Six dreamy sleep spots

Six dreamy sleep spots.

The world is full of amazing stays. Get inspired with some of our favourites.

1. Luxury glamping in British Columbia

Rooted so deeply in nature you’ll need a boat or a seaplane to reach it, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort offers spectacular glamping in beautiful British Columbia. Nestled between mountain and river, many of the resort’s safari-style tents nudge the waterfront, furnished with antiques and all the glamour of the city, minus the urban chatter. Do whatever you want at whatever pace. Whether that’s fishing excursions and demanding hikes, or bear watching and white-water rafting amidst pristine views and the sounds of wildlife. Come nightfall, venture to the dining lodge for meals doused in gastronomic flare, before jumping into the Jacuzzi with a night cap.

2. Homestaying in a ger

Drink in the wide valley views of Terelj National Park while experiencing authentic ger living in the beautiful mountains of Mongolia. Circular felt dwellings offer a unique homestay for the intrepid traveller, while the barren landscape, bathed in 260 ‘blue sky’ days is pure escapism in a non-conventional paradise. Tuck into traditional “horhog” cooked by local chefs; try your hand at traditional ger making or wait for nightfall and sleep beneath a sky streaked with shooting stars. While undoubtedly rustic (there’s a woodfire stove in the centre of your ger) modern comforts are plentiful. Enjoy hot water showers, en-suite bathrooms and WiFi, or simply switch off and bask in your pictureperfect surroundings.

3. Hibernating in a cave

Not the type of cave you might find Bear Grylls bunkering down for the night, but a plush cave-hotel in one of Europe’s most unusual landscapes. The Italian city of Matera is renowned for its ancient cave dwellings known as sassi. These intriguing stone residences are cut into rock face within a labyrinth of narrow streets and tumbling lodgings chipped into cliffside. Between the stone churches and ancient alleyways, various hotels invite guests to sleep within their restored stone caves. Fear not, with king size beds and en-suite bathrooms, modern sassi offer every comfort.

4. Nodding off underwater

If you’ve ever dreamed of living The Little Mermaid lifestyle, check out Fiji’s Poseidon Undersea Resort, a five-star property off the coast of Poseidon Mystery Island with 24 suites all submerged 12 metres below the water. Surrounded by reef, there’s an external fish feeder to excite your new aquatic neighbours, and a private Jacuzzi to sit and watch them from. Alternatively, The Manta Resort on Pemba Island in Zanzibar also boasts an underwater bedroom. It’s quite simply a beautiful three-storey pontoon plopped into vast azure ocean. The bottom level is submerged and guests can sleep in a bedroom bubble, enveloped by marine life in the middle of living coral reef.

5. Bunking with gorillas

Well not quite, but Bisate Lodge in Rwanda combines a bucket-list gorilla trek with luxury villa living. Six sumptuous thatched pods cling to the side of a mountain in remote Rwandan mountainside, boasting dramatic views of Volcanoes National Park. The lodge is just a short distance from the park where gorilla treks depart daily and guests are encouraged to engage with local conservation efforts.

6. Cozying in an igloo

Located in Finland’s Lapland region, we all know who the most famous resident here is, and we’d put money on Santa spending most of his downtime at an igloo resort. These snow-tucked hotels boast multiple glass igloos accommodating between two and four guests. Thermal glass and zero WiFi allows you to take a cosy digital detox beneath a fluttering of snow and the best starlit sky in Europe. With a domed glass design, igloos boast the best seats in the house to see Aurora Borealis, AKA the Northern Lights. Marbling the sky from August through to late April, for a once-in-a-lifetime auroras experience, book a stay here. ■

House of Travel offers so much more than hotels. Come in-store, call us on 0800 713 715 or visit houseoftravel.co.nz.