Some holiday destinations are true virgin territory. The point
is not always first class or 5-star, but rather an experiential
holiday in a place you never believed existed (...well, perhaps
only in your dreams).
Ulusaba private game reserve in Southern Africa has rock lodges
built into mounds of rock, which rise majestically from the
bushveld. There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely from ice. In
Spain, a circular lighthouse is at your disposal; designed by
architectural maestro, Frank Lloyd Wright with views of the
entire La Manga coastline.
Global rooms with views include treehouses, igloos, cave
hotels, private desert islands and magnificent Indian palace
hotels. Visit the jungles of Western Ghats, India where you can
stay in eco-lodges, or a treehouse built 100ft above ground. For
the more culturally minded, an art museum in Japan will
accommodate you; or go India and have a royal experience in the
tents of the Raj.
From mud huts in Indonesia to Native American hogans in
Arizona, there are holiday locations that don't cost a fortune
and are a lot more nuanced. Make it your New Year's resolution
to travel more; to places that will blow your mind! Here are a
few of them...
Ulusaba Game Reserve, Southern Africa Carved deep into
the Ulusaba rock itself and
elevated high above the great Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
stands the Rock Lodge. This fabulous Rock Lodge is located on a
cliff face 243.8 metres (800 feet) above the Sabi Sand Reserve,
with breathtaking and sweeping panoramic views of the wild
African bush.
Each of the Ulusaba Rock Lodge luxurious 10 bedrooms is air
conditioned with private decks overlooking the far-reaching
savannah below. The Rock Lodge consists of 4 Rock Cliff Rooms; a
superb stand alone, split-level Master Suite; and the Rock
Suite, a family suite with 2 bedrooms. For guests wishing to
treat their beloved to a super-luxurious experience, exclusive
pampering and indulgence await at the new Makwela Suites, which
boast spacious outdoor decks with private infinity plunge pools
offering breathtaking vistas of the magnificent African bush.
This unique lodge is sure to provide a spiritual awakening and
adventure that will leave you longing to return to this place of
wild beauty.
The Ice Hotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The Ice Hotel stands on the shores of the Torne River, in the
old village of Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland. It is constructed
from 10 000 tonnes of ice from the 'ice manufacturing plant',
the Torne River, and 30 000 tonnes of pure snow generously
supplied by Mother Nature. The Ice Hotel is rebuilt every year,
creating an ever, evolving space. The temperature in the Ice
Hotel varies between -4 and -9 degrees centigrade, depending on
the temperature outside and the number of overnight guests.
Rio Caliente, Volcanic Springs, Mexico
Accommodation in the middle of a volcano; you don't get more
millennial than that! Recharge from the source at this ancient
Huichol healing sanctuary, whilst enjoying perfect spring
weather, no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Enjoy
some of the world's most delicious low-fat organic gourmet
cuisine, yoga, and deep massages.
Jules Undersea Lodge, Florida, United States of America
The world's first and only underwater hotel: Jules' Undersea
Lodge (formerly La Chalupa research lab) also served as the site
of the historic 1995 sea-space link-up. The lagoon is also the
site of the Leagues Beyond - SCUBA program, which is a technical
dive training and adventure program and houses historical
artefacts of early ocean exploration. Both Jules' Undersea Lodge
and MarineLab have been used in research on extended space
travel.
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