These Secret Tiny Houses Have the Best Views of New York City
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Living in a tiny house is a test of wills, but vacationing at a tiny house resort can be the ultimate luxury. We found eight unique tiny house resorts that make up for what they lack in size in style, substance, and amenities. (Think hot tubs, saunas, pizza ovens, and private terraces with sweeping views of some of the most stunning landscapes in the world.) A tiny house nestles into the scenery much more easily than a large hotel can, so many of these rental properties, glamping tents, and cabins are immersed in nature, including the brightest stars you've ever seen. Some of our picks are standalone Airbnb tiny house rentals, but most are part of tiny house resorts or hotels so you get the best of both worlds: your own mini home away from home and access to a spa, housekeeping, room service, restaurants, planned excursions, and more.
From a historic windmill in Greece to a luxury treehouse in South Africa, these unforgettable stays prove that good trips can come in small packages. There's also a converted Victorian-style steam train in Australia, tents with Statue-of-Liberty views off the coast of Manhattan, and an Icelandic glass cabin that lets you watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. The rates start as low as $119 per night, which means these unforgettable experiences don't have to blow your budget. Just pick your spot, invite the person or people you feel closest to in the world, and prepare to get even closer.
Panorama Glass Lodge, Hella, Iceland
Why Stay Here: What better place to contemplate the vastness of the universe than a 238-square-foot glass cabin that offers uninterrupted views of the starry night sky? Stay in one of the four (spaced well apart) glass lodges in south Iceland between September and early April and you might just see the Northern Lights. Year-round, you'll enjoy incredible sunsets and sunrises from your bed (or the outdoor hot tub). Each cabin also has a kitchenette, spa-like bathroom, and access to a sauna.
What To Do: If stargazing from the bed (or sauna or hot tub) isn't more than enough excitement, the Thjofafoss waterfall is a 25-minute drive away. A 50-minute drive brings you to the ferry for a half-hour ride to Heimaey in the Westman Islands archipelago, where you can hike a volcanic crater or enjoy the restaurants.
What It Costs: A cabin for two from $720 a night, panoramaglasslodge.com
Keep In Mind: You’re here to get away from it all—and "all" includes restaurants and grocery stores. The nearest market is in Hella, a 25-minute drive away. In summer, the sun never fully sets—bring a sleep mask.
Aera Milos, Milos, Greece
Why Stay Here: We can't think of a more picturesque base from which to sample the island's 70 incredible beaches than this traditional dwelling, which operated as a windmill until 1860. It offers endless views of the Aegean Sea and whitewashed homes and churches, plus an ideal location atop the Cycladic village of Tripiti within walking distance of restaurants and some of the island’s top sites.
What To Do: Visit the catacombs and amphitheater in Tripiti, then hike down to the seaside town of Klima to stroll the waterfront and admire the syrmata. Each of these former fisherman's cottages has a brightly painted door the owner could sail his boat into on the bottom floor and a sleeping area up top. Book a boat trip around the island or take a ferry to satellite isle Kimolos. And Instagram demands you stop at Sarakiniko, a beach that looks like a moonscape.
Price: From $119 per night, ariahotels.gr
Keep in Mind: The 947-square-foot mill sleeps four in rooms stacked atop each other; book Aeraki Studios nearby for larger groups.
Steam: Train Carriage, Forrest, Australia
Why Stay Here: This Airbnb rental started as a first-class carriage on Australia's Regional Victoria railway. It was decommissioned in 1983, but still delivers a first-class experience to overnight guests. That's because owners Mike and Fleur Leslie spent nine months of 2014 transforming the carriage into a long, narrow, three-bedroom accommodation. Built in 1926, the train-turned-hotel is decked out to reflect the golden age of steam engines, with a private outdoor bath adorned with brass hardware, Victorian and Art Deco furnishings, and lots of mahogany and leather.
What To Do: There's a hammock and barbecue outdoors and a kitchen and wood-burning stove within, so pick someone you'd want to share a sleeping berth with, make cocktails or dinner, and cozy up. (Craving a beer instead? No worries, you're in walking distance of Forrest Brewing Company.) By day, you can explore Forrest, a historic timber town bordering a wilderness of towering eucalyptus trees. One of Australia's top mountain biking destinations, Forrest is an easy half-hour detour from the coastal Great Ocean Road and the surfing beaches of Victoria. The town is also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, with its rainforest, rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, zip lines, and rushing waterfalls.
Price: From $220 a night, airbnb.com
Keep in Mind: Steam: Train Carriage sleeps up to six, but the snug, railroad-style layout means those people should, most likely, be a family. There is no laundry or TV, but there's Wi-Fi for streaming (we recommend Murder on the Orient Express).
Collective Retreats Governors Island, New York City
Why Stay Here: It may be the only place on the planet where you unzip your tent flap to see the Staten Island Ferry sailing past the Statue of Liberty.
