Expect the Unexpected: Unique Hotel Experiences that Elevate Every Stay

Curating the perfect trip naturally starts with finding just the right place to stay. But to take things to the next level, sometimes you need something more – something unexpected. Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, there are hotels offering one-of-a-kind experiences to their guests – from dining on a helipad with giddying city views to a spa that makes wonderful use of its natural setting. Read on for a selection of the most unique experiences a traveller could wish for.

Be wowed by nature's wonders

JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge (Photo: Marriott International) 

When a hotel or resort enjoys a beautiful natural setting, it can enrich a trip in the most memorable ways.

At the stunning JW Marriot Masai Mara Lodge in Kenya, nature is an integral, interwoven part of your stay. The hotel features 20 lodges nestled within the heart of nature, offering a profoundly immersive experience of the untamed wilderness. You can also take daily game drives from your door, or even arrange a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon ride followed by breakfast on the savannah – or one of many other rejuvenating experiences on offer.

In Italy, you can cycle around the luscious grounds of the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa on the private island of Isola delle Rose, set in the glimmering Venice lagoon. Follow it with an al fresco lunch made with herbs and vegetables grown in the very JW Garden you’re sitting in. It’s a testament to the hotel's commitment to sustainable, farm-to-table dining – and an enchanting spot.

Tranquil lakeside Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection in South Africa is similarly at one with its natural surroundings. You might book a romantic picnic under the oak trees, take afternoon tea at the lodge’s own farm or discover the lodge's heritage as a working dairy farm of over 120 years standing.

Peace and rejuvenation are also on the menu at TRIBE, the garden terrace at Hotel Riomar, Ibiza, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Sign up for a morning yoga session on the terrace or, for a deeper connection with nature, watch the full moon rise from the hotel beach – a transformational experience.

Feel inspired by the most enchanting views

ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, a Member of Design Hotels (Photo: Marriott International) 

You know a holiday is going well when you keep stopping to gaze out at your surroundings – and isn't it even sweeter when they take you a little by surprise?

Set in the soulful, whitewashed village of Naoussa, Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros offers inspiring views of the startlingly blue Aegean sea, lapping at the shoreline just below the half-moon-shaped pool. Breathe in fresh, salty air as you relax by the water on a sunny day, or linger in the balmy evenings to watch the stars come out in the island's clear skies. 

From pin-prick twinkles to the glowing arcs of the northern lights – stay at the perfectly situated ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, A Member of Design Hotels™ in winter for a good chance of catching a glimpse of this spectacular natural show, and to admire more of this beautiful part of Iceland on horseback, or simply from the outdoor pool and spa.

Moxy Tromsø is similarly well-placed to make for easy viewing of the aurora borealis over fjords and snow-dusted hills inside the Arctic Circle. Its floor-to-ceiling windows are perfectly designed to soak up this winter phenomenon – or in summer, to soak up the Midnight Sun. The hotel's Sky Bar offers the most spectacular, elevated views.

You can marvel at a wonder of the ancient world from your balcony at Marriott Mena House, Cairo: Egypt's pyramids, which rise before you, inviting you to contemplate just how they came to be. The enigmatic structures lie within walking distance of the hotel’s abundant green gardens, giving you a chance to see them close up as well.

From the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, too, great architecture steals the show, in the form of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben – even if the hotel itself, a one-time government building, vies for attention in its own right. From its marble bathrooms to its unrivalled Thameside setting, there's plenty to admire here. Take award-winning afternoon tea in The Library and marvel at your surroundings.

Just across the Channel, you can admire a sample of Paris' most iconic architecture from the Courtyard Paris Gare de Lyon. The hotel is perfectly positioned for some of the French capital's most sweeping views, taking in everything from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré-Cœur, which you can see from your room's wide windows.

Spice up your culinary experiences with remarkable surroundings

Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego (Photo: Marriott International)

An exquisite meal, a remarkable location – these are surely two of travel's most special ingredients.

In Qatar, the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha takes this idea to new heights, with a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience on the rooftop helipad. Sit down at a traditional low table to be served a feast of Arabic delicacies, all accompanied by sweeping views of Doha’s skyline.

