While talking to other value luxury travelers, I find comfort in the fact that I am not the only person who spends a lot of time obsessing over the right hotel choice. The right choice for me is not always the same – in some situations, location is priority, while in others, a bit of local color is what I am after.

One of our accommodation partners, Wimdu, suggests that for some vacations, a hotel just won’t do. For a vacation that your friends on Facebook will simply be jealous of, consider these off-beat accommodation ideas.

A Recording Studio


Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep after the artists-in-residence have finished their work for the day. Yes, this is actually a shot of a recording studio available to you in Paris for just under $200/night. It’s located in inner Paris, the perfect place to soak up that joie de vivre and pretend like you’re a famous Parisian musician. (Skip the cigarettes, they’re bad for your health.)

On the Stage

paris cinema

More of a singer than a rockstar? Paris also has a cinema where you can sleep *on the stage* of a real cinema. I guess that’s a great way to make use of the space, though I can’t help but wonder if one would get a case of stage fright stripping down to your PJs and hopping into bed with all those empty seats. (Plus, how do you turn out the lights?)
Despite these downsides, this Paris Cinema is in a prime location right by the Arc De Triomphe, and coming soon is an added bonus – your choice of a movie to enjoy before tucking in. But that isn’t much to offset the pricetag for this venue, which is over $1k/night. (Paris is expensive, but not that expensive!)

Breakfast with Giraffes

giraffe manor

I’ve had several friends who have enjoyed this experience, and none of them regret it – in fact, they talk about it all the time, and their photo albums are a riot! The Giraffe Manor is located in Nairobi, Kenya and is certainly a must-experience if you find yourself in the area; it’s a bit expensive, putting it firmly in the luxury category, but when you get to kiss giraffes after eating breakfast, it’s hard to deny you’re getting good value.
Overnight in a Chocolate Shop

chocolate shop

For some readers, this lodging recommendation may provide dangerous and is not recommended if you cannot control yourself locked in overnight in a shop full of chocolates. But that’s exactly what’s on offer at the Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn for just around $150/night. Leyburn is about an hour outside of York, one of my favorite English cities. You’ll have a comfortable private room and included in your night’s stay is a free “chocolate breakfast” and demonstration in the chocolate-making factory – what’s not to like about that? If you can’t get to Leyburn, the Tibbetts House Bed and Breakfast in Highland, Illinois has a similar offer (including the ever-popular chocolate breakfast.)
Inside Public Art

antwerp egg hotel
It doesn’t get any more wacky than staying inside public art. No, really – inside is where you’ll be if you choose to spend a night in this Egg-inspired room at on the grounds of the Verbeke Foundation, a private contemporary arts collector with grounds just outside of Antwerp, Belgium. While I haven’t stayed here, a friend calls the experience “ultra modern,” which is to say it’s almost so modern it’s too much. But, as a former Netherlands resident, I have to say this does reflect some of the design taste of the western Europe community. Other similar options exist around the world – the 21C Museum in Louisville has a similar feel but more traditional rooms.

On a Boat!

boat

Believe it or not, the hotel-as-a-boat movement is very popular these days; in Amsterdam there is not only houseboats you can rent, but there’s an entire hotel built on a floating pier in the river. As far as overnight boat accommodation goes, it depends on the situation, but what I can say is the Moksha boat in Hong Kong is only $88/night, which is a total steal. Most boat hotels have limited space, so what you’re getting in ambiance/experience you’ll be paying for with a tighter space. I’ve also heard about popular houseboat stays in Boston, London, and Liverpool. My advice is to research the details a lot before booking.
Sleep in a Crane

sleep in a crane

Continuing on across the border into the Netherlands we have perhaps the strangest idea of all – sleeping in an old shipping crane! The interior design is certainly, well, almost steampunk, but you can’t deny that a glass of wine at sunset with sweeping views is nice. The Harlingen Harbour Crane! This one is a one-of-a-kind experience, and since there’s only room for a couple, it fills up quickly! Harlingen is a great jumping off point for one of my favorite Dutch islands, Terschelling, and the national rail network can take you anywhere else you need to go mainland.
The Final Word

As we’ve said before, when it comes to luxury, everyone’s opinion is different. A quirky, downright unusual overnight stay might sound like fun to some, and to others it might sound like spending the night with that relative you don’t really like. I encourage you, when the opportunity presents itself, to think outside of the (hotel) box – whether that’s a on a boat, in a yurt, on a crane, in a castle, or an airstream trailer – there’s a world of possibility out there. Have fun with it – that’s what being on vacation is about, right?

Editorial Disclosure: These offbeat accommodation ideas are brought to you by our travel partner Wimdu. The opinions reflected here are entirely the author’s.