Concept Hotels

On a remote Iranian island where smugglers once outnumbered tourists, 200 colorful earth domes now dot the landscape like oversized Skittles scattered across the desert. Majara Residence, which opened in 2020 on Hormuz Island, represents something far more ambitious than your typical eco-hotel - it's an experiment in whether architecture …

In Tokyo's historic Asakusa district, where centuries-old temples meet modern tourist crowds, a new hotel is making check-in considerably more interesting. At the SAKE Bar Hotel ASAKUSA, you don't just get handed a plastic key card - you receive a traditional wooden masu cup, which you can fill up to …

Thao Bui, the founder of Sep'on Heartfulness Centre, comes from an unlikely place. Most people in the industry who open a hotel have a business, architecture, or interior design background, but not her. Thao is an avid traveler and a mindfulness and meditation teacher. Her passion for mindfulness and her …

This exclusive find in Tokyo boasts only two private rooms, perched above a mysterious bar that hides on the first floor of a contemporary concrete building. Boutique Sauna Arch overlooks the cobblestone streets of Kagurazaka in the heart of Japan's megalopolis. Just as a pub is to the Irish, a …

Shusaku Arakawa was an emblematic figure of the Japanese neo-dadaism and conceptualism movements. His close relationship with writer and artist Madeline Gins led to various collaborations between creative minds. The two have worked together on paintings, experimental filmmaking, performance art, and architectural projects. The Reversible Destiny Lofts is one of …

Javier Senosiain was the first Mexican architect to introduce organic architecture in his country. One of his first creations was the Casa Orgánica, a bio house with curvy surfaces wherever you look and a green roof. Then in 2007, he completed his masterpiece in Naucalpan, the Nido de Quetzalcoatl (Quetzalcoatl's …

Recharge, refresh, and relieve all your stresses at the Vana retreat in Dehradun, India. But, if you’re looking for a lavish hotel with tons of activities, restaurants, and entertainment to enjoy, this may not be the best choice for you. Rather, Vana is meant for those who wish to truly …

Looking at the facade of the Spanish country house where Les Cols Pavellons, Girona, is based, you might think this is a lovely but nothing-out-of-ordinary place. Nothing more wrong! The historic building hides five high-concept glass rooms that feature architectural design out of this world. The rooms are entirely made …

Located in the upscale Mayfair district of London, The Beaumont is a five-star hotel near Hyde Park. The original building built in 1926 has been transformed by famed London restaurateurs Corbin & King into a towering art deco grand masterpiece with an iconic sculpture created by Antony Gormley. There are …

Located north of Naples in the Italian mountain village of Prata Sannita, the Million Donkey Hotel is made up of just three rooms and one bathroom. The name “Million Donkey Hotel” honors the many 'workhorses' who donated their time and energy, making this project possible in the first place. This …

Staffed by multilingual robots (yes, robots), travelers are sure to have a memorable stay at the Henn-na Hotel located in Nagasaki, Japan. Robots (one of which is an English-speaking dinosaur robot) serve to check guests in, and porter robots will carry luggage up to the guest rooms. Of course, a …

Dutch artist Joep Van Lieshout has created a unique work of art that you can stay in...if your heart desires. His giant human intestine sculpture (yes, intestine), located in Belgium, sits in the middle of a field commissioned as part of the Verbeke Foundation Sculpture Park, which hosts over 20,000 …

When you picture a visit to Iran, your mind is most likely flooded by negative images and news stories of current events in the region. However, Iran is home to some incredible ski resorts that rival the most popular destinations in Europe. Only about an hour outside of the capital …

The Cube House ('Kubuswoningen' in Dutch) in the center of Rotterdam is part of the city's unique architectural heritage. Architect Piet Blom designed the innovative buildings with cubes angled at a 45-degrees, giving them the iconic looks that made them so famous. The initial plan in 1977 indicated 55 houses, …

Whether you are visiting Amsterdam for business or pleasure, or perhaps a mix of both, one of the most unique hotel experiences to be had is at the Hôtel Droog. It is located in the heart of the historical center of the city and what makes it truly interesting is …

It's certainly easy to remember the name, and with a central Amsterdam location, it's also easy to find. What really stands out, though, is the hotel's commitment to art. The rooms themselves are designed as artworks, with creative input by the Collaboration-O, founded at the Eindhoven Design Academy. The rooms, …

This hotel is an Organic Bed & Breakfast and Ecology Resource Center which means they have amazing gardens overflowing with flowers, hand-built guestrooms using ethically-sourced materials, and a lovely courtyard and tea room. Much of the hotel has been made from recycled materials. There are buildings made from straw-bale and …

Fiftyone is an automatic hotel which means there is no concierge, no receptionist, and definitely no yoga teachers. You book your room online and check-in using a computer that ejects an electric keycard. The hotel only provides you with a room that has an LCD TV, high-speed internet, and bathroom …

I really want to stay here. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend the night in a house that is full of a huge inflatable fatman? I’m staying here invites a sensation that hits the sweet spot somewhere between amusement and confusion. When you stay at The Proposal you can …

What kind of hotel advertises itself as “fully disinfected”? A hotel made of trash, that’s what. This temporary hotel was erected on the banks of the Tiber in Rome to bring attention to the threat posed to Europe’s beaches by the mountains of trash left by careless tourists each year. …