13 of the World’s Most Intriguing Hotels

There is no doubt that planning your next vacation is a lot of fun. In your research, you come across so many beautiful sites and cities to experience that it can often seem overwhelming. 

However, this time, you’re looking for something that isn’t your run-of-the-mill destination spot. You need excitement, intrigue, weird. Nothing like you’ve ever seen or done before. 

Those novel places do exist, and occasionally, with a heftier price tag. Here are 13 of the most intriguing hotels across the globe that will scratch that wanderlust itch. 

1. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives

In 2018, Conrad’s Rangali Island introduced The Muraka (meaning “coral” in Dhivehi), a luxurious suite submerged over 16 feet underwater. This two-level structure features an above-water living area and a main bedroom with acrylic walls offering 360-degree views of the surrounding ocean. 

Despite the hefty price tag starting just under $10,000 a night, the suite includes a stunning hotel infinity pool, butler’s quarters, and enough space to accommodate nine people.

2. Icehotel, Sweden

The Icehotel, a unique twist on the ice bar concept, is the original in Sweden. Sculpted from large ice blocks from the Torne River in 1989, it offers a blend of luxury with art that is ever-changing. Open from December to April, the hotel melts in spring and is rebuilt yearly, ensuring that each visit is a new and intriguing experience. 

It offers around 20 standard ice rooms with simple designs. The 12 art suites, sculpted by top global artists, feature unique, fantastical themes like ice-carved candy stores or igloos with huskies. Each visit promises a different, unforgettable experience.

3. Utter Inn Hotel, Sweden

While you’re in Sweden, you might as well jump from an ice hotel to an underwater one. The Utter Inn Hotel is equally remarkable. This micro property, set on a pontoon in Lake Malaren, sleeps just two. Guests can relax on the deck, enjoy the views during the day, weather permitting, and then retreat to their underwater oasis about 10 feet below the surface. 

Before falling asleep, they can admire the lake’s inhabitants from all four sides of their bedroom. As a bonus, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options, with rooms costing $329 and up a night.

4. Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

Nestled in the Chocó-Andean Cloud Forest, this remote Ecuadorian lodge offers a dreamy stay among the clouds. A three-hour drive from Quito, it feels like a boutique hotel dropped in the middle of a jungle. Built to maximize its stunning location, the lodge features floor-to-ceiling glass walls that bring the misty forest views into your bedroom. 

Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, guests can enjoy birdwatching from the panoramic terrace, discover numerous butterfly species in the on-site garden, or explore the property’s extensive hiking trails.

5. Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo. To reach your room, you’ll need to scuba dive, so ensure your certification is up to date. This isn’t just any underwater accommodation- the entire structure, once a research lab off Puerto Rico’s coast, is now your unique and exciting destination. 

Despite its adventurous setting, Jules offers modern comforts starting at $1,678 a night. With two bedrooms, Wi-Fi, and even free pizza delivery for dinner, you can relax and enjoy a unique experience. And the real joy? Gazing out your window at the serene mangrove lagoon.

6. Kruger Shalati, South Africa

Kruger Shalati offers spectacular views from its luxury train hotel on a historic bridge spanning the Sabie River in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Guests can spot wild animals drinking from the river below. The hotel, housed in a disused train carriage, exudes Art Deco glamour with four-poster beds and geometric detailing. 

Each carriage includes a small bar area with a Juliet balcony. The highlight is the circular infinity pool on the bridge, built on a former water tank stand. It provides breathtaking views of the river and wild plains below.

7. Apukka Resort, Finland

For a spectacular view of the Northern Lights, head to the Apukka Resort, featuring glass-roofed, igloo-style cabins where you can stargaze from your bed. Enjoy private saunas, hot tub sessions in the snowy wilderness, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. 

The highlight is the ‘aurora wagon,’ a mobile vehicle with a glass roof that drives deep into the forest for the best Northern Lights views. Equipped with a double bed, small kitchen, and bathroom, it provides everything needed for a night above the Arctic Circle, offering an unparalleled stargazing experience.

8. The Manta Resort, Tanzania

Since 2013, Manta Resort on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago has offered its unique ‘Underwater Room,’ a tranquil oasis accessible by a short boat ride from the beach. 

This three-level accommodation features a submerged bedroom with coral reef views and a roof deck perfect for stargazing. For those seeking adventure, dive trips around Pemba Island are also available, promising an exciting exploration of the vibrant marine life just beyond their suite.

9. Pioneertown Motel, California

Movie buffs will be enchanted by this desert gem in Pioneertown. Originally built in the 1940s as a Western film set near Joshua Tree National Park, California, it’s today a trendy retreat for creatives and Angelenos seeking a unique getaway. The rustic motel, once frequented by stars like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, maintains its original charm with planked railroad sleeper buildings. 

Inside, cowboy chic reigns with cowhide rugs, woven throws, and panoramic desert vistas stretching to the San Bernadino mountains. After dusk, guests head to Pappy & Harriet’s nearby for live music, a venue graced by Band of Horses and Queens of the Stone Age.

10. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand

Experience wildlife in a new way at this Thailand elephant camp and resort. Anantara features unique accommodations known as ‘Jungle Bubbles.’ These transparent pods allow guests to sleep amid the natural habitat of Asian elephants. Awaken to the jungle’s sounds and fall asleep under the stars while these majestic creatures roam nearby. 

Enjoy meals on your elevated terrace, serenaded by native birdsong and the gentle presence of the elephants. For those interested in learning more about these giants, the resort offers guided walking tours alongside them as they forage along the Ruak River plain. It’s an unforgettable immersion into nature.

11. Huvafen Fushi, Maldives

Located in the Indian Ocean, Huvafen Fushi features stunning rooms, although they are not located underwater but rather on top of the ocean’s surface.

The resort’s Huvafen Spa, however, offers a unique experience with treatments in a setting nearly 25 feet below the surface, providing panoramic views of the reef. Guests can also relax in Lonu Veyo, a saltwater flotation pool filled with mineral-rich seawater.

12. Hotel Jested, Czech Republic

Perched 3,320 feet above sea level on Mount Jested in the Czech Republic, this striking hotel is an architectural marvel designed by renowned architect Karel Hubacek. Combining a television transmitter, restaurant, and hotel in one tower, it resembles something out of a science fiction movie. 

Accessible only via a cableway, it offers sleekly decorated rooms reminiscent of luxe spaceship compartments, each with slanted windows framing snowy mountain views. The restaurant boasts panoramic windows that create an outdoor dining feel, enhancing the thrill of dining amidst such lofty heights. If you’re an architecture fan and love chasing thrills, this hotel is for you.

13. Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita, Italy

Nestled within Italy’s Matera, a UNESCO site, lies a cave hotel steeped in 13th-century charm. This unique accommodation, overlooking Gravina Canyon, offers a blend of rustic simplicity with medieval churches and Baroque palazzos. The hotel’s cave rooms, carved into the ancient rock, provide a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Step into the charming world of the candlelit rooms, boasting honey-colored walls and minimal furnishings without modern technology. The romantic ambiance is perfect for a memorable stay. Guests can enjoy breakfast in a rock-hewn church before embarking on an exploration of Murgia National Park.