The Top 10 Most Unusual Hotel Designs in the World

Discover our take on the Top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. Each hotel in our top ten list is trying to “invent” their own bespoke “flavor.” Hotel experiences to attract paying guests of substance to their hotel.

However, some hotel owners are going much further. Trying to create something new in their design and innovation. Hoteliers at the higher end of the hotel industry have now recognized that innovation is key to long term success. Modern hotel guests demand more than dull washed out, poorly designed hotel rooms and stale amenities.

That is why hotels that wish to flourish in the early 21st century are doing all they can to stand out from the crowd. In this manner hoteliers provide guests with sound reasons to return. The ‘uniqueness’ of each hotel establishes ongoing brand and reputation.

Top 10 Most Unusual Hotels in the World

Here is the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. Bespoke and unusual accommodation for guests who want a unique and distinctive hotel experience.

Malmaison Prison Hotel Oxford, United Kingdom

This prison style luxury hotel in the English historical city of Oxford is “grown” from a former high security prison in Oxford. At the Malmaison Prison Hotel Oxford are to be found approximately 100 reimagined rooms. This prison hotel is certainly one of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world.

This hotel is remarkable if you ever wondered what it might be like to stay in a prison. Yet understandably never wanted to be locked up for real. Now you can have the best of both worlds at the Malmaison Oxford. That is go to prison and leave whenever you wish.

All of the guest rooms in the hotel are actually refurbished prison cells that really used to hold convicted criminals. Until relatively recently the former occupants of this UK prison would stay here at ‘Her Majesty’s Pleasure’ and under court order to reflect on their misdeeds and bad behaviour.

Once the cell rooms at the prison in Oxford were a little bit threadbare. Now each cosy ‘cell’ is packed with some of the best creature comforts and luxuries that come to mind.

At Her Majesty’s pleasure (sometimes abbreviated to Queen’s pleasure or, when appropriate, at His Majesty’s pleasure or King’s pleasure.) It is a legal term referring to the indeterminate sentences of some prisoners.

For the Malmaison boutique Hotel in Oxford, each former cell has been refitted with complete luxury. All the hotel facilties and guest services that you would expect in a high end hotel are present. What makes the rooms unique is that you are completely aware each room is a cell. Even the doors still resemble prison cell doors with tiny windows.

Outside the rooms the prison walkways connect each floor. It is quite sobering until guests realize that the doors are not locked at night. That actually you are free to go. Be wary of not paying your bill in this hotel as they might just lock you up.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Florida, USA

The romantic hotel under the sea that is Jules Undersea Lodge is only equipped to accommodate six people. Therefore it is essential to book these under the ocean rooms well in advance.

Once the hotel was just an underwater laboratory in Key Largo Park. Now it is in high demand among fans of the unusual and mysterious hotels. Jules’ Undersea Lodge has two rooms and a common living area of ​​600 square meters. While at the lodge guests can hone their Scuba diving skills in the park lagoon.

The underwater hotel is truly one of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. The lodge has a four-star category and has positioned itself as a non smoking hotel. Notable visitors to Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Florida include rock band Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler. Actor Tim Allen and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Das Park Hotel, Austria

Although this is a one-of-the-kind hotel conceived by Andreas Strauss in 2004. The Das Park hotel is constructed from large sewage pipes. There are now two Das Park hotels. One in Austria – Ottensheim and the other hotel is situated near Essen in Germany.

Just like cave hotels. Das Park Hotel is fairly cool in the summer, and perhaps still warm in winter. Although at the moment the hotel is only open to guests from May to October. For guests that like to live in large pipes. The Das Park hotel is the only choice there is. Surely one of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. These Das Park ‘pipe style’ hotels are located in Austria and Germany.

Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland

Kakslauttanen Hotel in Finland is located in the homeland of Santa Claus. This being the enchanting Lapland. It is a cozy and warm hotel with guest rooms made ​​of glass and ice.

Imagine sleeping under the stars by warm firelight at night and on manoeuvres by reindeer, husky or snowmobile during the day. This is life in Finnish Lapland’s remote Urho Kekkonen National Park. 

