If cookie-cutter rooms and fighting crowds are not your thing, you might be enthusiastic about the concept of scattered hotels.
From traditional digs to contemporary hotels and even restoring heritage buildings, hoteliers are always looking for a ‘point of difference’ to entice travellers to book, stay and linger beyond just a one-night stopover.
The concept of ‘Scattered Hotels’ is not something new but has been accepted and adopted by many hoteliers around the world. Why stay in a regular ho-hum hotel when you can have your own private suite floating on the Indian Ocean with a coconut cocktail in hand as the sun sets behind you? Well before the pandemic, hoteliers were reimagining hotel stays with more diversity in bringing experiences beyond the cookie-cutter room. Even large chains Marriott and Accor have boutique experiences in their repertoire now – hotels are definitely more than just a place for weary heads.
Some say the concept of offering such ‘scattered hotel rooms’ is linked to something developed in Italy called Albergo Diffuso, the aim to revive old communities and turn them into a holistic experience with hotel, shops and dining in soon-to-be-dilapidated villages. Innovative hoteliers have honed in on this idea and reimagined the ‘Albergo Diffuso’ idea in the Maldives, Sweden, Georgia and even in the United States, dispersing rooms around a town, lesser-known village and even over an entire country. Here are some to check into if fighting crowds is not your thing.
There are 23-cabins dispersed at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, offering a high-end camping experience for travellers who do not like to ‘rough it’ when out exploring Mother Nature. Nestled in the Teton wilderness, the resort is a favourite for travellers who want to ‘get back to nature’ in a sustainable way with all cabins LEED-certified. Each cabin is equipped with a fireplace and private furnished deck as well as a kitchen, but if you don’t want to cook, there are plenty of walkable restaurants nearby like Calico Bar and Restaurant for modern-American-Italian cuisine.
A total of 25 independent and stand-alone rooms are available at Vivood, offering a sense of tranquillity and relaxation, allowing visitors to connect with nature when in Alicante. Each suite boasts at least 1,500 square metres of land at this adult-only hotel with sweeping views of the Guadalest Valley; you can either go on self-guided hikes or stay in your private 3-metre high elevated suite and just take in the scenery that surrounds you. The private jacuzzi on your balcony is a nice spot to rest and rejuvenate tired muscles and if you feel like splurging – upgrade to the private villa which comes with an infinity pool.
Exploring the outskirts of Chile is best spent in your own private hotel suite as a guest of AKA Patagonia. The focus of the hotel is to allow guests to immerse themselves in the true beauty of Chile and connect with Mother Nature without leaving their room. Sitting in Puerto Natales at the top of the valley, guests have panoramic views of volcanoes, mountains and glaciers from the comfort of their own suite. All rooms are fully equipped and furnished with free WiFi, but why spend your time on your phone when you can look outside your window for entertainment?
Glamping took on a whole new meaning after the pandemic, with hoteliers opening boutique dwellings in the middle of nowhere. One of these exceptional glamping experiences is at Duende Treehouses in Georgia with its six deluxe treehouse cottages scattered in Khiza. Each cottage has its own private area with a fire pit, cold plunge pool by day and hot-tub by night for people who like to sip cocktails in private. The region is surrounded by a sub-tropical forest so you can expect to get up-close-and-personal with wildlife on your own private balcony if you choose not to leave your hotel room.
When summer hits, the French pack their bags and head straight to the south of the country. But for those who don’t like to brave crowds and rub elbows with celebrities, staying in an isolated cabin is much easier thanks to Coucoo Cabanes. Located in different regions of France and not just in one town or village, the architects have designed different cabins that are set in the forests of France’s parks.
If staying in Paris, take a short weekend trip to Coucoo La Reserve where 16 cabins await your arrival with 35-hectares of ponds and forests to explore, and if you are in the south of France, Coucoo Grands Cepages is the perfect place to relax in with 20 floating cabins to sleep in. No camping here – all cabins have water, electricity and private bathrooms.
If you find yourself wanting to see the Northern Lights and don’t want to camp – you really must stay in the contemporarily designed Arctic Baths. Located in Lapland in Sweden, hotel rooms are scattered around Harads, 50km from the Arctic Circle, where elk roam freely and are also served for dinner for true Sami cuisine and experiences. The cabins are either on land, floating in water, or suspended on stilts, and are all fully equipped. Meditate, relax, or just watch the night sky with little light pollution in your own private suite.
Surrounded by turquoise waters, the complete collection of JOALI hotels includes 73 private villas tucked away in Raa Atoll where travellers get the best of beach life without leaving their private sanctuary. Jump directly off your balcony and into the water anytime of the day or enjoy the collection of art in the rooms – you won’t miss a beat when staying as a guest of JOALI. Like most Maldivian resorts, private villas offer a resort-like feeling with the complete package, and at JOALI it’s no different; multiple dining options are available including Japanese restaurant Saoke, and great food and cocktails are served at Bellinis. Wellness is found in the spa but don’t forget you have your own private jacuzzi so why fight other guests?
