March 15, 2024 | Allison Robertson

The Most Unique Hotel Rooms in the World


Not Your Typical Hotel Rooms

If you’re looking for a unique holiday that offers more than the basic accommodations, this list is for you.

From tee-pees and treehouses to jail cells and airplanes, the world is full of quirky hotels that offer truly unique experiences.

Here are 22 of the coolest hotel rooms on the planet.

bubble hotel and tree house hotel split image

Stay in a Wigwam

The Wigwam Motel, San Bernardino, California

This unique roadside motel offers rooms shaped like tee-pees. You can park directly beside your room, which is only steps away from the outdoor pool and fire pit.

Wigwam hotel in San Bernardino - 2018Marcin Wichary, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Wigwam Motel

The rooms resemble typical motel rooms on in the inside, and have modern features like cable TV, wifi, and air conditioning.

Wigwam Motel - Rialto/San Bernardino, California - 2007Boortz47, Flickr

Spend the Night in Jail

The HI Jail Hostel, Ottawa, Canada

Set in a restored jailhouse, you get the full of experience of sleeping in a jail cell—well, almost. Although they’ve added some comfort, the cell block you’ll stay in still has stone walls and iron doors in cells that are over 150 years old.

Ottawa Jail Hostel - 2014Mike from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The HI Jail Hostel

Each jail cell room offers comfortable bedding and lockers. Family sized rooms comes with bunk beds. Bathrooms are shared, wifi is free, and a continental breakfast is served.

Ottawa Jail Hostel - 2014Mike, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sleep in a Bubble

Finn Lough Resort, Northern Ireland

These bubble dome rooms are set back in the lush forest of Northern Ireland. The transparent walls give a complete 180-degree view of the entire surroundings.

Man sitting on a bed inside a transparent bubble tent facing a lake - 2020Awana JF, Shutterstock

Finn Lough Resort

Each bubble dome sleeps two adults on a king-sized bed and has a private bathroom with shower. Larger bubbles are available that include a separate bath bubble where you can soak under the stars.

A woman is sitting in a geo dome glamping tent in a bag chairKrasnikova Kat, Shutterstock

Stay in Otherworldly Apartment

Quetzalcoatl´s Nest, Mexico

This serpent-style building is a private housing complex with only a handful of unique apartments. It is situated within a natural ecosystem and follows a minimalistic flow to allow visitors to immerse themselves with nature.

Fullshot of the beautiful quetzalcoatl's nest in Mexico - 2019Liz Pichardo, Shutterstock

Quetzalcoatl´s Nest

Each apartment has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, kitchen, and laundry room, and has a modern feel.

Quetzalcoatl's nest in Mexico - 2019Liz Pichardo, Shutterstock

Sleep in an Airplane

Cockpit Cottage, Costa Rica

The Cockpit Bungalow is part of an airplane that has been converted to a breathtaking bungalow that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Costa RicaCostaverde

Cockpit Cottage

The plane’s interior is Costa Rican teak paneling from the cockpit to the tail and rooms come fully equipped with typical hotel amenities.

The resort offers 3 swimming pools and access to stunning Costa Rica beaches.

hotel roomCostaverde

Stay with Giraffes

Giraffe Manor, South Africa

Giraffe Manor is a 140-acre Giraffe sanctuary where guests can actually dine with the giraffes. The luxury resort offers large windows where giraffes greet the guests for breakfast, sticking their heads right in.

giraffe manorAnastasia Slunkova, Shutterstock

Giraffe Manor

Luxury accommodations are plentiful and offer all the typical hotel amenities and more.

Giraffe at Giraffe Manor - 2010Visiting Kenya, Flickr

Stay in a Cube House

Cube House, Rotterdam, Netherlands

These oddly shaped units are actually full houses that some people rent out as an Airbnb.

Not only does the outside of the home boast an unusual look, each room is oddly shaped with angled walls and interesting skylights.

