AP Photo Accommodations without doors or windows, surrounded by nature, are a trend that is gaining popularity.
(AP) — According to Booking.com’s 2024 travel forecast, 58% of travelers prioritize an uninterrupted night’s sleep during their vacation. Would they be comfortable sleeping in a room with no doors or windows, in the middle of nature?
All over the world, accommodations are redefining the notion of sleeping in the great outdoors. You may have heard of yurts, glamping, or eco-lodges. However, these unconventional places feature an open concept that completely blurs the line between the room and nature and transforms the concept of a room with a view.
Sleeping above the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Cruise Whitsunday's Reefsleep under the stars experience complements the 24-hour underwater views from the ReefSuites.
Moored at Hardy Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef, visitors can observe marine life through viewing windows or hone their skills by snorkelling, swimming, sunbathing or whale watching. In July and September, visitors may spot a humpback whale as it migrates along the reef to breed.
Before sunset, passengers head to the upper deck of the pontoon to sleep in meticulously designed Reefbeds. These unique double beds resemble tents, as their top canvas unzips on both sides to allow exposure to the elements.
Travel blogger Giselle Whiteaker recalls her peaceful experience. “The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water against the pontoon and, every now and then, the splash of a fish breaking the surface.”
Being one with nature in Indonesia
Victoria Henz, a travel blogger at Guide Your Travel, visited Le Pirate Island in Komodo National Park in Indonesia, where she stayed in open-air beach huts. She stresses that travelers should expect warm weather and suggests those who need air conditioning use traditional accommodations. “It was really hot” she admits, “But knowing what to expect made the situation more manageable.”
Henz remembers how easily she slept in the open air. “As it’s a private island, I felt very safe. I was surprised by the lack of bugs and other critters, but that’s probably because you sleep so close to the beach. We didn’t even encounter many mosquitoes, which was great. The island itself exceeded all expectations, it was incredible.”
According to Tripadvisor, Bali’s Bambu Indah boutique hotel ranks No. 2 out of 79 resorts in Ubud. More adventurous guests can opt for open-air rooms, while others opt for conventional houses with screened doors and windows. The hotel’s unique offering, the Moon House, is a partially wallless, crescent-shaped space that overlooks a small pond, retreat gardens, and the rainforest.
Despite its promises, a closer look at reviews reveals that this type of accommodation may not be suitable for all guests. Travel blogger Meeka Fayetima of The Wandering Afro describes her stay in a similar outdoor cabin in Indonesia. “The hardest part of my stay was using the bathroom alone at night.” she remembers. “The outdoor shower attracted quite a few visitors, but the view was incredible. Waking up to the sunrise was an incredible experience, and the view was out of this world. I would definitely do it again.”
The monkey trade in Sri Lanka
Kate Veling visited two outdoor properties in Sri Lanka: Back of Beyond in Pidurangula and Jasper House at Hiriketiya Beach.
Jasper House offers rooms on the second floor with one side open to the ocean, while each Back of Beyond room features operable folding screens that expose the entire room. “The only downside was that you could inadvertently flash people walking up the hill nearby,” she adds.
Back of Beyond offers guests open-air treehouse accommodations with views of the jungle canopy. However, Veling says the resort provided a monkey-proof trunk to store her belongings, and staff advised her to lock her suitcases to deter curious, nosy simians. While her stay required extra preparation, she doesn’t recall any unpleasant encounters with wildlife.
Under the Mexican sky with ocean views
Sustainable boutique hotel Playa Viva is located on a private reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast. This luxurious space at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains offers a dozen unique cabin styles, all windowless to offer stunning ocean views.
This particular outdoor concept comes with challenges. 25% of all reported scorpion sting envenomations worldwide occur in Mexico, and guests are provided with scorpion-detecting UV lights upon check-in.
Not all outdoor spaces require the same caution. “Although scorpions are found in Baja, none have ever been found in one of our treehouses. I'm sure they would have a hard time climbing the steel treehouse stairs,” says Cameron Watt, owner of Acre Resort.
The resort offers treehouses with thatched walls that let in the sounds of birds and Baja breezes. “The decision to opt for outdoor accommodation was an easy one” continues Watt. “A true glamping experience requires sensations that you don’t find in a traditional hotel room.”
Vicki Rutwind of Fashion Travel Repeat visited the resort and described her experience as magical, comfortable and luxurious. “I also really liked the outdoor shower in our treehouse, which gives you complete privacy, but it’s really special to shower under the starry sky,” she adds.
Tropical breezes and starry nights in the Caribbean
Samana Eco Lodge is located near El Limón on the Samaná Peninsula. Guests can stay in rustic open-air jungle bungalows on two floors: a swing bed on the ground floor and a king-size bed upstairs with views of a rock pool and the rainforest.
Jessica Serna shares her experience at Saman Eco Lodge. “I honestly expected more bugs! As someone who glamps quite often, I didn’t notice any difference in bugs between an outdoor location and a glamping location with windows and doors. Yes, there were spiders and cockroaches, but I expected that.”
Jade Mountain in Saint Lucia is a unique Caribbean resort built into the side of a cliff, offering direct, unobstructed views of the famous Piti and Gros Piton Mountains from every room. “missing” wall.
“Guests often describe their experience as magical, feeling as if they are suspended in space with the Pitons as a spectacular backdrop, enveloped by the natural elements of earth, air and water,” says Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of Jade Mountain Resort.
Suspended in the canopy of the wallless rainforest in Costa Rica
While 65% of Booking.com respondents prefer green spaces and plants during their stay, most may not need unlimited access to the rainforest. Green-fingered guests at Nature Observatorio will see Monsteras, the most popular houseplant in the United States, almost everywhere in Costa Rica. Guests at Nature Observatorio’s stunning outdoor treehouse, suspended in the Costa Rican jungle, will have no shortage of sights and sounds.
Visitors to the suspended wooded structure can view the rainforest and wildlife 360 degrees from the canopy level after being hoisted up by a pulley system.
Animals near outdoor accommodation in Africa
The Chief Marketing Officer Council survey reveals that 74% of Western travelers have no intention of visiting an African destination, with half avoiding it due to safety concerns. Resorts and nearby tourist destinations are working to allay consumer concerns and positively influence public perception by embracing exclusivity and leveraging unique offerings not available anywhere else.
Go2Africa, an award-winning, B Corp-certified safari operator, has listed 26 star-rated lodges in nine African countries, from the dense rainforest of Botswana to the game reserves of South Africa.
Travel + Leisure A-List Managing Director and Advisor Maija De Rijk-Uys shares, “There’s nothing like snuggling up in a cozy bed in the heart of”“There is pristine wilderness. With just a mosquito net between you and the African Milky Way, the nighttime cries of lions and hyenas are even more moving when heard from a starry bed.”
Most Star Bed hotels are minimalist, like the one in Tsuwalu Kalahari, which offers two camping beds on a wooden platform. Other resorts, like Segera Retreat’s Nay Palad Bird Nest on Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau, attract guests with unique architectural designs.
International travellers looking for unique accommodations can now turn to open-air stays, where unobstructed views and direct contact with nature replace traditional barriers such as doors and windows. Whether it’s sleeping above the Great Barrier Reef or resting in a beach hut on a private Indonesian island, these experiences are redefining the concept of a room with a view.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