From the Middle East to Europe, you can savour breakfast while enjoying iconic views of the City of Light at the Paris Marriott Champs Elysées Hotel – best of all is the remarkable 180-degree panorama of the Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from the Presidential Suite's two private balconies.

Come cocktail hour, meanwhile, nothing beats the intimate Belle Epoque at Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Warsaw. This chic rooftop champagne bar, open only for private events, offers extraordinary views of the Warsaw skyline.

The extraordinary exterior of the Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego is the work of superstar architect Frank O. Gehry. Located in The Marqués de Riscal City of Wine, the hotel's gastronomic experiences more than match the views. Michelin-starred Chef Francis Paniego serves modern takes on traditional Basque classics, from acorn-fed Iberian ham to croquetas and even ice cream made with local Idiazabal cheese.

If you're inspired to spice up your travels with more Michelin-starred cuisine, be sure to get acquainted with The Luminary Set. Each restaurant showcased by this portfolio of culinary innovators across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is a feast for all the senses, taking dining into new, mind-opening realms.

Embark on a magical new wellness adventure

Paragraph Resort & Spa Shekvetili, Autograph Collection (Photo: Marriott International) 

It goes without saying that wellness practices should rejuvenate and re-energise – but they can also delight and surprise.

At the JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea, rediscover serenity as you stroll along the seaside walking path, where peaceful scenes of waves gently cascading against the cliffside await you. Immerse yourself in nature and find a renewed sense of inner calm and tranquillity. 

A rare kind of spa experience awaits at the Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego, meanwhile: the hotel's Spa Vinothérapie Caudalie Marqués de Riscal explores the health benefits of the vine and grape through a range of uniquely designed treatments. Wine therapy is also at the heart of the offering at Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection, where treatments include facials and full body massages.

At Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, guests can experience the therapeutic benefits of the Dead Sea in the resort's Dead Sea Water Pool – and even walk straight into the iconic salt lake for an invigorating mud bath experience.

Ground yourself differently at Hotel J, Stockholm, a Member of Design Hotels™ with a meditation or breathwork session followed by a sound bath, which uses reputedly healing frequencies to restore and revive you.

With pine forest to one side and the Black Sea on the other, Georgia’s Paragraph Resort & Spa Shekvetili, Autograph Collection is another perfect place to slow down and tune back into yourself. The resort's Big Blue aquarium, with its 360° visibility viewing tunnel, offers a deeply soothing experience. Get even closer to the water by stepping into the outdoor saltwater pool, built into a deck extending into the Black Sea.

Finally, at The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius, immerse yourself in the island's healing nature, then indulge in a refreshing dip in one of the serene swimming pools, surrounded by swaying palm trees and bathed in the golden hues of a honeyed sunset. Here, you're treated to unforgettable views and endless blue skies stretching as far as the eye can see.

Cheer on sporting events that move you

W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island (Photo: Marriott International)

You know your favourite sport inside and out, but take it into a different setting and you might just fall in love all over again.

At W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, F1 fans will be wowed by the high-octane revs coming from the F1 racetrack that the hotel is built over. It’s a glamorous, clamorous affair that will thrill you to the core.

For more spectacular proximity to the sporting action, look no further than Tirana Marriott Hotel. Directly overlooking and connected to the Albanian city's football stadium, it gives guests a direct view of any match played there.

In the UK, Devon’s Courtyard Exeter Sandy Park is adjacent to the Exeter Chiefs’ home stadium. Specially designed for rugby fans, the Exeter Chiefs Home Game Premium Package includes parking, accommodation and top-tier rugby tickets, making home games at Sandy Park well worth travelling to.

Similarly, Hotel Football, Old Trafford, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel lives and breathes sport. The brainchild of the Class of '92, a renowned group of Manchester United players, the hotel offers unmatched views over Old Trafford. It also has a themed restaurant, Cafe Football, and spaces that transform into hospitality areas on match days. For Man United fans, it’s a dream location – though they should also spare a thought for the memorabilia-filled Manchester United Suite at Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel.

Published: October 07, 2024

Last Updated: November 26, 2024