Whether you’re vacaying in a nearby country or travelling 1,000 miles away, one of the most important parts of every holiday is undoubtedly your hotel stay. The place you’ll call home for the duration of your trip can either make or break your holiday – shabby hotels are total mood killers, while unique themed ones are literally full-on attractions in their own right.
From fancy schmancy art-themed hotels, to crazy cool ones made entirely of ice, here are some of the most unique themed hotels around the world to consider for your next getaway.
Note: Prices are accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change.
Image credit: Keemala
One of Phuket’s most luxe resorts, Keemala is a 5-star nature-themed accommodation nestled right in the middle of a rainforest. The stunning villas here are perched on a hillside overlooking Kamala Village, a quieter area on the west coast of Phuket.
Though the resort looks rather remote, it’s a decent 30-minute drive from central Phuket, and 15 minutes away from Patong.
From left to right: Clay Pool Cottage, Bird’s Nest Pool Villa, Tree Pool House.
Image adapted from: Keemala
There are 4 types of villas here, namely Clay Pool Cottages, Tent Pool Villas, Tree Pool Houses, and Bird’s Nest Pool Villas, all of which come attached with private pools. The most unique ones are probably the pod-shaped Tree Pool Houses and Bird’s Nest Pool Villas.
Guests can also go for a fancy spa day at the traditional Mala spa, or sign up for retreat packages inclusive of massage sessions and exercise classes.
Stays here start at around THB 18,000/night (~S$705) for the Clay Pool Cottages, and go up to around THB 26,000/night (~S$1,019) for the Bird’s Nest Pool Villas.
Address: 10 88 Nakasud Rd Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Contact: Keemala website
Image credit: Ivan Sydorenko via Google Maps
If you’d like a more urban stay in Thailand, check out The Fig Lobby in Bangkok. This funky hotel will catch your eye from a mile away with its colourful exterior, adorned with splotches of unique shapes and patterns.
Image adapted from: The Fig Lobby
Its interior is just as impressive – the hotel’s lobby looks like an old-school carnival, complete with quirky architecture and colourful furniture. There are also 8 types of themed rooms here, all decorated with vibrant statement piece furniture and colourful LED lights.
What’s more, it’s conveniently located near the Sukhumvit neighbourhood and Khlong Toei area, and is just 1km away from Bangkok’s city centre. But if you’d rather stay in, there are also activities to sign up for, like a Native Cycle spin class, and Sanit Handmade pottery class.
Rooms here start at around THB 2,500/night (~S$98) for a 2-person room.
Address: 55 Rimthangrotfaisaipaknam Road, Khwaeng Khlong Toei, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Contact: The Fig Lobby website
Henn Na Hotel’s humanoid robots and dinosaurs.
Image adapted from: Henn Na Hotel
If you’re intrigued by all things AI, you’ve gotta visit Henn Na Hotel in Japan. This hotel chain has outlets all over the country, in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and more. While the branches have different themes, they’ve all got high tech robot “staff” manning their desks.
The robot assistants that caught our eyes the most were the semi-creepy humanoid robots that work the majority of the Tokyo outlets, as well as the lifelike dinos situated at multiple branches across Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. BTW, these AI bots aren’t just for show – they help to assist guests with check-ins.
Image credit: Henn Na Hotel
The tech madness doesn’t stop there either. While rather simple looking, the rooms at Henn Na Hotel have handy facilities like an LG styler that helps to auto-steam clothes. Rooms start at around 14,000 yen (~S$128) for a double room.
Contact: Henn Na Hotel website
Image credit: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort via Google Maps
Seeing the Northern Lights IRL is a bucket list item for many of us. If you’re planning to travel to Finland to catch them, consider staying at the Kakslautten Arctic Resort. This dreamy resort has igloos with full-glass ceilings, so you’ll be able to star-gaze and watch the aurora borealis from the comfort of your room. \
All igloos are equipped with toilets, but showers and saunas are in a separate building for smaller 2-pax igloos. Meanwhile, larger igloos come attached with their own private showers and saunas for a peak shiok experience.
Glass igloo (left), cabin (right).
Image adapted from: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort via Google Maps
Igloos are only available for booking during peak Northern Lights season from late August to late April. During off-peak months, guests can opt to stay in cabins, suites, or the kelo-glass igloo, a log house with an attached glass dome for star-gazing. Rooms start at around €621/night (~S$927) for a small igloo during peak periods, while small cabins cost roughly €174/night (~S$259) during off-peak season.
P.S. While peak viewing periods last from late August to late April when the skies are darker and clearer, it’s still possible to catch the Northern Lights year-round, though chances are definitely slimmer during off-peak months.
