Most popular unique hotels

Nebuchadnezzar II built the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon for the benefit of his wife, who was homesick for mountainous scenery. These hanging gardens were created for those who enjoy modern hotels with a twist. Located in Ubud (meaning “healing”), the location is home to some of Bali’s great artists …

The eye-popping architecture of the Hotel Marques de Riscal makes a real statement; it was designed and built by Frank O. Gehry, who Vanity Fair labeled ‘the most important architect of our age’. Just take a minute to imagine booking yourself into this inspiring building in the center of the …

The ultimate hidden villa is tucked away under the snow-capped mountains in the green meadows of the Swiss village of Vals. This house is carved into the mountainside in a flawless design to leave the natural surroundings unharmed. Villa Vals can accommodate up to ten people and is set within …

What makes this hotel so special is your host’s meticulous adherence to Japanese inn-keeping traditions. The aim is to anticipate and meet your needs before you are even aware of them yourself. Your hostess, Jeanie Fuji, is arguably the world’s best practitioner of the traditional Japanese art of hospitality. It …

The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is 232 square miles of Chilean Rainforest. It was originally part of the Chilean state forestry commission, administered by the Pinochet regime. In the 1980s progressive economical thinkers known as the ‘Chicago Boys’ encouraged the state to sell off these assets, the Huilo Huilo reserve …

The Aurora Express is a bed and breakfast in Alaska where you stay in renovated railroad carriages. These vintage carriages were set to become a museum until the Wilson family decided to turn them into a Bed & Breakfast. Now, the old railroad cars sit high on a hill overlooking …

Among the Kimono shops and brooding Yakuza members in San Fransisco’s Japan Town, there is a hotel devoted to Manga and Japanese pop culture. The lobby continuously plays old Godzilla movies. Buy your snacks from a robot vending machine. Like Manga? Who doesn’t? These incredible murals are originals by contemporary …

Where in the world would a nightclub and hotel merge to create a hotel-club hybrid with an open-air dance floor, pool, and music stage? Ibiza of course. Feel like a king or queen of the night as you view the party from your own private balcony. The hotel is right …

Like the Fortress of Solitude in Superman minus the crystal-powered computer, the ICEHotel is built every winter in Swedish Lapland. It melts every summer and rises again the following year. An open call to artists, architects, and designers is always available, and the hotel pushes creativity forward with a selection …

Legend has it that the great Buddhist teacher, Taicho Daishi, saw a vision while traveling in the local area. In his vision, a great deity made it known to him that nearby was a hot spring flowing with marvelous waters that had the power to heal the souls of all …

Recharge, refresh, and relieve all your stresses at the Vana retreat in Dehradun, India. But, if you’re looking for a lavish hotel with tons of activities, restaurants, and entertainment to enjoy, this may not be the best choice for you. Rather, Vana is meant for those who wish to truly …

Certainly not a traditional hotel, the Ecopod Retreat offers guests a stay in one of two pods tucked away in a birch woodland setting in Scotland. Both light-filled domes are over 750 square feet and offer views of Castle Stalker (named from the Gaelic Stalcaire, which means hunter or falconer) …

British Columbia is one of the few temperate wildernesses left on Earth. This Lodge is the kind of place that offers 'Grizzly Bear Viewing Packages' - awesome! The Lodge has a no mobile phone policy, and everything is geared towards creating a serene retreat from the insanity of modern life. …

The Cube Aletsch offers a one-off experience in so many ways. Located in a remote place 2,869 m (9,413 ft) above sea level in Switzerland, this double occupancy hideaway sits next to the largest glacier in the Alps. The Aletsch Glacier is currently 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) long, but it …

It holds the world record for ‘smallest hotel in the world’, and when you arrive at Punta Grande, you will be forgiven for thinking you have arrived at the home of an insane fisherman with love for very exposed locations. Situated on a rocky outcrop on the island of El …

Which was the coolest iron-age tribe? The Vikings, of course. Their horned helmets, love of pillage, and super-fast longboats made them a fearsome force to be reckoned with in early Europe. Every summer, in a typically unpronounceable Icelandic town, Viking culture comes alive in the Viking Festival in Hafnarfjordur.

This place is pretty damn exclusive for something called Public Hotel. Actually, forget exclusive. This place is fabulous. But despite its extravagant looks, Public Hotel is very decently priced (if you can say that anything is decently priced in New York). The modest pricing is a conscious choice of Ian …

How do you stand out in such a cool city as Copenhagen? Well, Manon Les Suites by Guldsmeden Hotels has a few tricks up its sleeve. It's situated in the hot spot of all the buzz the Danish capital offers. But what's hidden inside the unassuming walls of this 5-star …

Part of the hilariously named French Lick Resort, West Baden Springs, is a hotel extravaganza. When it was opened in 1902, dumb-struck locals called it the ‘8th Wonder of the World’, and its mineral water baths were said to cure everything apart from credulity. In 1917, an incredible renovation saw …

Located in Brickell Avenue, the money district of Miami, this hotel is aimed at the business elite but is still near to the interesting parts of the town. Swim in the 300-foot infinity pool and then wash up at the poolside bar and fireplace. Like chess but find that normal …