π¨ World's Most Secret Hotels (2026) - Season 2 Episode 1
Step behind the velvet rope and discover the world's most exclusive, hidden, and extraordinary hotels. In the Season 2 premiere, journey to [brief hook: e.g., "a private island sanctuary accessible only by helicopter" / "a centuries-old monastery transformed into a luxury retreat"]. From secret entrances to personalized service that anticipates your every need, experience travel like never before.
πΉ Episode Highlights:
β’ [Hook: "An ultra-exclusive resort reveals its most guarded secrets"]
β’ Behind-the-scenes access: staff stories, design details & guest experiences
β’ Unique features: hidden pools, private beaches, bespoke amenities
β’ Travel inspiration: bucket-list destinations & once-in-a-lifetime stays
β’ Cinematic storytelling: stunning visuals, intimate interviews & immersive sound
πΉ Series Info:
β’ Format: Travel Documentary / Luxury Lifestyle / Hospitality Series
β’ Original Network: [Customize: e.g., Travel Channel / National Geographic / Streaming Platform]
β’ Season: 2 | Episode: 1 - Season Premiere
β’ Focus: Exclusive Hotels, Boutique Resorts, Hidden Gems Worldwide
β’ Language: English (Original Audio) + Subtitles Available
β’ Runtime: ~45 minutes (full) | Clip/Highlight version: ~10-15 min
π§ Prefer audio? Listen to travel documentary recaps & luxury travel podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
π Enjoying the series? Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and comment: "Which secret hotel would YOU visit first? ππ¨" Turn on notifications π so you never miss the next hidden escape!
#WorldsMostSecretHotels #SecretHotels #LuxuryTravel #TravelDocumentary #S2E1 #HiddenGems #BoutiqueHotels #ExclusiveTravel #BingeWatch #TravelInspiration #LuxuryLifestyle #Wanderlust
β οΈ Copyright Disclaimer: This video is shared for promotional, review, and informational purposes only. All rights to "World's Most Secret Hotels" belong to the original production company and broadcasting network. This upload complies with Fair Use guidelines (Section 107, U.S. Copyright Act). No copyright infringement intended.
Step behind the velvet rope and discover the world's most exclusive, hidden, and extraordinary hotels. In the Season 2 premiere, journey to [brief hook: e.g., "a private island sanctuary accessible only by helicopter" / "a centuries-old monastery transformed into a luxury retreat"]. From secret entrances to personalized service that anticipates your every need, experience travel like never before.
πΉ Episode Highlights:
β’ [Hook: "An ultra-exclusive resort reveals its most guarded secrets"]
β’ Behind-the-scenes access: staff stories, design details & guest experiences
β’ Unique features: hidden pools, private beaches, bespoke amenities
β’ Travel inspiration: bucket-list destinations & once-in-a-lifetime stays
β’ Cinematic storytelling: stunning visuals, intimate interviews & immersive sound
πΉ Series Info:
β’ Format: Travel Documentary / Luxury Lifestyle / Hospitality Series
β’ Original Network: [Customize: e.g., Travel Channel / National Geographic / Streaming Platform]
β’ Season: 2 | Episode: 1 - Season Premiere
β’ Focus: Exclusive Hotels, Boutique Resorts, Hidden Gems Worldwide
β’ Language: English (Original Audio) + Subtitles Available
β’ Runtime: ~45 minutes (full) | Clip/Highlight version: ~10-15 min
π§ Prefer audio? Listen to travel documentary recaps & luxury travel podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
π Enjoying the series? Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and comment: "Which secret hotel would YOU visit first? ππ¨" Turn on notifications π so you never miss the next hidden escape!
#WorldsMostSecretHotels #SecretHotels #LuxuryTravel #TravelDocumentary #S2E1 #HiddenGems #BoutiqueHotels #ExclusiveTravel #BingeWatch #TravelInspiration #LuxuryLifestyle #Wanderlust
β οΈ Copyright Disclaimer: This video is shared for promotional, review, and informational purposes only. All rights to "World's Most Secret Hotels" belong to the original production company and broadcasting network. This upload complies with Fair Use guidelines (Section 107, U.S. Copyright Act). No copyright infringement intended.
Category
πΉ
FunTranscript
00:04Imagine staying the night in a mountain hideaway, sleeping underneath the stars.
00:12Lodging in a futuristic woodland escape.
00:15I've always dreamt of building a treehouse. That's always been my sort of boyhood dream.
00:20Or holidaying in a resort on the edge of the desert.
00:24In this series, we venture across the globe
00:28to reveal some of the world's most unusual hotels.
00:33Some people would say we're in the middle of nowhere.
00:35Hidden in the most surprising of places.
00:38This is far more beyond just being a luxury destination. This is our life.
00:44From island getaways.
00:46This place is hidden away from the rest of the world.
00:49And retreats hidden in plain sight.
00:52The most special part of the windmill is the part at the top. That's very unique.
00:58To reimagine structures and vehicles.
01:02I've had phone calls of people asking about a timetable.
01:06We meet the teams who keep them running.
01:09It's very important to maintain the culture and the history.
01:13It's an oasis that reveals itself.
01:16And the guests living their dreams.
01:19If they can walk away feeling connected to nature, then I think we've done our job well.
01:23As we explore the world's most secret hotels.
01:33This time, we visit a dazzling station hotel hidden in the mountains of Spain.
01:40The most impressive room, it's the lobby.
01:43It is really, really big.
01:46A futuristic bubble hotel set deep within a forest.
01:52To immerse guests in nature is really the thing.
01:58An extraordinary escape perched on a cliff in Norway.
02:03It's very special, magnificent.
02:07And we check in to a science fiction wonder.
