Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
COULIBRI RIDGE
Dominica
Like that talented mate at high school—smart, attractive, a natural at sport, pop-culture reference expert and part-time DJ—some places on earth are just blessed.
Weird & Wonderful
PLACES TO STAY
COULIBRI RIDGE
Dominica
Like your talented friend at high school who seemed to be good at everything – smart, attractive, a natural at sport, knows every pop-culture reference and somehow has time to be a DJ – there are some places on earth are just blessed. Coulibri Ridge is one of these places.
Weird & Wonderful
Set on 200-acres of lush Dominican wilderness, 14 extraordinary suites overlook a mountainous ocean landscape to one side and the Sulfur Spring Valley to the other. Want to relax? Sulfuric mineral hot springs are just minutes away from your suite. Fancy an adventure? You can hike to either the Atlantic Ocean or the Caribbean Sea in just a day.
The design of this complex is at the intersection of epic and mindful. The whole resort is off-grid, using sun as power and rain as water, and is completely genuine in its eco-credentials.
In fact, Coulibri Ridge took its creators 20 years to build—20 years well spent, in our humble opinion.
From AU$999 per night.
ONOMA HOTEL
Greece
ONOMA Hotel has a manifesto posted on their website, pledging: “We are against any boring old type of hotels that include all their clients needs in one common package of services".
Weird & Wonderful
Whether you’re sporty, a businessman, a gamer or just someone looking to sprinkle a little chilli into their love life—this is a hotel that will customise your stay to suit you.
ONOMA staff set your room up based on the kind of stay you’re after. A specialised gaming area? Done. A room that's perfect for a dating app profile photoshoot? Sorted. There’s even a 50 Shades Of Grey themed room which, due to its spicy nature, we are unable to reveal the details of. Plus! A basketball-themed stay that includes a one-of-a-kind basketball court (big Jamie XX vibes) that's good for shooting—hoops AND photos.
There is a heavy tech focus throughout, with ultrafast wi-fi internet, tablets in every room for smart management, wireless charging and self-check-in and check-out. It feels a lot like ONOMA is in 2050 while the rest of us are faffing around in 2023.
From AU$208 per night.
BAWAH RESERVE
Indonesia
Bawah Reserve is the recently reopened paradise in the Anambas, an archipelago in northern Indonesia.
Weird & Wonderful
A series of six secluded private islands play host to 35 luxury suites, all boasting panoramic views of the ocean. Overwater bungalows and beach suites are the go here—the sort of barefoot luxury you dream about from your desk at 3pm every Thursday. There’s access to an ‘Aura Spa and Wellness Centre', plus hiking, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, stargazing, a beach cinema and an unquantifiable number of places to swim. There’s even a chance to sail off into the sunset on an island cruise.
From AU$2600 per night
WUNDERLOCKE
Germany
WunderLocke is a series of expansive suites with arty vibes done in a cool, German way. Not in a pretentious, Moe from The Simpsons way.
Weird & Wonderful
The suites are in Sendling, a borough of Munich blessed with the best of both worlds. AKA access to green spaces and the rivers of Bavaria (hello urban roof garden) and proximity to a U-Bahn, meaning hustle and bustle whenever you feel like it.
Inside the complex you can find restaurants, a fitness studio, a leafy chill-out area, and a pool. In most rooms there’s a freestanding bath that overlooks Munich’s alps—not a luxury you get in every European city. Wunderbar.
From AU$136 per night
NOT A HOTEL
Japan (set to be completed May 2023)
It’s not a hotel, only it is, but not yet.
Weird & Wonderful
Ishigaki is an island in the Yaeyama chain, at the very, very south of Japan (technically it's closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan). Slated to open mid-2023, the design has certainly set tongues wagging—we're to expect a circular building with an infinity pool, plus a rooftop lawn and pond, all of which blend seamlessly into the landscape.
Designed for one group (of up to ten people), the tranquility of both the island and the building itself will set it apart from other spaces. We can easily imagine a writer penning their debut novel here, or a bunch of mates using it as basecamp as they surf the more or less unheralded waves nearby.
LYLO
New Zealand
LyLo in Auckland is a new kind of stay that straddles the line between cost and radness.
Weird & Wonderful
At LyLo you'll be sleeping in futuristic, private pods that are surprisingly spacious and offer a surprising amount of storage, plus everything you need to recharge—both physically and electronically.
There’s a bar on site so you can hang out with other travellers, plus work and chill areas as you need. It’s the perfect scene for those looking for a social travel experience, but are wanting something a little more upmarket than a hostel filled with teenagers on their first trip away.
It doesn’t compromise on position either; located right at the heart of Auckland, you’re near the city's underrated nightlife and in a great place to begin your North Island road trip.
From AU$58 per night
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