Cube Houses, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 2023alwyn22, Flickr

Cube House

The rooms are laid out like a typical Airbnb, with bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and living area. Each cube house has its own private entrance and parking.

Block or Cube Houses in Rotterdam, The Netherlands - 2006Simone, Flickr

Sleep in an Igloo

Kakslauttanen Resort, Finland

This unique resort offers both glass igloos and traditional snow igloos for guests to choose from. The igloos are spread out among the vast forest with nothing but nature for miles.

Finland Kakslauttanen - 2008youngrobv, Flickr

Kakslauttanen Resort

Their world-famous glass igloos offer a stunning view of the Northern Lights, and offer a king-sized bed and private bathroom.

The resort itself has a world-class spa with saunas and ice baths, and two restaurants.

Inside the glass igloo at Finland Kakslauttanen - 2008youngrobv, Flickr

Sleep Underwater

The Manta Resort, Tanzania

The underwater room at the Manta resort is a completely submerged hotel room that also offers an above-water living space on a private floating island.

The only way to get to your room is by speedboat.

hotel room

The Manta Resort

The entire building is situated in the middle of the beautiful turquoise water, where the top half is above water and the bottom half (the bedroom) is below.

The bedroom is surrounded by windows where you will get an up-close and personal experience with sea life.

hotel roomThe Manta Resort

Sleep Under the Fish

The Conrad, Maldives, Rangali Island

Similar to the Manta Resort, except this one offers a luxury two-level residence with a master bedroom submerged over 16 feet below sea level in the Indian Ocean.

hotel roomConrad Maldives

The Conrad, Maldives

The master bedroom sits inside a 180-degree curved acrylic dome giving a full view of sea life above you as you sleep, and the upper level includes a private pool and a 24-hr private butler.

under water hotel roomConrad Maldives

Sleep in a Double Decker Bus

Bertrams, Devon, UK

Bertram’s offers a unique experience where you can sleep inside a repurposed 1950s-themed double-decker bus.

Double decker bus hotelHot Unusual

Bertrams

The bus sleeps 5 people, comes with a hot tub, a mini library, and is situated on a farm with free-roaming alpacas and goats.

Double decker busHot Unusual

Stay in a Train Car

Crowne Plaza, Indianapolis

Not only can you spend the night in an actual train car, but with active tracks running beside the hotel, you'll actually feel and hear the sounds of passing trains.

King Bed Pullman Train Car At Crowne Plaza - 2022Missvain, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Crowne Plaza

The pullman style rooms offer a 1920s flare with all the typical hotel amenities. And the hotel also offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurants.

King Bed Pullman Train Car At Crowne Plaza - 2022Missvain, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sleep in a Tee-pee

Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel – Yellowstone, Montana

Not far from Yellowstone National Park you’ll find these 22ft high tee-pees equipped with heaters, cozy décor, and a view of the mountains—offering a unique glamping experience.

Tipi hotel resortDream Catcher Tipi Hotel

Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel

The Tee-pees are made from a thick canvas material, giving the ultimate tee-pee feel. A king-size tee-pee can sleep 5 people, and comes with an individual indoor firepit, and luxury amenities.

Each night the property throws campfires complete with complimentary smores and wine.

tipi hotel resortDream Catcher Tipi Hotel

Stay in a Castle

Ashford Castle, Northern Ireland

A traditional royal castle, Ashford offers every conceivable luxury with elegant style and comfort.

Rear Gardens Of Ashford Castle - 2012Lobster1, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ashford Castle

Each of the 83 rooms are decorated with a unique royal style, including chandeliers, bed canopies and in-room bars.

Enjoy a royal stay with on-site restaurants, world-class spa, horseback riding and more.

Ashford Castle Tea Room - 2013Jlahorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stay in an Ice Hotel

Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

This Swedish hotel is completely made out of ice—including the rooms. Each winter the hotel is sculpted brand-new and then left to melt back into nature come spring.

