Sometimes, a vacation requires escaping land if you’re itching for something new. After all, you could bungee jump, skydive, and climb mountains if you want to experience the air and the sky. For those more interested in the water, there are cruise ships and beaches if you’re looking for that fix.
However, if you’re looking for a more unique experience with the water, then these five hotels may just be for you. These hotels are specially designed to “float” or “sit” on water, providing you with a unique and intriguing experience of being right out there. Like Moana, the water may be calling you to see how far you’ll go to visit these five interesting hotels.
1. Soneva Gili Six Senses Floating Hotel
This might be the hotel that comes to mind first when imagining a “floating hotel.” This popular hotel in the ever-tropical Maldives has all its villas floating atop the water, immediately connecting you to the water once you step outside your door. You have your choice of accommodations, from the more connected to the more isolated, and the offerings of swimming, gyms, spas, and restaurants will certainly keep you fulfilled and busy. You definitely won’t regret staying a night here.
2. The Floating Inn
Want the floating hotel experience in the Americas? The closest you’re going to find is this four-room hotel out in Florida. The design and atmosphere are quite quaint and bohemian, with the generally still waters of its private cove, though it has the occasional wind rocking the whole boat to sleep at night. Nothing else will bother you aside from the other guests you’re with, and the amenities on the boat are reasonable and sufficient. It’s not the most luxurious, but the experience is still absolutely worthwhile.
3. The Utter Inn
What a curious and unassuming sight to observe in the middle of the water. The site looks interesting as you approach it, being what appears to be a simple red cabin placed right in the middle of a Swedish lake. The amenities inside are decent and respectable, but what’s even more interesting is the underwater aspect once you open the hatch down below. You will be forced to stay here until morning, but you’ll get an unbeatable experience floating above (and under) a lake.
4. A Canal Houseboat
If you want a floating hotel that is a little more connected to the city, then try a houseboat right on the canals of Amsterdam. You’ll be right next to the history and culture of the city, and there are a wide variety of options to choose from, from the most lavish to the most budget-friendly. Best of all, you’re right inside the city, and after a long day of seeing the sights of The Netherlands, you’ll be able to rest back here right atop the city’s waters.
5. Salt & Sill Hotel
If you’re looking for another Swedish floating hotel that can accommodate more than a few people at a time, then why not try the country’s first floating hotel? Located on their “herring island,” you’ll get a taste of the world’s best herring platter and other fine dining options at the Salt & Sill Inn, after which you can retire to the adjacent hotel floating on the water. The hotel’s design is Scandinavian chic and offers a healthy range of financial options, allowing you to experience the slower side of life in Sweden.
These five unique floating hotels offer extraordinary experiences for those seeking a getaway beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re floating above the serene waters of the Maldives, enjoying the quaint charm of a Florida inn, exploring the underwater delights of a Swedish lake, experiencing the vibrant culture of Amsterdam from a houseboat, or savoring fine dining on a Swedish herring island, each of these hotels provides a memorable and unparalleled stay.
So, if the water is calling you, answer it by visiting one of these remarkable floating hotels.
