Last Updated on March 23, 2025
Sometimes a regular hotel room just doesn’t cut it. Whether it’s a special occasion or you just fancy treating yourself, why not consider one of the following pinch-me-i-must-be-dreaming accommodation options? From underwater hotels to glass igloos under the Northern Lights, these forms of accommodation are certain to make for an unforgettable experience.
Stay in an underwater hotel
Yes, underwater hotels exist. They offer underwater rooms that look out into an aquarium – or in some cases even the ocean – so that you can wake up surrounded by marine life and feel like you’re a mermaid. It’s a whole new meaning to the term ‘deep sleep’. Some of these hotels also come with underwater restaurants so that you can dine under the sea too. This post takes a dive into some of the best underwater hotels around the world.
Charter a superyacht
A yacht is typically defined as a ‘superyacht’ when it exceeds 79 feet. These are the kind of yacht owned by billionaires in St Tropez that come with luxurious living quarters, multiple decks and lavish extras like spa facilities. Not everyone can afford to buy one of these yachts – they typically cost over $1 million. However, there is the option of superyachts for charter. These are yachts that you can rent out for a week with the option of your own crew. A chance to enjoy your very own private boat party!
Rent a castle
Looking for accommodation that will make you feel like a queen? Renting out a castle ought to do it. There are entire chateaus in France and medieval manors in Scotland that you can rent out as vacation homes. The price to stay in these rentals isn’t cheap, but when split among a large group (and these buildings can fit a lot of people in them) the cost per person can be surprisingly affordable. It’s worth noting that there are also many castles that have been turned into hotels – some of which even host events like murder mystery nights or medieval-style banquet nights.
Ride a luxury overnight train
While the original Orient Express was discontinued in 2009, there are still many luxury overnight trains that you can ride to get the same experience. These trains have private cabins with comfortable bedding, en-suite bathroom facilities and in some cases butler service. You’ll also find on-board lounge facilities and dining facilities. Some of these trains stop at various stations and give you a few hours to get off and explore. Track down the perfect train by researching different luxury locomotives around the world.
Hire out a beachfront villa
There are many stunning coastal villas you can rent out with access straight onto the beach. These villas also typically come with bedrooms and living rooms with views overlooking the sea, as well as stunning pools that also come with ocean vistas. While some of these villas can be quite expensive to rent for a week, travelling as a large group could allow you to split the cost and make such a beachfront paradise affordable. Check AirBnb and other rental sites to see what types of villas you can find.
Get a suite on a premium cruise
Cruise ships are a luxurious accommodation option that everyone should try once in their life. You are essentially in a hotel on the water. Of course, cruises can vary greatly in the level of luxury they provide. Some premium cruises have a huge range of facilities on board from fine dining restaurants to water parks to spa facilities. To make your stay more extravagant, upgrade from a regular cabin to a suite. These cabins are much more spacious and come with large windows (or in some cases balconies) overlooking the sea.
Sleep in a glass igloo
Finally, there’s the option of a glass igloo in the Arctic circle. These unique accommodation solutions allow you to sleep under the stars and potentially catch the Northern Lights. You can find them across Scandinavia, Iceland and Canada. The most popular destination to stay in a glass igloo is Lapland in Finland (as you can imagine, this is very popular around Xmas time).
Conclusion
This is just a handful of some of the luxurious accommodation options out there that you can stay in. If you want to stay somewhere lavish that’s a little different, always take the time to do your research. There are so many weird and wonderful accommodation options to choose from that are equally sumptuous and so much more memorable than a regular five star hotel.
