Sleep in a beagle, an igloo and underwater: ten hotels that replace an attraction

Spending the night inside a giant beagle is real. Artists, museums, and private island owners build this kind of lodging. We've rounded up ten places where the night itself becomes the attraction: from ice igloos in Zermatt to an underwater room off the coast of Zanzibar.

Some programs have closed in recent years, while others have updated their rooms and prices. That's why we've linked each entry to the property's official website or the program page. Kids' sleepovers at London's Natural History Museum are still running (official website). Below you'll find what awaits you inside, who this kind of overnight stay suits, and where to book directly.

What to expect at an unusual hotel

💡 In short:

• These nights are booked directly: through the owner, museum, or program organizer.
• Formats change, so check the property's status before you travel.
• Prices and booking dates: 09/2026, verified on the official Dog Bark Park Inn website.

1. Dog bark park inn, Idaho

© Alan Levine from Strawberry, United States · CC BYPhoto: Alan Levine from Strawberry, United States, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

A giant beagle stands by the highway in Cottonwood, Idaho, with a real bedroom inside. The house was built by a husband-and-wife woodcarving team: the pillows here feature dog silhouettes, the cookies are dog-shaped too, and the yard sells sculptures of different breeds. Dogs are allowed, with the caveat "responsible dogs with obedient owners."

• How to get there: by highway to Cottonwood, Idaho (see map).
• Cost: a night for two is in the mid-range segment; check current dates and pricing on the hotel website (as of 09/2026).
• Who it's for: road-trippers traveling through Idaho.

2. Natural history museum in London

© Poidabro · CC BY-SAPhoto: Poidabro, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

In London you can sleep in the same hall as a dinosaur skeleton. At the kids' sleepovers, the gallery is lit by torches and a science show is put on, while adults get a separate format. It includes a three-course dinner, live music, a bar, an insect tasting, and an all-night monster movie marathon. In the morning guests get breakfast, and you can sleep in the atrium next to the diplodocus or in the shadow of the blue whale.

• Who it's for: kids aged 7-11 and adults (according to the museum, as of 09/2026).
• Cost: child and adult rates differ, with the adult rate higher; check the museum website for exact prices.
• The catch: sleepovers run on a schedule only, with just a few dates per year.

3. French Louie Caye, Belize

A private island off the coast of Belize is rented out in its entirety. French Louie Caye lies a few minutes by boat from the shore: coral sand, reefs, and rich wildlife all around.

You can stay in simple wooden cabins for a group of up to six, or in tents for a larger party. A guide, who also cooks, prepares freshly caught fish, and after that you're left alone with the silence and seclusion.

• Cost: a night for two includes meals and snorkeling, with gear included in the price; check rates on the owner's website.
• Who it's for: groups and couples who want an island with no neighbors.

4. A House for Essex, Essex

© amandabhslater · CC BY-SAPhoto: amandabhslater, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The house with the golden roof on the coast of North Essex was dreamed up by artist Grayson Perry and the FAT architecture studio. From the outside it looks like a mix of Russian palace chambers and a gingerbread house; inside, it recreates the world of a fictional woman named Julie. The house was built as part of the Living Architecture project, so a night here means taking part in an art project rather than a typical hotel stay.

• Who it's for: for those who care more about architecture and the story of a place.
• Cost: booking went through the Living Architecture project; check conditions and availability with the house operator.

5. Propeller island city lodge, Berlin

The Berlin art hotel by Lars Stroschen (pseudonym Propeller Island) consisted of installation rooms. Guests slept in a coffin, in an upside-down room, on a suspended bed, behind electric wallpaper and felt walls. Wall lighting split a double bed with a "guillotine," and each room worked as a separate exhibit.

• Important: the hotel no longer accepts guests (according to top10berlin, as of 09/2026).
• Why it's useful: it is a benchmark for turning an ordinary hotel into a livable museum.

6. Sydney Zoo: a night in a tent

© Paul Holloway from Birmingham, United Kingdom · CC BY-SAPhoto: Paul Holloway from Birmingham, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

People don't only stay overnight in hotels: zoos around the world run overnight programs. Sydney Zoo sets up a tent for guests with real beds and a wooden floor.

From the tent you can see the Sydney Opera House, the city, and the Harbour Bridge. The Roar & Snore program includes dinner and a one-and-a-half-hour night safari: you walk through the zoo without visitors and see animals in the dark.

