For seasoned travellers bored with the standard overnight setups, finding accommodation that stands out for all the right reasons can be difficult. Discover 14 of the world’s coolest alternative hotels that are as impressive as the landscape that surrounds them – from a Japanese aroma distillery to a Slovenian chocolate village.
JAPAN
Korinkyo Aroma Distillery – Ishikawa, Japan
Brilliantly combining minimalism, modern design and nature, the Korinkyo is a boutique hotel as well as an aroma distillery creating essential oils using local ingredients from the nearby forest. Close to Kanazawa’s famous Kenrokuen Garden, the hotel has 18 rooms. Showcasing its sustainability, the aromatic distilled water produced during the distillation process is used in the rooftop sauna and bath on the 10th floor. www.ishikawatravel.jp/en
Brothel turned ryokan – Hachinohe, Japan
Originally founded as the Shin Mutsu Brothel in 1898, the building was eventually repurposed as the traditional Japanese inn, Shun Mutsu Ryokan. Since then, the inn has retained much of its original features, and as such is a registered National Tangible Cultural Property. A Meiji-style building with splendid features such as alcoves, lattice windows and folding screens, Shun Mutsu is a great base from which to explore Japan’s northern frontier. www.visithachinohe.com
Temple Stay – Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
A Japanese temple stay offers a peaceful and tranquil stay, giving the opportunity to enjoy slow travel. Shukubo, or temple stays, began centuries ago when pilgrims were taken in by temples for a night or two. Honor tradition and stay at Akashiji Dainicihya Inn. Since the Taisho era, Dainicihya has been welcoming visitors to the nearby sacred site of Akashiki. The temple offers guests cultural experiences, such as a meditation exercise, sutra-copying, Buddha drawing and flower arranging, all designed to calm the spirit. www.visit-kyushu.com/en
Stay in a former samurai residence – Kanazawa, Three Star Road, Japan
Nagamachi was a samurai district located at the foot of former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining samurai residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canals. Be sure to visit Nomura-ke, a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the era when samurai were prosperous. www.mitsuboshi-kaidou.com
Night at the Museum, Hotel Benesse House – Naoshima, Japan
Located in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea on the island of Naoshima – a fishing island increasingly renowned for its innovative art projects – Benesse House feels more like a gallery than hotel, with its minimal design, natural light and scattered contemporary artworks. Remote and idyllic, the hotel sits among scattered shrines, rice fields and old wooden houses in a bid to revitalise its shrinking population. The minimal architecture, with expanses of concrete, glass and wood – created by respected architect Tadao Ando – is the perfect complement to the surrounding nature and artwork. www.japan.travel/en/
EUROPE
Chocolate Village – Limbuš, Slovenia
Chocolate Village, just outside of Maribor, is a luxurious glamping site that’s perfect for chocoholics. Guests can stay in contemporary cabins, beautiful treehouses, or poolside houses that come complete with their own hot tub and fireplace, all whilst enjoying delicious, locally-made chocolate treats. Each room has chocolate bath products and travellers looking to really immerse themselves in the sweet stuff can enjoy a relaxing chocolate massage. www.slovenia.info/en
USA
CASS winery – SLO CAL, California
The GENESEO INN is a luxury boutique hotel nestled in the rolling hills of SLO CAL’s Paso Robles wine country. Built of industrial shipping crates perched above the vines on CASS Winery’s 145 acres of vineyard, the experience truly allows guests to ‘breathe in the vineyard views’. The winery has already been receiving awards and accolades from architectural magazines for this alternative accommodation. www.slocal.com
CampV – Naurita, Colorado
Opened in spring this year, CampV is a new boutique accommodation offering for adventurous travellers. Originally established in 1942 to house engineers working in nearby mines, the historic location has been reimagined to feature cosy cabins, retro Airstreams and glamping tents, as well as spaces for travellers to pitch their own tent or park an RV. Community is at the core of CampV and the team hold regular events for guests and the local residents, including campfire talks and art installations. www.colorado.com
AutoCamp – Yosemite Mariposa, California
While technically not a lodge, not quite a campground, not quite a hotel, AutoCamp Yosemite is a unique place to stay. Located 45-minutes from the Arch Rock Entrance to Yosemite National Park, and about an hour from Yosemite Valley, home to the Visitor Center, assorted hiking trails, concessions and campgrounds. AutoCamp Yosemite offers more than 100 custom Airstreams (complete with bathroom and kitchenette), cabins and luxury platform tents. Spend the day exploring the landscape with a hike, snowshoe trek, or climbing experience—or take things easy with a book by the pool. www.yosemite.com
Kalaloch Lodge – Olympic National Park, Washington
Nestled between driftwood-lined beaches and evergreen forest, the rustic cabins that make up Kalaloch Lodge are perfect for travellers looking to relax and escape from the world. Each of the cabins has warm and inviting interiors along with fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. No TV or WiFi means that guests can connect with nature instead; the surrounding landscape of Olympic National Park has plenty to explore. www.visitseattle.co.uk
A secluded mountain experience – Mammoth Lakes
After a day out in nature—whether it’s skiing down the slopes or stand-up paddle boarding—there’s no place better than a cabin to come home to. Nestled in the trees above Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge, the cozy and secluded cabins of Mammoth Mountain Chalets are the epitome of “getting away from it all.” During snow season, a vintage snowcat shuttles guests and their belongings to individual units at 9,000 feet. Each charming cabin is conveniently ski-in ski-out in the winter. In the summer months, there are numerous hiking and mountain biking trails and a nearby shuttle that takes explorers to Reds Meadow and Yosemite National Park. Private decks and wood-burning stoves encourage long chats, and many of the units allow four-legged friends to join in on the adventure. www.visitmammoth.com
Treebones – Big Sur, California
Treebones offers a unique lodging and dining experience on California’s breath-taking Big Sur coast. The lodge has a selection of yurts and tents, which allow guests to sleep under the stars whilst overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The community also boasts a private wood-woven nest, perched in one of the trees on the campsite. The nest has a wood ladder access, with a full size futon mattress perched inside it for guests to nestle in for the night. Experience an expansive ocean view in the ultimate tree house. www.visitcalifornia.com
Delta King floating hotel – Sacramento, California
The Delta King is an authentic 285-foot paddlewheel riverboat that was originally built in Glasgow, Scotland and Stockton, California and christened in 1927. Revived to its former glory and moored along the Old Sacramento Waterfront, the 44 enchanting state rooms are a stone’s throw away from charming Old Sacramento. The Delta King has been restored and converted into a boutique hotel with one-of-a-kind facilities for riverfront dining, nightlife, conference facilities and a beautiful riverside wedding venue. www.visitsacramento.com
REST OF WORLD
ELYT eco-friendly catamaran – The Islands of Tahiti
The ELYT is a solar-powered and eco-friendly catamaran which was inspired by Polynesian canoes and the islands’ water lifestyle. Everything aboard the floating bungalow, from propulsion to hot water to equipment, is powered by solar panels. The absence of a diesel engine also means that the catamaran is smoke and smell-free, making the stay aboard much more enjoyable. The catamaran can welcome up to eight guests, hosts two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen with a sundeck that offers 360° views of the lagoon and comes with a bar and a barbecue setup. Aboard the catamaran are two inflatable kayaks, two inflatable SUP boards and snorkelling gear for guests to explore the stunning cool blue waters. www.tahititourisme.uk
