6 tiny, yet unforgettable places to stay when you’re travelling

If you’re a traveler who likes to mix it up a bit when you’re adventuring the world, then these offbeat places to stay at should interest you quite a bit! Here are six weird yet wonderful alternatives to generic hotels.

Little Pinky – Texas

This vintage trailer has been renovated to rent out for about R1600 a night, and guess what its only 5.5metres in length! Even though it’s small, it’s really awesome. It is bright pink in colour and located in a desert campground filled with similar trailers, tents and teepees. So you’re bound to meet some eccentric and interesting people!

The Underwater Room – Tanzania

Booking a room at this floating structure should be on your bucket list. It is a cool three-level bunk BELOW the sea, which provides you with amazing views of the ocean life, such as fish, squid, octopuses and many other sea creatures. The cost per night may put a dent in your wallet at about R20 460 a night.

Glass Igloo – Finland

Are you interested in seeing the Northern Lights? This amazing glass dome at the Kakslauttanen Resort will give you a front seat to all the action! The futuristic igloo will cost you about R5300 a night – make sure to book in at the peak season for the lights.

The Bubble Hotel – France

Have you ever wanted to sleep in a bubble? Well, down in France you can book a night in a see-through pod, somewhere throughout the countryside. The bubble is tiny at 3.9 metres, but how many people can say they’ve stayed in a bubble and watched the stars for just R1700 a night?

Treehotel – Sweden

Majority of us had treehouses growing up, but this hotel takes it to the next level! The Treehotel in Sweden is designed to look exactly like a birds nest; at 180 square feet it can accommodate a family of four. It may be small, but it has separate bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and even a retractable starcase, all for R7500 a night and R680 extra per kid!

Capsule Hotel – Netherlands

Get in touch with your inner James Bond when you decide to stay in one of this cool, little hotel. These capsules are actually survivor pods that float on the Hague with hammock beds inside. How much will you pay? Just R955 a night.

What will you pick? A vintage trailer, glass igloo or maybe a Swedish bird’s nest? Whatever it may be, make sure to add these kooky places to stay to your bucket list!

Are you looking for a slightly more conventional place to stay? Well, book in at 808 Cartwright Corner and you wont be disappointed. With amazing views of the Mother City and a modern design, it is the perfect self-catering apartment in Cape Town. 

10 Questions you should ask before you rent a holiday home

At times, renting a holiday home, instead of booking into a hotel, apartment or guest house, can give you more bang for your buck. Typically, vacation homes can include things like free WiFi, phone calls, laundry services and you can save money on food costs.

Take a look at 808 Cartwright for an affordable, self-catering apartment with amazing views of Cape Town! They have all you need, from a heated indoor pool to a complimentary gym.

But, regardless if you’re looking to rent a holiday home, there are several questions you should ask before agreeing to any short-term rental…

  Ø  How are the reviews about the vacation rental property? Most online vacation rental companies such as Trip Advisor, Flipkey.com and Homeaway.com, provide reviews of the property and owner. Take your research a step further and contact previous renters or even the owner, to find out more information.

  Ø  How reputable is the vacation rental company? Nowadays anyone with a digital camera and Internet access can take beautiful pictures of a home and surrounding areas and upload them to a rental site. So remember, what you see is not always what you get. A simple Google Search can reveal telling information about a company. If you can, try visiting the home or area before submitting payment.

  Ø  What is the minimum stay required? Some apartments require at least a 3-5-night minimum stay or you may be charged an additional fee for short-term stays.

  Ø  What type of apartment building: walk-up or elevator access? If considering a vacation rental in cities like New York City or Paris, some apartments are only accessible by stairs, so make sure you ask about floor level access if you don’t want to climb up 20 flights of stairs.

  Ø  Are property amenities such as access to the gym, washer/dryer, fireplace and Internet included in the fee?

  Ø  Is the property child and/or pet friendly?

  Ø  Are cleaning fees included? Some vacation rental companies charge one fee for your reservation whereas some may charge a fee per day.

  Ø  Do you have access (e.g., telephone number and email address) to a 24-hour emergency contact or maintenance person? What if the electricity or plumbing goes out? How far are they located from the property?

  Ø  How prompt are the owner’s responses to your questions? If they are to slow to respond or impatient at the number of questions you ask, this could be a red flag.

  Ø  What are the cancellation policies? Typically cancellation policies vary. Check with the owner or property manager to learn more about the terms and conditions.

After you assess your rental needs, like size, price and location, ask these questions before you submit your payment to a rental owner or property manager.