Grid Guide: Sacramento

10 Experiential Hotels You Just Have to Experience

In a world where your average Joe or Jane can hire concierge services at the push of an uberX or Seamless button, it’s no wonder experiential hotels have become trendy hotspots for travelers across the globe. Simply put, we’re needier than we once were. We want more than crisp sheets and room service. We want to sleep beneath Sweden’s starry skies colored by the Northern Lights or under the sea like marine mavens off the coast of Pemba Island. So here’s a visual journey through some of the coolest experientials out there…

Treehotel, Sweden: This is exactly as it sounds: a hotel amid a lot of trees. Multiple mini-hotels, actually. At Treehotel, guests can choose between The Cabin, The Mirrorcube, The UFO, The Blue Cone or The Bird’s Nest (legitimately a massive bird’s nest with a bed inside). All offer green panoramic views and simple aesthetics, and they’re all positioned just off the ground and ensconced in forestry.

Aspaki Luxury Hotel, Greece: Live life on the edge in a lux suite off the side of volcanic cliffs in the majestic embrace of the caldera. The Aspaki Luxury Hotel sits in the heart of the preserved village of Oia, renowned for the famous blue domes and white cave houses of Santorini. Private, sun-swathed balconies and pools that reflect the azure shade of the Aegean Sea make this a hotel a retreat of its own.

Conrad, Maldives: Voted one of “The Maldives’ Leading Water Villas” at the 2012 World Travel Awards, the Conrad’s King Water Villa boasts a private sun deck replete with a jetted plunge pool and steps that delve into the enticing lagoon below. The glass desk, set over glass panels, give guests the impression that they’re floating over the blue water.

Fairy Chimney Hotel, Turkey: Hewn out of tufa rocks of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, the Fairy Chimney Hotel is a cultural, historical destination in itself. From its perch in the upper southwest end of the Göreme village, guests can enjoy walks through the Cappadocia valleys and lunar landscapes, exploring tufa caves, old Byzantine churches and, of course, fairy chimneys. The hotel itself has been restored to preserve tradition and local style coupled with modern function, such as under-floor radiation heating and luxurious hamam-style bathrooms.

Kwanini Manta Resort, Pemba Island: Imagine floating on a private cruise ship that boasts serenity and closeness with nature. You’re sunbathing or stargazing on the top deck, and now imagine sleeping four meters beneath the water’s surface in your own real-life aquatic escape. The Manta Resort offers the one and only floating hotel, just off the coast of Pemba Island, ideal for anyone seeking a truly tropical marine environment.

ICEHOTEL, Sweden: The ICEHOTEL is more than just an ice hotel. It’s an art exhibit made of natural ice and snow from one of Europe’s last wild rivers, just north of the Arctic Circle. The hotel is made entirely of ice, designed by artists from all creative disciplines across the globe. And, just like any exhibition, the work varies each year. How? The hotel melts and returns to Mother Nature every spring. Until then, guests can sleep in standard rooms with ice décor and a bedframe made of ice, or lavish large suites with lounges, sleeping areas and three-dimensional sculptures carved by hand. One room even projects Northern Lights animations onto the chiseled ceiling.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland: This resort has something for all comfort levels. Choose from glass igloos, where you can admire the Northern Lights beneath a starry sky from mid-August through April (the Northern Lights season), snow igloos that dip to -3 to -6 degrees centigrade, a kelo-glass igloo that combines the comforting warmth of a log cabin and the sensational views of the glass igloos, or your choice of a multitude of kelo log cabins that fit couples or big groups and are replete with saunas and fireplaces.

The Glass Floor Udang House, Indonesia: The Udang House is unique to the Bambu Indah, originally situated close to the Ayung River and above a shrimp pond that was used for food production. While the pond is no longer used for food, the house has been opened for guests to enjoy, and the tempered glass floor panels still offer an underwater panorama over the streaming water. Authentic shrimp baskets have since been converted to lamps; the shower is partially indoor and outdoor and the glass-tiled roof lets in plenty of Balinese sunlight.

