Hotels can be much more than just a bed to sleep in on your next
vacation. Truly unique accommodations can make a stay thrilling, turning
a night away from home into a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime
experience.
Here are 12 of the the strangest, but also totally cool, hotels around the world.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
Just north of the Arctic Circle, the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is one the cleanest, purest and most secluded places on Earth.
Stay in a stunning glass igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.
Image: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
You
can choose to stay in a snow igloo, a log cabin or a glass igloo, and
maybe even drift off to the magical glow of the Northern Lights.
Light escapes from an otherwise inconspicuous snow igloo at Kakslauttanen.
Image: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
There are activities up in the Arctic wilderness in both winter and summer; including a husky safari, reindeer safari, a snowmobile ride, horseback ride and skiing.
The Hotel Crypt, U.S.
St. Patrick's Church in Lewiston, Maine, will give you an unforgettably spooky night's sleep. Monsignor Thomas Wallace helped build this church and was its priest until his death in 1907, when he was buried in a crypt underneath the chapel.
A wooden coffin bed sits in the crypt where Monsignor Wallace once laid.
Image: Hotel Crypt
The
church has been transformed into a boutique hotel, and Wallace's body
now rests in Mt. Hope Cemetery — but who knows what ghosts linger in the
chamber. You can't actually sleep in the crypt, it's just an additional
activity that can be booked when you book a room in the Inn at the
Angora.
Spend an evening watching scary movies in the crypt...if the ghosts don't scare you away first.
Image: Hotel Crypt
Dog Bark Park Inn, U.S.
The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho, is a full-service bed and breakfast, outfitted to sleep four guests, and of course their furry friends.
Toby and Sweet Willy, the world's biggest beagles, make up the Dog Bark Park Inn.
Image: Dog Bark Park
There
are actually two giant beagles that make up the bed and breakfast;
husband and wife owners Dennis and and Frances carved and built Sweet
Willy and Toby themselves.
They have also carved wood dog sculptures of more than 60 different breeds.
Sweet Willy can sleep four and boasts the Prairie's Best Fruited Granola.
Image: Dog Bark Park
The Strawberry Roan Horsebox, United Kingdom
Don't worry, there's no hay or manure in this horse trailer, and certainly no hoofed inhabitants.
The converted horse trailer makes for a cozy weekend getaway.
Image: Waypost Farm Glamping
Parked in the secluded, rural marshland near Kent, England, The Strawberry Roan Horsebox is part of Waypost Farm Glamping.
The horsebox has a king sized bed tucked in at the back and the stable doors open for views of the beautiful countryside.
Image: Waypost Farm Glamping
The
horsebox is complete with a king-sized bed, a wood burner and a private
bathroom in the accompanying pony trailer. Guests also receive homemade
baked goods from the owners during stays.
Kokopelli's Cave Bed and Breakfast, U.S.
Built into vertical sandstone cliffs in New Mexico, Kokopelli's Cave sits 70 feet below the surface. The cave was originally constructed as an office for owner and geologist, Bruce Black.
Guests stay in a 17,000-square-foot space, including a master
bedroom, living area, dining area, full kitchen and a bathroom with a
waterfall shower and Jacuzzi tub. There's an impeccable view of the La
Plata river valley from one of the porches.
Tree Hotel, Sweden
Modern and creative architecture in the untouched woods of Sweden, the Treehotel is made up of five rooms suspended above the ground.
The Bird's Nest is part of Treehotel's living architecture.
Image: Peter Lundstrom, WDO
Each
room has a unique and environmentally sustainable design, and rooms
include the "UFO" and the "Bird's Nest." The treerooms have their own
bathrooms, and there's a sauna available to guests as well.
Have a space adventure without leaving the atmosphere in the UFO room.
Image: Fredrik Broman, Human Spectra
Crazy House, Vietnam
There could not be a name more fitting for this hotel. Crazy House is an exploration in surrealist architecture that also blends in fluidly with the wooded landscape.
Stairs carved out of tree trunks and free-form shaped furniture,
doorways, and windows and Gaudi-like drooping exteriors make Crazy House
a popular tourist attraction. Each room is themed after a different
animal, including a tiger, a kangaroo and a termite.
If you can't make it to Vietnam, you can take a virtual tour of this piece of living art on their website.
Spitbank Fort, United Kingdom
It doesn't get more private than a small island in the middle of the ocean. Spitbank Fort was originally built to protect Portsmouth harbor from attack from Napoleon III, but is now a luxury hotel and party venue.
Spitbank Fort sits secluded in Portsmouth Harbor, England.
Image: Spitbank Fort
Enjoy an outdoor hot tub, sundeck, gaming rooms, rum tastings and dining while you stay at the fort.
Panda Inn, China
With 32 distinct panda-themed rooms, the Panda Inn is a dreamworld
for panda enthusiasts. Staff is dressed in (slightly-terrifying) panda
suits ready to greet you and bring you to your room.
Hotel employees are dressed in panda suits to greet you upon arrival.
Image: Liu zhongjun - Imaginechina/Associated Press
There is a Titantic themed room, portraying Jack and Rose as pandas, and a Sailor Moon themed room. Because why not.
Each of the 32 rooms has a different theme, like Sailor Moon.
Image: Liu zhongjun - Imaginechina/Associated Press
V8 Hotel, Germany
The V8 Hotel and Motorworld Region Stuttgart
is an automotive dream. Built into a converted aircraft hanger,
Motorworld is a museum/showroom/dealership/garage and of course, a
hotel.
Each room in the V8 Hotel is modeled after different vintage cars and car-related themes.
Image: V8 Hotel
Each
room in the hotel is decked out in car-related decoration. Most rooms
have beds built into the body of a vintage car, and there's even a car wash themed room. You can see and even buy classic cars from around the world in the showroom.
The car wash themed room.
Image: V8 Hotel
Attrap' Réves, Bubble Hotel, France
The Bubble Hotel
immerses guests in nature without leaving the comforts of air
conditioning and private bathrooms. Each transparent bubble sphere is
secluded by trees and bushes, allowing guests some privacy.
