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Home / Destination / Europe / UK / Elsewhere / 4 unique places to stay: which would you choose?

4 unique places to stay: which would you choose?

July 10, 2015 by Gretta Schifano 23 Comments

Kakslauttanen glass igloo interior. Image courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

Kakslauttanen glass igloo interior. Image courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

If you could choose to stay in a tree house in Cornwall, an ice hotel in Sweden, a glass igloo in Finland or a hotel made to look like a stack of different houses in Holland, which one would you go for?




I’ve not stayed at any of these places but I’ve been asked to write about about whether I could see myself visiting any of them – they all feature in this article on the LV= website. The answer is yes, I’d be delighted to stay in each of these unusual places. See if you agree:

Glass igloos

This is my favourite of the four options. If you’ve ever longed to see the Northern Lights, then the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland sounds like the place to go. The resort has two and four-person glass igloos where you’ll have a clear view of the Finnish sky from the comfort of your cosy bed. The Northern lights can be seen, when the conditions are right, between late August and the end of April. If you’d like to, you can also go to visit Santa at his home while you’re there.

Glass igloos, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Image courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Glass igloos, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Image courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Tree house

At Forest Holidays Deer Park in Cornwall you can stay in an actual tree house – from the outside it looks like a shed but inside it’s comfortable and luxurious and it sleeps two people. The tree house is reached by a wooden bridge from a cabin which sleeps six people so this would work well for large families or a couple of families travelling together. I think there may be arguments over who gets to sleep in the tree house though!

Tree house, Deer Park, Corwnwall. Image courtesy of Forest Holidays

Tree house, Deer Park, Corwnwall. Image courtesy of Forest Holidays

ICEHOTEL

This is somewhere which I’d like to stay because it would be a unique experience – but only for one night because I really don’t like being cold. ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, was first built in 1989. It’s a hotel and sculpture which is created from natural ice every winter in a place which is 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The hotel is different every year and each April the structure melts and disappears. Apparently not all of the beds are made of ice, so maybe I’d manage more than one night there. With a hot water bottle.

ART & DESIGN book 2015, ICEHOTEL, Abeject Beauty design by Lotta Lampa and Julia Gamborg Nielsen. Image by Paulina Holmgren

ART & DESIGN book 2015, ICEHOTEL, Abeject Beauty design by Lotta Lampa and Julia Gamborg Nielsen.

Intell hotel

The Intell hotel is in Zaan, just a few minutes by train from Amsterdam in Holland. From the outside the hotel looks as if a load of traditional houses from the area have been stacked up on top of each other. Inside the hotel it’s luxurious, modern and comfortable. I was in Amsterdam with some friends recently and we stayed in the city centre but this hotel would be a great place to base yourself if you wanted to be outside the city and to explore beyond it.

Inntel hotel, Zaandam, Holland. Image courtesy of Inntel.

Inntel, Zaandam, Holland. Image courtesy of Inntel.

Have you stayed in any of these places? If so, what was it like? If not, which one would you most like to stay in? Where’s the most unusual place that you’ve ever stayed?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by LV=. All opinions are my own.

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Related

Categories: Elsewhere, Europe, Netherlands, Where to stay
Tags: glass igloos, ICEHOTEL, Inntel, Northern lights

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Ickle Pickle says

    August 6, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    They all look fab, but I think we would choose the Treehouse. I am too cold blooded for ice hotel! Kaz x
    Ickle Pickle recently posted…My Favourite Places for ToddlersMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Cathy (MummyTravels) says

    July 26, 2015 at 8:17 am

    I stayed in the glass igloos and they were absolutely amazing – I would go back like a shot. Especially as the Northern Lights didn’t make an appearance the first time. I have visited an ice hotel too, though not stayed – fascinating but brrrrr.
    Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…The July round-upMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      July 26, 2015 at 4:54 pm

      You’ll have to go back to see the Northern Lights properly then!

