Hotel stays are often generic and impersonal. If you're looking to book a unique accommodation with budget appeal, check in to a quirky home rental or campsite guaranteed to add a splash of excitement to your standard summer getaway. Here are 7 offbeat vacation properties that will excite your sense of wanderlust.
Go Green and Get High
Where? 30 minutes from Seattle, WA, United States
Nestled in the boughs of a fairy tale forest beside Washington state’s Raging River you’ll find the timbered lodges of Treehouse Point. Enjoy a restful night’s sleep in a hand-hewn bed and wake to the beautiful sights and sounds of Mother Nature. Situated just high enough above the forest floor to elevate your perspective, these simplistic eco-lodges are akin to a Neverland Lost Boys hideaway ensuring you’ll have a magical stay.
Urban Luxury mixed with the Elemental Outdoors
Where? St. Jerome's The Hotel, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
A groundbreaking option for glampers looking for that extraordinary camping experience, this ultra-modern hotel in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD boasts a unique way to get your fix of city living while enjoying the great outdoors. Rent one of 20 spacious world-class canvas bell tents dressed with all the lavish trimmings expected of a luxury hotel that's literally in the middle of downtown. It's heaven for hipsters.
Live the Simple Life in this Cavernous Retreat
Where? 4.5 miles from the tiny town of Belinchón, Spain
Renovated by young architect couple Lucía and Paloma, this minimalist cave was originally intended to act as an overnight shelter close to the fields for farm laborers during harvest. Given a new lease of life, the cave now hosts travelers looking for a creative eco retreat.
Get Loud and Get Funky in the Concrete Boombox
Where? Kehena Beach, HI, United States
Stay on the edge of the world in this contemporary ocean-front home. Situated over-looking the azure Pacific waves at Kehena Point, this unusual vacation rental offers panoramic views of neighboring Kehena Beach that is known for its black sand, lava, frequent dolphin-sightings, and an unofficial “clothing optional” policy.
Create Your Own Fantastical World in the Tasman
Where? Just north of Nelson, Tasman Bay, New Zealand
Prepare yourself for a whimsical escape, for just like Old Mother Hubbard you’ll be living in a shoe; or a boot rather. A fully equipped rental cottage, The Boot boasts the basics like kitchenette and queen-sized bed, as well as quirky extras such as a wooden spiral staircase, log burner, and covered outdoor courtyard where you can enjoy the fragrant garden and views across the duck pond.
Let Your Creative Juices Flow in the Seashell House
Where? Isla Mujeres, Mexico
A unique island escape, Casa Caracol (or the Seashell House), was constructed by architect Eduardo Ocampo for his brother, Octavio Ocampo, who was a painter. The perfect retreat for creative types in need of inspiration, the house sits cliffside on the tiny Mexican isle of Isla Mujeres. 13 km off the coast of Cancun, it’s a haven of tranquility surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Embrace Retro Living and Bed Down in a Vintage Airstream
Where? in the foothills of the Pyrénées near Mirepoix, France
A kitschy all-American trailer park hidden amongst the alpine views of the panoramic Pyrénées mountains and medieval towns, according to the website "This is not trailer trash, this is trailer flash!" Choose from 10 authentic aluminum trailers built and furnished in the styles of '40s-'70s glam and relax in your bed on wheels, nestled amongst landscaped gardens bursting with flowering trees and plants.