It was a Weird and Wonderful Stay

Stuart Dickinson - 29 March 2011

Thanks to some truly creative minds, an overnight stay or weekend away need not be made of the mundane. If you’re tired of seeing the same old thing every time you’re travelling around the world, then take a journey through the rabbit hole and try one of these quirky and unique hotels!

Gamirasu Hotel

The picturesque Gamirasu Hotel. Image couresty wackyarchives

Get in touch with your inner caveman (or woman) at the Gamirasu Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey. Carved out of a cliff face in the Yunak Evleri mountains, this stunning hotel offers cave houses like those seen on The Flintstones, as well as a 19th century Greek mansion. It offers horseback riding and a variety of other local cultural activities.

Dog Bark Park Inn

The massive beagles of Dog Bark Park Inn. Image courtesy dogbarkparkinn

A stay at the world’s biggest beagle in Idaho (USA) is a must for any dog lover. Dog Bark Park was established in 1997 and offers guests all the comforts of home, the only difference being you have to climb into a two-storey dog first! Many of the decorations found in the room are made by the owners, and fit the theme of the establishment.

Iglu-Dorf Engelberg Hotel

Guests enjoy the Jacuzzi at Iglu-Dorf Engelberg. Image courtesy <a href='http://www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com/Iglu-DorfEngelberg'>unusualhotelsoftheworld</a>

Guests enjoy the Jacuzzi at Iglu-Dorf Engelberg. Image courtesy unusualhotelsoftheworld

The first igloo of this frozen getaway in Switzerland was built by Adrian Günter in 1996. Following a huge interest in the hotel, he has since opened another seven villages in Andorra, Germany and Switzerland, moving 3 000 tons of snow every December to create each one. Don’t worry, the sleeping bags are warm and cosy!

The Hobbit Motel

The hillside burrows of the Hobbit Motel. Image courtesy woodlynpark

Set among the rolling hills of Woodlyn Park in New Zealand, the Hobbit Motel was constructed to resemble the Shire of JRR Tolkien’s classic fantasy adventure The Lord of the Rings. The two hillside burrows have specially designed furniture and décor, and were built using polystyrene blocks to ward off the winter chills and keep the room cool in summer.

The Grand Daddy

If you’re visiting Cape Town, an overnight stay, or at the very least a drink, at the elegant, stylishly fun Grand Daddy is a must. Situated on Long Street, the famous “playground” of the Mother City, it is the only hotel in the world to sport its very own rooftop trailer park, where guests can stay in a variety of tongue-in-cheek trailers, each with their own unique theme.