Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
BUBBLE BEDS
Finn Lough
Enniskillen, Ireland
At Finn Lough, the ceiling is the whole point.
Weird & Wonderful
Specifically, the transparent one hovering above the bed inside your very own bubble dome.
The domes tucked into woodland near Lough Erne aren’t gimmicky in the way we’ve all come to expect. But they are the perfect excuse to lie flat on your back and watch clouds, stars and sideways rain perform for you in real time. You’ll fall asleep under a sky full of drama and wake up with mist clinging to the trees like the set of a very moody indie film.
Inside, it’s all plush bedding and clever climate control, so you get the wilderness without the character-building suffering. No damp socks. No tragic sleeping bags. Just forest immersion with decent heating and a proper bathroom only a few steps away.
And if staring at the sky gets exhausting (it won’t), the Elements Spa Trail threads you through saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs scattered among the trees. It feels slightly cultish in the best way; wandering between cabins in a robe while the Irish weather does whatever it wants around you.
There are lakeside lodges and cosy suites too, but let’s be honest, you’re here to sleep in a bubble, Glinda-style.
From AU$556 per night
ISLAND STAY
Kisawa Sanctuary
Benguerra Island, Mozambique
The first thing you notice at Kisawa isn’t the ocean (although it’s hard to miss). It’s that the distance between you and everyone else is immense.
Weird & Wonderful
This place is spread so wide across Benguerra Island that your ‘neighbours’ don’t even exist. Each residence comes with its own stretch of sand, its own pool, and its own winding sandy pathway that links each thatched bungalow together like an endlessly cool desert village that just happens to face the Indian Ocean.
And now we’ve come to the hook; privacy on a ridiculous scale.
The design leans hard into nature without going full eco-lecture. Walls are built using sand and natural materials from the island, so everything blends in rather than shows off. It feels intentional, and not completely Instagrammable-just-for-the-sake-of-it.
Of course there’s a personal butler. Of course there are electric Mini Mokes to zip around in. And yes, the food and spa situation are exactly what you’d hope for when you’re this far off-grid but also this well looked after.
But really, you book Kisawa because you want silence. Proper silence. The loudest thing around you will be the tide.
From AU$9,157 per night
PACIFIC RETREAT
Na Finua
Solomon Islands
The standout feature at Na Finua isn’t the villas or the food, it’s the waves…
Weird & Wonderful
…and the fact you’ll probably have them all to yourself.
This tiny island retreat in the Solomon Islands was built around the idea of uncrowded surf, and the setup is refreshingly simple: paddle out straight from the beach to breaks that very few people on the planet have ever ridden.
There are two surf spots right off the island and plenty more nearby, meaning a good session here can feel like you’re in your own private ocean playground.
And the accommodation’s cool too, if not super low key (intentionally). With just three villas on the entire island, it’s boutique in the truest sense of the word, each one with ocean views, direct beach access and space to properly switch off.
When you’re not chasing waves, the days slip easily into snorkelling over coral gardens, fishing for mahi-mahi or GT (giant trevally), or exploring nearby villages to get a glimpse of everyday island life.
From POA
WINERY WIND DOWN
Hotel Irada
Pune, India
The main reason to stay at Hotel Irada is simple, it’s a winery you can sleep in.
Weird & Wonderful
Set on a 66-acre vineyard estate surrounded by forest, this design-led hotel feels more like a wine country carnival than a traditional stay. Days here can start with a stroll among the vines, continue with a barrel-room tasting guided by the estate sommelier, and end somewhere near a Negroni as the sun dips behind the rows of grapes.
The property itself has a bit of history too. Once a private countryside manor known for extravagant parties, the estate has been reimagined into a boutique hotel where architecture, art and wine culture collide. Interiors mix mid-century design with pieces sourced from artists and craftspeople across India and beyond, giving the whole place a slightly gallery-like feel.
Between wine tastings, forest walks, spa rituals and the occasional competitive game of pickleball, the vibe here is defs ‘very stylish countryside weekend’, which is a far cry from the chaos you’re probably used to when travelling to India (here’s looking at you New Delhi).
From AU$339
ROADSIDE REST
Americana Motor Hotel
Flagstaff, USA
Road trips and retro motels go together like dusty highways and bad gas-station coffee, but the Americana Motor Hotel gives the classic roadside stay a full technicolour revival.
Weird & Wonderful
Sitting on historic Route 66 in Flagstaff, this reimagined 1960s motor lodge leans hard into nostalgia, just with a few extra disco balls thrown in for good measure.
Inside the rooms you’ll find bold colours, geometric carpets and vintage-inspired furniture that feels as if it’s been plucked straight from a Jetsons-style vision of the future. Outside, things slow down. Fire pits crackle in the courtyard, hammocks sway between desert breezes and, thanks to Flagstaff’s famously dark skies, telescopes are on hand for a little late-night stargazing.
All of which makes it a pretty perfect pit stop on America’s most famous highway.
From AU$213 per night
© guntû
FLOATING HOTEL
guntû
Seto Inland Sea, Japan
If ryokans had a secret love child with a luxury cruise, it would be this floating hotel.
© guntû
© guntû
Weird & Wonderful
Sure, you could stay in a normal hotel, but onboard guntû, you don't get a cityscape to stare at, here the spectacular island dotted coastline does all the work.
After that first “whoa” moment, you’ll settle into the rhythm of life on deck: slow sushi breakfasts, cups of green tea while islands drift past, and sunsets that feel almost unfairly beautiful to everyone who doesn’t get to witness them IRL (no, gazing at them from your Insta story doesn’t count).
The cabins are minimalist, the service impeccable, and every detail, from sliding doors to perfectly framed windows, feels deliberately crafted to make you pause, and better yet, breathe. And the meals are exquisite, kaiseki-style dinners that make you wonder why you ever settled for 7-11 instant ramen noodles.
Yes, you can get off the ship, but when you have a cosy six-seat sushi bar, Japanese sweets in the lounge area, hinoki (japanese cypress) bathtubs and saunas, why would you even want to?
From AU$5,861 per person
get in the know On Dal Lake in India's Srinagar, you can send mail from a post office that literally floats on water.
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