02:11It's such a secret location that people wouldn't know it was here.
02:20But our adventure begins in Bolivia.
02:27Just over 300 miles from the capital, La Paz,
02:32and what feels like a million light years away from civilization,
02:36is one of the most extreme landscapes in South America.
02:44Salar de Uyuni lies 12,000 feet above sea level
02:48and is the largest salt flat in the world.
02:53Perched precariously on the edge of a rocky outcrop,
02:57resembling shipping containers abandoned on the shimmering salt flats,
03:02lies a secret holiday destination.
03:07From far away, you don't see the hotel.
03:10We disappear in all the landscape.
03:15This is Jairira Mountain Lodge.
03:22Johnny Mourgear heads up the team of five guides at this unique hotel.
03:32Each group of guests is paired with a dedicated guide and driver
03:36to look after them from the moment they arrive at the airport.
03:40To arrive to this lodge, it's not easy.
03:44We are really far away from the civilization.
03:47We are about 500 kilometers from La Paz,
03:50and the routes are not really good.
03:53You need to take a professional driver.
03:56The east-facing complex is located at the base of the Tanupa volcano.
04:02It combines minimalist architecture with local materials.
04:08Three buildings make up the lodge.
04:11The largest houses staff accommodation.
04:15Next door are six ensuite bedrooms for guests,
04:19while the third houses the open-plan communal and dining areas and kitchen.
04:29It was designed by Chilean architect Max Nunez,
04:34who came up with the concept of elevated metal containers.
04:37The containers are made from steel,
04:40with oversized angled roofs
04:42that shield the lodges from the blistering white sunlight.
04:46The buildings are elevated above the ground to minimize the environmental impact,
04:52and this means one day the lodge can easily be removed without leaving a trace.
04:58The containers were built in a factory 300 miles away,
05:02in ten separate sections that were transported to site by lorry and craned into position.
05:09The big challenge was to bring ten different containers to here,
05:17because here we don't have materials for construction.
05:20We don't have trees, we don't have concrete.
05:23The build was really fast, less than a month,
05:27because they already contract,
05:30and they just here connect the containers.
05:38Inside, minimalist design harmonizes with the stark beauty of the surroundings.
05:45In the communal area,
05:47natural materials like tropical maniwood and stone
05:50provide comfort and simplicity,
05:53with cozy furnishings, warm lighting, and earthy tones.
05:58This is complemented by large windows
06:01that frame the awe-inspiring terrain.
06:06This theme extends to the six double bedrooms,
06:09where the neutral tones seamlessly fuse with the salt-flat landscape.
06:15Expansive windows allow guests to stay connected to the environment.
06:22The best time is the sunrise,
06:25because you can see the sunrise from your bed.
06:29Completely beautiful.
06:31And in our back, we have the holy mountain, Tunupa.
06:36Very special and holy place.
06:41The lodge serves as a hub for exploration,
06:45with activities such as climbing Tunupa,
06:47the one-mile-high volcano,
06:50exploring Fish Island with its rocky outcrop covered in giant cacti,
06:55and visiting the colourful Laguna, Colorado,
06:58where pink flamingos come to nest.
07:07Around the salt-flat, we have a lot of different volcanoes,
07:10deserts, lagoons,
07:12where you can find a different kind of ecosystem.
07:15You can have a contact with the landscape, with the animals.
07:21The dry season here can be brutal,
07:24as night temperatures plummet to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
07:30With virtually no rainfall,
07:32the salt crust becomes exposed,
07:35forming dazzling white polygon patterns as it dries.
07:39But during the rainy season,
07:41from January to the end of March,
07:44the salt flats reveal a surprising secret.
07:48Flooding creates a shallow layer of water
07:51that turns them into a massive mirror-like surface,
07:54one of the most spectacular sights in Uyuni.
07:57In the rainy season, it's beautiful.
08:00Clean sky, clean landscape.
08:03This landscape is a special experience.
08:08The Quechua people,
08:10who live and work around the Uyuni salt flats,
08:13have a deep connection to this landscape.
08:16They're guided by a belief system
08:18rooted in the protection of the environment
08:20and respect for nature.
08:25Live here is really different than live in a big city.
08:30But it's a good opportunity to connect
08:34with our Pachamama mother.
08:36Pachamama is the mother herd.
08:39The conservation of the place is the most important thing.
08:57The water is the most difficult part for us
09:01because we need to bring my truck to here
09:04once or twice a week.
09:07It's like a two hours, three hours driving.
09:10Our objective is to be a 100% ecological hotel.
09:17In the future, we have the plan
09:20to make some sun panels
09:23to produce electrician for us.
09:36Food is also brought in
09:38and delivered three times a week
09:40from distances of up to three hours away.
09:52We are working with a famous restaurant in La Paz
09:58who designed our menus.
10:01And it's like a fusion between gourmet food
10:05with like a traditional food in Bolivia.
10:08Specialities include quinoa,
10:10a high-protein seed derived from a locally sourced herbaceous plant
10:15and llama meat.
10:19The hotel welcomes an international clientele
10:23who can engage in the culture and traditions
10:26of the Quechua people.
10:34The guests want to try a different experience.
10:39Our customers can feel like kings here, right?
10:43It's very small because our concept is
10:46we are not hotels.
10:48We are like a family.
10:50When the guests visit our lodge and say,
10:54oh my God, this is one of the best lodges in the world,
10:57we feel really, really happy.
11:09Still to come,
11:11we journey to a secret retreat
11:14on the banks of a tranquil log
11:17and reveal a unique mountain hideaway in Norway.
11:28There are over 700,000 hotels across the world
11:32and we're exploring some of the most memorable stays
11:36in the most unlikely locations.
