9 of the most unique places I’ve stayed around the world (and what they’re really like)

I’ve stayed in some pretty unusual places over the last 15 years of traveling. I’ve slept in a treehouse 53 feet above the Amazon rainforest, a dome tent in the Jordanian desert, and a castle in Ireland.

But nothing quite prepared me for waking up to a giraffe sticking its head through my bedroom door, looking for breakfast.

Some of these accommodations had been on my bucket list for years. Others were places I hadn’t heard of until I started planning a trip. A few were so good that I would happily return, which is saying something because I rarely stay in the same place twice.

Of course, not every stay was perfect. Some came with cold showers, uncomfortable beds, or a lot more tourists than I expected.

Here are nine of the most unique places I’ve stayed around the world, what made each one special, and what I’d want to know before booking again.

And you can actually spend the night in this landscape!

Despite being in the middle of the desert, our tent was surprisingly comfortable. We had a proper bed, air conditioning, and a full private bathroom. I wasn’t expecting that level of comfort somewhere so remote.

Dinner was memorable, too. We tried zarb, a traditional Bedouin cooking method where meat is cooked underground. The staff dug up our dinner right in front of us.

My only regret was not spending more time here. We booked just one night, and between a stargazing excursion and our 3 a.m. departure, we barely had time to enjoy our tent.

Would I stay again? Absolutely. I’d book at least two nights next time. Part of the appeal is simply relaxing in bed and looking out at that incredible desert landscape.

Read my full review: What it’s like staying at Mazayen Rum Camp in Wadi Rum.

My husband and I stayed in Treehouse 10, perched 53 feet above the ground, with a balcony overlooking the river.

The first time I stepped outside onto our balcony, two pink river dolphins swam past! We also watched monkeys swinging through the trees outside our room and even spotted an anteater climbing a tree near the main lodge.

Some of our best wildlife sightings happened without ever leaving the property.

This is definitely a more rustic experience than a traditional luxury hotel, though. Our treehouse had a private bathroom, but there was no air conditioning, hot water, Wi-Fi, or cell service. You’re really out in the jungle here.

I didn’t mind any of that. The food was fantastic, and our stay included a private guide and boat driver for excursions into the rainforest.

Dromoland is a luxury castle hotel in County Clare with beautiful grounds, gardens, and plenty of activities that make it worth spending time on the property.

My favorite experience was falconry. Getting to interact with birds of prey on the castle grounds was so much fun, and I especially loved meeting the owls.

There are plenty of other activities here, too, including golf, fishing, and spa treatments. We also enjoyed wandering around the grounds and admiring the gardens.

We had dinner at the Earl of Thomond Restaurant, which I’d recommend reserving in advance. Afterward, we listened to live music at the hotel, which was a lovely way to end the evening.

Dromoland is certainly more polished and luxurious than some of the other accommodations on this list. But the chance to stay in an Irish castle and try falconry right on the property made it memorable.

Would I stay again? Definitely. I’d especially recommend it for a special occasion or if you’ve always dreamed of staying in a castle.

Read my Ireland itinerary: The Ultimate Ireland Road Trip Itinerary for First-time Visitors

And I have to mention the outdoor shower. Showering while looking out over the African wilderness was one of my favorite parts of our room. Even getting to the lodge was exciting. Our guide referred to the rocky route up to the property as the “Saruni highway,” and it was quite the ride! (See this all in the video above.)

Of course, the real reason to stay here is the wildlife. We had some of the best elephant sightings of any safari I’ve been on, and our guide, Simon, was incredible at spotting animals. He could pick things out of the landscape while driving and chatting that I struggled to see, even after he pointed them out.

On our very first game drive, we came across a lioness calling for her missing cubs. Then, on our final drive, Simon noticed tiny paw prints and managed to track them until we found the cubs safely reunited with their mother. She had hidden them so well that the photo I took mostly looks like a bush. But I promise the cubs were there!

Another favorite memory was having breakfast beside a river while elephants and giraffes wandered nearby. Drinking my morning coffee with that view was pretty hard to beat. The food at Saruni Samburu was excellent, too. I was usually halfway through my meal before remembering I should probably take a photo.

There were also beautiful swimming pools, which were especially appreciated because temperatures were above 90 degrees during our stay.

We stayed in a stone cottage with a thatched roof and canvas windows and doors. There were only three cottages at the lodge during our visit, and we hardly encountered any other tourists.

One of my first memories from this stay is watching a herd of elephants walk right past our room. A staff member helped us find a safe place to observe them. That alone would have made the visit memorable. But the main reason we came to Saruni Rhino was to track black rhinos on foot.

We went out with our guide, Jimmy, and the conservancy’s rangers, walking through the wilderness in search of these incredible animals. This was a very different experience from watching wildlife from a safari vehicle.

Once we got close to the rhinos, we had to pay careful attention to our guide’s hand signals. Sometimes that meant stopping completely or putting the camera down.

One thing I learned the hard way? Turn off the beep on your camera before tracking rhinos.

I forgot to do that on our first outing, and the rhino definitely noticed.

Whoops.

I absolutely loved this experience, though. Jimmy was a wonderful guide, everyone at the lodge was fantastic, and the food was excellent.

Would I stay again? Without hesitation. I almost never repeat accommodations because there are so many places I still want to explore, but I’d make an exception for Saruni Rhino. Tracking black rhinos on foot was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

Read my full review: Tracking Black Rhinos ON FOOT – My Experience With Saruni Rhino Lodge in Kenya

The design is beautiful, but my favorite part was how peaceful it felt.

