Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo

Bored of the same ole, same ole hotel scene? Lobby, check-in, hotel room, sleep, do it all over again? I came across an article by Mary M. Alward written a few years back, and she put together a fantastic list of “10 Whimsical Hotels.” I’ve included a short sampling of these playful hotels around the country will surely make you smile, and none of them contain an ounce of the mundane. Not even the hotel in a library! These hotels are expensive, but sometimes truly unique experiences are worth a little extra.

Jules’ Underwater Sea Lodge

At the time Ms. Alward’s article was written, this amazing hotel was the only underwater lodge in the world…I believe there are now several others under construction, including the amazing Hydropolis in Dubai. However, Jules’ Underwater Sea Lodge is in Key Largo, Florida, and you can get group packages for as little as $275/person, though you do need to take scuba lessons before you go down to the hotel. There are only two rooms available, so book early! Imagine gazing out of 42-inch window at night at all of the beautiful sea life.

Library Hotel

Do you love falling asleep to the smell of leather-bound volumes? Battling insomnia by pouring over drawers of Dewey Decimal entries? Well, the Library Hotel might be just perfect for you. More than 6,000 books await you at this imaginative hotel, which has designed rooms with themes relating to the books inside them. You get free wine and cheese every evening in the Reading Room, too. There are ten floors, and each one is themed around a Dewey Decimal System category such as Social Sciences, Math & Science and Art & Religion. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a room with a view of frenetic Madison Avenue. Rates start at about $400/night, and there are lots of packages available.

The Madonna Inn

Unfortunately, this is not the Material Girl hotel, but it is amusing nonetheless. The Madonna Inn is located in San Luis Obispo, California and it’s outfitted entirely in pink and white. All 110 rooms have their own themes – check out the Caveman Room, the Swiss Chalet and the African Safari. Some rooms require booking over a year in advance. There’s a helpful Room Grid on the website that lets you read about the rooms and look at pictures. Rates are $179-$300/night. Some of the rooms are wild!

Photo Credit: Omar Omar