Unique Places to Stay Archives - Photo Tips, Creative Photography + Travel Guides - The Wandering Lens

Parque Futangue: A Valdivian Rainforest Retreat

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:10:54 +0000

Where Stillness Meets Ancient Wilderness A Visual Hotel Review – Luxury Adventure Retreat in Chile Deep within Chile’s Los Ríos Region, Futangue Hotel & Spa sits quietly within a private nature reserve at the edge of the Valdivian rainforest, near Lake Ranco and framed by the Andes. The landscape feels untouched, where rainfall lingers in the air, ancient trees wear moss like cloaks, and rivers echo the mountains’ quiet power. Arriving here feels like entering another world. The tree-lined road gives way to a lodge whose timber, stone, and glass façades reflect the same calm stillness that surrounds it. From my first step inside, despite being incredibly weary after flying direct from Australia, I sensed this would be more than a stay, it was a chance to become part of the rhythm of the landscape…after a decent sleep. Waking early on my first morning, birdsong joined in a chorus with rain on the roof, a sound that echoed the environment we’d be soon out exploring, with Laguna Pichi first on the itinerary for a wander in the Valdivian Rainforest. Beyond the comforts lies adventure, and the hotel sits within a 34,000-acre private reserve with more than 100 km of trails,...

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Books and Beds in the Heart of Tokyo – Visual Hotel Review

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:32:57 +0000

Shiba Park Hotel: A Haven for Book Lovers in the Heart of Tokyo Imagine a hotel where you can wander the hall to find a curated library just waiting to provide a book for the evening. If you can’t find an ideal book on your floor, you can venture down to the lobby or second floor for even larger areas designated to books from around the world, covering topics of art, travel, culture and more. Shiba Park Hotel combines contemporary comfort with a unique literary concept, creating a welcoming space where guests can unwind and explore the world through books. It’s a concept I believe should be replicated in cities around the world, I would happily stay at a library hotel wherever I travel! Located in a quiet yet central area of Tokyo, this boutique-style hotel offers a distinctive experience for those seeking a retreat that inspires both relaxation and curiosity. The Location Situated in Tokyo’s Minato district, Shiba Park Hotel is ideally positioned for both leisure and exploration. The hotel is within walking distance of major attractions such as Zōjō-ji Temple and Tokyo Tower, offering guests the chance to discover the city’s cultural and architectural highlights. Shiba Park itself...

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Ilimanaq Lodge – Greenland’s Idyllic Seaside Retreat

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 06:16:23 +0000

Drift to sleep as icebergs float by your bungalow There are few places where waking up feels like an instant adventure. At this lodge, not only does the day ahead present the possibility of whale sightings, photogenic huts and hiking trails, but it also starts with an iceberg check. Before brushing your teeth, a peek out the window will reveal how many icebergs have floated into the bay overnight, or perhaps, even drifted out. The thrill is that it all depends on the seas, the wind, and those big floating beauties. You could wake to a 50ft frozen monster in front, or a whole bunch of bergy bits, bobbing around in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ilimanaq Lodge is located on the southern side of Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO site on Greenland’s west coast. Open from mid-June to early September, the lodge is remote, relaxing but oh so effortlessly luxurious. It’s easy to think a remote lodge will lean more toward the rustic side, but here, the beds are comfy, the lounge is spacious, the meals are world-class and the little extras, architecture and stylish decor all make for one of the best experiences you can have if you’re seeking...

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Adventure, Art and Altiplano Wonders at Awasi Atacama

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 10:47:37 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Awasi Atacama, San Pedro de Atacama There’s an atmosphere inside the walls of Awasi Atacama that’s hard to describe. A type of calm that allows you to breathe deeper and refresh. A warmth that makes you feel at home amongst carefully curated décor, cuisine and design. Then there’s the beautiful balance of immersive adventure, art and relaxation. It’s the type of place you’ll forever be grateful you stayed, somewhere so unlike anywhere else. For me, it was an artistic escape, a chance to explore the wildlife and natural wonders of the desert and Andean Altiplano, while focusing on my creative process, slowing things down and really taking the time to let it all soak in. Places like this are few and far between, and the Atacama Desert has continued to be somewhere that fuels my creativity, a stay at Awasi took that one step further. Take a peek at my experience below… ————- Let’s skip to the first evening, for which we’d arranged with our guide and private driver, Cecilia, to spend overlooking Lincancabur Volcano and the Mars Valley, just outside San Pedro de Atacama. Photographing sunset is something I always try and do on the first...

