Fairytale retreats and indulgent idylls are order of the day with this selection of newly procured holiday delights, courtesy of Host Unusual. Step inside your very own gigantic boot (yes, we aren’t kidding) surrounded by some of the greatest scenery on earth in New Zealand. Meanwhile, spa heaven awaits you in south-west France with stilted canopy hideaways complete with their own individual saunas and hot tubs. Lastly we experience a giant snail, and one like you’ve never seen before – think high style, curved lines, floor-to-ceiling glass and a swimming pool with views to die for in the gorgeous Spanish countryside. What’s not to love?
Rising from the ground like something straight out of a fairytale storybook, The Boot is one of those true one-off places. Just like the story of the old woman who lived in a shoe, on New Zealand’s South Island you can experience life inside your very own boot! This spellbinding hideaway is set on the Tasman Coast, an area of natural beauty and rugged coastline, backed by mountain scenery to explore. Your accommodation is a homely and creative feat of architecture, with large open fireplaces inside and out, a luxurious queen-sized bed, fine artworks from local artists, a gorgeous wooden spiral staircase and your own private courtyard. The neighbouring Jester Cafe is under the same ownership and can deliver tasty and home-cooked breakfast treats to your door. So prepare to fill your boots at The Boot!
If you have ever yearned for a treetop escape combined with all the luxury and indulgence of an exclusive spa, then your search is over; Pella Roca is the ideal retreat for you! Set within peaceful and relaxing woodland in Quercy Blanc in southwest France, these eco-friendly designed cabins are all perched atop stilts high amongst the trees, each with its own sensational private sauna and hot tub, so you can look out from your canopy hideaway across the treetops for a completely unique and natural-feeling escape. The interiors come with wooden floors, stylish white cladding and soft lighting to create the ideal mood for your bolthole. Onsite facilities also include a large heated pool with sun loungers and parasols and a woodland playground for kids, and this region of France is a gastronomy-lover’s dream, so head to Pella Roca for holiday heaven!
We’re pretty sure you won’t have witnessed anything quite like El Caracol (above and main picture) before. Meaning ‘the snail’, it’s clear to see how this name was chosen with its unmistakable shell-like appearance – an architectural feat in itself, and that’s before you have even entered through its doors! This is a place that exudes space and light, its glass-fronted facade allowing daylight to illuminate the immaculately presented rooms. Steel supports act as clever room dividers, meaning up to eight lucky guests can come and experience this truly unique holiday rental in the pine forests of rural Aragon in Spain. Outside, the vantage point of El Caracol is truly enviable – surrounded by two sparkling rivers with views out to rolling hills, olive and almond orchards, from the luxury of your own private pool or swinging hammock; the very definition of a luxurious and innovative eco-retreat.
