5 great hotels off the beaten track

Hotel gems located off the beaten track

I guess there is a logic to that hotels are where most people tend to spend time or visit. It feels like a safer bet when it comes to getting a good return on your investment. But then there are some people that think the complete opposite way. More in lines with that famous quote from classic film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner: ”Build it and they will come”. With these hotels, they become the actual attraction and the reason why people travel there (or at least one of the main reasons).

These kind of destination hotels are my favorite category of hotels. And my hotel heart skips an extra beat if the way to get there is a little bit of an extra challenge, like a long drive, a boat trip or even when a strenuous hike is the only way to get there. And one of the best consequences of this is that you get less hoards.

Below I have listed 5 of my favorite hotels located off the beaten track that are well worth traveling that extra mile for:

Aire de Bardenas / Tudela, Spain

Located in a remote northeastern corner of Spain, in the Bardenas Reales desert. Aire de Bardenas is an experience far away from noise and light pollution where you can spend all night star-gazing and all day exploring, or lounging by the pool, if that is more your vibe. This hotel is far away from everything but well worth the detour.

Read more about the my stay at Aire de Bardenas here.

Furillen / Gotland, Sweden

Gotland is the largest island in Sweden. On the northeastern corner of the island there is an old limestone quarry that has been turned into a hotel. The majority of the old buildings have been kept as-as, so it is something of a surreal feeling staying among old cranes and towers. Rugged, rustic and exotic and a feeling of being off the beaten track.

Read more about my stay at Furillen here.

Tierseralpl / Alpe de Siusi, Italy

This is the hotel that by far is most off the beaten track out of all the others in my catalogue. To get here yo'u’ll have to hike. Well, first you take a cable car from the valley up to the Alpe de Siusi high alpine plateau before you start the actual hike over alpine meadows and the Forcella Denti di Terrarossa ridge, and then you will be rewarded with the view above. A truly unique hotel, surrounded by the wonderfully dramatic Dolomites.

Read more about my stay at Tieseralpl here.

Inver / Barnacarry, Scotland

Scotland is not a huge country, but somehow it feels huge when traveling around. Crisscrossing a network of small country roads taking you over hills and mountains, alongside lochs and waterfalls will take time. To take the journey to Inver is well worth the time investment,, not only due to the scenic landscape you’ll be exposed to along the way, but the reward you’ll get when arriving at your destination. The hotel is sitting on the banks of Loch Fyne in the remote Western Scotland. A gourmet hotel with great service and stunning views.

El Cosmico / Marfa, Texas, USA

This might be the definition of an off-the-beaten-track hotel, El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. You drive for hours through a barren desert landscape before arriving at Marfa, a small town that has become something of an art Mecca. El Cosmico is a vintage campsite with classic Airstream caravans and tipis. A kind of outdoor hipster haven which is fully my vibe.

Read more about my stay at El Cosmico here.