From a luxury tented camp resort in Thailand with a “Jumanji”-like suspension bridge and treehouse-inspired accommodations to a hotel in Colorado Springs with on-site flight simulators for a real-life flying experience, these innovative stays are simply beyond. In 2025, here’s where to go for the most cutting-edge amenities, high-tech design, and bucket list-worthy experiences.
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
If you’ve ever wanted to channel your inner explorer or pretend you’re on the set of “Indiana Jones,” “Jumanji” and the like, this is the place. Situated in northern Thailand on the border of Myanmar and Laos, this luxe resort feels worlds away. Stylish, safari-style accommodations include three different room categories—some with outdoor showers and wooden hot tubs—set high within treetops. Tents feature handcrafted teak tables; old-fashioned freestanding bathtubs; leather accent chairs; plush king beds framed in sheer nets; Nespresso machines; and furnished private terraces with binoculars for wildlife and bird viewing in the nearby Ruak River and bamboo forest.
The expansive Explorer’s Lodge offers even more seclusion and space for up to six guests, along with a private deck and tree-lined infinity pool. Unwind at the open-air spa framed by the lush surrounding bamboo jungle, accessible via a long suspension bridge. Don’t miss the Ruak Bamboo treatment, replete with a foot bath utilizing camp-grown makrut lime, followed by a targeted massage with smooth natural bamboo sticks. For an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime experience at this tropical refuge, reserve “My Elephant and I,” a 90-minute experience observing elephants in their natural habitat with a tutorial led by a camp guide on everything from personality traits to elephant etiquette.
Hotel Polaris
Imagine darting through the skies and controlling the cockpit in a real-life fighter jet or commercial airplane. Thanks to three flight simulators—along with immersive experiences, including a mixed-reality headset with 360-degree views for fighter jets and 200-degree fields of view within a Boeing 737Max—at the newly opened Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy, now’s your chance.
Celebrating all things aviation with a modern design to match, the 375-room hotel boasts accommodations with fluted wood walls, midcentury modern-inspired table lamps, and black-and-white archival photographs of bygone flight days. The hotel also offers six dining options including an old-school soda shop and The Aviator Rooftop Bar with sweeping mountain views and aviation-inspired cocktails. A must for any innovative, stay, there’s also an on-site spa with six treatment rooms and a slew of specialized massages and facials.
Camp Sarika at Amangiri
Upon arrival at this otherworldly locale—set in a remote desert landscape in southern Utah—you might feel like you have the run of the place to yourself for reflection, outdoor adventure, and self-discovery. Camp Sarika is roughly a 30-minute walk to the main resort (or a quick golf cart ride—you’ll have your own parked outside your room). The 55-acre property is equipped with a swimming pool, a restaurant, and 10 tented pavilions with private terraces featuring outdoor heated pools. “Our goal was to create a design that allowed for a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, giving guests a strong sense of place through the appreciation of both,” says Graeme Labe, Managing Partner and Chief Design Officer at Luxury Frontiers in Johannesburg, South Africa. “The tent was designed with extensive overhangs to protect it from the elements, keeping it cool while providing shaded areas to promote an outdoor lifestyle. At the same time, the design allows for retreat to the sanctuary of the tent’s interior.”
Appointed with soothing, desert-inspired hues, the one- and two-bedroom pavilions feature hand-forged door handles and fixtures designed by local blacksmiths; carved headboards; leather telescopes; soaking tubs; and fridges stocked with complimentary snacks and beverages. “The overall vision was to create a simple, modern American interpretation of camping,” adds Anomien Smith, Creative Director and Principal at Luxury Frontiers. “The interiors were furnished with campaign-style and camp-like furniture, yet with a sophisticated simplicity. My favorite interior elements include the campaign writing desk, which features a leather pouch that adds a touch of Western aesthetic.”
Beyond holing up in the room to savor every design feature and amenity, there’s a slew of activities and options for every type of traveler including a relaxing spa treatment, a day trip to one of three nearby national parks, and a life-changing guided expedition on the Via Ferrata, a series of cables and ladder rungs affixed to a nearby mountain.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
Situated on North Malē Atoll, this 96-room dreamy tropical hideaway is a playground for naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts. Designed by Kent Architects and Hirsch Bender Associates, the resort features beach and over-water bungalows for swimming and snorkeling right outside your door; two swimming pools; and five restaurants serving everything from Italian to Maldivian cuisine.
Wellness enthusiasts will enjoy the spa, which is situated on its very own island—accessible via a short, two-minute boat ride from the main property—and treatment rooms lined with glass bottom-like portal windows for sealife viewing. Design your day any way you like, from surfing at an on-site surfing school to deep-sea scuba diving and kayaking. On land, opt for a private picnic on a secluded sandbank or learn new skills at a chef-led cooking class.
