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For avid travelers looking for the most unusual places to stay, but who don’t want to compromise on luxury, these European hotspots could be the perfect addition to your bucket list.
Discover the perfect getaway for Tuscan wine lovers.
Nestled on 1,700 lush acres overlooking Tuscany’s tranquil Serchio Valley and the majestic Apennine Mountains, Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa is a must-see destination for wine lovers.
Touted to offer unparalleled sensory rest, guests can relax in 180 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, but it’s the spa where the hotel really shines.
The region is renowned for its vast selection of world-renowned wines, and this hotel showcases them all.
Introducing wine-themed spa treatments.
Choose from experiences like the Wine Ritual, featuring a wine bath, or a sensory massage with grapeseed oil.
Cabernet scrub contains wine grapes processed into a marmalade exfoliant that is said to hydrate, smooth and nourish the skin.
The wine experience continues at La Veranda restaurant, which serves Tuscan cuisine paired with local wines of course.
Room rates start from 203 euros per night for two people.
Living in an ever-changing art gallery in Rome
The Rhinoceros Rome is often cited as one of the most fashionable hotels not only in the Eternal City but in the world.
Located in the historic centre of Rome, the hotel was founded in 2018 by prestigious fashion house Alda Fendi and designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel.
This boutique accommodation prides itself on hosting regular art shows throughout the year.
Rhinoceros Rome is a temporary exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed artists such as El Greco and Michelangelo.
On display currently are works of art and design objects by French artist Ronan Bouroullec, created by Galerie Cléo, a “laboratory” founded in Paris in 1999 and specialized in producing contemporary artworks in limited series.
If art isn’t your thing, you can enjoy views of the ancient city from the rooftop terrace.
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The hotel consists of 25 apartments equipped with fully functional kitchens, state-of-the-art technology and luxurious amenities. Every morning, you’ll enjoy a breakfast basket filled with delicious Italian treats.
When you’re ready to explore Rome, enjoy a more sustainable journey aboard The Rhino Ride, a small electric vehicle available exclusively to hotel guests.
Prices at Rhinoceros Roma start from 600 euros per night per apartment.
Travel back in time with a stay at The Pavilions, Amsterdam’s historic centre.
If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing life in the 17th century, this might just be the place for you.
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Set among two canal-side houses built in the 1600s, the Pavilions pay homage to that era and the arts and culture that flourished during that time.
Located on the site of Amsterdam’s first university, the hotel exudes a traditional Dutch atmosphere and transports visitors to a bygone era.
The Pavilions’ plush lounge bar features a 60-square-metre Rembrandt-inspired ceiling mural painted by art students from Leiden University – the same university where the Dutch “Old Masters” attended in the early 1600s.
The guest rooms continue this theme, with plush velvet fabrics and burgundy décor immersing guests in a vintage atmosphere.
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Located just steps from Amsterdam’s popular Tulip Museum, it’s the perfect base for exploring the best of the Dutch capital. When you tire of the hustle and bustle of the city, retreat to The Pavilions and forget about your hectic daily work life.
Room rates at this four-star hotel start from €304 per night.
Discover the lesser known and more remote parts of mainland Greece
Although much of mainland Greece is still unexplored by many tourists, it is becoming a more attractive travel destination.
In fact, Zagori in northwestern Greece near the border with Albania has just been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its outstanding natural beauty, the first time a Greek cultural landscape has received this honour.
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If you want to explore the area, you can also visit Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas.
Not only does it offer luxurious accommodation, but it also offers rugged, rugged scenery with rapids and towering canyons. The property was discovered in 1999 by owner Vasilis Iosifidis, who found sanctuary on the hiking trails of Zagori and decided to build a home in Aristi, overlooking the Vikos Valley and Mount Astraka.
Today, the luxury resort appears to be built seamlessly into the landscape, using traditional Zagori building methods and materials of stone and wood, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts unwilling to compromise on luxury.
It’s a homage to this region of Greece, where guests can taste local ingredients in traditional cooking classes, bathe in the resort’s tranquil outdoor spa, or walk or hike trails with a private guide.
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There are plenty of activities you can enjoy whilst enjoying the best that this little corner of Greece has to offer, including bird watching, photography workshops, rafting and river walking, wine tasting and canyoning.
Prices for a double standard room on a B&B basis start from 163 euros per night for two people, while villas start from 569 euros per night for two people on a B&B basis.
Feel like a rock star at Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
You may have visited one of the many Hard Rock Cafes around the world, but did you know the brand also operates hotels across the globe?
This five-star hotel is located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands and is open to all types of holidaymakers, including children.
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Much of the hotel is filled with music history and memorabilia, including Elton John’s Rocketman costume and Guns N’ Roses’ original set lists.
Continuing the music theme, the island’s hotels offer a unique lineup of concerts and events, including an “80s Kids” themed night.
Eden Pool Club has a DJ booth set up in the middle of the pool so you can listen to music even while underwater.
There are DJ training facilities to keep younger visitors entertained, but there are plenty of options for those looking to relax too.
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The resort’s Rock Spa offers the unusual “Rhythm and Motion” treatment, a world-first spa experience that offers an immersive experience with amplified vibrations, pressure and sequencing.
All 365 guest rooms and 259 suites are music-themed as well, and for avid fans, a Crosley turntable and Fender guitar can even be delivered to your room as part of the hotel’s “Sound of Your Stay” program.
Room rates start from €556 per night for a family of four sharing a Deluxe Gold Room B&B.
Experience the spirit of a medieval traveller in the first 5-star hotel in the Alpbachtal region
Hotel Voglerhof in western Austria has been awarded a five-star rating as the only hotel of its kind in the charming Alpbachtal region.
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Boasting panoramic views of the Kitzbühel Alps, the facility has been recently renovated to become one of the most impressive wellness spaces in all of Austria.
A separate wellness complex with an outdoor natural swimming lake, treatment rooms and a yoga studio make this normally winter resort a year-round experience.
Staying true to its Tyrolean roots, there are also plenty of spacious steam and sauna options on offer, including an infrared cabin, bio sauna and steam bath, providing the opportunity to soothe muscles, promote vitality and improve wellbeing in breathtaking surroundings.
If you’re looking to splurge, the hotel’s Penthouse Suite comes with an outdoor bed so you can sleep under the stars.
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The traditional style of the historic hotel is respected throughout the resort, but this is especially evident in the Fuggerstube restaurant.
Awarded three hats by the prestigious Gault & Millau guide, the inn has welcomed guests from the medieval Duchy of Swabia and beyond. The inn’s original wine cellars are over 500 years old and are still in use today.
Prices start from 165 euros per person per night for two people in a double room, all on gourmet full board (buffet breakfast, late light lunch and gourmet dinner).
