Travelling is one of life’s greatest joys. Along with allowing us to see different parts of the world, meet new people and understand new cultures, it also gives us the opportunity to stay in interesting hotels.
Almost everyone loves staying in hotels, but some of them are more memorable than others. In fact, there are plenty of uniquely themed hotels around the world, as well as plenty that are just bizarre and make for quite the novelty. Let’s take a closer look at some of them below.
Jumbo Stay, Sweden
For many of us, one of the most exciting things about travelling is being able to go in an aircraft. Some people love flying so much that the real adventure actually starts as soon as they board the plane and buckle their seat belt. However, one aspect of air travel that many of us will unfortunately never see is the inside of the cockpit.
Fear not! Sweden’s Jumbo Stay hotel is made out of a real, converted Boeing 747-212 jumbo jet that was built in 1976 and originally belonged to Singapore Airlines before being bought over by the legendary Pan Am airline. The jet has been renovated with a brand new, modern interior that offers guests quite a memorable overnight experience. Guests of the hotel can expect affordable rates and to be surrounded by plenty more aviation, as the hotel is located at the entrance to Arlanda airport.
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
Giraffe Manor is perhaps Kenya’s most exclusive boutique hotel. Located in one of Nairobi’s iconic buildings, the timeless elegance of the manor recalls the 1930s, when visitors from Europe used to flock to East Africa to enjoy safaris. The hotel itself boasts beautiful interiors, lush, green gardens and delightful courtyards.
However, the most unusual thing about this hotel is the herd of Rothschild giraffes who routinely visit it in the mornings and evenings. They are known to poke their long necks in through the windows in the hopes of securing a treat at dinner before returning to their forest sanctuary.
Conrad Rangali Island, Maldives
The Conrad Rangali Island in the Maldives offers its guests some extraordinary experiences both above and below the surface of the Indian Ocean. The hotel boasts the world’s first underwater hotel villa named the ‘Muraka’.
Considered a triumph of modern design and technology, the villa provides a transformative journey to amaze even the most sophisticated travellers. It is located at about 16 feet below sea level, right in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Of course, the villa boasts glass walls so that the Muraka’s guests can truly experience the depths of the ocean. It is essentially a two-level aquarium where guests can fall asleep to the sounds of fish swimming overhead and can enjoy watching the arms of coral trees swaying in the deep blue seas.
Icehotel, Sweden
No list of unusual hotels would be complete without mention of the famed Icehotel. Founded in 1989, this hotel is reborn in a new guise every winter. Located about 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, the hotel boasts 150 warm and cold rooms. The latter features a bed made of ice and covered in reindeer hides. Guests sleep in thermal sleeping bags.
Other amenities of this frozen palace include an ice bar perfect for a relaxing and the ideal chance to visit this site, an ice church, ice sculpting studio and pillar hall, as well as a lounge, meeting rooms, wilderness camps and heated restaurants.