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Photographing the Kings of Madikwe Game Reserve

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 02:47:10 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Madikwe Safari Lodge Five years ago, I photographed the King. The Lion King to be precise. It’s a moment I remember so intensely, even shedding a tear or two at the time. The gazing eyes of a male lion, peering directly into my lens, were so overwhelming, all-consuming and wildly wonderful. It remains one of my favourite images to date and was taken in the wilderness of Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North-West province of South Africa. As luck would have it, I was invited back to photograph the reserve with Adventure World and South Africa Tourism, only this time, we stayed at the luxurious Madikwe Safari Lodge, a collection of private villas perched above the expansive plains. With 75,000 hectares to explore again, what do you think my chances were of photographing the same lion? Within moments of touching down on our charter flight from Johannesburg with Federal Air, I was taking photos of Giraffe, Impala and warthogs (I find them extremely cute). I’m talking mere minutes of stepping off the plane with the safari jeep still on the runway. The feeling of adventure strikes instantly. From my previous trip, I knew the photography opportunities commence...

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Where Wilderness Meets Wonder: Bushmans Kloof, South Africa

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:57:04 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Bushmans Kloof – A Wilderness Retreat in South Africa Rarely does somewhere surprise me in the way Bushmans Kloof did. Knowing little about the Cederberg Mountains, my research before arriving conjured up expectations of an isolated luxury lodge where I’d be relaxing to the sweet sounds of silence and gazing upon a rocky wilderness. What greeted me was a botanical wonderland, visually diverse and vast, with a soundtrack of birdsong and a welcoming waddle of ducks outside my villa. It lived up to the expectations, and went beyond, about as far beyond as the visible galaxy of stars painted across the sky each evening. Don’t even get me started on the fluffy zebra foal, two days fresh with floppy ears. As the sun rose on my first day, weaver nests were illuminated in the swaying willows over the pond as a chorus of morning birds had me running to set my audio recorder. Leaving it to sit by the reeds beneath a tall tree, I grabbed my camera bag and wandered to the meeting point. It was sunrise safari time. The Location Three hours’ drive north of Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof is a wilderness reserve cradled by...

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In the Shadow of Patagonian Peaks: Hotel Las Torres

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:24:25 +0000

Torres del Paine Hotel Review – Hotel Las Torres Where horses roam outside your window beneath impressive mountain ranges. Where glacial water is blended into your evening cocktail at Chile’s first sustainable bar. And, where your days can be filled with photogenic adventures from sunrise to sunset. Welcome to Hotel Las Torres, my home whilst exploring Torres del Paine National Park. A traditional estancia and reserve that connects you with nature, Patagonian culture, and some of the best hiking trails in the world. Zipping up my jacket (all three of them in fact), I put my camera bag on my back, walked out the door and hit the trail to Mirador Las Torres. A comfortable base close to photogenic adventures in Torres del Paine National Park was exactly on my wish list, and Hotel Las Torres delivered on that, and so much more…let’s take a peek inside my 5-night stay. So much more than a hotel – Inside The Las Torres Reserve To explain more about the hotel, I think it’s important to first discuss the reserve in which it’s located, where you’ll find not only the hotel (where I stayed) and main restaurants, but mountain cabins, camping facilities, and...

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Glacier Lodge Eqi – Up Close with Greenland’s Calving Wonder

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:26:12 +0000

Glacier Lodge Eqi, Greenland Thunderous echoes of crashing ice ripple across the bay like a constant chorus of nature’s beat. Nothing can prepare you for the sound of a glacier calving. It’s a clap, crack and deep rumble that rolls across the surface of the water, seemingly gathering pitch and speed. The best part, it’s a delayed sound so you need to really focus and watch the glacier to actually catch a calving in action. If you wait for the sound you’ll always be 7-10 seconds too late due to how sound travels across the fjord. Located a 3.5hr ice breaker boat ride north of Ilulissat, Eqi Glacier is one of the world’s most active and there’s no doubt a visit will include it’s fair share of tumbling ice shows. As the boat cruises through the Ataa Strait, teal coloured water shares the scene with icebergs ranging in sizes from mega mansions through to dinner plates* (*not official measurements 😉). If a long boat ride sounds boring, then you’ve been on board the wrong boats. This one is endlessly fascinating. Every passing iceberg is unique in shape, tone and pattern making the journey a photographer’s buffet of potential shots. Before...

