Tag Archives: odd hotels

Tree Hotel. Harads, Sweden

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Very rarely do I come across a hotel that truly makes me go, wait… what? But at Tree Hotel, located in Northern Sweden along the Lule River, you truly marvel at the artistic concept of these rooms. The concept of the hotel was to create a unique housing experience located directly in nature with an exciting modern design. The hotel was also inspired by the film “The Tree Lover” by Jonas Selberg Augustsen, in which three men from the city want to go back to their roots by building a tree house together. Britta’s Pensionat (the main lobby) is open for Treehotel’s guests, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an authentic 1930-1950’s setting. There’s a restaurant, bar, sauna and relaxation area, TV, and internet. When you arrive at Treehotel, you first check at Britta’s pensionat; then it’s a short stroll through the breathtaking nature to your treeroom.

There are 7 different room types, all with a unique theme and design. They range from The Cabin to The UFO to Dragonfly, their largest room. Each of the rooms are around 22m² and come with all the modern amenities of a big-city hotel. If I had to chose a favorite, it would be the Mirrorcube, it is so camouflaged you have to look very closely otherwise you might miss your own room! The frame is aluminum with reflecting glass covering the whole structure. The best part of this room is the rooftop terrace, you can spy on your neighbors watch the sun go down with a yummy cocktail without anyone seeing you.

Tree Hotel also offers numerous seasonal activities. In the winter go for an action-packed dog sled through the frozen landscape. Once the snow melts you can go fishing, horse-back riding, or explore the forest and river’s edge by foot. This hotel is not for the claustrophobic however, the rooms are small and you are essentially staying in a tiny box. But the payoff is worth it to see nature truly uninterrupted.

Keemala Hotel. Thailand

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Sometimes I visit a place and think I’ve seen all there is to see. But that is the wonderful thing about travel, each time brings a new adventure and experience since the hospitality industry is ever-evolving. Just a short 40-minute drive from Phuket Airport is Keemala Hotel, a bizarre and fascinating hotel located woodland hillside overlooking the Andaman Sea. Holistic relaxation is the central focus at this hotel, they offer peaceful options such as yoga, pilots and meditation abound. Guests looking for something a little more physically involved can sate their desires with a spot of circuit training, Thai boxing or running trails.

Their spa is also a main focus at the hotel, they have world-class practitioners in both Eastern and Western medicine, with a focus on kinesiology. They often have guest speakers or practitioners come to hotel and speak or give classes. However, all that work in a day can lead to a pretty large hunger! Dine at one of their four venues, The Restaurant, pool side, comfortable lounge area are perfect for afternoon tea, and a wine cellar that is ideal for intimate dinners. Keemala Hotel believes in dining that is a “Feast for the Senses” and offer Healthy Living Cuisine (raw, macrobiotic, and slow cooked food). 

Each of Keemala’s 38 villas come equipped with a pool and a specific theme. The four themes are Clay Pool Cottages, Tent Pool Villas, Tree Pool Houses, and Bird’s Nest Pool Villas. The Bird’s Nest Villa is perfect for those seeking more privacy and space. The designs of the villas have been inspired by the stories, cultures, traditions, and lifestyles of four groups of fictitious ancient Phuket settlers. This theme is very apparent in the structure, design, and decor of the hotel. 

Keemala Hotel is the perfect exotic escape for those who have seen and done Phuket and are looking for something definitely outside the norm of luxury. Prepare to eat well, drink fantastic wine, and detoxify your body at this retreat.