11:45Our next stop is Northern Ireland.
11:54Two hours' drive south-west of Belfast is Loch Earn.
11:59It covers an area of nearly 200 square miles
12:03and is home to more than 150 green and fertile islands.
12:10Each island has its own story to tell.
12:14Some hold secrets of ancient pagan rituals
12:17and Iron Age fortifications,
12:20while others are remote sites of pilgrimage.
12:23Here, tucked away in more than 90 acres
12:26of dense fen and woodland,
12:28looking more like a cluster of alien spacecraft
12:30than luxury accommodation,
12:32is an unexpected and well-hidden secret.
12:36This is Finn Lock.
12:40Finn Lock definitely feels like a well-kept secret.
12:44Most people haven't heard of it.
12:46The ones that come are pleasantly surprised
12:48because they had no idea that this is here
12:50and it's that surprise that we love.
12:54Siblings Gillian and Michael
12:55took over the family business that looks after Finn Lock
12:59in 2014.
13:01Our dad came here to start his own little secret haven for people
13:05and they built self-catering holiday homes.
13:09We have the 12 villas which we took on
13:12and subsequently we've added 18 bubble domes.
13:17The bubble guest units sit on top of wooden platforms.
13:21Inside the premium domes,
13:24there are three connecting spaces.
13:26A bedroom, bathroom and private toilet.
13:31Eight domes are clustered on the shoreline.
13:35Three more are dotted between river cabins
13:38and a further seven are hidden away in the forest.
13:42Nine villas each sleep up to six guests
13:45while three suites in the resort's main house
13:49complete the accommodation.
13:51There is also an entertainment centre,
13:54restaurant and spa.
14:02Set in 50 acres of ancient woodland,
14:05Gillian and Michael wanted the landscape
14:07to be the star attraction.
14:10The opportunity to immerse guests in nature,
14:14you can't do that with four walls.
14:16It's just not possible.
14:17The draw and the beauty of the bubble domes
14:19is that you wake up to birdsong.
14:21You open your eyes and the first thing you see
14:22is that forestcape in front of you.
14:25You see the sky, you hear the rain.
14:31The bubbles are designed to blur the boundaries
14:34between the inside and out.
14:36So guests can see the changing weather
14:38and have the experience of living in the wild
14:41while staying warm and snug.
14:45We looked at glass as sort of the original plan,
14:48but that would have involved heavy machinery,
14:51lots of deliveries, very heavy panels.
14:53So that's where we arrived on the inflatable decision.
14:55The bubbles are a mixture of two flexible PPC materials.
15:00The transparent one allows you to be very connected
15:03with the surroundings,
15:04and the opaque one gives you the privacy that you want.
15:07We like to sort of separate the spaces
15:09the way you would have in a normal hotel room.
15:11So you've got your bathroom,
15:12you've got your freestanding bath,
15:14and then you've got your relaxation area
15:16with a four-poster bed.
15:19With no fixed frames,
15:21the bubbles rely on a continuous air supply
15:24to stay inflated, like a balloon.
15:27Two airtight doors create an airlock
15:29to stop the bubbles deflating
15:31when guests enter and exit.
15:34When you come in, it's a double door access,
15:36so a bit like sort of space, obviously.
15:38You wait for one hatch to close
15:39before you open the second one.
15:42While the bathrooms are opaque,
15:4470% of the dome is transparent.
15:47They provide uninterrupted views
15:49of the natural surroundings
15:51and the opportunity to stargaze.
15:59I think the beauty of lying under the stars,
16:02you're tucked in bed.
16:03We have such low light pollution.
16:05Looking at the stars is a simple thing,
16:07but the longer you lie there,
16:09the multiply before your eyes.
16:11It's that childlike wonder.
16:13There's something to it that's really magic.
16:23The first dome that we put in
16:25was actually where I'd had my first treehouse as a kid.
16:28That was probably the slowest part of the process,
16:31was locating them.
16:31We agonised over what was the view,
16:34how could we tuck it away,
16:35how could you keep it hidden and secret?
16:41The transparency of the bubbles creates challenges
16:44for maintaining the privacy of the guests.
16:49We had to be really strategic
16:50about how we orientated them and where.
16:53So it's cleverly looking at sight lines
16:55and that's what takes us the most time.
16:58We always resisted the temptation
17:00to sort of cram them all on top of each other.
17:02Each one has its own private pathway.
17:04You need 30, 40 metres minimum between pods.
17:11Each bubble is inflated by a fan
17:14that sits in a soundproof box 15 feet away.
17:18It constantly renews and filters the air inside
17:21and regulates the temperature.
17:24We are lucky enough that we can generate
17:26a lot of our own electricity from soda panels.
17:29We don't have any carbon guilt
17:30from achieving this lovely interior.
17:33They're made in panel form
17:35and then they're heat welded together
17:36and zipper sealed so we're able to change out panels
17:40for cleaning or for upgrades.
17:46Access to the site is strictly monitored
17:48to protect the woodland
17:50and ensure privacy.
17:55They're little natural footpaths
17:57that are carved rather than straight lines.
17:59People like that.
18:00It feels more hidden, more secret.
18:02You know, you don't always want to take straight roads.
18:04You don't come here to take a straight road.
18:09Guests come from around the world
18:11to take time out in nature,
18:13to relax by the tranquil lake,
18:16indulge in the shoreline spa and hot tugs
18:19or visit the vintage cinema.
18:23It really does feel like you are in your own little bubble.
18:26It's never too busy
18:27and it's spread out enough
18:29that you do get peace and quiet.
18:31I think if you're coming here,
18:32you have to really try the full experience
18:34in one of the bubble domes,
18:36under the stars.
