Inside The World's Most Unique Hotels

On the lush island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, The Bubble Lodge offers a secluded hideaway with panoramic views of the historic Cap Malheureux tea plantation and the Bois Cheri jungle. Created by French designer Pierre Stephane Dumas to be 100 percent green, the lodge is a standalone transparent sphere that features air-conditioning, queen-size bed, en-suite bathroom, and an exterior shower. Guests can also request a gourmet dinner cooked by a private chef, or a date with an astronomer (to learn just what you’re gazing at as you drift off to sleep). Helicopter tours of the plantation and surrounding islands are also available. From $1,890 per person for a six-day itinerary with Off the Map Travel.

If you haven’t tried a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, you really haven’t tried a Pinot Noir—and sipping on this lush red while staying in an AutoCamp Airstream might be the best way to do it. Though AutoCamp also offers luxury tents—which feel a bit more like glamping—these campers are the way to go. Designed with a mid-century feel, they feature chic modern amenities like Malin+Goetz bath products, a full shower with a rainwater head, and a music playlist curated weekly. Located only 90-minutes from San Francisco, AutoCamp is close to the beaten path, but far enough away that you’ll still get a restful night's sleep against the beautiful Northern Californian landscape. From $200 per night.

The rustic beauty of Kominkas–traditional Japanese houses with features like a thatched roof and a hearth–are one of the best-kept secrets of the Tokushima Prefecture's Iya Valley. The surrounding forest is the ideal spot for travelers to explore and hike; in the summer months, adventurers can also raft down the Iya River. Bridges crossing the water were constructed from vines about 800 years ago, but the three that remain today are maintained by local artisans who replace the stalks each year to enable travelers to use them. From $190 per night.

The Shipwreck Lodge, perched on the sands of Namibia’s famous Skeleton Coast Park, is built intentionally to look like the bones of a washed-up ship. Designed by Nina Maritz Architects and interior designer Melanie van der Merwe from Women Unleashed, the goal was to build a camp that matched the remarkable and eerie scenery of the coastline. With the exception of wood-burning stoves, the entire property is solar-powered; the lounge and restaurant boast a wraparound deck with uninterrupted views of the sand and sea. From $820 with Natural Selection Safari.

The spectacular treetop buildings at Keemala Bird’s Nests are designed to look like giant birds’ nests, and offer five-star sleeping accommodations, lap pool, hot tub, or outdoor bath hovering over the jungle canopy with either ocean, rainforest, or mountain views. Inspired by the Rung-Nok Clan (Nest Clan) who enjoyed a lavish life even by today's standards, their exclusivity took shape in the woven tangle of the birds' nest design. According to Keemala's website, this clan was thought to be more superior in both intellect and creativity, comprised of artists, musicians, astrologers, philosophers, and poets. From $920 per night.

Skwachàys (pronounced “skwatch-eyes”) Lodge and Residence in Vancouver is so much more than a hotel. It houses a fair trade gallery and an urban Aboriginal artist residence, owned and operated by the Vancouver Native Housing Society. The top three floors contain 18 boutique rooms, each displaying a theme (like "Water Suite", "Drum Circle Suite" and "Forest Spirits Suite") and 15 other unique designs, each with an extensive story and connection to the indigenous peoples of Canada. On the roof, don’t miss the sweat lodge and smudge room used for spiritual cleansing. From $139.

“What happens in the Crane stays in the Crane,” is the mantra of the Crane Hotel Faralda. A semi-secret hangout for celebrated DJs, world-stage VIPs, CEOs and even some Royals, its single entry is studiously monitored to help maintain exclusivity. But with enough lead-time, anyone can rent one of its three small-but-exquisite suites. Meanwhile, two panoramic elevators provide access to the top of the crane 164 feet straight up (that’s about 15 stories) where there is a panoramic lounge and a Jacuzzi. The hotel sits on a formerly abandoned ship wharf on the banks of the river Ij (an obsolete Dutch word meaning water), directly opposite the center of Amsterdam. Suites from $895 per night.

A long ramp in the forests of northern Sweden leads up to the Dragonfly, a wood-and-sheet metal 560-square foot private suite meant to rust and blend in with its surroundings. Beyond the unique digs, Chef Sebastian Gröndal heads up the haute-rustic Nordic restaurant, with local Swedish delicacies like wild game or hand-picked berries on offer. (Chef Sebastian is also at the ready to provide personalized foraging experiences for guests.) From $820 for 2-4 people.

A modern take on the Australian homestead, the Dune Pavilion at Longitude 131° contains a light-filled reception area, bar, lounge, restaurant and recently expanded outdoor terrace. Australia’s only accommodation to offer views of both World Heritage-listed natural icons Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), the bar features more than 500 hand-painted tiles depicting desert spinifex, commissioned from a group of nineteen artists from Ernabella Arts Community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Its Spa Kinara (meaning “moon”) uses only locally sourced natural beauty products like Salted Emu Bush. From $1,500 per night.