Summer is the best time for us to cash in those vacation days and go somewhere really special. But it's important we take these getaways seriously, and avoid all the typical travel destinations. So check out some of the most original destinations in the world, and grab a Stoli cocktail when you're ready to start browsing for flights and hotels.
The ultimate in luxury, Marina Bay in Singapore is unique if only because of its crazy amenities, which include: a mall, a museum, two large theaters, seven restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, an ice skating rink, and the world's largest atrium casino. No only can you play each of the 1,600 slot machines at this $8 billion dollar casino, but you can also hang out in the infinity pool (as seen above.)
Be the "Girl From Ipanema" in Bahia, Brazil. Seriously, this locale is where songwriter Vinicius de Moraes lived when he wrote the famously tropical tune. Close to the equator and the South Atlantic Ocean, beaches stretch along the coast and make it the perfect spot to enjoy coconut cocktails along the water.
A giraffe peeking into your bedroom? That's just another day at Giraffe Manor. Built in the 1930s, this hotel has a resident herd (you read that correctly) of Rothschild Giraffes. Apparently, they "vy for your attention at the breakfast table," so definitely hold on to your biscuits.
Only 30 minutes from Male Airport in The Maldives, The Boat Hotel (or, Boatel) is one of the coolest resorts in the world. The houseboat villas a connection with planked walkways and float right atop the crystal waters of the Indian Ocean.
This stunning flower arch is called "The Wisteria Tunnel" and you can visit it in the Kawachi Fuji Garden in Japan--just a 4-hour bus ride from Tokyo.
Also called "The New Mosque," Yeni Camii is not quite new--it was completed in the 1600s. It's lives on the Golden Horn at the southern edge of the Galata Bridge in Instanbul and takes over the skyline.
It might not seem appealing to travel to the world's largest salt flat in the crest of the Andes, but Salar de Uyuni is absolutely stunning. It becomes the world's largest mirror when covered in water. It also is home to a special species of pink flamingos that gather once a year in November. Not enough? Hotels nearby are almost all built out of salt blocks, including the furniture.
Fjords are formed when giant glaciers shape the lanscape, creating a deep and narrow lakedrain that opens on three sides. The glaciated valley which forms the basis of a fjord exists because of the slow movements of glaciers during the ice age. It also looks amazing. The fjords of Wester Norway are famous for being accessible--allowing activities such as hiking, glacier walking, fishing and cycling.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Bahia, Brazil
Source: dannemann.com
Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya
Source: travelettes.net
Boat Hotel, The Maldives
Source: maldivestrip.org
Kawachi Fuji Garden, Japan
Yeni Camii, Istanbul
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Source: bungolow.files.wordpress.com
Fjord, Norway
Source: citypictures.org