There’s no television in the room, and I didn’t miss having one. I was perfectly happy sitting and watching the trees outside.

The other reason I loved this property was Silva Spa. There are wood-heated tubs set outside in the forest, where you can soak in warm water while surrounded by trees.

I also used the sauna and followed it up with a dip in the lake. That water was COLD. But I enjoyed it!

There’s also a restaurant on the property serving dishes made with local ingredients, which fits perfectly with the hotel’s focus on the surrounding landscape. (You can see this all in the video below!)

This is the sort of place I’d recommend if you want to slow down for a couple of days and enjoy nature without giving up the comforts of a beautifully designed room.

Would I stay again? Yes. I’d happily return for another peaceful forest getaway, especially to spend more time at the spa.

Read the full Sweden article: I Tried Sweden’s Prescription for Wellbeing in Småland — Here’s How You Can Too

Its terrace is famous for those views, and I can confirm that watching the balloons rise above the fairy chimneys in person is an incredible experience.

My husband and I stayed here during our trip to Turkey, and our suite had beautiful views of the unusual rock formations that make Cappadocia so special. You can also book actual cave rooms at this hotel, which I’d love to try on another visit.

Of course, the biggest attraction is the terrace.

On our second morning, the hot air balloons came surprisingly close to the hotel. Seeing them floating past the fairy chimneys was even more impressive than I’d expected.

But there’s something you should know about those famous Instagram photos.

During our stay, the elaborate breakfast spread you see in so many terrace photos was set up specifically for pictures. I initially thought we’d actually be eating that breakfast on the terrace!

The real breakfast buffet was very good, though, so I certainly didn’t go hungry.

The other thing to prepare for is crowds. Our first morning on the terrace was pretty chaotic, with everyone trying to get their photos. Thankfully, the second morning was much more enjoyable.

I’d also recommend staying for more than one morning if seeing the balloons is important to you. Flights can be canceled because of weather, and the balloons don’t always float close to the hotel.

Would I stay again? Yes, especially if I could book a cave room next time. The terrace can be crowded, but those sunrise views really are spectacular.

Read more about my stay: My Sultan Cave Suites review, plus what I wore for the famous balloon-viewing terrace.

This luxury resort is located on an island off Phuket, Thailand, and you can only reach it by boat.

My husband and I stayed in a garden-view villa with our own private swimming pool. And I absolutely loved it.

I’m usually the person who wants to get out and explore as much as possible when traveling. But at The Naka Island, I was perfectly happy spending time in our villa.

Having our own private pool made the stay feel incredibly relaxing, and the island setting added to the sense of privacy.

Even the little details were memorable. Instead of a traditional do-not-disturb sign, our villa had a small stone painted with eyes. We placed it outside to let housekeeping know whether we wanted privacy. I thought it was adorable, and I even got to bring it home as a souvenir.

I almost always find at least a few things I’d change about a hotel during my stays. But I really couldn’t come up with any complaints about The Naka Island.

Well, except that we only stayed for three nights.

Would I stay again? Absolutely. This is one of those resorts where I’d plan extra time just to enjoy the property instead of filling every day with sightseeing.

Read my full review: Forget the Four Seasons – This Thai Resort Is the Ultimate White Lotus Dupe

I’d also seen so many photos and videos online that I wondered if the whole experience would feel overly crowded and focused on getting the perfect picture.

Thankfully, that wasn’t my experience at all.

My husband and I arrived around noon, checked into our room, and enjoyed lunch before the afternoon giraffe feeding.

The staff did an excellent job helping guests interact with the giraffes and enjoy their time without everyone fighting for photos.

The giraffes, however, had their own priorities…When you have treats, they’re very interested in you. Once the treats are gone, not so much!

Tea time was wonderful, but my favorite part happened the following morning.

At around 5:45 a.m., a giraffe stuck its head through our open patio door, looking for something to eat.

We had a bucket of treats in our room, and at one point, there were three giraffes gathered outside our doorway. (You can see this in my YouTube video!)

I still can’t believe that actually happened. I’d watched videos of this exact experience for years, but having a giraffe poke its head into our room was even better than I’d imagined.

Breakfast was another highlight, with giraffes leaning through the windows to visit guests. I also thought the food and service at Giraffe Manor were excellent.

That said, our stay wasn’t completely perfect. We didn’t sleep particularly well. The bed was uncomfortable, and our room felt stuffy.

Would that stop me from returning? Not a chance.

Which of these unique places would I stay at again?

Looking back at these nine stays, it’s hard to choose a single favorite.

Saruni Samburu and Saruni Rhino gave me some of my favorite wildlife experiences in Africa. Treehouse Lodge was unforgettable for the Amazon wildlife right outside our room, and Giraffe Manor managed to exceed expectations I’d been building for more than a decade.

I also loved the contrast between these properties. Some required a pretty adventurous journey just to reach our room, while others were places where I was perfectly content to spend the entire day relaxing.

If I could change anything about these trips, it would mostly be how long we stayed. One night in Wadi Rum wasn’t nearly enough, and I would have happily spent more than three nights at The Naka Island.

I’d love to hear which one you’d choose. Would you rather sleep in a treehouse above the Amazon rainforest, watch giraffes poke their heads through your bedroom window, or relax in a private pool on an island in Thailand?

Let me know in the comments!

I also have a YouTube video sharing footage from all nine stays, including some of my favorite wildlife encounters and a closer look at the accommodations. You can watch it below.