18:38It was amazing.
18:39You're just in the middle of a forest,
18:40so it's perfect.
18:45Gillian and Michael let nature take the lead
18:47and sustainability is woven into many elements
18:50of the day-to-day running.
18:52We've almost terraformed fields
18:55that were completely dead
18:56in terms of biodiversity.
18:57We've reintroduced banked hedges
18:59and we've reintroduced sort of natural ponds.
19:03Every guest that comes through the door,
19:04we give them the tree to plan.
19:08With 180 days of rainfall each year,
19:12maintaining the accommodation units
19:14is a never-ending task.
19:16Everybody here on the team
19:18have had to really master a lot of crafts,
19:21from fixing a table to building the beds.
19:29The resort's dining room is housed in the barn,
19:32which was once their father's workshop.
19:38Kristin has been working as the hotel's head chef
19:40for the last three years.
19:45Most of our food comes from our local butcher
19:48and all of our fish is locally sourced.
19:52During each time of the year,
19:53there's different things that you could put on a plate.
19:55You'll see along the path
19:56there's an enormous amount of wild garlic going.
19:59We make as much wild garlic oil as we can.
20:03And this is our fennel.
20:05So you can see these are the fennel flowers.
20:07We use this for our breadboards
20:08and for presentation of dishes.
20:15It takes a staff of 40
20:17to keep the complex running 24-7.
20:21Helder has been working in hospitality for six months.
20:25I live on site here.
20:26It's really comfortable just to be in one of the villas,
20:29just like one of the guests.
20:30They just have an amazing view to the lake.
20:33I just wake up to this view
20:35and then I go to work in this view.
20:37It's really nice.
20:38I started on reception.
20:40Then I went to the housekeeping.
20:42If they need me to deliver breakfast,
20:44I'll obviously help them.
20:45I basically work every department.
20:53With Gillian and Michael at the helm,
20:56the doors should be open to guests
20:57for decades to come.
21:02We're looking out at the mountains behind us,
21:05the lake around you.
21:06There's just so much there.
21:08Guests coming away and feeling connected
21:10is really the thing.
21:11We want them to connect with nature.
21:24Coming up, we visit an engineering marvel
21:28perched high above a majestic fjord
21:31and a palatial wonder hidden in the Pyrenees.
21:47There are many getaways hidden away
21:50or built to look like other structures,
21:53from isolated island escapes
21:57to watery retreats.
22:04Our next adventure
22:06is in Norway.
22:09Eight hours' drive west of the capital, Oslo,
22:12is the country's longest fjord.
22:16Lisefjord was carved
22:18by the formation of glaciers in the Ice Age.
22:20As the sea levels rose,
22:22water broke through the moraine
22:24and flooded the valley.
22:27Today, ships navigate this 26-mile passage,
22:31but high above the inky blue waters,
22:34at the top of the sheer granite cliffs,
22:36is a forest only accessible by foot.
22:41Nestled within this landscape
22:43are sleek structures
22:45designed to mimic the natural granite around them.
22:49This is the boulder.
22:57We are really on the edge
22:58before it steeps down to the fjord,
23:01so everyone get this feeling
23:03of being on the edge
23:05between the mountain area and the fjord.
23:08Sometimes you can feel
23:09that you are over the clouds.
23:12The human scale is really small
23:14in this landscape.
23:15You can almost hide
23:17in between the stones here.
23:21This unusual retreat
23:23took two years to complete
23:25and opened in 2023.
23:28It's definitely not easy to access.
23:30It's a secret in the sense
23:32that you can hide yourself
23:33in these cabins.
23:34I don't think anyone will notice
23:36that you are here.
23:38It's hidden away from mainstream.
23:40You feel like you are alone
23:42in the landscape.
23:43That's a great feeling sometimes.
23:45Six minimalist cabins
23:47perched on stilts
23:49blend into the rugged terrain.
23:54The main idea
23:56is something that feels like weightless.
23:58So they are on the move
24:00outwards, almost flying.
24:03The contact with the landscape
24:04was important to keep.
24:07You can see the landscape
24:08not only outwards,
24:10but actually downwards and upwards.
24:16Every inch of this escape
24:17was designed
24:18with the views in mind.
24:21Inside,
24:23the sleek, modern,
24:24oak wood interiors
24:25cocoon guests
24:26from the wild elements outside.
24:29While large windows
24:31allow them to take in
24:32the beauty of the fjord.
24:36The cabins are
24:37on top of a mountain.
24:39Of course,
24:39we have a hard wind sometimes,
24:42but the guests feel safe
24:43and nestle inside.
24:45The hotel
24:46is run by
24:47Ellen Engelsvold.
24:49The calmness
24:51about being here,
24:52the feeling of being in nature,
24:54it's a nice experience.
24:57Grand Lodge
24:58is the largest
24:59of the six structures here.
25:01It has a high-end kitchen,
25:03cozy seating,
25:04and can sleep
25:05up to six guests.
25:09We have two bathrooms
25:11and two bedrooms
25:12and the dining lounge area.
25:15It's, of course,
25:16all about the views,
25:17so large windows are important.
25:19Also,
25:20with the tall ceilings,
25:21together with the woodwork,
25:23the way it's integrated
25:24makes it special.
25:26There's also an outside terrace
25:28to get even closer to nature.
25:33The other four lodges
25:34are more compact.
25:37We have the bedroom downstairs.
25:39It sleeps two,
25:40and we have the bathroom.
25:44There's no checking.
25:46Guests do this digitally
25:48before arriving.
25:51Once parked,
25:53signposts lead the way,
25:54along a trail of pine trees
25:56and raised steel walkways
25:58link the dwellings.
