Flamingo Yoga and Tattoo Parlors? 15 Hotels With Quirky Amenities

Solo on vacation? Kimpton Hotel’s former goldfish program once offered a solution where lonely guests could request an in-room guppy or goldfish to keep them company as a hotel amenity.

While this program has since been discontinued to the relief of animal rights activists (don’t worry — more than 200 fish were sent to appropriate adoptive homes after the program ended), the idea of wacky hotel amenities got me thinking: What do people actually want in a hotel room as an amenity or activity?

Do Nespresso machines, rainfall showers, and flat-screen TVs even matter anymore? Are yoga classes and massages really the top amenities out there? Are there better, more interesting, or more enticing amenities hotels can offer?

To discover more creative amenities and activities beyond just a bathrobe, slippers, or even a pillow menu, I searched high and low for some of the weirdest, oddest, funkiest hotel amenities and activities on the planet. From turndown service with pie to giant metal slides to complimentary use of a BMW, some of these standout perks are included luxuries or optional add-ons — but all are undeniably unique.

1. Get a Tattoo at W Barcelona

Move over, spa treatments. Getting inked may be a new hotel “beauty” trend, at least at the W Barcelona, a 26-floor property perched on the sands of the Mediterranean. The hotel, which is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, has the ELIJAH x W Barcelona, a day spa and salon that offers services like salon, barber, and tattoos (these don’t come included in your room rate, though).

2. Whoosh Down the Adult Slide at Barcelo Malaga

Many all-inclusive hotels offer on-site water parks, but few offer a slide for adults in their lobby. The metal slide at the Barcelo Malaga is a strange yet wildly goofy hotel amenity that kids and adults can both enjoy. Whoosh down the metal slide as many times as you want, and you could probably manage to go down a few times even if you aren’t a hotel guest (but you didn’t hear it from me).

3. Paint Wild Oryx at Al-Maha Resort

Settle in to draw or paint a picture of fleeting oryx with the Arabian desert as a backdrop or your version of an Arabian night at Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa. Each suite comes with amenities like a private plunge pool, binoculars, an easel, and drawing and painting materials so you can capture your desert-inspired memories creatively. And if that’s not enough, this may be one of the few hotels in the world where you can experience falconry (included in your room rate, too).

4. Sip Draft Beer at DogHouse Columbus Hotel

The DogHouse Columbus Hotel lives inside the BrewDog Brewery, one of the first hotels built inside a brewery. Each of the 32 beer-themed guest rooms has a draft beer tap, a beer-stocked fridge, and even shower beers. If that’s not enough, you can always pop down to the brewery for even more beers.

5. Play Guitars at Hard Rock Hotels Worldwide

Hard Rock Hotels live by the mantra “Music is life,” and you can embrace it during your stay with the hotels’ music-themed amenities.  You can request a turntable, headphones, and a curated collection of vinyl for your room. Or reserve a guitar from the guitar menu, which comes complete with headphones and an amp.

6. Outfit Yourself in Hunter Boots at Weekapaug Inn

Rain boots take up significant space in a suitcase, so it’s normal not to lug them along on your trip. Luckily, you can stay dry even during the wettest weather at the Weekapaug Inn, thanks to the hotel’s Borrowing Closet. It loans out complimentary Hunter boots and outerwear to adults and kids. Other fun amenities at this hotel include complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, sailboats, boat rides, and lawn games.

7. Sleep in a Submarine, Castle, or Vintage Tram at Island Shangri-La Hong Kong

If your kid’s dream vacation includes sleeping inside an airship, fisherman cove, safari camp, castle, fairytale carriage, submarine, camper van, spaceship, or vintage tram, consider a family-friendly stay at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong.

The hotel’s themed rooms go above and beyond with magical furniture, wall murals, and props that make each theme extra special. And as a parent, I love that they offer access to a family pantry with childcare amenities, which means I can pack lighter.

8. Do Flamingo Yoga at Rosewood Baja Mar

The wildlife sanctuary at the Rosewood Baja Mar in the Bahamas is home to stingrays, sharks, green sea turtles, tropical fish, and, of course, flamingos. The sanctuary has several demonstrations and observation activities, but one of the most unique is the Sunday yoga sessions with flamingos ($110). According to the hotel, flamingos are fans of the texture of yoga mats — savasana will feel extra special as you share your mat with a pink feathered friend.

9. Order Midnight Milk and Cookies (or Prosecco) at House of Gods Hotels

Packages at the hedonistic House of Gods hotels offer things like prosecco on demand (you simply press a button and your butler appears with it) and, my personal favorite, midnight milk and cookies delivered by your personal butler. Packages start an additional £69 ($85) per night on top of your room rate and also include perks like breakfast in bed and luxury chocolates.

10. Planespot With In-Room Telescopes at Fairmont Vancouver Airport

AvGeeks should book a stay at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, a luxurious property (especially for an airport hotel) with guest rooms that overlook runways, gates, and airplanes. Some of the guest rooms and suites, like the Jade Suite and the Fairmont Gold Runway View Room, take things a step above with in-room telescopes and a planespotting guide.

11. Drive a BMW at White Elephant Nantucket

The White Elephant Nantucket is a coastal hotel property with a variety of amenities such as a poolside ice cream cart, complimentary bicycle use, Radio Flyer wagons for kids, board games, and boogie boards. However, by far the most interesting amenity is the complimentary use of a BMW self-drive vehicle (4-hour drive time with limited availability).

12. Snooze and Lounge in Free Pajamas at Hoshinoya Karuizawa

Many hotels in Japan offer complimentary pajamas (and even undergarments) to guests, such as the Hoshinoya Karuizawa. This way, you can pack less and take the jammies home with you to remember your travel memories.

13. Get Northern Lights Alerts at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Wake-up calls are pretty typical amenities most hotels offer. But wake-up calls at all hours of the night when the aurora borealis appears are at the next level, especially when you’re sleeping in a glass igloo. Have dinner, take a nap, go to bed, and the Artic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos Northern Lights official “watcher” will notify you as soon as the aurora borealis appears (a free service for hotel guests).

14. Arrive by Zipline at Shinta Mani

The Shinta Mani is already one of the most unique hotels in the world, thanks to its rural Cambodian location and its 15 glamping-style luxury tents that have outdoor, over-river decks with outdoor tubs. But one of its wildest amenities is the way you can arrive: by zipline. Fly over the jungle from Tower A to Tower B (don’t worry, staff will handle your luggage) before heading to your riverfront tent.

15. Turndown Service With Pie at Caldwell House

Turndown service is a beloved amenity at many luxury hotels. But during September, turndown comes with fresh pie on your pillow at the Caldwell House in Salisbury Mills, New York. Pie flavors include cherry, pecan, apple, fudge, and pumpkin.

Final Thoughts

While I do love a plush bathrobe, an on-site yoga class, and an in-room safe, the idea that hotel amenities and activities can be really fun and diverse is appealing. Hopefully, other hotels will take note of these wacky amenities and get creative with their own perks and activities. This can make the whole idea of staying in a hotel more exciting and interesting for travelers.