1. Hotel Jested, Czech Republic
The Hotel Jested was built by Czech architect Karel Hubacek in a retro and futuristic style between 1966 and 1973. The hotel is visible from miles away due to its huge tower that stands at over 300 feet (91m). The tower was designed to naturally extend and compliment the silhouette of the surrounding mountains. The tower is also a television transmitter that is built to withstand the most extreme of weather.
It was awarded the Perret Prize by the International Union of Architects for its unique design. Just below the tower is a hotel and restaurant that were also designed with the theme of the 'space age'. The hotel hosts one of the most breathtaking views in all of the Czech Republic, looking out into parts of Germany and Poland, almost the entirety of what was once Bohemia.
2. Giraffe Manor, Kenya
The Giraffe Manor was built by Sir David Duncan in 1932 as a private home surrounded by over 140 acres of its own park and forest. In 1974, Jock Leslie-Melville bought the manor and founded the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. The Melvilles set about making the Manor a refuge for a number of endangered species like the Rothschild giraffe. Now travelers from all over the world visit the Manor to dine with the giraffes and enjoy the Manor's welcoming and warm accommodations.
3. Marques de Riscal, Spain
Located in the Vinos de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal vineyard near the medieval village of Elciego, this beautiful hotel is a wine connoisseur's dream. The wine cellars at the bottom of the hotel were designed in 1858 by the architect Ricardo Bellsola. The hotel has 43 luxury rooms, each unique and different in their shapes due to the outlandish structure of the building. Thus, each room offers a different view out into the spectacular vineyards.
4. Inntel Hotel, the Netherlands
The Inntel Hotel is the newest hotel on this list, located in the Dutch city of Zaandam. The hotel appears to be a number of traditional Dutch green houses put together into one huge structure. The iconic green houses of the Zaan region were the inspiration for the designer of the hotel, Wilfried van Winden. The hotel provides over 160 guest rooms, a bar-restaurant, swimming pool, wellness center and a Turkish bath.
5. Sarova Saltlick Game Lodge, Kenya
Yet another of Kenya's beautiful and exciting hotels, the Sarova Saltlick Game Lodge is any wildlife enthusiast's fantasy. The hotel was ecologically built to fit into the habitat of the wild animals that roam through its premises. The hotel is located in the middle of the Taita Hills Sanctuary, a private wildlife conservatory located about a 6 hour drive away from the capital of Nairobi.
The hotel is made up of rooms on stilts located right above the animal watering holes. The rooms are connected by walkways that allow the guests to enjoy first row access to the wildlife below.
6. The Marmara Antalya, Turkey
Located on the Falez cliffs near the city of Antalya, the Marmara Antalya is the world's only revolving hotel that gives guests a constant 360 degree view. The 24 bedrooms make a full rotation every two to 22 hours. The rotation of the rooms is smooth and aided by six electronic motors in the basement of the hotel so that you can go to sleep with the sounds of the sea, and wake up with a view of the pool!
7. Sun Cruise Hotel, South Korea
No, this is not a cruise ship that went aground. This hotel on the coastal cliff of Jeongdongjin is a tourist attraction known for having the best sunrise views. The hotel is the world's first on-land cruise themed resort.
The hotel is 165m (540 ft.) long and 45m (150 ft.) tall, weighing in at over 30,000 tons! It has 211 rooms and all of the other amenities you might be used to seeing on a cruise ship. The entire resort was designed to give guests the feeling that they are on a cruise, without actually having to get out to sea. Overhead speakers play sounds of crashing waves around the ship and bird calls.
8. King Pacific Lodge, Canada
Now for a hotel that is actually on the water. The King Pacific Lodge is considered the only hotel in the world where guests float on the water as they rest. Unlike a cruise ship, the hotel is comfortable and feels like home. The hotel travels through one of the largest nature reserves in the world, Princess Royal Island, which is full of magnificent flora and fauna.
It is the ultimate vacation for luxury adventure travelers as it is located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on the western coast of British Columbia. However, the hotel is only open from May to October, and only accessible by float plane, as the Great Bear Rainforest protects some of the world's most endangered animals, like the Spirit Bear, Orca Whales, bald eagles and wolves.
9. The Ocean Flower, Maldives
The Ocean Flower takes its name from the typical Maldivian flower and was the first of five oceanfront developments to go up in the Maldives. The structure of the hotel was developed by Dutch Docklands International in conjunction with the Maldivian government. The hotel is located in North Male atoll, only 20 minutes by boat from Male, the capital and home of the international airport.
10. Hippo Point, Kenya
The wonders of Kenya do not seem to end! This small 115 foot (40m) pagoda built of Kenyan Cypress offers 4 double rooms and one single to its guests. The hotel is located within a grove of yellow acacia trees that surround nearby Lake Naivasha. The point of the designers was to create a structure that would go unnoticed by the wildlife, especially the hippopotamuses. At the top of the tower is a 360 degree observation point. The hotel was completed in 1993 and is owned by Dodo Cunningham-Reid.
11. Hotel Unique, Brazil
Located in Sao Paulo, Hotel Unique is one of the best hotels in the world. It's designed in a contemporary style and looks like a steel and glass boat from afar. The hotel was designed by Ruy Ohtake from the inside out. The entire hotel was conceived to surprise and delight guests with specific touches in each one of the 95 rooms.
12. The Ariau Amazon Towers, Brazil
