What’s the most quirky accommodation you have ever stayed in? Staying in a unique or unusual accommodation can make a trip special. These days a holiday is not just about what you do, where you go and what you see. It’s also about where you stay. Here’s our shortlist of some of the world’s best quirky accommodation options.
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Hôtel de Glace
Quebec’s ice hotel does a brisk business. Okay, that was a bad joke – even though the temperature inside the hotel is to put it mildly – a little brisk. Every year, the Hôtel de Glace must be completely rebuilt when the weather gets cold. And every year, the hotel has a different theme. There’s an ice bar where drinks are served in glasses made of ice, a giant ice slide, a wedding chapel made of ice and much more. If that’s not a quirky accommodation, we’re not sure what is. Many guests don’t make it through the night in this ice hotel, but we did! Check out our post about our night in the ice hotel.
Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall
The Fantasyland Hotel is located in one of the world’s largest shopping and entertainment centres and that alone makes it unique. There’s a skating rink, a water park, and an amusement park inside West Edmonton Mall. For something really unique, book one of the 13 different theme rooms or the 14 different luxury theme rooms. Those who crave quirky accommodation, can stay in the back of a truck, cozy up in an igloo, do a pole dance in Hollywood or pretend they are Caesar in Rome. The hotel often offers special discount packages just before Christmas that include attraction passes, breakfast and theme room accommodations.
Quirky Accommodation in Las Vegas
Vegas is the Mecca of quirky accommodation. It definitely satisfies your urge for kitsch. If you want to stay inside a giant pyramid and feel an Egyptian vibe, the Luxor Hotel and Casino is a good bet. If you’ve always wanted to visit Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, Paris Las Vegas might interest you. You can visit a half-sized replica of the Eiffel tower and take in the view from 50 stories up. (It’s particularly romantic after dark.) If you’ve always wanted to experience a gondola ride in Venice, the gondola experience at The Venetian Resort is sure to please. If you’re “in a New York state of mind,” you’ll want to stay at the New York-New York Resort & Casino. Whatever your style, Las Vegas has a quirky accommodation to suit.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Stays with Booking.com
One of the newest ventures by hotel booking giant Booking.com is a series of unique once-in-a-lifetime overnight stays in various places around the globe. Many of these accommodations are only available for booking on a very short-term basis, but they are too quirky and cool not to include on our list. In Sydney, Australia there’s the Avocondo – an accommodation shaped like a giant avocado. The Men in Black™: International Headquarters, or the world’s most sparkly house is on offer in London, UK. In historic Clinton Hill Brooklyn, the Addams Family Mansion is a real-life replica of the iconic family’s home. In Tokyo, Booking.com is offering KAWAII Room – Addicted to TOKYO. It’s a room designed by art director Sebastian Masuda, a leader of Japan’s pioneering “kawaii (cute)” culture. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil they are offering up the opportunity to stay in a vintage cable car. It’s rumored that Booking.com has some plans for new once-in-a-lifetime stays in Canada and we’ll let you know more when they release the details.
World’s First Guitar-Shaped Hotel – Quirky Accommodation in Florida
Want to sleep in a hotel that’s shaped like a giant guitar? Of course you do! At least Hard Rock Hotels group believes you do. As part of a $1.5 billion expansion, The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in South Florida features a giant guitar hotel that’s so big you can see it when you’re flying into the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Tundra Buggy Lodge – Quirky Accommodation and Polar Bears
How comfortable are you in an RV? The Tundra Buggy Lodge near Churchill, Manitoba is like a bunch of RVs linked together. They allow visitors to stay on the tundra and watch polar bears – 24/7. There’s a lounge and viewing decks, but you have to be okay with sleeping in a bunk bed. The Northern Lights can also be pretty incredible at night and there is no light pollution out on the tundra.
A Glass Igloo in Finland – Quirky Accommodation for Aurora Viewing
Glorious views of the Northern Lights are the main attraction at the Golden Crown Levin Iglit outside Levi, Finland. This quirky accommodation features 18 insulated glass igloos that allow guests to watch the northern lights from their beds. There’s a fireplace in the small rustic lodge and an outdoor hot tub.
Over-the-Water Bungalows
Imagine sitting on your sofa watching fish swim below you through a glass window in the floor. French Polynesia pioneered the idea of over-the-water bungalows. For the ultimate luxurious over-the-water accommodation, stay at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. If you’re headed to Mexico, Palafitos-Overwater Bungalows at El Dorado Maroma are the first over-the-water bungalows in Riviera Maya. For a truly affordable option that’s a lot more rustic, consider a stay at Tobacco Caye Paradise in Belize.
Related: Check out our post Kayaking and Snorkeling in Belize to see more info on Tobacco Caye and this inexpensive quirky all-inclusive over-the-water accommodation.
Why You Should Book a Quirky Accommodation
A quirky accommodation can make or break your travel experience. We’ve made some unusual accommodation choices over the years and most of the time they’ve paid off big time. Regardless, it’s always been unforgettable. Whether it’s a haunted house, a luxury tent, a theme room or a glass igloo, some accommodations are simply unforgettable.
Related: Check out our post about the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Islands, Bahamas
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