Forget 5-star luxury: World’s most unbelievable hotels are inside a plane, crane and ice

Forget the standard hotel room, infinity pool and minimalist lobby. In 2026, travellers are increasingly seeking stays that offer an experience as memorable as the destination itself.

From sleeping inside a Boeing 737 in a Costa Rican jungle to spending the night in a hotel made entirely of ice, these eight unusual properties turn extraordinary locations and structures into one-of-a-kind accommodation.

Treehouse Lodge Resort, Peru

Deep in the Peruvian Amazon near Iquitos, Treehouse Lodge Resort sits at the meeting point of the Yarapa and Cumaceba rivers, close to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Its thatched-roof suites are built high in native trees and linked by wooden footbridges, allowing guests to experience the sights and sounds of the rainforest from above the jungle floor.

V8 Hotel, Germany

Located inside Motorworld Region Stuttgart in the historic airport building in Böblingen, V8 Hotel is a dream stay for automobile enthusiasts. Its themed rooms feature vintage cars, petrol pumps and workshop-inspired décor, with some beds built into preserved classic vehicles from brands including Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac.

Tubohotel, Mexico

In Tepoztlán, Mexico, Tubohotel puts a creative spin on budget accommodation. The property uses recycled concrete sewer pipes stacked into pyramid-like structures around a central courtyard and swimming pool. Each cylindrical room contains a queen-size bed and a glass-fronted entrance with curtains.

Hotel Ještěd, Czech Republic

Perched 1,012 metres above sea level on Ještěd Mountain near Liberec, Hotel Ještěd is one of the Czech Republic’s most distinctive landmarks. The futuristic tower, completed in the late 1960s, combines a television transmitter, observation deck and hotel, offering panoramic views stretching across Bohemia, Saxony and Poland.

Faralda Crane Hotel, Netherlands

Rising about 50 metres above Amsterdam’s former NDSM shipyard, the Faralda Crane Hotel occupies a converted harbour crane. Its three multi-level suites are reached by glass elevators, while an open-air rooftop hot tub provides dramatic views of the IJ river and Amsterdam skyline.

Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica

At Hotel Costa Verde near Manuel Antonio National Park, guests can sleep inside a restored 1965 Boeing 727. The famous two-bedroom fuselage suite is mounted on a pedestal above the jungle canopy and features handcrafted Costa Rican teak interiors, along with a wooden deck extending over the aircraft’s wing.

Book and Bed Tokyo, Japan

Book lovers can combine reading and sleeping at Book and Bed Tokyo in Shinjuku. Designed as an “accommodation bookshop”, the property features compact sleeping spaces built into large bookshelves filled with thousands of books, turning an overnight stay into a literary experience.

Icehotel, Sweden

In Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, the Icehotel is rebuilt every winter using ice and snow harvested from the Torne River. International artists create elaborate ice sculptures and art suites, where temperatures are maintained at around -5°C to -8°C. Guests sleep in thermal sleeping bags on beds covered with reindeer hides.

These properties prove that for travellers looking beyond conventional luxury, sometimes the hotel itself can be the destination.