• Cost: adult and child rates differ; check prices with the program organizer.
• Who it's for: for families and couples who want to combine an overnight stay with city views.

7. Elqui Domos, Chile

© Observatorio chakana · CC BY-SAPhoto: Observatorio chakana, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

In Chile, in the Elqui Valley, geodesic domes with opening roofs were installed. You lie in a sleeping bag or under a blanket and look straight up at the stars. Elqui Domos has seven such domes. If you don't want to fly to South America, the format is repeated in other countries, from Spain to South Wales.

• Cost: a night for two in a dome is in the mid-range segment; rates depend on the season.
• Who it's for: for romantic trips and astronomy lovers.

8. The boot, New Zealand

In the Tasman region on New Zealand's South Island stands a house shaped like a cowboy boot. It sleeps two and looks like an illustration from a children's fairy tale.

The Boot was built on the grounds of the Jester House cafe, so you can eat nearby without leaving the property.

• Cost: a night for two is in the mid-range segment for New Zealand; check the price for your date with the cafe.
• Who it's for: for couples driving around the South Island.

9. Iglu-Dorf, Zermatt

The village of real ice igloos in Zermatt is rebuilt from scratch every winter. The igloos sit high in the mountains, with views of the Matterhorn. Inside, the walls are decorated with snow paintings and flowers frozen into the ice.

• Important: it is cold to sleep there even in sheepskins, so guests are given special sleeping bags rated for severe subzero temperatures.
• Cost: there are romantic and family igloos; the price depends on the type. The season runs from Christmas to April.
• What to do: in the evening you can get into a jacuzzi with a view of the Matterhorn or take an igloo-building workshop.

10. The manta resort, Pemba

Off the coast of Pemba in Tanzania sits the underwater room of The Manta Resort. The wooden cabin is anchored in the ocean 250 m from shore (according to the official website, as of 09/2026).

The cabin has several levels: the living room is on top, you can dive from the roof, and the bedroom is underwater, looking out at the reef in all directions. Through the panoramic windows you can see tropical fish, including swallowtail sea perch and cornetfish.

• Important: the room was rebuilt, so some photos online show the previous structure.
• Cost: upper price segment; check rates with the hotel.
• Who it's for: for divers and couples who want the most unusual room possible.

Comparison: format, country, and price

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can I come with children?

Yes, but each property has its own rules. At London's Natural History Museum there are separate sleepovers for children (see the Dino Snores program). At Sydney Zoo the tents are family-friendly, while in the igloo in Zermatt children get cold faster than adults, so warm clothing is essential.

How far in advance should I book?

The more unusual the place, the fewer rooms it has. The underwater room, the igloo, and the shoe house are booked months ahead, and museum sleepovers sell out by calendar date. Open the booking calendar as soon as you have your travel dates.

How much is the most expensive night in this selection?

The underwater room at The Manta Resort costs the most: it's in the upper price segment, and the rate is confirmed only by the hotel itself. A night in the Elqui Domos dome or at the London museum is cheaper, where you pay for the program rather than the room itself.

What if a property has closed?

Check the status on the official website or the program page before you pay for the trip. Berlin's Propeller Island City Lodge no longer accepts guests, so it's worth treating as a museum of ideas rather than a place to book. Some projects don't close entirely, they change format.

Are there similar places closer to Europe?

Yes, and there are more of them than you might think. Domes with opening roofs can also be found in Europe, ice igloos stand in the Alps, and museum sleepovers are held in other European cities too. Start with London's Natural History Museum and check sleepover dates in advance.

See what these hotels look like in motion: the video brings together the most unusual places to spend the night from around the world.

In short: what's worth booking

If you want a vivid story from your trip, book one night rather than a whole hotel program. A night in a giant beagle, an ice igloo, or an underwater room works in a similar way: you pay for the experience, while basic comfort stays ordinary.

• If you have a car and a route through the US, book the Dog Bark Park Inn in Idaho.
• If you're going to London with children, check the sleepover dates at the Natural History Museum.
• If you want romance and a starry sky, choose the Elqui Domos dome in Chile.
• If budget isn't the main concern and you want maximum impact, book the underwater room at The Manta Resort.

Before paying, check prices and dates on the official websites: formats at these projects change quickly. Start with the booking calendar on the Dog Bark Park Inn website and work out from there which option suits you best.