These Transparent Rooms Pop You Right in the Panorama
Panorama Glass Lodge in Iceland is top of the list for fans of dramatic views.
They say seeing is believing - and with their striking glass walls, the following five hotels waste no time convincing guests that they offer the most spectacular views imaginable. If you’re someone who likes to watch the world go by and appreciates a show-stopping vista, they should be at the top of your travel wish list!
Manshausen Sea Cabins, Norway
Owned by a polar explorer, writer, and photographer, Børge Ousland, and perched above the Arctic Circle, Manshausen Island Resort is Norway’s most unique cabin experience. Set on a remote, 55-acre island where ‘the mountains meet the sea’, the resort’s intention is to enhance guests’ intimate connection with the surrounding environment.
Only accessible by boat from Nordskot, the award-winning Sea Cabins are perched over the edge of the water and boast expansive glass walls that showcase the striking landscape in all its glory. Whether you’re sprawled in bed, lounging in the comfy chairs or preparing a warm cuppa in the kitchen, the rooms are designed to enhance your sense of being in-the-moment through their immersive, panoramic views.
There are 14 buildings on Manshausen including seven Sea Cabins, the Main House with a restaurant and library, Boathouse that contains conference facilities, and an Expedition Loft. Other facilities include a hot tub and sauna, for some much-needed warmth!
Appealing to everyone from philosophers to families, there’s a surprising amount to do here. For marine lovers, there’s kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, and scuba diving. For land lovers, there’s climbing, rappelling, caving, target shooting, and hiking for all levels of experience. And finally, for the truly adventurous travellers, there’s skiing on virgin ski trails only accessible by boat.
Skylodge Adventure Suites, Peru
Located in the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, Peru, Skylodge Adventure Suites offer guests the unique opportunity to sleep within a completely transparent hanging bedroom overlooking the famous mystic valley.
To access their innovative suite, guests are required to climb, hike or zipline their way up the mountain. Once they make it to the top, they will discover three luxury capsules that hang vertically from the 366-metre mountain.
Hand crafted out of aerospace aluminium and weather-resistant polycarbonate, they’re each decked out with four beds, a dining room, solar-powered lighting, bathroom facilities, and most importantly, stunning 300-degree views.
Included in the cost of the booking is breakfast and dinner (complete with wine, of course), because as you can imagine, there are no restaurants nearby for a quick meal fix. Instead, the food is freshly prepared by the Skylodge staff and delivered to guests by a seasoned climber!
Panorama Glass Lodge, Iceland
On the topic of spectacular views, Iceland is never far from mind. With its stunning landscapes, famous sunsets and attractions like the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, it’s a popular destination for those who love to soak up the scenery.
Panorama Glass Lodge, home to the country’s first glass lodges, is the perfect place to stay to enjoy the vistas on offer. Here you’ll find four different lodges, each named after Norse gods and mythical creatures: Freya, Alva, Odin, and Thor.
Accommodating two guests, the lodges take design cues from Scandinavian Viking style and traditional Icelandic houses, although with luxury furnishings and features. Each cabin includes a large bed on a raised wooden platform below a transparent ceiling that affords panoramic views, bathroom, fully kitted kitchenette, small living area and outdoor hot tub.
Built with sustainability in mind, the lodges’ interiors are custom made from renewable materials that aren’t harmful to the surrounding ecosystem and even the pools are heated using solar energy!
Conrad Maldives - The Murka
The Muraka is a luxury two-level residence at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort that features an iconic master bedroom submerged more than 16-feet below sea level. The room – with its floor-to-ceiling windows and dedicated tunnel viewing theatre which is an architectural masterpiece – is accessed by a spiral staircase or elevator and doubles as a private underwater aquarium.
The first-of-its-kind room aims to connect guests with the destination by providing a truly immersive journey into the Maldives’ beautiful environment, both above and below the surface of the water. The unique experience is further enhanced through a variety of curated and captivated offerings, including immersive, educational experiences for children.
Purepods, NZ
The PurePods concept is a revolutionary way for travellers to immerse themselves in unique and excluded pockets of the New Zealand landscape. PurePods are sleekly-designed sleeping pods located in some of the most magical and private locations around the country – including the historic Port Levy Bay.
There are six different PurePods to choose from, each one designed to showcase its heavenly surrounds and ensure you experience nature’s magnificence in full force. Constructed entirely from glass and eschewing obstructions like blinds, the eco-friendly pods offer uninterrupted views. Decked out with luxurious, warm and comfortable fittings, albeit without any in-house entertainment, the idea is for guests to connect with nature and/or their special someone in an unforgettable setting.
A pod-hopping holiday is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of New Zealand, especially for intrepid travellers who like to explore the beaten track.
Reefsuits, the Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s first underwater suites can be found in the country’s most famous aquatic region – the dazzling Great Barrier Reef. Moored offshore at Hardy Reef, off the coast of Airlie Beach, Reefworld is a three-story pontoon home to Reefsuites, a spectacular floating ‘hotel’.
Owned by Cruise Whisundays, the Reefsuites provide guests with a front row seat to the marine life the world-heritage listed region is revered for. Hardy Reef is a mile and a half stretch of pristine coral reef teeming with underwater wildlife including extraordinary coral formations, giant neon clams, green sea turtles, and an enormous variety of fish. Whilst on the reef, there are plenty of ways for guests to experience it, from scuba diving to snorkelling and glass-bottom boats.
To reach Reefworld, guests depart from the Airlie Beach Marina for a three-hour scenic tour on their high-speed catamaran ferry with a few island stops along the way.