26:00All the lodges
26:01are self-catering,
26:02so guests must come prepared.
26:05One important thing
26:06for our property
26:07is water supply.
26:09We have water source
26:10from a natural well,
26:12but we need to remind guests
26:14that you are in a cabin
26:15with limited resources
26:16and be careful
26:18of water usage.
26:19Running a hotel
26:21in such a remote spot
26:22is no simple task.
26:24We have great cleaners here,
26:26It's a little bit challenging,
26:28of course.
26:28They have to carry more equipment
26:30and climb a little more.
26:35While building cabins here
26:37is challenging,
26:38it's a centuries-old practice.
26:41We have a long history
26:42of cabins in Norway.
26:44A certain Viking king
26:45in 1200 found out
26:47that people didn't manage
26:48to cross the mountain,
26:50so he started to
26:51with the first shelters
26:52on the mountains.
26:54Hit a tour,
26:55meaning taking a cabin trip
26:56in nature,
26:57is a very popular pastime.
27:00Today it's like
27:01600,000 cabins
27:02in Norway.
27:04We love to just
27:05leave the city
27:06and go out
27:07and stay there
27:08for a weekend.
27:10With over 200 days
27:12of rainfall each year,
27:13these cabins
27:14provide safe harbor.
27:18It can be fog in the morning
27:20and then blue skies
27:21midday
27:22and then rain
27:23in the evening.
27:24It's never boring.
27:25It can be a bit dramatic
27:27because it's quite
27:28a windy place,
27:29but you feel safe inside.
27:31It's that sense
27:32of being outside
27:34while safe inside,
27:35which makes it unique.
27:38It wasn't easy
27:40creating this sanctuary
27:41in the mountains.
27:42The weather
27:43and tough terrain
27:44makes construction
27:45here difficult.
27:47The lodges
27:48were built off-site,
27:49then dismantled
27:50for transportation
27:51and put back together
27:52again on-site.
27:57To avoid the damage
27:59of the fragile landscape,
28:01we found out
28:01that helicopter
28:02is the best way
28:03to transport
28:04all the structure
28:05onto the platform.
28:06We did that
28:07in summertime.
28:08In short time,
28:09we managed to place
28:10every structure
28:11and then start
28:12to put it together.
28:15Frank's vision
28:16was to leave
28:17a light footprint,
28:18so local stone
28:20was mixed with concrete
28:21for the foundations.
28:22The rock here
28:23is granite.
28:24It's extremely hard
28:25and has really nice qualities.
28:28These stones
28:29were reused
28:30as the gravel
28:31in the concrete mix.
28:32Visually,
28:33you get the contact
28:34with the stones
28:35that you see
28:35everywhere outside.
28:38The base also hides
28:40the cables
28:40and pipes
28:41for the utilities.
28:42All the technique
28:43is very preciously
28:45integrated into the landscape.
28:47Everything is brought
28:47into this concrete core
28:49and from there
28:50it's gone into
28:51the needs
28:52in the cabin.
28:53and from there
28:54it's not visible.
28:56The untreated
28:57red cedarwood cladding
28:59will turn grey
29:00over time
29:01and blend in
29:02with the rocks.
29:08It's magic
29:09even in the darkness
29:10and in the morning
29:12it's really fantastic.
29:13We try to position
29:14the bedroom
29:14so you get
29:15when you wake up
29:17it is something else.
29:18Take it easy.
29:20The day can start slowly.
29:22It's a great feeling
29:23starting a day
29:23like that.
29:25Guests come here
29:26from all over the world
29:28to immerse themselves
29:29in the breathtaking environment.
29:34You are waking up
29:36in the morning
29:36inside of the sunset
29:38you know
29:38the sun coming up
29:39over the mountain
29:40and you're inside of it.
29:42You feel like
29:43you're kind of living
29:44both inside and outside
29:46at the same time.
29:48Magnificent.
29:52It's like a hideout
29:54in a way
29:54so you can get away
29:55from everything.
29:56It's quiet.
29:57It's exclusive.
29:59It's very special.
30:00Kind of spectacular
30:02in a way.
30:18Discovering unusual places
30:20to stay
30:21makes a getaway
30:22all the more exciting.
30:25Some escapes
30:26have surprising histories
30:29like our next adventure
30:31in northern Spain.
30:36These are the Pyrenees Mountains
30:38the natural border
30:41between France and Spain.
30:43Some of its peaks
30:44soar more than 11,000 feet high.
30:47The valleys are dotted
30:49with clues
30:49to an industrial past
30:53that suggest this region
30:55sees few visitors.
30:57But in one valley
30:59a vast, pristine building
31:01stands out.
31:05This is the Canfranc Station Hotel.
31:09A colossal railway interchange
31:12that was once
31:13the crucial gateway
31:14through these mountains.
31:18Turned today
31:19into a gigantic
31:21luxury retreat.
31:28It's a huge task
31:30to keep this behemoth
31:31hotel running.
31:33It's like a secret location.
31:35Going in the middle
31:36of the valley
31:37it is hidden away.
31:49The exterior
31:51of this huge station
31:52is ornamented
31:53with 365 windows
31:58and 156 doors
32:00wrapped around
32:01both sides
32:02of the building.
32:07inside on the ground floor
32:09there's a lobby
32:11cafe
32:13restaurant
32:16kitchen
32:18pool
32:19and cocktail bar.
32:23Upstairs
32:23there are 100 guest rooms
32:25and four suites.
32:34The size of this vast station
32:37earned Canfranc
32:38a nickname
32:39the Titanic
32:40of the mountains.
32:44This is more than
32:45a conversion
32:46for the station building
32:47it's a transformation.
