Today’s travellers are more and more often searching out unique experiences, and that includes overnight adventures. Adam Bishop from Travel Daily, rounds up some unique places to rest your head.
Muraka Undersea Villa, Conrad Maldives
The phrase “to sleep with the fishes” was made famous by Mario Puzo’s groundbreaking crime novel The Godfather, and is not an expression that travellers typically associate with unique luxury accommodation. However, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort may change the way people view the relationship between the marine world and hotel accommodation forever.
Located in a private area of The Muraka lagoon, the resort’s first-of-its-kind suites provide guests with an amazing and unobstructed view of what life is like underneath the surface of the Indian Ocean. The aquarium-like rooms come equipped with free wi-fi, a sundeck with whirlpool, and giant floor-to-ceiling glass windows at virtually every turn. The hotel also features the on-site Ithaa Undersea Restaurant which provides panoramic underwater views for diners while they eat, along with a wide array of cuisines paired with carefully matched wines.
When guests are sick of simply viewing the water and want to take a dip, they can make use of the multiple pools the resort has on offer, including a quiet pool tailored for relaxation and a kids’ pool for families. A diverse range of water activities are also available nearby, including sailing, diving, jet skiing, paddle boarding, and snorkelling.
Wadi Rum Bedouin tent camp
Camping in the desert might not sound very glamorous, but perhaps hold back on delivering that critique until you’ve at least visited the Wadi Rum Bedouin tent camp in Jordan.
Situated in the protected desert wilderness of Wadi Rum in southern part of the country, this unique tent camp is enveloped by dramatic sandstone mountains and makes available traditional Bedouin-style tents equipped with a fireplace, two-person beds, and hot water showers powered by environmentally friendly solar panels. A community tent is also available for guests, comprising a larger common space where the camp’s operators serve tea and food, with tables offering a 360° view of the stunning arid landscape outside.
Traditional Jordanian food on the menu includes a selection of meats, vegetables, rice and salads such as kabsa – a rice dish with chicken or lamb, and mansaf, the nation’s national dish known for being served up at wedding parties. Apart from the tents themselves, the major selling point of the Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp is the huge array of adventurous activities nearby such as jeep tours exploring popular attractions like Lawrence’s Spring and Khazali Canyon. For non-motorised travel, travellers should try the four-legged variety and meander around on the back of a camel to enjoy the desert landscape at a leisurely pace.
Treehouse at Kilauea Volcano
Few accommodation providers can claim being closer to nature than the Treehouse at Kilauea Volcano, rustic tree lodging constructed in the wilderness area of the Big island in Hawaii.
The unusual redwood abode is furnished with a queen-sized bed, cedar hot tub, outdoor shower, and food preparation area, with the two-level structure also boasting modern creature comforts such as a flat screen TV, comfortable chairs with ottomans, built-in indoor window tables, and outdoor shower. The treehouse provides a perfect respite for volcano enthusiasts as it is located less than five minutes’ walk from the gate of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and is also only a short stroll to restaurants and galleries.
Originally conceived of as a specialist honeymoon getaway spot, the lodging now attracts guests from all walks of life, with the owners of the Treehouse at Kilauea also building a pavilion nearby to cater for weddings, anniversary celebrations, tiki parties, and functions. Heightening the allure even more is the many hiking trails available nearby inside the national park, with volcanic activity from the Kilauea Volcano creating many unique tourist attractions, such as a path with footprints preserved from an eruption over a hundred years ago.
The Treehouse at Kilauea Volcano is a twoperson space and is not recommended for family trips.
Bertram's Hotel
For those seeking to take their love of London icons to the next level, perhaps they should consider a stay at the Bertram’s Hotel, a quirky accommodation option crafted inside one of London’s famous red double-decker buses, located in Hartland in Devon, UK.
The hotel is designed to mirror the novel cover of At Bertram’s Hotel, one of Agatha Christie’s popular mystery novels. The style fuses a 1950s feel with a modern twist, with features and furnishings including a cocktail bar with record player, a retro kitchen, double beds, and central heating. Conveniently parked close by to a host of traditional English attractions, the converted bus neighbours an enclosed garden area, a pub, a fish and chip shop, and farming areas.
Slightly further afield are longer walks along the coastline from Hartland Point, where travellers can enjoy the cliff top views along the way. Also within walking distance is Hartland Quay, a former harbour famed for its rugged cliffs and rough sea squalls. Guests wanting to take their stay in the mysterious Bertram hotel can also warm themselves up by reserving a hot tub experience only available upon request.
And before you ask, the answer is no, the owners do not allow guests to take the bus for a spin around the block.
