6. Hằng Nga Guesthouse, Vietnam
Ever wondered what the fanciful melting buildings of Gaudí would look like transplanted out of Barcelona and dropped haphazardly in the midst of the Southeast Asian tropics? Called after the Chinese goddess of the moon, this architectural marvel in Đà Lạt, Vietnam, is nicknamed the Crazy House – and rightfully so.
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Located in the cool air of the surrounding mountain plateau, each room in this wacky hotel is based on a different animal species. The architect paints fanciful paintings straight out of a cartoon, and asks locals to make these creations come to life. Nothing is linear, and nothing is symmetrical in this topsy-turvy playground.
7. Mirrorcube, Sweden
It would be cool enough that the Treehotel in the far north of Sweden is designed to remind you of what Sweden would have been like over 70 years ago. Yet one of its prime features is getting all the buzz – probably because there’s simply nothing else quite like it.
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The Mirrorcube dangles in the pine trees, coated with reflective mirrors. This means that even though you can make out its form, staying in it is like blending in completely with the surrounding forest. Want something weirder? You could also get extra funky and stay in the Treehotel’s own giant UFO.
8. Madonna Inn, California
If you happen to be taking a pleasant road trip down the California coast, be sure not to miss this fantastic detour through San Luis Obispo – or you’ll squander the opportunity to experience one of the coolest hotels out there. The Madonna Inn originally owes its incredible layout to tragedy.
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Following a fire that tore through the complex in 1966, the Madonna Inn was rebuilt from scratch, but with a new twist: every room has a different theme, and there’s 110 of them. It’s a celebration of everything that’s kitschy and bizarre, replete with waterfalls and stone rooms the Flintstones would feel right at home in.
9. Kumbuk River Resort, Sri Lanka
Did you watch the film Moulin Rouge and secretly wish you could have your own giant elephant to live in? Even if it’s not quite as jeweled as the one that Nicole Kidman called home, this resort in the island nation of Sri Lanka can make that wish come true.
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If you come to the Kumbuk River Resort, you can rent out the entirety of its 14 acres all for yourself. Best of all, you can climb on up into the belly of this massive thatched elephant, where you’ll find your accommodations – and don’t be surprised if you spy real elephants in the distance.
10. Äscher Guesthouse, Switzerland
Beyond the cheese, chocolates, and clocks, Switzerland’s most unforgettable feature is its absolutely mind boggling scenery. Its alpine meadows, lakes, rivers, and massive peaks have made it world-famous. So it makes total sense that one of the coolest hotels you could lodge in is not only located in the mountains, but on a cliff.
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Wedged right into the side of a mountain is the Äscher Cliff Guesthouse and its restaurant. While the accommodations are fairly simple, you don’t come here to luxuriate. You come for its dramatic setting and sheer drop, a view you will rarely be able to see elsewhere in your lifetime.