32:52The crisp contemporary
32:53interior design
32:54is accented
32:56with deep woods
32:57grass
32:57and velvets.
33:00The rich detailing
33:02is found
33:02across the whole building
33:04the sheer scale
33:06of which
33:07feels lavish.
33:10The most impressive
33:11room
33:12it's the lobby
33:13it is really
33:14really big.
33:15The lobby
33:16where the guests
33:17check in
33:18was the original
33:19ticket hall
33:20of the station.
33:22It might seem
33:23like a dramatic
33:24transformation
33:25but this building
33:27didn't go straight
33:28from station
33:29to hotel.
33:36Canfranc Station
33:37opened in 1928
33:39after a five mile
33:40train line
33:41was tunnelled
33:42through the Pyrenees
33:43to link France
33:44and Spain.
33:45It was the second
33:46largest station
33:47in Europe.
33:49Passengers and goods
33:50arriving from France
33:52transferred to trains
33:53that could run
33:54on the Spanish tracks
33:55which were wider.
33:57This required
33:58huge platforms
33:59and customs
34:00infrastructure.
34:03During the second
34:04world war
34:05Jewish refugees
34:06and allied soldiers
34:07used the tunnel
34:08to escape
34:09occupied Europe.
34:11But in 1970
34:12a train derailment
34:14demolished a critical
34:15bridge
34:16that connected
34:16that connected
34:17the line
34:17to the tunnel.
34:18It was never
34:18repaired
34:19rendering the track
34:20here unusable.
34:22Services stopped
34:23and the station
34:24fell into disrepair.
34:26The link
34:27between France
34:28and Spain
34:29was severed.
34:30It was abandoned
34:31and it fell apart.
34:34the station
34:35lay derelict
34:36for nearly 50 years.
34:39Renovations
34:39began in 2018
34:41costing tens
34:42of millions
34:43of pounds.
34:45The work
34:46was careful
34:47to pay homage
34:48to the building's
34:49glamorous past.
34:50We have a very
34:51special parks
34:52which are original
34:54from the old
34:55station
34:55like the lamps
34:59part of the floor
35:03the stairs
35:06and the underground
35:08path
35:08is still original.
35:11The walls
35:12were recreated
35:13like it was
35:14in the old times.
35:19meticulous references
35:20to the station's
35:21past
35:22can be seen
35:23throughout the hotel.
35:27These sit
35:28alongside
35:28modern additions
35:29including a swimming
35:30pool
35:31and a cocktail
35:33bar
35:36each styled
35:37with the aesthetics
35:38of luxurious
35:39long-distance trains.
35:43This attention
35:44to detail
35:44was important
35:45to the small
35:46community
35:47who continued
35:48to live
35:48in the shadow
35:49of the station
35:49when it was derelict.
35:51I still remember
35:52the first day
35:53when we opened
35:53seeing the locals
35:55crying.
35:56It was a very
35:56emotional moment.
35:58This building
35:58is very important
35:59for the locals.
36:00You walk
36:01around the hotel
36:02and you can feel
36:03that history.
36:06One of the locals
36:07who grew up
36:08knowing only
36:09the derelict
36:10state of the station
36:11is Chef
36:11Eduardo Salanova.
36:13I can work
36:15here in Canfranc
36:16because it's
36:18my town.
36:19For me
36:20it's so personal
36:21so special.
36:24Eduardo moved
36:26to a nearby town
36:27to pursue a career
36:28as a chef.
36:29In 2023
36:31he returned
36:32to Canfranc
36:33to helm
36:34the new restaurant
36:34here
36:35earning the
36:36restored train
36:36station
36:37and his hometown
36:38a Michelin star.
36:41one of his kitchens
36:43here is a little
36:44different to most
36:45Eduardo has worked
36:46in.
36:47It's in a
36:47renovated train
36:49carriage.
36:50It's a little
36:51difficult
36:51because the
36:53kitchen is a
36:55little bit
36:55small
36:56but with a lot
36:57of training
36:58the most important
36:59thing is the team.
37:01the food
37:03here recreates
37:04the special
37:04elements
37:05of this region
37:05that link
37:06Spain
37:06and France.
37:08It's very
37:08important
37:08to show
37:11the clients
37:12the Spanish
37:13product
37:14and the mix
37:15with the French
37:17product
37:17because this
37:18is the reason
37:19for this
37:20train station.
37:22Eduardo's work
37:23keeps the links
37:24between this region
37:25alive
37:26almost 100
37:27years
37:28after the
37:29station
37:29was first
37:29opened
37:30and now
37:31the hotel
37:32is once again
37:33a major
37:34employer
37:34in the region.
37:36Due to the
37:37size of the
37:38building
37:39to keep
37:40things running
37:40it's a big
37:41challenge
37:41for us.
37:42We hired a lot
37:43of local
37:44people
37:44when it
37:45checks
37:45then the
37:46waiters
37:47we have
37:48the back
37:48office jobs
37:49like housekeeping
37:51human resources
37:52it's really
37:53complicated.
37:54The hotel
37:55now attracts
37:56people
37:57from all
37:57over the
37:58world
37:58who use
37:59the station
37:59as a base
38:00to explore
38:01the natural
38:01beauty
38:02of the region.
38:07The beauty
38:08of the building
38:09it attracts
38:10people
38:10from everywhere
38:12we are very
38:13proud of that
38:13it's very
38:14important.
38:15With the
38:15hard work
38:16of the team
38:16here
38:17Canfranc Station
38:18will continue
38:19to link
38:20this region
38:20of Spain
38:21to the rest
38:22of the world
38:22for many years.
