Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver, Canada
Otherworldly spheres seem to float in thin air at the Free Spirit Sphere Treehouse Resort set among the towering trees in Vancouver, Canada. Each sphere is about nine feet in diameter and contains a single bed, a settee, cupboards and counter space.
Amberley Castle, West Sussex, UK
A 60-foot-high crumbling stone wall complete with a medieval gate greets you at the 900-year-old Amberley Castle, located at the foot of the South Downs in West Sussex, England. And if the historic structure itself wasn’t enough for you, the grounds are also the setting for one of the world’s most beautiful treehouses.
Grand Barrail Chateau Resort, Libourne, France
“Before entering the 19th-century Grand Barrail Chateau Resort & Spa, you pinch a single grape from the vines surrounding the property, roll it in your fingers and pop in in your mouth.” That’s the way Kiwi Collection introduces the Grand Barrail Chateau Resort in Libourne, and it sets the tone for the rest of the experience at this posh 41-room, 5-suite hotel in the Bordeaux region of Southwest France.
Taj Lake Palace, Rajasthan, India
Take a boat out to your room at an 18th-century palace in the middle of Lake Pichola in Rajasthan, India. The four-acre man-made island features rooms filled with hand-painted motifs, mosaics and stained glass, while the pavilions are inlaid with gilt molding. The opulent hotel has drawn the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II and the King of Nepal.
Ashford Castle, Mayo, Ireland
Ireland’s oldest castle, Ashford Castle dates back to 1228 and is the very definition of a medieval fortress, complete with towering turrets. Once owned by the Guinness family, it opened as a hotel in 1939 with its original features carefully restored. It’s also the home of Ireland’s first school of falconry.
