Unusual hotels.

Yunak Evleri, Cappadoccia, Turkey.

The Cappadocia caves and landscape are legendary, so how about a staying in a hotel carved from cave houses dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. Yunak evleri is such a place, decorated in true, grand Ottoman style, it has 30 rooms and 7 suites, all reached from a labyrinth of narrow passageways. Turkish nights and hot-air ballooning are on offer to fully appreciate this remarkable landscape. They come highly recommended by many organisations. Their website is http://www.yunak.com/

Sabi Sabi earth lodge, South Africa.

Built into the landscape, the Sabi ‘earth lodge’ – 3 other unique, eco-friendly lodges are available - is almost invisible, set in its own private game reserve in the famous Sabi Sands  reserve. All 13 suites are individually designed with private plunge pools and glass-fronted bathrooms; each has its own butler. Two game drives, or walks, per day guarantee an encounter with the ‘big 5.’ Down load an e-brochure at http://www.sabisabi.com/

Frank Sinatra’s estate, Palm Springs, California.

You and 7 friends can stay in Frank Sinatra’s restored ‘Twin Palms’ house on his vast estate in Palm Springs, California, only minutes away from downtown Palm Springs shops and restaurants. The house is also available for weddings. Bookings can be made at http://www.sinatrahouse.com/

Langley Castle, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, England.

Langley Castle http://www.langleycastle.com/ is not only a hotel and restaurant in the heart of rugged Northumberland, in North-East England, but as the name suggests, it is a 14th century medieval, fortified castle, one of the few left in England. The walls are 7ft thick; the rooms are luxuriously appointed and individually furnished, many with super-sized 4-poster beds. If exploring the Northumbrian countryside and Hadrian’s wall doesn’t keep you busy, activities such as hot-air ballooning, clay-pigeon shooting and quad-biking are available.

Vatulele Island, Fiji Islands.

Not an unusual hotel or resort, unusual in the fact that - with an emphasis on harmony within the natural setting - there are no telephones, TV’s, newspapers, money transactions or shoes, at this all-inclusive, couples, island resort. There are 19 very spacious beach villas, your nearest neighbour is 50 metres away and with ¾ mile of beach on your doorstep you won’t be eaves-dropping on anyone’s conversation. For all you scuba-divers out there, it is the only resort in Fiji to have a PADI dive facility. http://www.vatulele.com/ has all the details.