In today’s hotel market, it’s important to stand out, but with so many establishments now desperate to be different it can be hard to tell the genuinely unique and venues simply trying to entice guests with a quirk. As such, Staff Writer Hannah Stevenson gives us the low-down on five truly unforgettable experiences you can enjoy around the world so that you can have a holiday of a lifetime every time you travel. 

Whale View Manor Guesthouse, South Africa: This luxurious boutique hotel lies among three of the Cape’s ecological treasures: Cape Peninsula Nature Reserve, Boulders Beach (famed for its Jackass Penguin colony), and False Bay (calving ground of the Southern Right Whale). Over the road lies a beautiful beach where visitors are able to watch penguins, seals and of course the Southern Right Whale.

SKY Hotel Kota Kinabalu: Among Malaysia’s most unique destinations, and certainly ne of the most coveted locations at the central business district, the SKY Hotel provides more than just a convenient locale in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Contemporary, sleek and discerning with just the right touch of quality make the SKY Hotel the perfect lifestyle choice for those looking for something different. It boasts an array of creatively furnished, modern rooms and apartments, as well as the highest infinity swimming pool in the city, allowing guests to indulge in jaw-dropping views of this beautiful metropolitan landscape.

Brocket Hall, England: An historic setting boasting a sumptuous restaurant, two glorious golf courses and some of the finest hospitality in the world, Brocket Hall, a sprawling estate once home to two Lords and Prime Ministers, Lord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston, as well as being a frequent bolthole for Queen Victoria herself. The house and grounds have witnessed major events in Britain’s history; from the rise and fall of governments through to the beginning of wars, and today guests can visit this astonishing venue and bask in the beauty and history that converge there.

Sunlover Reef Cruises, Queensland Australia: For those who want to see one of the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, there is no better way to do so than a stay on the Sunlover pontoon. The package, known as Sunlover by Starlight, allows guests to stay overnight on the pontoon and sleep in SWAGs (a cross between a sleeping bag and a tent) to allow them to sleep under the stars, before spending the day enjoying snorkelling tours with a trained marine biologist, diving and a trip on a glass bottomed boat. This once in a lifetime overnight reef stay is now available at Moore Reef Pontoon located on the Great Barrier Reef, just 26 nautical miles off the coast of Cairns. Moore Reef is an awe-inspiring underwater spectacle, teaming with brilliantly coloured corals and more than 10,000 fish and marine species.

Elephant Hills, Thailand: Comprising of two camps, Elephant Hills are Thailand’s first Luxury Tented Jungle Camps, combining the camp idea of African national parks with the Thai tropical forest environment. Guests can experience truly luxurious lodging in the rainforest and get up-close and personal with mother nature herself in this stunn