Some travelers may like to visit sandy beaches and resorts with warm water. But there are others who would rather be in the water — really in the water — with hotels that are actually under the sea.
Spending your hard-earned money on trip is inevitable so make it worth is with a hotel stay that you'll never forget. If you’re up (or down) for a little adventure, check out these underwater hotels that might give you a different perspective on what a water retreat can be.
The Muraka, Maldives
The Muraka at the Conrad resort in the Maldives takes its name from the word “coral” in the native language spoken there, and there’s plenty of coral to see when you’re sleeping underwater.
Suites consist of two bedrooms and an outdoor pool and deck. But below that is a bedroom completely submerged with a curved dome to watch the fishes swim outside your space. The resort also features several different dining options, including an intimate restaurant that’s also submerged.
The Manta Resort, Tanzania
Off the coast of Tanzania on the eastern coast of Africa is The Manta Resort and its floating ocean room. Your hotel room, which is anchored to the ocean floor, floats above a reef packed with fish. And if you don’t want to stay down below, the space also includes a sitting area and a bed on top for you to lay on and get some extra sun.
Pro tip: If you’d rather not travel abroad, you should know there are some very unique hotels in the U.S. — from stays in a cave to a castle.
Atlantis, Dubai
Atlantis is built on a man-made island on the coast of Dubai, and features a suite with spectacular views of the resort’s aquarium lagoon. Guests can enjoy views of the aquatic life from their bedroom and bathroom, or look out above the surface of the water from the luxurious suite’s living room. The suite also comes with a private butler and in-room dining.
The resort includes a water park and you can go scuba diving.
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World on Sentosa Island in Singapore includes a large aquarium with more than 100,000 marine animals. But for those who want a little something extra, you can stay in one of 11 suites that look deep into the aquarium itself.
On the upper level, visitors can enjoy a sitting area with a jacuzzi, while the lower level features a bedroom that looks out into the aquarium’s tank filled with fish and other marine wildlife. The aquarium also includes a shipwreck habitat, a gallery of jellyfish, and a restaurant with views of the aquarium.
Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, China
This luxury hotel just outside of Shanghai, China, is built into the side of an abandoned quarry, so you are almost underground and underwater. The Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland includes suites below the water that look out into the hotel’s lagoon. Rooms feature bedrooms and a sitting area as well as butler service.
If you would prefer something above the water, this hotel also has rooms with views of the quarry, including a waterfall and the lagoon below. You can still get your water fix at the resort’s underwater restaurant, which serves specialty seafood among its menu items.
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Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida
You don’t have to go international to find an underwater hotel. If you would prefer something in the U.S., check out Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. The lodge started off as an underwater research laboratory before being converted into an underwater space to spend the night.
Unlike other underwater hotels, this may be a little harder to get to as visitors have to scuba dive down to the lodge instead of a typical hotel check-in.
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives mix underwater services with overwater rooms in their incredible offerings. Visitors can get a massage at the resort’s spa under the water before heading back up to the surface to enjoy the rest of their stay.
The resort also includes several types of bungalows with private pools. And when you’re ready to eat, head to a number of culinary options, including a romantic candlelit dinner on a table dug into the sandy beach.
Pro tip: More overwater bungalow hotels are located in Bora Bora, Malaysia, and French Polynesia.
Lovers Deep Submarine, St. Lucia
Instead of staying in a stationary hotel, why not try a submarine? The Lovers Deep Submarine is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Expect to shell out more than $100,000 for one night aboard the luxury vessel, which may be way above the limit for your typical hotel credit cards. But for that cost, you get your own chef and butler. The underwater views from the submarine’s windows provide a unique experience.
Utter Inn, Sweden
Unlike the more luxurious accommodations of some of these resorts, the Utter Inn is a quaint little space on a lake in Sweden. Designed by artist Mikael Genberg, the Utter Inn features a small, red hut on top of a floating dock with an underwater bedroom featuring two twin beds and windows that look out on the lake’s wildlife.
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
The iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai offers luxury suites and unique accommodations, including a helipad at the top of its tower for those who want to really arrive in style. The hotel also has Ristorante L' Olivo, an underwater Italian restaurant with a unique view of an aquarium.
When you’re ready to head back to your room, this luxurious resort offers guests a choice of 17 different types of pillows. You can also order up flowers from the in-house florists or enjoy the luxury spa, which overlooks the city.
Bottom line
Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, why not try a more unique experience? Sleeping with the fishes could be a fun thing to try on your next vacation, and you have plenty of options to choose from like a suite for a family vacation or a more intimate room for a romantic getaway. And if you book your trip using one of the best travel credit cards, you could earn rewards toward future travel too.
And remember to think outside of the box — or underwater bubble in this case. If you prefer to sleep above the water, you can still have fun under the sea depending on how much of your hard-earned money you want to spend on experiences below sea level.
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