Ice Hotel Church, Jukkasjarvi - 2007bjaglin, Flickr

Icehotel

The room holds a temperature of -5 to -8 degrees Celsius. The bed you sleep on has a thick mattress that rests on a wooden base, surrounded by ice. The bed is also covered with reindeer hides and you sleep in a thermal sleeping bag.

The Ice Hotel near the village of Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna, Sweden - 2005Stephan Herz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sleep inside the World’s Largest Dog Sculpture

Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho, United States

Dog Bark Park Inn is the world’s largest beagle sculpture made into a hotel room.

Dog Bark Park Inn Cottonwood Idaho - 2008Frances Conklin, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Dog Bark Park Inn

It sleeps 4 and offers a full bathroom, kitchenette, air conditioning, a continental breakfast, and all other typical hotel room amenities.

Graystock, Dog Bark Park Inn - 2009Ali Eminov, Flickr

Sleep in a Car

V8 Hotel, Böblingen, Germany

This automobile-themed hotel offers unique car-themed rooms each with furnishings made from real car parts.

Meilenwerk V8 Hotel - 2008Robert Basic, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

V8 Hotel

The hotel even offers the V12 Mercedes Suite, which spans two floors and includes a private sauna and a roof terrace.

Meilenwerk V8 Hotel, Mercedes room - 2012Robert Basic, Wikimedia Commons

Stay in a Mountain

Montaña Magica, Huilo Huilo Reserve, Chile

This fairy-tale experience has you sleeping in a dreamy mountain-shaped hotel in the Andes. Inside the mountain lodge boasts charming log-cabin style furnishing.

Montaña Mágica - 2007Christian Córdova, FlickrMontaña Magica

The 9 fairy-tale inspired rooms are built into a mountain that has a rushing waterfall at the very top. The resort also features an indoor pool, spa, on-site restaurant, and a games room.

Mountain lodge resortHuilo Huilo

Camp Indoors

Hüttenpalast, Berlin, Germany

This small hotel in Berlin combines the comfort of a standard stay with the fun of an indoor camping site, for those who don’t love traditional outdoor camping.

It offers unique retro-style accommodations in the form of vintage caravans and cozy cabins.

Indoor campingHuttenpalast

Hüttenpalast

Each room has its own unique design and is set in one of two large camping halls with shared bathrooms. Guests also have access to an on-site bar and a charming backyard garden.

trailersHuttenpalast

Sleep in a Jumbo Jet

Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden

At Jumbo Stay you will stay in a full-service hotel inside of an actual decommissioned Boeing 747 jumbo jet—including the cockpit.

Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden - 2014trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jumbo Stay

Guest rooms vary in size and layout to accommodate up to four adults, some with private bathrooms.

Reservations include breakfast, airport shuttle, and a shared balcony on one of the plane’s wings.

The suite of the Jumbo Hostel, in room number 747 - 2010Albin Olsson, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sleep in a Treehouse

Treehotel, Harads, Sweden

Treehotel offers guests their own private treehouse that is a seemingly invisible mirrored cube. Actually, there are several options for design, including a UFO, a modern cabin, a birds nest (made of twigs), a biosphere, and more.

The Mirrorcube, 2010, Treehotel in Harads, Sweden - 2013Detlef Schobert, FlickrTreehotel

Most tree houses sleep two adults, and offer secret balconies, a bathroom, lighting and basic hotel amenities.

The Ufo, Treehotel In Harads, Sweden - 2019steffen l, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stay in an On-Land Cruise Ship

Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht, Gangneung, South Korea

Experience all the fun of a cruise without the sea sickness. The luxurious on-land cruise ship features a saltwater swimming pool overlooking the ocean and even plays wave sounds to give you the full cruise experience.

Korea, Gangneung, Jeongdongjin Sun Cruise Hotel - 2007parhessiastes, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht

The Resort offers a piano lounge, a karaoke bar, a nightclub, two restaurants, and other fun attractions—including a top-floor revolving bar.

Aerial and panoramic view of sailboat-shaped cafe and Sun Cruise Resort near Jeongdongjin.Stock for you, Shutterstock


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