The Hotel Kakslauttanen sits astride the ancient Sami route to the Barents Sea. Situated high above the Arctic Circle the hotel is a magnificent place to see the Northern lights and experience the homeland of Santa Clause.

Utter Inn, Sweden

This property is a cottage on Lake Mälaren in Sweden. The hut stands on the platform for diving. Below which hotel guests at the Utter Inn can go down the hatch and get into a waterproof bedroom.

The single room of the hotel lies 3m below the surface of Lake Mälaren in Västerås, Sweden and contains only twin beds and a dining table. The Utter Inn is suitable for those who love remote solitude, fishing or water sports.

A single underwater room in a Swedish lake near Stockholm. The inn is the creation of Mikael Genberg. Mikael is a local artist and sculptor who has chosen to focus on “making art for the public”.

The Ice Hotel, Sweden

Also in Sweden is another ‘Ice Hotel’ in which there are  59 comfortable rooms. The hotel has an art gallery, a restaurant and vodka bar. While at the Ice Hotel, guests can sculpt ice, see the Northern Lights and generally chill out in the intense cold.

Experience sleeping on ice at one of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. The original Ice Hotel is located in Swedish Lapland. The hotel is set beside the frozen river Torne. This is in the small village of Jukkasjarvi.

The Ice Hotel is enclosed by pristine pine forests and fauna. Nothing can better the surreal and magical atmosphere of the world’s largest igloo that is the Ice Hotel in Sweden.

Luxury Resort Sant’Angelo, Italy

Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort Hotel is located in the rock at the site of the former stables and workshops. Undoubtably one of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort is placed in the enchanting rocky scenery of the Sassi of Matera.

The ‘scattered hotel’ is the result of a great restoration process that involved old cave dwellings, buildings, stairs, narrow streets and courtyards. In this creation the designers have created a new concept of hotel.

Here at Sant’Angelo, guests can not only sleep, but have a tasty meal at a restaurant or visit an art gallery. Italian interior designer Stefano Tardito, gave elegance and charm to this unique Italian location and marked the idea of eco chic hospitality, new in its hotel genre.

Yurt Hotel, Spain

For those who have never slept in a tent, but always wanted to try it, a special hotel in a Yurt is created. The hotels are located in Spain found among olive trees. The mountains can be seen from the window of Yurt Hotel.

Well known to discerning free spirits. The Yurt hotel is the traditional accommodation of the native people of Afghanistan and Mongolia. Yurt hotels are canvass, tent style constructions. However Yurts have wooden floors and coloured lattice wooden supports that hold the structures aloft.

Yurting or Yurts is a holiday experience which combines the tranquility of the Spanish countryside. With the freedom of taking the car or train and exploring the small towns and the coastline of Spanish Andalucia.

Hotel Monasterio, Peru

This hotel in Peru is located in a former convent and monastery. Since the building is situated at an altitude of 3 km above sea level the air can get rather thin. So that the guests feel comfortable the hotel is specially supplied with refined oxygen.

One of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world. A stay at Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Peru transports visitors back to the crux of Incan and Spanish civilization. Housed in a beautiful former monastery constructed in 1592. Hotel Monasterio’s rich heritage adds depth and excitement to the luxury hotel experience. There are not many monasteries in the world that offer this level of luxury and engagement with the past.

Landry Cabanes du Bois, France

The final hotel in our list of the top 10 most unusual hotels in the world is in France. This charming French hotel offers cabin style accommodation in wooden huts, which are built on huge trees. All of the wood cabins are connected to each other with rope ladders and walkways.

The Landry Cabanes du Bois Consists of 15 unusual tree houses. These tree houses and cabins are sprinkled around an idyllic private forestry. There’s no wonder the Cabanes de Bois Landry delivers some truly unique hotel experiences. The tree houses are idyllically located on the perimeter of a tranquil pond in the department of Eure-et-Loir. This region of France is about 90 minutes’ drive from the French capital of Paris.

The Landry Cabanes du Bois offers guest accommodation in characterful and cosy wooden cabins. These woodland cabins are suspended in the forest’s oak trees and connected by all sorts of intricate staircases and rope bridges.