38:28still to come
38:29we reveal
38:30a unique
38:31stay
38:32for sci-fi
38:33enthusiasts
38:44we're exploring
38:46some of the
38:46world's
38:46most unusual
38:48hotels
38:50and our
38:51final stop
38:53is in
38:54southwest
38:55Wales
38:59Pembrokeshire
39:00is home
39:01to the only
39:02coastal
39:02national park
39:03in the UK
39:04this remote
39:05uninhabited area
39:07stretches
39:07over 185
39:09miles
39:10of rugged
39:11coastline
39:13not far
39:14from the sea
39:15hidden amongst
39:16the ancient
39:16woodland
39:17there's an
39:18unexpected
39:18sight
39:19three very
39:21different objects
39:22that together
39:23form a
39:24surprising
39:24holiday
39:25destination
39:26this is
39:28Mel in Maybes
39:30it's the
39:31brainchild
39:31of husband
39:32and wife
39:32team
39:33Martin
39:34and Carol
39:34Anne
39:38it's such
39:39a secret
39:40location
39:41that people
39:41wouldn't
39:42know
39:42it was
39:43here
39:45Martin
39:45and Carol
39:46Anne
39:46bought
39:47this hidden
39:48four acre
39:48small holding
39:49with its
39:50derelict
39:50corn mill
39:5112 years
39:52ago
39:52when we
39:54came here
39:55it was
39:56completely
39:57overgrown
39:57it was
39:58hidden
39:59by the
40:00trees
40:00so it
40:01was like
40:01a secret
40:02garden
40:04the
40:05mill
40:05was
40:06operated
40:07by a
40:07lady
40:08called
40:08Mabes
40:09Mabel
40:09so it
40:11was known
40:11as
40:11Mabes
40:12Mill
40:13we wanted
40:14to maintain
40:14the history
40:16of
40:17Mabel
40:18so we
40:19used
40:19the
40:19Welsh
40:20name
40:20for
40:21mill
40:21which
40:21is
40:21Mellon
40:22and we
40:22called
40:23it
40:23Mellon
40:23Mabes
40:25the
40:26original
40:26mill
40:27building
40:27dates
40:28back
40:28from
40:28the
40:281600s
40:29we
40:30love
40:31the
40:31property
40:31we
40:31love
40:32the
40:32location
40:33we
40:34are
40:34located
40:35down
40:35a
40:35very
40:36quiet
40:36country
40:37lane
40:38and even
40:38when you
40:39get
40:39here
40:39people
40:40are
40:40100%
40:41certain
40:42that
40:42they
40:42are
40:42at
40:43their
40:43final
40:44location
40:47but
40:47on
40:48arrival
40:48all
40:50is
40:50revealed
40:50Mellon
40:51Mabes
40:52outstanding
40:53secrets
40:54got to
40:54be
40:54the
40:54UFO
40:57it
40:58looks
40:58like
40:58it's
40:59just
40:59landed
41:00from
41:00outer
41:00space
41:01aliens
41:02could
41:02come
41:03out
41:03of
41:03there
41:03and
41:04everybody
41:05gets
41:05oh
41:05this
41:06is
41:06just
41:06wonderful
41:07excitement
41:10the
41:11circular
41:11space
41:11has
41:12been
41:12configured
41:13to
41:13sleep
41:13four
41:14and
41:15Martin
41:15has
41:15taken
41:16a
41:16giant
41:16leap
41:17by
41:17giving
41:18this
41:18unusual
41:18structure
41:19a
41:19spaceship
41:20makeover
41:24I've
41:25always
41:25been
41:25keen
41:26on
41:26UFOs
41:27and
41:27sci-fi
41:28and
41:29I
41:29loved
41:29those
41:30future
41:30buildings
41:31from
41:32the
41:321960s
41:33and
41:34I
41:34thought
41:35I
41:35fancy
41:35building
41:36something
41:36like
41:37that
41:37I
41:39stumbled
41:39across
41:40this
41:40UFO
41:40shaped
41:41building
41:41on
41:42an
41:42auction
41:42site
41:43and
41:44thought
41:44that
41:44would
41:44be
41:44great
41:46the
41:47building
41:48was
41:48originally
41:49used
41:49to
41:49hide
41:49electrical
41:50generators
41:51on
41:51site
41:51at
41:52the
41:522012
41:53London
41:53Olympics
41:56the
41:57building
41:57itself
41:58is
41:59fiberglass
41:59and
42:00I
42:00think
42:00they
42:00made
42:01them
42:01look
42:01a
42:01little
42:01bit
42:02jazzy
42:02so
42:03that
42:03they
42:03would
42:04stand
42:04out
42:07it
42:07arrived
42:08from
42:08London
42:08broken
42:09into
42:09six
42:10sections
42:10flat
42:11packed
42:11on
42:11a
42:12lorry
42:12there
42:13are
42:13four
42:14wall
42:14sections
42:15and
42:15two
42:15roof
42:15sections
42:16and
42:17each
42:17of
42:17the
42:17wall
42:18sections
42:18weighs
42:19approximately
42:19a tonne
42:20so
42:21we
42:22had
42:22to
42:22have
42:22a
42:23steel
42:23base
42:24made
42:24up
42:25for
42:25it
42:25to
42:25sit
42:25on
42:26so
42:26it
42:26is
42:26level
42:27and
42:27solid
42:28and
42:28won't
42:29sink
42:29away
42:29into
42:30our
42:30marshy
42:30ground
42:32Martin
42:32is
42:33an
42:33electrician
42:33by
42:34trade
42:34but
42:35turning
42:35these
42:36generator
42:36boxes
42:37into
42:37his
42:37dream
