World's Weirdest Hotels

Ever wondered what it is like to sleep in a tree house? Or spend the night under the ocean? Now, you can do just that and so much more. From igloos and caves to drain pipes and wigwams, the world's 10 weirdest hotels put a whole new spin on where to rest your weary head.

Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland

Located more than 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, the Hotel Kakslauttanen is the perfect setting for spending the night in an igloo. You can choose between sleeping under the stars (and northern lights) in one of the 20 glass igloos, or braving the elements in one of the 60 beds in a snow igloo. The latter comes with a down sleeping bag, wool socks, and a hood to keep you toasty. Glass igloos come equipped with a toilet and a luxury bed. The igloo village is only open from December or January through April.

Snow igloos start at €150 (about $185 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) per night, while the glass igloos start at €171 per night. Rates are per person based on two people traveling together.

Das Parkhotel, Ottensheim, Austria

When it feels like things are going down the drain, maybe it's time to spend the night in a drain pipe. Situated along the Danube River, Das Parkhotel invites you to do just that with its rooms made from sections of large drainage pipes. Each room is large enough for a double bed and storage space; bathrooms, a cafeteria, and a bar are only a stone's throw away. The unique cylinders offer complete solitude in an otherwise busy world.

Make reservations online, and a key code will be emailed to you once you are confirmed. Rates are on a "pay as you wish" system, meaning you leave as much as you believe the room was worth after your stay.

ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

Though you may have seen similar establishments, the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi is the first of its kind, and is still the coolest. Celebrating its 21st year this upcoming winter, the hotel has gone from humble beginnings as an igloo to what is now one of world's largest hotels constructed from ice. Guests come from all over the world to brave the cold and experience what it's like to stay in a masterfully constructed ice sculpture, even if it's only around 23 degrees inside. There are warm hotel rooms and chalets, if need be.

Rooms for cold accommodations start at 1,250 SEK (about $162 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) for two people traveling together.

Wagon Stays, Christchurch, New Zealand

If you've ever wanted to return to a simpler time (without having to bid adieu to modern conveniences), Wagon Stays may just have the answer. You can stay in an early settlers' covered wagon, which comes fully equipped with a studio-style kitchen, flat screen TV, Internet, outside heated bath, a queen-sized bed, and a computer-controlled shower. The site provides peaceful views of the surrounding organic market garden and tree-studded farmland.

Rates start at $295 NZD (about $205 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) per night for two people traveling together.

Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji

The Poseidon Undersea Resort is putting a positive spin on "sleeping with the fishes," by providing guests with the lap of luxury 40 feet beneath the waves. Nestled amongst a 5,000-acre Fijian lagoon, the resort is the world's first of its kind. An elevator provides access to the 24 suites and one apartment on the bottom of the ocean floor. Plus, 70 percent of each room is made of four-inch acrylic, allowing unparalleled views of the surrounding sea life.

You may need to admire this one from afar, however: It costs a staggering $15,000 per person for two people traveling together. Rates are based on a package price that includes round-trip transport to and from Nadi/Suva, four nights in a beach or overwater villa, two nights in an underwater suite, diving onboard a luxury liner submarine, an initiation to piloting a three-passenger mini-sub, scuba diving and snorkeling, walks on the lagoon floor, wine tasting classes, access to the resort spa (some treatments cost extra), gourmet meals and drinks, a professionally-produced photo album, and lectures and activities.

Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho

The Dog Bark Park Inn is a real treat for those who are all too familiar with sleeping in the dog house. You might think this giant-sized Beagle is for the dogs, but the B&B is actually equipped with all the modern amenities to make for a comfortable stay for humans, including a full bath, a microwave, small fridge, air conditioning, coffee maker, and hair dryer. Plus, many of the decorative furnishings are hand carved by the owners and chainsaw artists, Dennis and Frances.

Rates start at $92 per night, and include a continental breakfast featuring the Prairie's Best Fruited Granola made from a secret family recipe.

Tree House Lodge, Limón, Costa Rica

If you've ever envied the castaways' sleeping arrangements on the Swiss Family Robinson, the Tree House Lodge may have just the hammock for you. Located on a 10-acre property on Punta Uva Beach in Costa Rica, this eco-lodge features four individual houses offering total privacy and beachfront access. Guests can choose to stay in the Tree House, where the bathroom is built around a 100-year-old tree; the Beach House, built entirely from the wood of fallen trees; the Beach Suite, with a Sea-Horse Jacuzzi; or the Bambu House, built with the same materials the name suggests.

Rooms start at $200 per night (without taxes and fees) based on two people staying together.

Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cappadocia, Turkey

Located in the ancient valley of Ayvali Village, the Gamirasu Cave Hotel sits in a thousand-year-old Byzantine monastic retreat, and features 20 rooms with modern conveniences. The hotel was opened in 1999, and gives guests the opportunity to gain insight into a culture from the ground up. Rooms were carved into caves or built using volcanic stones with vaulted ceilings, and provide comfortable temperatures throughout the year, i.e. warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Rooms start at €95 (about $116 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates), and include a breakfast buffet.

Harlingen Harbour Crane, Harlingen, Netherlands

Towering only a few yards from the Wadden Sea, the Harlingen Harbour Crane lifts hotels to new heights. The crane has been a fixture of historic Harlingen's skyline for quite some time, and it was in 2003 that the industrial monument was restored and renovated to its lodging glory. Now you can not only find comfort high above the ground, but also experience the power of more than 143,000 pounds of steel at your fingertips, because you control the crane.

Rates start at €319 (about $390 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) per night for two people traveling together, and includes breakfast.

Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona

Located along the famous Route 66, the Wigwam Motel has been welcoming road weary travelers for more than 50 years, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. History buffs will get a kick out of staying in this retro landmark that embodies a time when traveling was as much about the journey as the destination. The motel features 15 individual wigwams, each equipped with a full bathroom, shower, cable TV, heat, and air conditioning.

Rooms start at around $52 per night (without taxes and fees) for a double bed. Make reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Your Turn

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Source:  smartertravel.com