Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring – a geometrical wonder
Overview: Speaking of uniqueness, the Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, also known as the Doughnut Hotel because of its obvious torus shape, is a luxurious hotel in China. This ten-story unique wonder offers everything and more you can find in a luxury hotel.
The hotel is close to: Museum Art China Hubi
IN HIGH DEMAND: China is known for reaching incredible infrastructural heights, but this hotel is still one of the most unique places in the whole country and is popular for weddings, events, conferences, and tourism due to its unique shape and features.
Key features include:
- The hotel boasts hot spring facilities, allowing guests to relax and rejuvenate in natural thermal waters.
- Guests can enjoy fine dining experiences at upscale restaurants serving a diverse selection of cuisines, including Chinese, Japanese, and international dishes.
- The hotel offers versatile event spaces, including ballrooms, meeting rooms, and outdoor venues, equipped with modern audiovisual technology.
- Recreational outdoor activities such as outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, cycling paths, and water sports on Taihu Lake,
Address: China, Zhejiang, Huzhou, Wuxing District, 太湖路5858号 邮政编码: 313006
2. Palacio de Sal – salt flats
Overview: The Palacio de Sal is definitely part of the most unique hotels in the world, it is made out of salt. Yes, you read right, the hotel, located in Bolivia is entirely constructed out of salt blocks, the walls, the floors, and the furniture.
The hotel is close to: DakarSalar Monument to Uyuni
IN HIGH DEMAND: This place has gained both local and international attention for its unique design plus its stunning surroundings. However, due to its location, it is important for visitors to take extreme weather and altitude caution before visiting.
Key features include:
- Each room in the Palacio de Sal Hotel is crafted from salt blocks, providing guests with a truly immersive experience.
- The hotel features salt-based facilities such as a sauna and steam room.
- Various adventure activities such as tours of the salt flats, visits to nearby attractions like the Train Cemetery, and outdoor excursions.
- Situated on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake of Uyuni, the hotel offers stunning panoramic views of the vast salt flats.
Address: A 25 Km de Uyuni, Colchani, Bolivia
1. Ice Hotel – going back to the ice-age
Overview: The Ice Hotel, located in Sweden, is unique not only for its looks but also for the effort that goes into it. It was first opened in 1990, and every year since then, it’s been rebuilt from December to April. How unique is that?
The hotel is close to: Nutti Sámi Siida cultural and reindeer park
IN HIGH DEMAND: The Ice Hotel offers a different range of accommodations, from basic rooms to luxurious suites. The rooms are furnished with ice decor, and the hotel offers more than a stay-in experience; you can go on snowmobile races, horseback, or even a dog sled if you are lucky.
Key features include:
- These unique accommodations feature elaborate ice sculptures and intricate designs, each created by different artists.
- The Ice Hotel also offers warm accommodations, including traditional hotel rooms and chalets.
- Winter activities for guests to enjoy, including dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice sculpting classes, Northern Lights tours, and more.
- The Ice Hotel features an ice bar where guests can enjoy drinks served in glasses made entirely of ice.
Address: Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Notable mentions
Jumbo Stay, Sweden: This hotel offers a variety of accommodations, including private rooms and dormitory-style bunk beds, all within the confines of an aircraft.
Guests can experience the novelty of sleeping in a converted airplane while enjoying modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, bathrooms, and a shared lounge area.
The Wigwam Motel, San Bernadino, California: The motel features 19 teepee-shaped rooms arranged in a semicircle, each with its own parking space right in front. Visitors can stay in these individual wigwams, equipped with modern amenities but retain their nostalgic feel.
No Man’s Fort, Portsmouth, England: No Man’s Fort is one of the historic sea forts in the Solent, off the coast of Portsmouth, England.
It was built in the mid-19th century as a part of the Palmerston Forts, a series of coastal defenses constructed during the Victorian era to protect Britain from potential invasion by France.
Your questions answered about the most unique hotels in the world
What is the most expensive hotel in the world?
Every year, the ranking changes, but The Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, is often cited as one of the most expensive hotels in the world.
What is the number one best hotel in the world?
Passalacqua, located in Moltrasio on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, has been awarded the title of The World’s Best Hotel for 2023. This breathtaking boutique hotel, nestled by the serene waters of Lake Como, has garnered this prestigious recognition despite being open for only a year.
Which is the most luxurious hotel in the world?
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai stands as an icon of luxury, transcending mere architectural marvel to become a global symbol of luxury. Undoubtedly the most iconic structure gracing the Dubai skyline, it is celebrated worldwide for its unparalleled luxury and grandeur.
