Ten Mind-Blowing Hotels To Visit Before You Die

While you plan your next trip, it may be a good idea to save up even more money to stay at one of the world’s most unique hotels. You could sleep surrounded by ice, in a cave, or even enjoy breakfast underwater. Breaking free from the usual hotel chains and going for a different experience may end up giving you memories you’ll never forget, even if your wallet takes a major dent.

There are certain things we all want to do before we die whether it’s going sky diving or meeting a celebrity and while you won’t be booking hotels online of the likes you are about to see, you can always visit them instead…

10. Berggasthaus Aescher Hotel

Considered to have the best view in central Switzerland, the Berggasthaus Aescher Hotel is 170-years-old and tucked below the Ebenalp Cliff. In order to reach the unique property, you must take a long route and climb up the extremely challenging and steep mountain path from Seealpsee to the Äscher. If you don’t feel like hiking, you can also take a cable car.

However, don’t expect luxury or even room service. The Berggasthaus Aescher doesn’t have soft beds, room service, or a huge pool for you to enjoy. It’s more like a dormitory or plain hostel. There are no conventional showers, Internet, or television. Also, the food is typically only Swiss so you will have to figure out a way to deal with any midnight cravings for ice cream, or pizza. Surprisingly, the cost to stay there isn’t very high–between $45-$50 Swiss francs per person, per night.

9. Icehotel

The Icehotel is located in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden which is a little town just north of the Arctic Circle. It is typically open between December-April of each year and has the honor of being the world’s first ice hotel, being open over twenty-five years. In 1990, French artist Jannot Derid held an exhibition in an igloo in the area. Some visitors were given permission to sleep inside since there were no available rooms in town. These individuals were technically the first guests of the hotel.

Icehotel is made entirely out of snow and ice blocks from a nearby river. Located inside are a bar, church, ice restaurant, main hall, reception area, and over one hundred suites. In the rooms, everything is made of ice: bed, walls, and decorations. There is no heating and the average bedroom temperature is around 23F. On a positive note, there is a hot tub outdoors as well as a sauna if you need to warm up a bit.

8. Elkep Evi Cave Hotel

Elkep Evi Cave Hotel is a bed and breakfast located in the rock hills of Urgup, Turkey with comfortable beds and modern accommodations. Each room offers a private terrace with spectacular views overlooking Cappadocia, polished wooden floors, a CD player, Jacuzzis and more. However, guests are cautioned to walk slowly around the property since there are many steep areas around the caves.

The upside is that staying there won’t break the bank as the prices are very reasonable. It’s also highly recommended for celebrating a honeymoon and has a special room for newlyweds.

7. Katikies Hotel

Katikies Hotel is the leading boutique hotel in Europe with crystal blue infinity pools and cubist cottages. This is definitely an ideal spot for honeymooners, couples, and romantics; your rate includes a daily Champagne breakfast served on the veranda, a bottle of nice wine, a basket of fruit, plus use of a personal cell phone to snap pictures.

Katikies Hotel is located in Greece and people come from all around the world to stay at the famous property where you can see perfect sunsets and unforgettable backdrops. The white washed suites have classic arched ceilings, views of the Aegean Sea, and a terrace with an open-air dining area where you can enjoy all of what you’re seeing. To stay here, expect to pay no less than $500 a night.

6. Ladera Resort

Ladera Resort is a unique property in St. Lucia that offers honeymoon, vacation, and wedding packages. Guests get to enjoy a private experience with only six villas and twenty-six suites. Ladera Resort also has a highly acclaimed staff that gives attentive service. It sits above a blue Caribbean Sea, which people can view from their private pool in their room. The amenities include soft linens, nice beds, and heated pools.

However, there’s no television or air conditioning. If you want something private, romantic, and intimate this is the place to book. Reserving one of their popular suites will cost up to $1,800 a night.

5. Loisaba Lodge

Loisaba Lodge offers a luxurious stay within the African wilderness. Guests can sleep under the Kenyan stars, undisturbed, on “Star Beds” where someone is nearby to get you anything you want. Each room has large French windows that open up to a private deck and reveal breathtaking views. You can also enjoy the unique, handmade furniture at the resort if you stay there.

Loisaba Lodge is great for taking the family, or groups of people. Guests are encouraged to eat together as opposed to privately and those who stay in the “Star Beds” get a traditional camp barbecue. Some fun activities include camel riding, day game drives, helicopter rides, river rafting, and going to the spa.

4. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Finland houses one of the most unique Igloo villages on the planet, as well as the World’s largest snow restaurant–both of which are part of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. You have the choice of staying in a log cabin, glass igloo, snow igloo, wedding chambers, and more. For the most unique experience–and what attracts numerous people to visit–consider staying in the glass or snow igloo.

The hotel has 20 snow igloos made with glass so that you can watch the northern lights from your bed. For the 2014-2015 Winter season, they will have four more igloos available. The rooms are warm and you can enjoy the sauna that’s located on the premises. Staying in one of these well-known rooms will cost up to $1,000 or more a night.

3. Attrap’Reves Hotel

Staying at the Attrap’Reves Bubble Hotel in France is perfect for those who want to fall asleep looking at the stars. Guests will be able to stay in transparent pods that offer beautiful views of the night sky and surroundings, all for under $200 a night. You can also purchase telescopes or star charts by going to the main building as well as meals. There is an outdoor jacuzzi and other amenities available to guests.

The bubbles are about 13 feet in diameter, and some offer more privacy by being semi-opaque. Each one is made from recyclable materials, and a silent blower keeps the space inflated. Each bubble also has a designed theme, with “Zen” being the most popular.

2. Magic Mountain Lodge

The Magic Mountain Lodge has thirteen-fifteen rooms and looks like it came out of The Lord of the Rings film. It’s located in the intimate Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve in northern Chile’s Patagonia. Visitors enter using a suspended rope bridge, then they get to experience water coming down from the cone-shaped green roof. As you might have guessed, the name is from a favourite story of the owners.

The lodge is built from wood and stone, and each room has modern accommodations as well as large windows to enjoy the forest view. Something unique that’s offered are the hot tubs “made out of huge trunks of trees, dug out, and then filled with hot water perched on a deck overlooking the forest.” You can also the mini golf course that’s nearby, or go horseback riding. The prices are reasonable depending upon when you decide to go.

1. The Manta Resort

If you want to enjoy a meal underwater, this is the place for you. The Manta Resort offers a three-floor suite that floats beside a thriving coral reef. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a submerged master bedroom surrounded by views of local sea life. This resort is unlike any other luxury resort experience, located in the remote northwestern tip of Pemba Island in Zanzibar overlooking crystal-clear water.

The main attraction is the bedroom on the bottom level, which rests around 13 feet beneath the surface of the water on its “own island.” The room features a 360-degree view of the water surrounding it, seen through numerous windows on the walls. You’d have to save up to enjoy this experience–the average night in the underwater room is $1,000 for two people on top of the regular cost of the resort. Plus, that price may be more depending on the time of year you’d like to stay.