42:37ufo
42:38called
42:39upon
42:39all
42:39his
42:40construction
42:40skills
42:41too
42:42i
42:42wanted
42:43to
42:43make
42:43it
42:43look
42:44like
42:44a
42:45proper
42:45ufo
42:46and
42:47i
42:47thought
42:47well
42:47if
42:48we
42:49put
42:49an
42:49acrylic
42:49dome
42:50on
42:50the
42:50top
42:50that
42:51will
42:51give
42:51it
42:51that
42:52classic
42:52saucer
42:53dome
42:53look
42:53and
42:54then
42:54for
42:55more
42:55lighting
42:56we
42:56put
42:56another
42:57eight
42:57acrylic
42:57domes
42:58around
42:59the
42:59circumference
43:00of
43:00it
43:01and
43:01then
43:02we
43:02put
43:02tripod
43:02legs
43:03on
43:03it
43:03to
43:03make
43:04it
43:04look
43:04like
43:04that
43:05ufo
43:06from
43:06war
43:07of
43:07the
43:07worlds
43:14originally
43:15the
43:16door
43:16was
43:16a
43:16standard
43:17hinge
43:17door
43:18that
43:18just
43:18opened
43:19to
43:19the
43:19one
43:19side
43:20and
43:21this
43:21is
43:21a
43:22wheelchair
43:22access
43:23lift
43:24bolted
43:25it
43:25to
43:25the
43:25door
43:25we
43:26had
43:27to
43:27add
43:27some
43:27springs
43:28to
43:28it
43:28as
43:28well
43:28and
43:29to
43:29give
43:29it
43:29that
43:30extra
43:30little
43:30bit
43:30of
43:31power
43:31and
43:31it
43:32took
43:32a
43:32lot
43:32of
43:32work
43:35there's
43:36a
43:36smoke
43:36machine
43:36that
43:37goes
43:37off
43:37when
43:38you
43:38open
43:38it
43:38color
43:39changing
43:39lights
43:40underneath
43:40it
43:41and
43:41around
43:41the
43:41outside
43:42as
43:42well
43:42so you
43:43get
43:44the
43:44full
43:44experience
43:45of a
43:45UFO
43:46landing
43:55the
43:56the
43:56insulation
43:57is
43:57from
43:57the
43:58space
43:58industry
43:59it's
44:00silver
44:00foil
44:01based
44:01insulation
44:02multiple
44:02layers
44:03and
44:03that
44:04reflects
44:04the
44:04heat
44:05back
44:05in
44:05but
44:05it
44:05was
44:05originally
44:06designed
44:06by
44:07NASA
44:09the
44:10staircase
44:10leads
44:11up to
44:11the
44:11skyview
44:12dome
44:13with
44:13a
44:13telescope
44:14to
44:14navigate
44:15the
44:15stars
44:15it's
44:17fantastic
44:18for
44:18stargazing
44:19you can
44:20see
44:20millions
44:21of stars
44:22on a
44:23clear
44:23night
44:31the
44:31UFO
44:32has
44:33got
44:33a
44:34full
44:34kitchen
44:35area
44:35outside
44:35and
44:36you've
44:36got
44:36the
44:36hot
44:37tub
44:37as
44:37well
44:44I'm
44:45a
44:45big
44:45Doctor
44:45Who
44:46fan
44:46so
44:47I
44:47thought
44:47we'd
44:47build
44:48a
44:48TARDIS
44:49as
44:50everybody
44:50knows
44:51it's
44:51bigger
44:51on the
44:51inside
44:52unfortunately
44:53the
44:53laws
44:53of
44:53physics
44:54don't
44:54quite
44:54work
44:55that
44:55way
44:55so
44:56I
44:56had
44:56to
44:56build
44:57it
44:57slightly
44:57bigger
44:58than
44:58the
44:58actual
44:59original
44:59plan
45:00in
45:01this
45:01oversized
45:02space
45:02age
45:03phone
45:03box
45:03there's
45:04a
45:04shower
45:04hand
45:05basin
45:06and
45:06toilet
45:10not
45:11far
45:11from
45:12the
45:12UFO
45:12is
45:13a
45:13150
45:14year
45:14old
45:14traditional
45:15gypsy
45:15caravan
45:16that
45:16sleeps
45:17too
45:17it
45:18has
45:18a
45:19raised
45:19double
45:19bed
45:20and
45:20cozy
45:21wood
45:21burning
45:21stove
45:25while tucked
45:26away
45:26between
45:27the
45:27trunks
45:27of the
45:27ancient
45:28woods
45:28is a
45:29treehouse
45:29with a
45:31slide
45:31down to
45:31the
45:32ground
45:34it's
45:34equipped
45:35with a
45:35double
45:35bed
45:35and two
45:36singles
45:37underfloor
45:38heating
45:38and a
45:39wood
45:39burning
45:39fire
45:40keeps
45:40guests
45:41toasty
45:41at
45:41night
45:43in
45:44this
45:44secretive
45:45pot
45:45of
45:45wales
45:46martin
45:47has
45:47created
45:47a
45:48magical
45:48hideaway
45:49but
45:50the
45:50star
45:50attraction
45:51never
45:52ceases
45:52to
45:52surprise
45:55a
45:56lot
45:56of
45:56time
45:57the
45:57parents
45:58won't
45:58tell
45:58the
45:58children
45:59where
45:59they're
45:59staying
46:00they'll
46:01arrive
46:01and
46:01they'll
46:02just
46:02be
46:02oh
46:03daddy
46:03where
46:04are
46:04we
46:04and
46:04then
46:05all
46:05of
46:05a
46:05sudden
46:05they're
46:06like
46:06oh
46:06it's
46:07a
46:07UFO
46:07and
46:08they're
46:08off
46:08running
46:09around
46:38have
46:56Transcription by CastingWords
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