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I know a place – Hoshinoya Kyoto, Japan

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:00:27 +0000

Hoshinoya Kyoto – A Visual Hotel Review I know a place… Where a turquoise river leads to tranquility. Where Japanese maples drape traditional wooden pavilions and the sound of water brings an instant serenity. Here, natural beauty blends with the elegance and enchanting architecture of a 17th century villa. A luxurious retreat nestled on the banks of the Oi River where time passes slowly. Hoshinoya Kyoto exudes every element of relaxation. The surroundings, the interiors, staff, cuisine and activities all meticulously work together to provide an experience of rejuvenation and cultural immersion. It’s a hotel that feels like a lavish home. Somewhere to stay as a destination, one you’ll probably never want to leave. Located in Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most beautiful districts, it’s an area that’s been frequented by noble families since medieval times. Today, Arashiyama is a popular location for visitors with the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park and a number temples ranging from UNESCO World Heritage sites through to tiny corners of moss covered brilliance drawing the crowds daily. Hoshinoya Kyoto however is totally private, accessible only by wooden boat and tucked away within the majestic Rankyo Gorge. Within the grounds of the inn, the gardens welcome...

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Trunks, Treasures and the Jabulani Safari Experience

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 11:59:10 +0000

NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOTEL REVIEW – JABULANI SAFARI, SOUTH AFRICA Where wildlife is welcome to wander on up to the deck, a resident hippo hides in the water hole and there’s 15 other trunky good reasons to visit. Jabulani Safari reminds me of the Swiss Family Robinson jungle house (the movie version from 1960) albeit it with many more plush furnishings, antiques, better food and of course switching out an island for a private South African game reserve. Okay so maybe it’s the atmosphere that’s similar…a unique lodge that blends in with its wild surroundings and offers a soulful safari experience. Naturally toned interiors meet thatched roofs and wooden decks with plunge pools that appear to merge into the surrounding scenery, ideal for gazing out in the hope of spotting a Giraffe or Pumba (warthog). Sunrise will shine through your window offering the perfect chance to pour a cup of Rooibos Tea and stare into the distance to see what’s waking up with you. At night, lie within your four posted bed and listen to the sound of hyenas in the darkness, one of the few places where sounds in the bushes outside your window is exciting rather than scary. ...

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Experience The Great Bear Rainforest at Farewell Harbour Lodge

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 11:18:56 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Farewell Harbour Lodge, Canada Taking a deep breath as I sat on the boat’s bow, sunshine as warm as the tea in my hand beaming down, water lapping gently on the hull and my camera already filled with images of Grizzly Bears. I closed my eyes and began to imagine what this scene must appear like when viewed from above… There we were, a little boat floating amongst towering mountains rising from an archipelago of islands in a calm water cove where bears roam the shores while humpbacks and orcas cruise the seas. A palette of greens blending into blues within the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world! Opening my eyes again proved this place is in fact a reality… Welcome to the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada and in particular, one very special corner of it called Farewell Harbour Lodge on Berry Island. Here the word lush takes on a new meaning as forests home to some of the oldest and largest trees meet waters so full of life you can barely travel a few minutes without seeing seals, dolphins or the gentle giants of the sea cruising by. Words fail to describe the calmness...

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Step inside the Hoshinoya Tokyo – A Visual Hotel Review

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 02:12:19 +0000

An oasis where contemporary Japanese architecture is fused with inspired elements of a traditional Tokyo ryokan… Zeitaku. Luxury is typically associated with lavish décor, fancy restaurants and extravagance sans limit but hidden within the cosmopolitan Otemachi district of Tokyo rests a new form of Zeitaku. Peeled back to mere perfection, the walls of Hoshinoya Tokyo house not just luxury but minimalistic beauty blended with striking architecture in its finest form. A true nod to the traditional Japanese ryokan, this hotel is the epitome of thoughtful design and an integration of inspiring elements. It could just be the best ryokan in Tokyo. Upon entering the wooden doorway carved from a single slab of cypress tree, tatami mats and staff greet you to immediately whisk away your shoes so you feel at home. Placed in bamboo boxes that soak up scent and artistically form a patterned wall in the foyer, this is the first of many intriguing inventions found throughout the hotel that are so simple yet effective and brilliant in their purpose. Unlike regular hotels, the vibe at Hoshinoya Tokyo is like stepping into a zen space where light, sound and textures have been used to artfully remove all distractions. Rather...

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