The most unusual places to stay around the world
Six Senses Bhutan is one of several exciting luxury properties opening this year.
As the world becomes smaller, travelers are getting ever more adventurous and are not content with merely treading the well-worn holiday paths. They are seeking out unique hotels, in exceptional destinations, which also offer memorable experiences while they are there. Here are some of our favorite places to stay, from a pod on the side of a mountain in Peru’s Sacred Valley to a bed perched on a treehouse platform in one of South Africa’s national parks, where you can watch the wildlife below and the stars in the vast skies above.
Go glamping on the side of a mountain at Skylodge Adventure Suites, Peru
Here’s an opportunity to hike up to your room for the night: a pod on a mountainside in the Sacred Valley. These transparent pods at Skylodge Adventure Suites offer panoramic bird’s eye views over the Peruvian countryside from above the valley floor, as condors swoop by and the skies are covered in a blanket of stars in the evening. After a scenic night’s sleep, enjoy a delicious breakfast before ziplining down in the morning.
Spend the night in an underwater room at Manta Resort, Tanzania
At the Manta Resort on the idyllic island of Pemba, just off the coast of Zanzibar, you can sleep in an underwater room in your own private stretch of sea. The glass-cased chamber is plunged four meters beneath the surface, where you can spend the night with the fishes – a truly unique experience! Above you, the landing deck has a lounge and bathroom, with another deck above that for sunbathing, in between refreshing dips in the water. Meals of fresh fish will be brought to you, so you can dine in the middle of the sea.
Be a part of history in a candlelit cave at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Italy
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Matera is one of 2019’s European Capitals of Culture (the other is Plovdiv in Bulgaria). This enchanting city is dotted with centuries-old caves, and you can stay in one of them – bed down for the night in an atmospheric and romantic cave lit by candlelight at the gorgeous Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, with bathtubs nestled in the nooks and crannies. Before bed, have a gourmet dinner in a restaurant housed in a historic church carved from the stone.
Sleep under the stars on safari at Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa has no shortage of unique places to stay, many of which are in prime wildlife-spotting areas. Go on a safari with a difference at Lion Sands Game Reserve in South Africa’s Kruger National Park – as well as seeing the Big Five, you can spend the night in a four-poster bed set high on a platform in your very own luxury treehouse, watching animals amble up to the waterhole, taking in the views over the endless savannah and falling asleep under a sky of stars.
Venture into the heart of the desert at Amangiri, USA
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon: celebrate this momentous occasion by staying at Amangiri, a blissfully secluded retreat nestled in the vast, moon-like desert landscapes of Utah. Take in these spectacular surroundings from above on a hot air balloon ride, soaring over acres of mountains, lakes, and cliffs, and do some night-time stargazing. The suites are spacious and minimalist, with cool stone interiors and large windows to make the most of the setting, while there’s also a pool hewn from desert rock that’s perfect for cooling off in.
By Thomas Ryves www.exsus.com