AP Photo: Accommodations without doors and windows, surrounded by nature, are a trend that is becoming increasingly popular.
(AP) — According to Booking.com’s 2024 travel predictions, 58% of travelers value uninterrupted sleep during their vacation. Would they be comfortable in rooms with no doors or windows, surrounded by nature?
Accommodations around the world are redefining what it means to sleep in nature. You may have heard of yurts, glamping, or even eco-lodges. But these unconventional accommodations feature an open concept that completely blurs the line between bedroom and nature, changing the concept of a room with a view.
Spending the night above the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Cruise Whitsunday’s Reefsleep experience under the stars complements the 24-hour underwater views of ReefSuites.
At Hardy Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef, guests can view marine life through the observation deck windows or get acquainted with marine life while snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing or whale watching. In July and September, guests may catch a glimpse of a humpback whale migrating along the reef to mate.
Before sunset, guests head to the pontoon’s upper deck to sleep in carefully designed Reefbeds. These unique double beds resemble tents as their upper canvas opens on either side to expose it to the elements.
Travel blogger Giselle Whiteaker remembers her peaceful experience. “The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water against the pontoon and the occasional splash as a fish comes to the surface.”
Become one with nature in Indonesia
Victoria Henz, travel blogger at Guide Your Travel, visited Le Pirate Island in Komodo National Park in Indonesia, where she stayed in open-air beach huts. She stresses that travelers should expect warm weather and recommends that those who need air conditioning use traditional accommodations. “It was definitely hot,” She admits “But knowing what to expect made it easier.”
Henz remembered how easily she slept outdoors. “Because it’s a private island, I felt very safe. I was surprised that there were so few insects and other bugs, but that’s probably because you’re sleeping so close to the beach. We didn’t even encounter many mosquitoes, which was great. The island itself exceeded all expectations; it was amazing.”
According to Tripadvisor, Bali boutique hotel Bambu Indah is ranked number 2 among all 79 resorts in Ubud. Adventurous guests can opt for open-air rooms, while others choose conventional houses with doors and screened windows. The hotel’s unique Moon House offering is a partially wall-less, crescent-shaped room overlooking a small pond, retreat gardens and the rainforest.
Despite its promises, a closer look at the reviews shows that this accommodation type may not be suitable for all guests. Travel blogger Meeka Fayetima of The Wandering Afro describes her stay in a similar open-air hut in Indonesia. “The biggest challenge during my stay was going to the toilet alone at night,” she remembers. “The outdoor shower drew quite a lot of visitors, but the view was incredible. Waking up gently to the sunrise was an incredible experience and the view was out of this world. I would definitely do it again.”
Monkey business in Sri Lanka
Kate Veling visited two open-air estates in Sri Lanka: Back of Beyond in Pidurangula and Jasper House in Hiriketiya Beach.
Jasper House offers second-floor rooms with one side open to the sea, while all Back of Beyond rooms feature tamper-proof folding walls that make the entire space visible. “The only downside was that you could accidentally flash people walking down the hill nearby,” she adds.
Back of Beyond offers guests accommodations in open-air treehouses with views of the jungle canopy. However, Veling says the resort provided her with a monkey-proof trunk to store her belongings, and staff encouraged her to zip up her suitcases to deter curious, burrowing monkeys. Although her stay required extra preparation, she doesn’t recall any unpleasant encounters with wildlife.
Under the Mexican sky overlooking the ocean
Playa Viva is a sustainable boutique hotel located in a private nature reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The luxurious resort at the foot of the Sierra Madre offers a dozen unique cabin styles, all without windows to provide unobstructed views of the ocean.
This special open-air concept brings with it some challenges. 25% of all reported cases of scorpion poisoning worldwide occur in Mexico. Upon check-in, guests are given UV lamps for scorpion detection.
Not all outdoor areas require the same level of caution. “Although there are scorpions in Baja, none have ever been found in any of our treehouses. I’m sure they would have trouble climbing the treehouse’s steel stairs,” says Cameron Watt, owner of Acre Resort.
The resort features treehouses with straw walls that let in birdsong and Baja breezes. “The decision to stay outdoors was easy for me,” continues Watt. “A true glamping experience requires those sensations that you can’t find in a regular hotel room.”
Vicki Rutwind of Fashion Travel Repeat visited the resort and described her experience as magical, comfortable and luxurious. “I also really liked the outdoor shower in our tree house. It offers complete privacy, but there is something very special about showering under the stars,” she adds.
Tropical breezes and starry nights in the Caribbean
Located near El Limón on the Samaná Peninsula, Samana Eco Lodge offers guests accommodation in rustic, open-air two-story jungle bungalows, with a swing bed on the ground floor and a king-size bed on the upper floor overlooking a rock pool and the rainforest.
Jessica Serna reports on her experiences at the Saman Eco Lodge. “Honestly, I expected more bugs! As someone who glamps quite often, I couldn’t tell the difference between the bugs in an outdoor spot and a glamping spot with windows and doors. Yes, there were spiders and cockroaches, but I expected that.”
Jade Mountain in St. Lucia is a unique Caribbean resort built on a cliff, offering direct and unobstructed views of the famous Piti and Gros Piton mountains from every room. “miss” Wall.
“Guests often describe their experience as magical. They feel as if they are floating in space, with the Pitons as a dramatic backdrop, surrounded by the natural elements of earth, air and water,” says Karolin Troubetzkoy, Managing Director of Jade Mountain Resort.
Suspended in the canopy of the rainforest in Costa Rica without walls
While 65% of Booking.com survey respondents prefer green spaces and plants during their stay, most don’t need full access to the rainforest. Green-thumbed guests at Nature Observatorio will see Monsteras, the most popular houseplant in the U.S., almost everywhere in Costa Rica. Guests of Nature Observatorio’s stunning treehouse, suspended freely in the Costa Rican jungle, will not be short of sights and sounds.
Guests of the suspended wooden structure can enjoy 360-degree views of the tropical rainforest and wildlife from the treetop level, lifted up by a pulley system.
Animals near Africa’s outdoor stays
According to the Chief Marketing Officer Council survey, 74% of Western travelers do not plan to visit African destinations, half of them due to safety concerns. Nearby resorts and tourist destinations are trying to allay consumer concerns and positively influence public perceptions by pursuing exclusivity and leveraging unique offerings not available elsewhere.
Go2Africa, an award-winning, B Corp-certified safari operator, has listed 26 star-rated properties in nine African countries, from the dense rainforests of Botswana to the game reserves of South Africa.
Managing Director and A-List Travel and Leisure Advisor Maija De Rijk-Uys shares: “There’s nothing better than snuggling up in a cozy bed in the heart of …”There is untouched wilderness. Only a mosquito net separates you from Africa’s Milky Way, and the nightly calls of lions and hyenas are even more poignant when heard from a starlit bed.”
Most star beds are minimalist in design, like the one at Tsuwalu Kalahari, which offers two camping beds on a wooden platform. Other resorts like Segera Retreat’s Nay Palad Bird Nest on the Laikipia Plateau in Kenya attract guests with unique architecture.
Travelers from around the world seeking unique accommodations can now opt for outdoor stays, where unobstructed views and direct contact with nature replace traditional barriers like doors and windows. Whether sleeping above the Great Barrier Reef or relaxing in a beach hut on a private Indonesian island, these experiences redefine the concept of a room with a view.
This article was created by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