Tree Houses Hotel, Costa Rica: Relax on a private deck set in the midst of the lush Costa Rican jungle, just a short drive from tourist attractions like La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. You’ll find shelter in one of the seven treehouses on 10 acres of jungle, surrounded by a 70-acre unspoiled wildlife refuge. The only tenants you’ll have to share your space with are sloths, toucans and some armadillos. They’re cool.

Madonna Inn, United States: This kitschy, Californian resort boasts 110 whimsically adorned guest rooms. Enchanting décor make for a fairy-tale-cottage style vibe from the Victorian Gardens room to the Oriental Fantasy option. Or, go back to your roots for the weekend in the Cavemen suite—a rustic den of solid rock replete with animal prints, a rock pond and stone-age clubs to add to the primitive surroundings. A waterfall spills from overhead in the stone shower and flows into a stone sink basin in the cavern-style bathroom. But you won’t live like just any caveman; you’ll have a king bed and room for two primates to bring along.

Chill Out: The World’s 6 Coolest Ice Hotels, Restaurants and Bars

If you’re anywhere near Made Man’s headquarters in NYC—or lots of other places across the country, honestly—you’re feeling the brrr.

Your rosy-cheeked friends and coworkers are complaining about even colder days ahead. And all the negative energy is really killing your vibe. So why not flip the script and embrace the winter wonderland?

Sort of like the people behind these super cool (literally) ice palaces around the world…

Ice Hotel, Sweden: The Ice Hotel’s 16 art suites are three-dimensional installations of original art. Intricately and individually designed by artists from around the world, the one-of-a-kind rooms sleep two to three people. Lie back on an ice block bed—relax, there are cozy animal fur blankets—and relish the ample sculpting work unique to your suite.

Hotel Kakslauutanen Igloo Village, Finland: Behold snow igloos sitting beneath the Northern Lights amid quiet forestry. Even if the mercury dips to minus 40, the temperature inside remains consistent at about 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and of course it’ll be even warmer in your complementary down sleeping bag.

Ice Restaurant, Romania: Located at the Hotel of Ice, this culinary, sensory experience deserves a spot on your bucket list. You’ll be seated at a table made of ice and served your meals on ice plates. Choose from their special menu, featuring delicacies such as smoked salmon and pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon.

Pommery Ice Restaurant, Canada: Dress in layers for dinner at Pommery. The restaurant seats up to 60 people who savor the refined cooking of chef Matthieu Saunier. Guests can choose three-course meals for dinner, priced at $69 a person (or $20 per child), with menu options ranging from cauliflower cream soup with stewed wild boar and fried artichoke ravioli to Maplewood smokehouse sea trout tartar and Chioggia beets.

The Icebar at Kirkenes SnowHotel, Norway: The Icebar, constructed by Chinese ice specialists—because that’s a thing—uses about 15 tons of chainsaw-cut ice for the hotel bar and rooms, which rise into existence every year in early December. Then you go in and enjoy an ice-cold vodka in an ice-cold ice glass.

Ice Bar, London: The Ice Bar franchise spans several cities, but the London edition is one of the most fun thanks to the lively young crowd it draws. All the walls and tables, the bar and the glasses are made from crystal clear Torne River ice, harvested from Jukkasjärvi in Northern Sweden. Drink until you’re Comfortably Numb—the name of one Beefeater gin, tonic water, lemon juice and cucumber syrup cocktail on the menu.

Grid Guide: San Francisco

6 Things To Do in Hawaii That Aren’t the Beach

Oahu is rightly famous for its postcard shoreline, but devote too much time to sun worshipping and you’ll miss the forest for the palm trees.

Venture beyond the resortland of Waikiki and you’ll find a burgeoning creative scene in downtown Honolulu, plus a sophisticated culinary identity that has nothing to do with piña coladas.

On the island synonymous with big-wave surfing, here’s what to see, eat and do away from the sand.

