To help you beat the January Blues, how about some inspiration to plan your next getaway? We've highlighted five of our favourite unique places around the world to get a great night's sleep.
For a truly unique getaway, there's nothing quite like a hotel hidden away amongst the rock formations of the South African wilderness.
Located within the beautiful Cederberg nature reserve, Kagga Karma offers a variety of accommodation options, including 'Cave Suites' nestled amongst the rock formations, and the 'Star Suite' on a private platform, where you can fully immerse yourself in the South African wilderness from the comfort of your own open-air bedroom.
China - Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort
Often referred to as the 'Doughnut Hotel' or the 'Horseshoe Hotel', the architecture of the Sheraton Huzhou is certainly something to be admired. Inspired by traditional Chinese arched bridges and made up of 'layers' of floors, the ring-like hotel rises up from the South bank of Huzhou's Taihu lake. At night, the hotel is spectacularly lit with a light show which delights tourists and Huzhou residents alike.
Inside the Sheraton Huzhou, the hotel is no less spectacular. The lobby is adorned with a Swarovski crystal ceiling, stunning Chinese art, and (if that's not enough) a self-playing white Steinway piano.
Chile - Huilo Huilo Montana Magica Lodge
Fancy staying in a hotel shaped like a volcano, with a cascading waterfall down one side in the middle of the Patagonian Rainforest? Who wouldn't!
The Huilo Huilo Montana Magica Lodge is nestled between the southern Andes, and can only be accessed by a rope bridge. If guests aren't resting in their Hobbit-inspired accommodation, they can enjoy a dip in the unique hot tubs carved from tree trunks, or enjoy some of the nearby activities such as trekking, horse riding, and mountain biking.
For a totally immersive experience, try PurePods. There are 5 secluded locations to choose from in both the North and South Islands, and each 'PurePod' is made completely of glass, allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the beautiful New Zealand landscape.
The PurePods focus on minimalist luxury and environmental sustainability, each with their own solar-powered energy source. You won't find any wi-fi connection here - although you certainly won't be short of things to see.
For wine enthusiasts, The Yeatman Hotel is the place to visit. Throughout the hotel, you can see the creativity of the 78 wine Portuguese producers that have partnered with the Yeatman, who have put their own finishing touches to the 82 rooms, with some beds even built into wine barrels.
Guests can also enjoy the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa, which includes treatments using grape extracts and grape seed oil, before dining in the hotel's 2 Michelin Star restaurant. Its views are just as good as its wines; each view boasts a picturesque view of the Douro river and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Porto.