Address: Kiilopääntie 9, 99830 Saariselkä, Finland
Contact: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort website
Image credit: Ice Hotel via Google Maps
Ever wondered what it’d be like to live in Elsa’s ice palace? Well, the Ice Hotel in Sweden is probably your closest bet. This frosty accommodation is the world’s first hotel made entirely of ice, and it’s painstakingly rebuilt every single year, so visitors will never experience the same stay twice.
Image credit: Ice Hotel via Google Maps
Everything from the furniture to decor here are sculpted by artists, and guests can look forward to spotting intricately carved ice figurines and chandeliers inside the hotel. If you’d like to try carving icy masterpieces yourself, there are also activities like ice sculpting that guests can sign up for.
Now, you’re probably wondering about the rooming sitch here, and yes, even the bed boards are made of ice. Room temperatures average at around -5 to -7 degrees Celsius, but fret not – to brave the cold, guests are given thermals, sleeping bags, socks and jumpers.
Ice rooms start at around 3,595 SEK (~S$485) for a 2-pax suite.
Address: Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Contact: Ice Hotel website
Image credit: Hazelnut Inn via Google Maps
This one’s for all the fairytale buffs out there. For a taste of happily ever after, check out the magical Hazelnut Inn in Canada. This medieval accommodation gives us major Disneyland vibes, and has 3 themed suites – The North Star Suite, Under Hill Suite, and Copper Crown Suite.
Image credit: Hazelnut Inn via Google Maps
Each suite comes with a king-sized bed and a soaker tub for 2, and is decked out with charming furniture that’s super on-brand. You’ll find things like antique-looking vanities, treasure chests, and old-school fireplaces. To really seal the deal, there’s even a private garden attached to each room.
P.S. The hotel is currently running a promo – from now till 1st July 2025, suites are going at CAD$375/night (~S$356).
Address: 42402 Yarrow Central Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 5C8, Canada
Contact: Hazelnut Inn website
Oz-themed room (left), coconut pie room (right).
Image adapted from: The Roxbury Motel
With over 18 themed rooms, The Roxbury Motel in New York is something straight out of a fever dream. This place has something for everyone, from an elegant emerald green Oz-themed room for Wicked fans, to a coconut pie-themed space that looks properly delish.
The Final Frontier (left), Faerie Forest (right).
Image adapted from: The Roxbury Motel
If you’re going with a bigger group of pals, there are also larger suites and cottages to book, like futuristic sci-fi-themed suite The Final Frontier, or enchanting nature-themed Faerie Forest cottage. These rooms can fit up to 6 people, and start at USD$239/night (~S$314) for suites, and USD$409/night (~S$538) for cottages. Meanwhile, regular themed rooms start at USD$159/night (~S$209).
Address: 2258 Co Road 41, Roxbury, NY 12474, United States
Contact: The Roxbury Motel website
As essential as it is to stay in a comfy accommodation overseas, it’s also equally important for us travellers to have good data access wherever we go. And while these hotels may offer Wi-Fi for when you’ve retired for the day to rest, you’re gonna need a way to stay connected when you’re out and about. After all, getting stranded in a foreign country with no means to call for help is every tourist’s worst nightmare.
Image credit: Nomad
Nomad eSIM’s plans are pretty affordable – starting from as low as $1.10 per GB in some countries – and there are both fixed and unlimited data packages available, depending on how much data you foresee yourself needing. As a quick reference, they’re currently offering 10GB of data in Europe for just $22. To further sweeten the deal, new users can get 20% off their plan with the promo code <TSLUNIQUE20>. Existing users can also enjoy a 15% discount with the promo code <TSLUNIQUE15>. Hurry, offer ends on 31st July 2025.
For frequent travelers, Nomad eSIM has a Global-EX plan that is different from other providers, giving you the option of keeping 30GB of data for up to 180-360 days, which is best for those traveling every month. Plus, if you’re worried about bursting your data overseas, they’ve also got a data calculator to help you pace your internet usage.
Image credit: Nomad
Whether you’re travelling to a city near SG, or going far, far, away to a place like Finland, Nomad eSIM is an affordable but effective way to stay connected, and it’s also super hassle-free to use. Since it’s an eSIM, you won’t have to worry about swapping SIM cards and misplacing your original chip.
Not only is it available in over 200 destinations around the world, Nomad eSIM is also highly rated across both the App Store and Google Play – clocking 4.8- and 4.7-star ratings among iOS and Android users respectively.
This post was brought to you by Nomad.
Cover image adapted from: Hazelnut Inn & Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort via Google Maps, Henn Na Hotel, Keemala
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