Drink: Bevy
This progressive watering hole is part of Honolulu’s growing craft cocktail scene, and combines masterful mixology with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Local produce shines in original concoctions and reimagined classics, like a molecular Mai Tai with a candied ginger foam, or a G&T elevated with elderflower, tarragon and citrus. The commitment to sustainability even extends to the decor, from the reclaimed-wood bar paneling to a banquette upholstered in old jeans (locals know to dig around in the pockets). Don’t miss the murals inside and out—some of them were part of the annual Pow Wow street art festival that takes place in the trendy-industrial Kaka’ako district.

Shop: Fishcake
This forward-thinking design store is the place to discover local and indie brands mixed in with established mainland and overseas names. Browse home furnishings, accessories and art from MAU-haus and Paiea Millwrights as you sip a coffee from the in-store cafe. Among the vintage typewriters and Jonathan Adler sofas you’ll find plenty of suitcase-friendly items, like P55dle tote bags ($20) and organic Coyuchi linens ($40–$100). The space also hosts regular art shows, fashion shows and pop-up markets (speaking of which, check out the monthly Honolulu Night Market just a few blocks away).

Ink: Old Ironside Tattoo
Serious ink collectors and off-duty servicemen make pilgrimages to this tiny tattoo parlor in Chinatown, opened by Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins in the early 1960s. The granddaddy of modern American tattooing—and inspiration for Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum—turned out game-changing work here until his death in 1973. Although the shop has changed hands numerous times since then, two things have endured: the porthole in the front door and Jerry’s influence on Western tattoo aesthetics. Check out the wealth of Norman Collins paraphernalia on the walls, such as old business cards, black and white photos, and original flash (tattoo designs on paper) of his signature pin-ups, swallows and nautical motifs.

Eat: KCC Saturday
In recent years Hawaii’s locavore movement has really come into its own, thanks in part to farmers’ markets like this one. The Saturday morning market at Kapiolani Community College is one of the oldest and largest on Oahu, drawing between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors each week. Bring a shopping bag and an appetite to peruse 70 vendors hawking uniquely Hawaiian products like sea asparagus, grilled abalone, island-grown coffee and fresh pineapple juice. Be sure to stop by Vietnamese street food stall the Pig and the Lady for a bowl of breakfast pho. Like several other vendors who got their start at KCC Saturday, The Pig and the Lady has expanded to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in town, with interiors by Fishcake’s in-house design team.

Ride: Kualoa Ranch
A 45-minute drive from Honolulu brings you to this working cattle ranch that boasts some of the most gobsmackingly beautiful scenery on the island. Dozens of films—including Karate Kid 2, Jurassic Park and Hunger Games: Catching Fire—have been shot on the 4,000 acre property, which is best explored via horseback, zipline or ATV. You won’t do any wheelies on the two-hour guided ATV tour ($119), but you’ll see a World War II bunker, several film sites, and a series of vistas that will turn your social media followers green with envy, especially if they watched Lost. Sunglasses are a must since eye protection is mandatory, plus you’ll feel even cooler on your quad.

Swim: Wild Side Specialty Tours
Out past that famous break there are whales to spot and reefs to explore—and plenty of package boat trips willing to take you out there. But this is one activity where you truly get what you pay for, which is why we suggest splurging on a Wild Side charter tour ($175–$195). In addition to whale-watching, each 3-4 hour trip includes snorkeling stops and a chance to swim with wild dolphins; trust us when we say that’s an encounter you won’t forget in a hurry. Tours are capped at 10 people for an intimate experience that’s tailored to the group, just let the captain know when you’re done hanging with turtles and want to go chase some humpbacks.

Photo credits
Zipline: Kualoa Ranch
Bevy: Bevy
Fishcake: Tracy Chun
Old Ironside Tattoo: Tracy Chun
KCC Saturday: Sarah Theeboom
Kualoa Ranch: Kualoa Ranch
Wild Side Specialty Tours: Wild Side Specialty Tours