      Reply
  3. lisa prince says

    July 23, 2015 at 11:59 am

    oh the igloos or ice hotel looks most appealing to me

    Reply
  4. Charly Dove says

    July 16, 2015 at 11:44 pm

    I’d do all of them I think although I’m desperate to see the Northern Lights. Seems so expensive though! Such a great selection, thank you for sharing 😉
    Charly Dove recently posted…Trespass 3-in-1 jacket reviewMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Sonya Cisco says

    July 16, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Oh my- they all look amazing! I started off thinking the igloos would be my fav, as seeing the northern lights is very high on my wish list- but then as I kept reading I wanted to stay in them all!
    Sonya Cisco recently posted…All Shook Up – Elvis at the 02My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      July 16, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      Me too – it’s impossible to choose really!

      Reply
  6. Sarah Lusby says

    July 14, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Ditto! I’d love to stay at ALL these places Gretta! But the Swedish icehouse is probably my favourite 🙂
    Sarah Lusby recently posted…An Antarctic Adventure!My Profile

    Reply
  7. oana79 says

    July 14, 2015 at 7:57 am

    I would go for the glass igloo, they look absolutely amazing and I am sure it would be an unforgettable experience for us as a family!xx
    oana79 recently posted…What the recent Greek drama has taught me…My Profile

    Reply
  8. Kara says

    July 14, 2015 at 5:49 am

    My friends got married in the ice hotel and I have heard such wonderful things about it. I would love to go there
    Kara recently posted…Mark Warner Sea Garden Holiday’s for Grown UpsMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Pinkoddy says

    July 12, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    I think I would go to Holland. I am scared of heights, don’t like the sound of the glass and ice.
    Pinkoddy recently posted…Disney Pixar Inside Out 10 Minute Shake Ups with Change4LifeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      July 12, 2015 at 9:25 pm

      Fair enough!

      Reply
  10. Sarah Bailey says

    July 12, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Can I choose all of them? They all sound such wonderful places to spend a breakaway.
    Sarah Bailey recently posted…Libbie Club – JulyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      July 12, 2015 at 9:26 pm

      Absolutely – they do all look great.

      Reply
  11. Michelle says

    July 11, 2015 at 9:31 am

    The tree house and the glass igloos are the two I would pick! I love the ICEHOTEL too – I saw a documentary showing how they build it every year – it’s pretty amazing!
    Michelle recently posted…Full Of Beans – Project 365 : 2015 – Day 191My Profile

    Reply
  12. Jen aka Muminthemadhouse says

    July 11, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Oh the treehouse. We stayed in log cabins in the trees in South Africa and it was amazing.
    Jen aka Muminthemadhouse recently posted…A Minions Milkshake – Kids in the kitchenMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Hannah Wood (staveley) says

    July 10, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    Glass igloos for me looks very lush and amazing.

    Reply
  14. mellissa williams says

    July 10, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    I’ve always wanted to stay in an Ice Hotel so i would go with this option. I think they give you thermal clothes and blankets so you probably would be toasty!
    mellissa williams recently posted…Firmoo Spectacles ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      July 11, 2015 at 7:48 am

      I guess you’d need lots of warm layers in order to survive sleeping there.

      Reply
  15. Jamie says

    July 10, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    I’d stay in the igloo – witnessing the Northern Lights are on my bucket list and for some reason it looks quite cozy for the North!
    Jamie recently posted…The Best Sunset Drive in MontanaMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Bek Dillydrops says

    July 10, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    I would choose the glass igloos. I’d love to see the Northern Lights one day so this would be perfect.
    Bek Dillydrops recently posted…Positivity – Word of the Week 10th July 2015My Profile

    Reply
  17. Erica Price says

    July 10, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    I’d happily try any or all of those. Love the idea of looking up from my bed to see the Northern Lights especially.
    Erica Price recently posted…A Summer Favourite: A Picnic With OlproMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Monika @familymadventures says

    July 10, 2015 at 8:57 am

    Can I be greedy and say all 4? I think there’s something in varying the places you stay when travelling. It enriches the travel experience.
    Monika @familymadventures recently posted…Holiday childcare benchmark: Mark WarnerMy Profile

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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