Interested in spending a weekend at the Bloomfield Lodge in Queensland, Australia? No problem, just jump on a chartered plane, drive through the rugged Australian Outback and cruise down a river. Once you do that you will be greeted by an oasis of solitude and beauty. The hotel is located in the Daintree Rainforest and is directly next to the Great Barrier Reef. While staying at the Bloomfield Lodge, guests can hike the rainforests, swim under waterfalls, fish, sail, and even get a massage all without the crowdedness of your typical resort.The Andean Cottage in Peru is the same way with everything being about privacy. Guests at this resort are treated to a private beach and dock as well as a private resort on a private island on Lake Titicaca. One downside (or positive) is that there are absolutely no automobiles, no electricity and no televisions, so be prepared to take a couple of interesting books along. Oh, and you also get a personal 24-hour butler. Guests can make it to the island in a mere 4 1/2 hours by speedboat.
Both the Bloomfield and the Andean are but two of the world's most remote hotels and resorts. With how "connected" our world has become, what with all the smartphones and laptops and the like, the promise of a remote getaway is quite enticing. Typically vacations stop becoming vacations and begin to become working-on-the-go. To quote Elbert Hubbard, "No man needs a vacation so much as the man who just had one." This is why remote hotels are so appealing.
Sometimes, getting away doesn't necessarily mean going hundreds of miles away from the nearest person. The Kokopelli's Cave outside Farmington, N.M. has its own definition of "remoteness". Take a path and descend a ladder and you will find yourself in a hotel room in a cave, that's right, a legitimate cave 70 feet underground! This resort is definitely not for the claustrophobic.
Speaking of claustrophobia, if you have it, then you probably shouldn't take a trip to the Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. In order to reach your hotel room, you have to scuba dive 21 feet to what used to be an underwater laboratory. Sounds a little bit like Rapture if you ask me (gamers will understand).
If you want to get away to a place that is really cool, then head on over to the Hotel Arctic in Greenland. The Hotel Arctic is the most northern 4-star hotel in the world. Positioned in a fjord, the hotel offers guests the natural beauty of the country right outside your window with icebergs, snow and sunny vistas. If you want to, you can even spend the night in an igloo.
While some of these hotels can be a little expensive, getting a remote getaway won't always burn a hole in your pocket. The Garvault Hotel in the Scottish Highlands will only set you back $200 a night (based on double-occupancy). The grounds for the hotel, which are located between two giant private hunting reserves, overlook the beautiful Loch Rimsdale. There are literally no distractions whatsoever for miles. Guests will be able to enjoy hiking over the Highlands, fishing for trout and salmon, bird watching and then relaxing by a peat fire.
Each and every one of these incredible hotels is perfect if you actually want to escape for a while and have a real, traditional vacation away from EVERYTHING. Don't let the hussle and bustle of everyday life follow you on what is supposed to be a relaxing retreat.
