These hotels leave visitors not only amazed but also enchanted—just one stay is enough to create memories that last a lifetime.
Choosing the right hotel is just as essential as picking your travel destination. After all, it’s where you’ll unwind, reflect on your adventures, and maybe even enjoy the destination’s beauty until sunrise.
Bright Side magazine has curated a list of some of the most extraordinary hotels in the world—so impressive that they’re often considered tourist attractions in their own right.
Hotel My Cat Yugawara – Japan
Located in the hot spring city of Yugawara, this cozy hotel offers a heartwarming experience: each guest gets to live with a rescue cat from 5:30 PM to 9:00 AM. During this time, you’re expected to care for and bond with the cat, which may help relieve stress or even help you decide if you’re ready to adopt one. The best part? If you fall in love with your feline companion, you can adopt it and take it home.
Met A Space Pod – Thailand
This space-themed capsule hotel in Bangkok takes futuristic comfort to a new level. Each pod is equipped with touch-sensitive controls to adjust lighting, color tones, air conditioning, and more. There’s even a headphone jack with volume control and a mini safe. All that’s missing? Food delivery right to your pod!
Sultan Cave Suites – Turkey
Situated near the ancient Göreme National Park in Cappadocia, Sultan Cave Suites lets you sleep in a real cave, but with all the modern comforts you could ask for. It’s the perfect blend of nature, history, and technology. According to travelers, the view from the terrace at sunrise—with hot air balloons dotting the sky—is absolutely unforgettable. A night here costs around $140 and includes a gourmet breakfast.
Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse) – Vietnam
Nicknamed the “Crazy House,” this bizarre architectural wonder in Da Lat, Vietnam, was designed by architect Dang Viet Nga, who studied in Moscow. Shaped like a giant tree, the structure contains 9 themed rooms, each representing a different animal. Think Alice in Wonderland meets surrealist jungle dreamscape.
Ambassador Suites – Niagara Falls, Canada
At this hotel near Niagara Falls, some guests have reported unexpected visitors—including lizards lounging by the pool! One family shared their excitement over the spectacular waterfall views right from their room, while others described their window views as “like living inside a painting.”
Seaside Hotel in Molfetta – Southern Italy
In the quiet port town of Molfetta, southern Italy, a traveler described the view from their hotel window as being so picturesque it felt like wall art. Sometimes, it’s the simple, authentic experiences in off-the-beaten-path places that leave the biggest impression.
The Cat Hotel, UK
One of the more amusing reviews came from a guest at a hotel in the United Kingdom, where a friendly local cat made itself at home—so much so that it refused to leave the guest’s bed! When they tried to move the cat, it “unsheathed its claws in protest.” Cute but territorial!
Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake – Vietnam
This 25-story luxury hotel in central Hanoi, Vietnam, claims to be the first gold-plated hotel in the world. Every inch—from the bathtub to the toilet—is covered in 24-karat gold. Even your food might come sprinkled with edible gold flakes. Over-the-top? Definitely. But unforgettable? Absolutely.
Desert Hotel Near Sossusvlei – Namibia
Found along the remote roads to Namibia’s iconic Sossusvlei Sand Dunes, this hotel offers open-roof rooms under the stars. During the day, the temperature soars to 39°C (102°F), while at night it drops to a comfortable 25°C (77°F). With zero insects and no cities for nearly 250 miles, it’s a stargazer’s paradise—possibly one of the best places in the world to see the Milky Way.
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa – California, USA
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is a hotel located in Riverside, California, USA — a national monument with an architectural style that blends Mission Revival, Spanish Gothic, Moorish, and other styles that Frank Miller collected and developed from 1902 to 1932
In 1931, the International Rotunda Wing was completed with a four-—five-story open-air spiral staircase, using wrought iron railings engraved with the initials of the 21 California Missions
Floating Hotel on Pemba Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania
In yet another surprising encounter, a guest discovered a stranger (a cat!) curled up on their hotel bed upon arrival. Their review? “This is officially the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in.” Sometimes it’s the little surprises—furry or otherwise—that make a hotel truly unforgettable.
Dolce Vita Hotels – Molfetta, Italy
In the picturesque port town of Molfetta in southern Italy, hotel windows frame postcard-perfect views of the Adriatic Sea. Waking up to a calm coastline or sipping espresso while watching local fishermen at work adds a rare authenticity to your stay—something you can’t replicate elsewhere.
Grace Hotel – Santorini, Greece
Although not mentioned above, this iconic cliffside hotel deserves attention. With infinity pools overlooking volcanic cliffs and sunsets that paint the sky in fiery hues, Grace Hotel offers luxury, privacy, and views that make it one of the most photographed hotels in the world.
Icehotel – Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
For an otherworldly experience, spend a night in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, the Icehotel is rebuilt every winter and features intricately carved ice sculptures, fur-lined beds, and glowing igloos. It’s an adventure that blends art and arctic survival.
Treehotel – Harads, Sweden
If you ever dreamed of living in a treehouse, the Treehotel makes that dream a luxury reality. Suspended high in the pine forests of northern Sweden, rooms are designed as futuristic pods—some shaped like a UFO, others like a mirrored cube reflecting the surrounding forest. Sustainability meets high design here.
These hotels go far beyond a place to sleep—they become the experience itself. Whether you’re looking to adopt a cat, sleep under the stars in the desert, bathe in gold, or drift off in a spaceship pod, there’s a destination on this list for every type of traveler. Staying in one of these hotels will turn your trip into a story worth telling for years to come.
