Top 10 New Hotels for Travelers in 2018: Unique Stays Worldwide
From luxury indulgences to budget-savvy options, 2018 introduced extraordinary new accommodations around the globe. The only downside? Their allure might keep you awake with excitement.
Silo Hotel, South Africa
Housed in the elevator tower of a historic grain silo at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, this boutique gem delivers stunning vistas of Table Mountain. Merging contemporary flair with 1920s industrial architecture, its geodesic windows protrude dramatically from the concrete exterior. The excitement amplifies with the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) below.
MOCAA’s sculpture garden is accessible from a weighbridge on the Silo’s sixth floor.
Floating Capsule Hotel, Japan
Following its 2015 robot-staffed hotel, Huis Ten Bosch unveiled a pioneering floating capsule hotel in late 2017. These two-story spherical pods, featuring beds beneath glass domes, drift slowly along a 6km waterway overnight, delivering guests to a new island adventure resort by morning.
Huis Ten Bosch is in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture.
Thousand Lakes Lodge, Australia
Now easier to access the rugged beauty of Tasmania’s UNESCO-listed Wilderness World Heritage Area, this newly opened lodge was repurposed from an Antarctic training facility. The nine-room eco-lodge provides a cozy base for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting amid highland plains.
The low-impact lodge is a 90-minute drive from Launceston in northern Tasmania.
Moss Hotel, Iceland
Overlooking Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon, this geothermal-powered luxury retreat perches on 1226-era moss-covered lava flows. Its minimalist design includes a subterranean spa, the Lava Cove, for ultimate relaxation.
The Lagoon Suite offers private lagoon access.
Jam Hotel, Belgium
Hospitality visionary Jean-Michel André and architect Olivia Gustot transformed Brussels’ former St Luke School of Architecture into this urban-chic haven. Exposed brick, concrete, and plywood define the 78 rooms, crowned by a stylish bar, rooftop pool, and terrace.
Options include 18-bed Giga dorms (€18), Super singles (€49), and group rooms for 2-6.
The Sill, UK
Defying hostel stereotypes, The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall is a sleek glass-and-steel structure integrated into a discovery center. It hosts exhibitions, performances, and events, with rooms for 2-4, kitchens, lounges, Wi-Fi, and pristine night skies.
Renewable-powered; beds with breakfast from £21.
Awasi Iguazú, Argentina
Expanding from Atacama and Patagonia, Awasi’s 14-villa lodge sits 15 minutes from Iguazú Falls. Elevated on stilts in the jungle along the river, each villa boasts private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and spacious living areas.
Every villa includes a 4WD and dedicated guide.
The Robey, USA
This Art Deco icon in Chicago’s vibrant Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods channels the area’s artistic pulse. The 13th-floor lounge boasts 180-degree skyline views.
Late check-outs, easy transport, rooms from US$155.
The Highlands Camp, Tanzania
While others crowd Ngorongoro Crater, guests at Asilia’s eco-camp awaken in a secluded conservation area spot. Eight quilted dome tents offer panoramic wilderness views, paired with authentic Maasai cultural immersion.
Wildlife drives, hikes, and meals included.
Null Stern, Switzerland
Forget five stars—this zero-star concept features just a bed under the stars in remote Swiss wilds, no walls needed. After the 2017 ‘Alpine Room’ sold out, 25 new secret locations debut in 2018.
Join the waiting list soon.
