If you are looking for a memorable place to stay during your trip, if you want to sleep in really special places, this year you will be spoilt for choice between transparent bubbles, yurts, hostels, unique design hotels and remote luxury oases.
Arctic Bath, Sweden © Johan Kauppi / Arctic Bath
1. Arctic Bath, Sweden
At first glance it may look like a giant bonfire that hasn't been lit yet, but this tangle of logs is actually the Arctic Bath, a Scandinavian fairytale location. The hotel is located in Lapland (one of the places to see on a trip to Finland), where it floats in the middle of the Lule River: six rooms only, a natural pool with water at 4°C, relaxation rooms and a sauna. The Arctic Bath is also a stay for all seasons: in summer when it is cradled by the river, or in winter when it becomes a beautiful ice sculpture.
2. Amanyangyun, China
In 2000, the survival of a beautiful camphor forest, the historic Chinese village of Fúzhōu and some houses dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, was threatened by the construction of a new reservoir. But the luxury hotel chain Aman worked for ten years to prevent the entire plot from being destroyed; all the trees and buildings were in fact removed and relocated seven hundred kilometres away, to the outskirts of Shanghai, a true city on water, where Amanyangyun, a wonderful ten-hectare resort, is now about to open.
The price for a night in one of the 24 suites starts from 6 thousand yuan (about 770 euro). The resort also features a spa, a cultural centre, a children's area and many restaurants.
3. Ideal Eco-Hostel, Paraguay
In the city of Pilar there is an eco-hostel where you can feel in complete harmony with nature. The Ideal Eco-Hostel is run by Para La Tierra, an NGO dedicated to the protection of threatened habitats. For its commitment through research, environmental awareness and community involvement, Para La Tierra has already received an award. Profits from the hostel are used to finance the organisation and guests have the opportunity to participate as volunteers in one of the biodiversity projects.
A place in a dormitory costs 70 thousand guaraní (13 euro) per night, while a double room will only cost you 150 thousand guaraní (27 euro).
Thurgau Bubble Hotel, Switzerland © Ivo Scholz
4. Thurgau Bubblehotel, Switzerland
There are bubbles that never burst, like those that dot the Swiss countryside and belong to the Thurgau Bubble hotel. These transparent bedrooms are ideal for spending a night literally immersed in nature. Imagine going to sleep under a starry sky and waking up the next day with a marvellous view of vineyards, orchards, lakes or endless meadows, the perfect location for a couple's trip. Three of the bubbles have a fixed position, while one is moved every two months.
The price per person per night starts at 190 Swiss francs (170 euros), including breakfast and rental bikes.
5. Blackadore Caye, Belize
This eco-resort in the Caribbean is powered by renewable energy, just rainwater and sunshine. Its owner, Leonardo DiCaprio, conceived Blackadore Caye precisely to launch a project to restore the area. Of course, Leo has also thought about the health and well-being of guests, and offers a stay to relax and enjoy all that the private island has to offer.
Half of the island will be occupied by the protected reserve, where there will also be a meteorological station for tracking climate change.
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White City House, London © Simon Brown / Soho House
6. White City House, London, UK
For years, the Soho House Group has presented wonderful examples of hotel design. The latest opening of the chain is in the London district of White City: White City House. The Soho Group has revolutionised the former BBC Television Centre, the legendary circular building that now houses 45 bedrooms, a rooftop swimming pool, a cinema, a fitness centre and many members-only spaces.
7. Gorilla's Nest, Rwanda
This hotel looks like the set of a nature documentary about mountain gorillas, filmed directly in their nests... But the accommodation and food on offer are far better than any crew has ever seen. One&Only Gorilla's Nest is located in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains volcano range, conveniently located for access to Volcanoes National Park, the home of all the gorillas in Rwanda.
8. The Siren Hotel, Detroit, USA
The Siren Hotel is another sign of Detroit's rise: the 106-bedroom boutique hotel has spruced up the Wurlitzer Building, a 1926 building once considered a symbol of the city's success. The hotel is close to the tram line, so downtown galleries and museums, such as the Detroit Institute of Arts, are within easy reach.
9. The Tasman, Hobart, Australia
It will be worth waiting until 3 June 2019 for the opening of The Tasman, a luxury hotel that is part of a chain of historic accommodation buildings. The Hobart venue is St Mary's Hospital, a hospital built in the 19th century in full Georgian style. The Tasman will be a jewel of design where history blends with modern elements and state-of-the-art glass and steel structures.
The Tasman will open on Murray Street, a short walk from the harbour, Franklin Square and Parliament Square.
Eki Chat Yurt Camp, Kyrgyzstan© Nick Wharton & Dariece Swift - www.goatsontheroad.com
10. Eki Chat Yurt Camp, Kyrgyzstan
If you feel ready for an out-of-the-ordinary experience, choose to sleep in a yurt camp. The local community has built a camping area in the Eki Chat Valley where you can sleep in a traditional yurt and then leave the next morning for walking and cycling forays. The camp aims to be an economically and ecologically sustainable type of stay, and is part of an eco-tourism project in the Ak-Suu region. Definitely another good reason to go to Kyrgyzstan.
The nearest town is Jyrgalan, reached after a nine-kilometre walk. A night in the yurt with breakfast included costs 700 som (9 euro) per person.