18 courtyard Hotels

The central prison of Lucerne was built in 1862 and operated until 1998. This historic building was recently repurposed, allowing you to stay in one of the 60 prison cell rooms. The hotel got its name after Barabas, a brave pacifist man who refused military service, and as a result, …

After staying at the RAAS Jodhpur, you may think RAAS stands for “Really Amazing Accommodations - Seriously!” after staying at the RAAS Jodhpur. Located in the northeastern quarter of India’s famous “Blue City”, the RAAS Jodhpur is a true treasure for all who stay. With 40 rooms and suites, guests …

Sekeping Kong Heng is a boutique hotel located in Ipoh, an old British colonial town with a slow pace of life near to some fabulous hiking trails. The three-story building was originally a home for actors who performed in an adjacent theatre that burnt down in the 1950s. Sekeping Kong …

The white cliffs of Dover have inspired literature and songs for centuries, in addition to drawing thousands of tourists every year. The South Foreland Lighthouse is one of the most famous Victorian landmarks of the area and offers some of this picturesque area's best views. While most visitors only come …

The 18th-century mansion within the confines of St. Jorge’s Castle in Alfama, Lisbon is home to Solar do Castelo. This eco-hotel, which was built on the site of the former Alcaçova Palace, offers top-of-the-line hotel rooms with hardwood floors contemporary décor, a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, and a bathroom with a …

Whether you are visiting Amsterdam for business or pleasure, or perhaps a mix of both, one of the most unique hotel experiences to be had is at the Hôtel Droog. It is located in the heart of the historical center of the city and what makes it truly interesting is …

This boutique hotel in Laguna Beach, California is a special design hotel created by the famous Horst Architects. They have created a contemporary design in conversation with the quaint aesthetics of Laguna Beach. They used reclaimed wood from buildings demolished in east LA, over 100 years old. The garden seems …

A relaxing get-away in the suburbs of Bangsar, Sekeping Tenggiri is a surprising mix of art and garden taste. The ambiance of country living is immediately visible in the vine-covered screen marking the patio entrance. The feelings become more pronounced as you enter the enclosed courtyard. Virulent greenery and carefully …

This hotel is an Organic Bed & Breakfast and Ecology Resource Center which means they have amazing gardens overflowing with flowers, hand-built guestrooms using ethically-sourced materials, and a lovely courtyard and tea room. Much of the hotel has been made from recycled materials. There are buildings made from straw-bale and …

This was originally the home of a Turkish ‘pasha’ or high ranking military officer. In the 19th Century, it became home to a Swedish and American ‘colony’ who were all members of the ‘Christian Utopia Society’. The colony lived a communal lifestyle and engaged in philanthropic work for all the …

Run by the Rosminian Order of the Catholic Church, the Glencomeragh Hermitages are part of a wider complex that includes a lovely country house converted for use by those seeking a spiritual retreat. The hermitages are functional, modern constructions set on stilts on the lush Irish hillside.

This stunning hotel was built in 1952 as part of the ‘Soviet Skyscraper’ project. The foundation stones were laid in 1947 to mark the 800th anniversary of Moscow and celebrate the USSR's victory in World War Two. Though completed after his death, this building and its sisters are seen as …

Built in 1724 during the Baroque period of European art, this historic townhouse is decorated in ostentatious red and gold, thick gilded plaster, and heavy marbling. It has been well cared for in the intervening centuries and was last renovated in the 1990s. It is part of a string of …

‘The canyon wilderness, the hoodoo land of spire and pillar and pinnacle where no man lives’ is how transcendental anarchist author Edward Abbey described the landscape where Amangiri Villas sit; their sandstone walls blending perfectly into the desert setting. The architecture is simple and modern, with large glass windows drawing …

Designed to enhance the beauty of the natural landscape traditionally used for farming and olive grows by the native Basque people, Aire de Bardenas is a great example of how contemporary architecture can be used to build excellent hotels. The main façade of the hotel is built from containers originally …

You will be pleased to know your window does not have bars here. And you can check out whenever you like. When this unusual hotel was a prison, inmates would ask each other: ‘how long is your cake?’ ‘Cake’ was a term Finnish prisoners used to describe the length of …

I love Amsterdam. With street names like PC Hoofdstraat and the Vondelpark, I can imagine only the Von Trapps and Clogs - happy times. This hotel is one for all you philosophy lovers. So, get your heads out of the clouds you dreamers! Unless, of course, you are staying in …

This building was used as a prison from 1866-1995. Now it is one of the more unusual hostels in the world. Cells have been converted into comfortable rooms and the old prison doors remain as they were, save for a lick of paint and the removal of spy holes. There …