Kokopelli’s Cave - Farmington, New Mexico, U.S.A.Wilderness cave dwelling, blasted out of mountain for spectacular views Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast
This 1,650 square foot, one-bedroom cave home carved from a 65-million year old sandstone formation 280 feet above the La Plata River is furnished with plush carpeting, Southwestern style furniture and accents, hot and cold running water, a well-appointed kitchen including microwave and washer/dryer, cascading waterfall-style shower, and a flagstone hot tub.
The e Woodpecker - Vasteras, Nr Stockholm, SwedenTree house set 13 metres above a Swedish public park, with rope ladder access only. The Woodpecker hotel is another brainchild of Mikael Genberg, artist and innovator of this hotel and its sister, the underwater Utter (Otter) Inn on nearby lake Malaren.
Thirteen metres is a long way up any tree, let alone a 130 year oak tree in the central park of Vasteras near Stockholm, Sweden. Reached via a sturdy, but wobbly rope ladder the platform has an impressive view of the park below and out to the lake beyond. Pull up the rope ladder and you retire to find the treehouse well thought out and equipped. From an IKEA bed and duvet, heater and cooking facilities to the most valued of all items when you’re at the top of a tree, a toilet, Mikael has thought out your needs. There are even a few books in a small library. Surprisingly you never quite escape the background noise of the city centre. I’m not enough of a bird watcher to appreciate birdsong from the crack of dawn, but at night the only reminder of civilization is the faint roar of traffic on the road far below. If you want peace and solitude, don’t forget to turn off your mobile - coverage is rather good from this treetop vantage point.
The World’s First All-glass Undersea Restaurant – The maldivesThe Maldives, the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. It will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views. “We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Ma ldives Resort & Spa. “Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet.”
Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa’s distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. “The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world,” continues Schieck, “We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colourful fish that live around the area”
Creek n Crag’s - Wild Canopy Reserve - Masinagudi, Tamilnadu, India
Bamboo and Rope Tree houses 15 meters high in a private wildlife reserve with en-suite toilets and hot water. Wild Canopy Reserve provides rich wildlife and multi-cuisine food, in a truly wonderful wilderness experience. Wild Canopy Reserve is located on an old coffee plantation, established around 1859. The main building in this 330-acre estate was originally a hunting lodge and now is converted into 2 mega deluxe rooms with outdoor Jacuzzi. There are 2 Treehouses both with en-suite facilities.A small restaurant provides delicious multi-cuisine food throughout the day. Plans are underway to add additional facilities including natural swimming pool, more Treehouses, water holes and observation platforms. Solar collectors are used to partly meet the energy requirements of the hotel.
The private reserve which surrounds the tree houses is rich in wild life. Tiger, leopards, elephants, gaur (Indian bison), hyena, dhole (Indian wild dog), sambar, chital, sloth bear etc. live and breed on the estate. The resident and migratory bird life is excellent with more than 300 species recorded in the area. One can see and sense the presence of wildlife at all times. Guests can go on safaris, treks, and picnics, within the property. Local sight seeing, visits to Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary and National Park and Bandipur National Park, for safaris and elephant rides can be arranged at the property.
Controversy Tram Hotel - Hoogwoud, NH, Netherlands
City trams converted into 4 separate accommodation units. Frank and Irma Appel have created 4 wonderfully themed tram bedrooms in either end of 2 city centre tram railcars, that used to run on the streets of Amsterdam and Germany. With double bed, shower and toilet facilities and a sink top unit for drinks and snacks, these represent a fantastic Bed and Breakfast location. There are four different themed compartments; Italian (smoking), French (smoking), English (non smoking) or American (non smoking). Next to the trams is the Appel house, Controversy - named after their love of the similarly titled Prince album. You can’t help but join in the lifestyle that Frank and Irma have created! They themselves sleep inside a London Double Decker bus, installed in the living room, and their kitchen and breakfast area is a converted French van. Their house is decorated with cars, and motor paraphernalia.
Outside the house, there are 2 trams, and a third railway carriage currently undergoing rebuild. There is also a Mig fighter plane – providing a completely surreal view of the property from the surrounding flat land around Hoogwoud.
They provide a library, that looks like a UFO – but is actually the escape pod from an Oil Rig. If you’re arriving by train and planning to say several nights, ask Irma if she’s able to pick you up – or arrange a taxi from the local station. Both Frank and Irma are incredibly friendly, and staying here is certainly worth the trip to escape the busy Amsterdam life for a couple of nights.
The Ice Bar - Montreal, CanadaIs there no stopping the nightlife scourge known as the ice bar? Apparently not. Sub Zero — actually its full name is “Grey Goose Sub Zero,” in honor of the sponsoring vodka — is perched atop Montreal’s Hotel Place d’Armes. Sub Zero gives new meaning to the phrase “on the rocks.” Drinks are served in fist-sized hollow ice cubes, and the barmaid plunks them down on a bar made of clear ice blocks. The space is kept at -1 centigrade, and all the usual ice-crap is on offer: ice furniture, ice glasses, the bar’s made of ice, various ice sculptures, the walls and tables are also built with ice!
The Old Jail - Mount Gambier, South AustraliaThis is about as close to sleeping in a prison as you’d probably want to get, The only change is to alter the cell door locks so you can actually let yourself out. Former South Australian State Prison. Opened C1866, Closed 1995. Heritage listed. Accommodation in cells. Site retained as close to final 1995 format as possible with little alteration except for minor things like the door locks that you can open yourself!!! Facade and entrance area restored to 1866 origins. Very basic accommodation primarily with shared shower facilities although one self contained unit is available in the former women’s section. Accommodation at The Old Jail is very basic. It is aimed at the budget traveler. Jail layout and presentation is much like it was when in operation as a jail. Tariffs start at AUS $22.00 per person for a multi share dormitory (non cell). Four share cells are available for 3 to four people at AUS $22.00 per person. A double cell with ensuite toilet only costs AUS $52.00 for two people. One self contained unit (formerly a women prisoner dormitory) costs AUS $70.00 for two people. Half price rates for children (U16yrs). All tariffs include breakfast provisions from the guest kitchen, sheets, blankets, pillow cases. Towels are available at AUS $1.00 extra per towel. We are able to cater for groups in the Jail’s former dining room. The dining facility is licensed to sell alcohol.