Resorts That Are Completely Out of Control

Steve Wright
Updated October 5, 2024 38.3K views 15 items
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2.1K votes
411 voters
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Vote up the most insane resorts on the planet.

Finding the craziest resorts on earth is not always easy. Anyone can go to a luxury hotel, or a high-end, all-inclusive resort, but most of those tend to offer the same sort of perks and experiences. There are times when a vacation calls for as much beer as you can drink and stuffing your face for days, but there are other times when you want something different. Like staying at one of the weirdest resorts in the world.

Maybe you want to stay in a room made completely out of ice. Maybe your thing is having wild animals poke their head in your window while you are eating dinner. Maybe you just want to relax in a giant champagne glass. Whatever your thing is, chances are, you'll be able to find a place that suits your adventurous needs on this list of crazy resorts. Vote up the most insane resorts you'd totally visit.


  • 1

    Karosta Prison

    Karosta Prison
    • Most Insane Feature: Spend the night like a KGB prisoner.

    This one is certainly not for the faint of heart. In Liepoja, Latvia, guests can take on the role of a prisoner of the former Soviet Bloc country at Karosta Prison. This "event" is intended for groups of 10 or so and begins at 9 p.m. and runs for 12 hours. During this time, the prisoners are be treated to prison food, sleeping on old prison bunks, and "taking abuse from prison guards." Visitors must (obviously) sign a release before partaking in this... fun.

    168 votes
    Is this insane?
  • 2

    Jules' Undersea Lodge

    Jules' Undersea Lodge
    • Most Insane Feature: Guests scuba dive 21 feet below the surface of the Largo Sound just to enter!

    The name here is much more than just a marketing gimmick. Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, FL, is exactly what it sounds like. This former research lab has been converted into a hotel and guests must scuba dive down into the Largo Sound to even reach the door. Despite its location, this place isn't lacking in amenities: you can even get a pizza delivered from the surface! You must be a certified scuba diver to get into the lodge and the company offers a discover scuba certification for those not qualified upon arrival.

    174 votes
    Is this insane?
  • 3

    Crane Hotel

    Crane Hotel
    • Most Insane Feature: The rooms rotates 360 degrees!

    How about staying the night in an old crane in Amsterdam?

    Guests at the Crane Hotel have a choice of three suites, one of which even has an outdoor hot tub. The crane, which was built in 1967, overlooks the docks and until 1996, it was used to unload timber brought in from Russian and Scandinavia. The motor allows the rooms to rotate 360 degrees. Oh, and as an added bonus, the rooms are high enough that they blow and sway in the wind...

    159 votes
    Is this insane?
  • 4

    Yunessun Spa Resort

    Yunessun Spa Resort
    • Most Insane Feature: Wine baths for everyone!

    You can find a standard spa resort anywhere in the world. Thankfully, there is nothing standard about the Yunessun Spa Resort in Japan's Hakone prefecture. The red wine bath is the headliner here, but resort-goers can also bathe in themed pools filled with coffee, sake, green tea, and even Ramen broth. Not content with just making these vats of goodness, the spa owners have even decorated the areas around the pools with giant wine bottles, giant (fake) hanging noodles, and more. 

    159 votes
    Is this insane?
  • 5

    Icehotel

    Icehotel
    • Most Insane Feature: Everything is made of ice!

    The original Icehotel has been operating for over 20 years in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. Every November, snow, ice, and near-frozen river water are combined to make unique rooms and create a hotel experience unmatched anywhere else in the world. Guests spend a night on ice in a frigid, 23-degree Fahrenheit room. Arctic explorer-worthy sleeping bags, thermals, and even reindeer pelts are provided for warmth. Just hope that nature doesn't call in the middle of the night...

    • Located In: Sweden
    188 votes
    Is this insane?
  • 6

    Ariau Amazon Towers

    Ariau Amazon Towers
    • Most Insane Feature: Treetop swimming pools!

    The Ariau Amazon Towers Resort is located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Brazil. This is an eco-tourism resort where guests can live among the monkeys, birds, and other native wildlife populations in the Amazon. The resort features over five miles of walkways through the treetops, along with various guided trips and activities in the local area.

    157 votes
    Is this insane?