What To Do: By day, the island is full of visitors picnicking and enjoying the slides, hammocks, and food trucks. At night, only guests and staff at Collective Retreats remain on-site, where there's a restaurant and campfires for s'mores. You can rent a bike, surrey, or go-kart to roam the 172-acre island or play cornhole on the great lawn. Morning yoga is also on offer, and the QC NY Spa is a short walk away. But it's really all about the incredible views of the larger island an eight-minute ferry ride away: Manhattan.
Price: From $229 per night, collectiveretreats.com
Keep in Mind: Accommodations range from 300-square-foot tents to 330-square-foot modernist tiny house Outlook Shelters to the 1,110-square-foot Outlook Villa.
&Beyond Ngala Tree House, Ngala Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Why Stay Here: You've heard of surfing safaris? This is a sleeping safari. A four-level, 313-square-foot treehouse lets guests at Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge spend the night in the African bush—39 feet above the ground. You decide whether you'll sleep on level three, which is covered and weatherproofed, or level four, which is open to the elements and has a retractable awning, allowing you to gaze up at the stars.
What to Do: Enjoy drinks and dinner on the observation platform (choose picnic-style or tapas). Watch for herds of the Big Five to pass; the private game reserve boasts leopards, African buffalo, rhinoceroses, elephants, and the lions, which give the reserve its name. (Ngala means "lion" in Shangaan, the local language.)
Price: From $490 per night, andbeyond.com
Keep in Mind: The tree house can be booked (at additional cost) only along with a room at Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge, so that guests can return there in case of bad weather.
SWEETS Hotel Walter Suskindbrug, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Why Stay Here: Let other tourists photograph Amsterdam's canals. You're actually staying on one, in a converted bridgekeeper's cottage. The innovative SWEETS Hotel is a collection of 28 tiny houses all over the city; each one was once the refuge of a bridge keeper responsible for opening the bridge to accommodate traffic, a job that became redundant with the establishment of a central bridge control system. This particular charmer, Walter Süskindbrug, operated as a bridge house from 1972 to 2017, and is located on the Amstel river (yes, like the beer), the city's most central waterway. Despite this prime locale, it's quiet and cozy, as it's accessible only by foot or bicycle.
What to Do: Sightsee, as some of Amsterdam's most beloved monuments are just steps away. There's the H'ART museum (formerly called the Hermitage), which is as famous for its indoor garden as it is for its art. The vintage shopper's paradise that is the Waterlooplein Markt, the city's famed flea market, is a two minute walk away as is the Portuguese Synagogue, which was the world's largest synagogue when it was built in the 17th century.
Price: From $176 per night, sweetshotel.amsterdam
Keep in Mind: Guests must be 21 and older, so leave the kiddos at home.
Mirror Cabins, Bolt Farm, Whitwell, Tennessee
Why Stay Here: The first mirror cabins in the U.S., these 200-square-foot boxes reflects the wilderness surrounding them in this resort outside Chattanooga. Each two-person paradise has its own hot tub, fire pit, and pizza oven. Choose a cliffside mirror cabin with valley views or a forest mirror cabin under the tree canopy; either locale is the perfect spot to, um, reflect on the wonder of nature. And don't worry about birds and forest critters spying on you; it's impossible to see inside the mirrored cabins by day, and there are blackout curtains you can pull at night.
What to Do: Stargaze from the hot tub at night, and hike the wilderness trails by day—you might even spot waterfalls in season. Paragliding and horseback riding can also be arranged. If you have the urge to venture farther afield, an hour's drive away is the Tennessee Valley Railroad, which offers sightseeing trips on its vintage trains.
Price: From $250 per night, boltfarmtreehouse.com
Keep in Mind: The glamping resort also offers raised treehouses and tented domes with mountaintop views.
Treehouse Studio Suite at Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
Why Stay Here: It's a Relais & Châteaux experience—35 feet above the ground. Chewton Glen is 130 acres of luxury built around an 18th century country house. Each of the 14 tree house suites on its grounds has panoramic views of the New Forest from its private terrace, plus a hot tub for soaking and stargazing. While all the dining options of Chewton Glen are at your disposal, you can also have a breakfast hamper or room service delivered so you never have to leave "home."
What to Do: On-site, there are cooking classes at James Martin's The Kitchen Cookery School, croquet, golf, tennis, boutiques, restaurants, a kids' club, and a walled garden. You can go full Bridgerton and shoot clay pigeons, practice archery or falconry, or stroll with the resident flock of sheep. For a more 21st-century experience, the beach is a mile away, so sailing, paddleboarding, and windsurfing are all on offer.
Price: From $1,092 per night, www.chewtonglen.com
Keep in Mind: The property is dog-friendly, so bring your four-footed friend. There are EV charging stations throughout the resort, so no need to stop for a recharge.
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