Holiday Type / Unusual places to stay

Set on the Laikipia plateau overlooking Mount Kenya, Segera Retreat offers a truly unique experience. Accommodation comprises of two-storey timber and thatch villas raised on stilts, each with a sun deck, loungers, swing bed and outdoor Jacuzzi bath, a family villa, Segera House, and Villa Segera which comes with a private pool and sunken hide. Guests will marvel at The Bird’s Nest – the latest addition to the retreat. Set high above the ground, it offers the unique concept of nesting and sleeping like a bird, with a 360 degree birds-eye-view ...

The quiet forests that flank the Lule River Valley provide the setting for an exceptional escape. Hidden away among the trees lie the seven remarkable treerooms that comprise the Treehotel, a visionary concept brought to life by founders Britta and Kent, in collaboration with some of Scandinavia’s leading architects. Upon arrival, guests check in to the Guesthouse of Treehotel, before making the short stroll to their treeroom from a choice spanning the two-person Cabin, reached by horizontal bridge among the trees, and reflective calm of the pa...

Meaning ‘peaceful mountain’ in the local Native American tongue, the enchanting Amangiri resort lies amidst towering plateaux close to the Arizona border, offering an epic all-season escape with oodles of natural allure. Tucked away in a protective valley, this luxury retreat is set dramatically around an azure swimming pool, with its central pavilion housing a library, dining room and walk-in wine cellar. The spa features a flotation therapy pavilion and water pavilion complete with a sauna and steam room, with treatments reflecting Navajo cul...

As unique as it is transient, ICEHOTEL promises an unforgettable stay. Standing 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle it is created afresh each year by international artists - entirely hewn from ice and snow with no two ICEHOTELs ever the same. From mid December to mid April, guests can spend one night in ICEHOTEL - the temperature remaining between -5 and -8 degrees - with further nights in the cosily contemporary and warm Kaamos rooms or chalets. In addition, ICEHOTEL 365 is open every day and offers an ice experience year-round with 20 ...

A gathering of pavilions positioned on an isolated sand dune with views of Uluru... a simple description of a breathtaking destination, where you will awaken to your own private views of the sun rising over the ancient monolith. Your luxury palatial tent boasts custom furnishings, indigenous artworks and balcony with daybed, fireplace and bespoke swag for sleeping under the stars. Dining and entertaining takes place in the impressive Dune House Restaurant and Bar, where guests will also find lounging areas in contemporary campaign style, just ...

Adventure meets creature comforts in this close-to-nature tented lodge on the rugged shoreline next to Yala National Park. Relax into cossetting cocoon-shaped tents with four-poster beds and freestanding copper bathtubs, some with private pools facing the beach, some with decks overlooking local watering holes, ideal for wildlife spotting. Families will appreciate the Cocoons in the family area with their adjoining Urchin Tents. Meals are served in the open-air bamboo dining pavilion, lunch being à la carte, the delicious evening meals featuri...

The only hotel in the world to be situated on a F1 race track, the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island hovers over land and water and exceeds all expectations. Fusing glamour and fashion with an edgy quirk, each room offers plush amenities; custom décor and furnishings match the hotel’s striking architecture, whilst floor to ceiling windows and spacious balconies emphasise spectacular views of the Yas Marina circuit race track or the marina waterfront. Worldwide cuisine is showcased in a choice of bold and characterful venues, including genuine Italian g...

Thomas Heatherwick, the name behind London’s much vaunted Garden Bridge, has reimagined the historic grain silo building on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. The grain silo building incorporates a leading-edge modern art gallery, Zeitz MOCAA, to rival the likes of the Tate Modern as well as The Silo Hotel features rooms individually styled by owner, Liz Biden – known for her trailblazing designs for Royal Malewane, La Residence, Birkenhead House. The classic hotel suite formula has been reinvented to showcase incomparable views through glass windows...

Located in Compatsch on the Alpe di Siusi, thought by many to be Europe’s most beautiful high-altitude plateau, this distinctive hotel offers ski-in, ski-out convenience to slopes that are perfect for families and beginners. A Member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the property features striking modern design in stone, glass and wood, interiors being a perfect mix of warmth, cosiness and cutting-edge style. South facing rooms and suites – many with fireplaces - overlook the dramatic Dolomites terrain; further facilities include an expansive...

Promising to be the most luxurious property in close proximity to Volcanoes National Park, Bisate Lodge accommodates just 12 guests in six forest villas. It is the perfect base from which to discover the riches of the Virunga volcanic area with its misty mountain vistas and famed groups of habituated gorillas. Beyond the incredible thrill of meeting gorillas, other attractions include cultural visits to local villages, the lava tunnels of the Musanze Caves, Dian Fossey’s grave and the twin lakes of Buhondo and Burera. Birding is a highlight, a...