Unusual, Offbeat & Unique Accommodations
When the folks at Wimdu.com came calling and asked if I’d poke around their website for unique accommodations, well, poke I did. And I found oodles.
Their motto is “Live Like a Local”, but it could quite easily be “Live Like an Eccentric” as well. Here are some of their oddball offerings as proof:
Hotel in a Suitcase
I’ve heard of living life out of a suitcase, but never quite living life in one. The Hotel in a Suitcase in Luzenau, Germany is the brainchild of a retired rail worker and is suitably situated next to a railway museum. So I guess this is what they do with left luggage.
Railway Car Hotel
If the Railway Museum suitcase wasn’t enough to wet your railroad whistle, then maybe a stop at the Railway Wagon Hotel just down the line in Merzen, Germany is the ticket. You can ride the rails here starting at $101 USD a night. Well, since it doesn’t actually go anywhere, it’s more like sleeping in a train station. And who hasn’t dreamt about that at least once?
Harbour Crane
If you harbour a fear of heights, you might want to skip this unusual accommodation – a crane on the pier in Harlingen, Netherlands. Restored in 2003, it took the proprietor two years to convert it to a machine more befitting slumber than lumber. It’s not the owner’s first foray into unique accommodations though – a lighthouse and a lifeboat along the wharf are also available to rent for the night.
Gypsy Caravan
Even the Romany don’t roam all the time. This Gypsy Caravan, or Vardo, was brought to Ploemel, France from Romania. The description on Wimdu’s site goes on to add, “In keeping with the natural atmosphere, you will have use of a dry toilet and Mongolian sink.”
You had me at dry toilet.
TeePee in Hong Kong
Probably thinking kemosabe was Asian sounding enough that they could get away with it, some entrepreneurial Hong Kong natives pitched some TeePees on Lantau Island and starting charging for the night. The result – Wigwams Without Borders.
Underground Mine
At 155 metres below the earth, this converted silver mine in Sala, Sweden is billed as the World’s Deepest Hotel Room. And the much less sexy World’s Most Likely Hotel to Get Trapped In.
Bethlehem Cave
Don’t fret if there’s no room at the Inn, you can be a modern-day cavemen (or give birth to one) at this unique accommodation in Bethlehem. No word if frankincense or myrrh can be considered forms of payment.
What unique accommodations have you stayed in?
America 
Canada 
Oman 
Some great hotels Raymond. Not sure I fancy the cave though!
I stayed in a cave in Turkey and it was actually quite cool, literally — the temperature was perfect considering how hot it was outside.
Thanks for commenting Julie!
I like the cave. My favorite eccentric housing was the story I read about a guy from Japan, I think, who set up a little pod right on the sidewalk and slept there until he was forced to move.
That would be awesome!
Some rather funky options here. I’d like to give the crane a go…
They did a stellar job of renovating the inside of it for sure.
Containers are interesting ideas and folks make entire houses of them but it would definitely depend on the weather. Could be hot in many places. Ouch!
Always wanted to check out the ice hotel
I know what you mean — I saw a show on a couple that lived in a container in New Zealand and it looked awesome. Can`t see it working in a much warmer (or colder) climate though.
Sooooo cool, we love them all!!!
Glad you enjoyed them!
I’d totally stay in the suitcase! Fun post!
Thanks Alex! I`d stay in the suitcase too!
I would like to stay in a railway car, it seems cute. Also all of those luxury treehouses look pretty sweet.
Some of the treehouses on their site look spectacular!
I’m down for the teepee!
It is pretty cool. And unexpected in a place like Hong Kong.
Ooooo, these look fun! I’d go for the underground mine or a cave.
Why not do them both?!
The train one looks the most comfortable but I like the suitcase idea best, very quirky!
I love that suitcase too! It’s so cute…
Those beds in the Bethlehem cave do look comfortable, don’t they?
Oh yes of course.
I wonder if there’s lamb’s blood on the door.
These look awesome! I wouldn’t mind staying in that tee pee… but the underground mine is a bit too claustrophobic for me!
Yeah I think somehow I’d probably wake up in the middle of the night trying to claw my way out. Like in “The Ring.”
The gypsy caravana looks pretty, although maybe not surrounded by all that snow
I thought it looked really cute with the snow!
We use wimdu quite a bit, they have some wicked apartments. I like the crane one – although Cole would hate it as he is scared of heights
Well, you could always blindfold him and newspaper the windows.
I haven’t heard of wimdu before – are all their rentals unique? Thanks for the new website tip!
They do have a lot of unique accommodations, but not all of them are this offbeat.
You know, I wonder what kind of person would want to live in any of these options? I could see the novelty for a day or two. I’d be willing to try the mine.
Nice one Raymond, a mine of information for cave dwelling gypsies.
I’m going niche!
My reasons are those balmy ocean breezes, cute cabana boys and an island getaway suited to my tastes!