My favorite hotel is a tree house Hi! I’m travel reporter Hannah Sampson. Around this time every year, I start to feel a little extra wanderlust. And then I remember why: In October 2015, I was driving around New Zealand for nearly two incredible weeks exploring wineries, glowworm caves, coastal cities and hobbit-holes. Make that an entire hobbit village. Actually, my husband was at the wheel; it was our honeymoon, and we decided that he could be the one to adjust to driving on the “wrong” side of the street while I navigated. Our entire trip was an adventure, but the place that still feels like a dream was Kaikoura. We marveled over the turquoise water against black sand beaches and a mountain background. We spotted wild seals lounging on the shore. We took a tiny plane to look for whales. Nearby, we spent one night in a towering “tree house” room at Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses. The bathroom floors were heated. The minibar had fresh milk and cookies and local wine and beer, all free. The fireplace came with help when we proved to be terrible at starting a fire. The views, the meals, the vibes: impeccable. No other hotel has been able to hit the same bar since. Our travel looks a lot different these days with young children, but the afterglow of that trip is still strong after 10 years. Exactly what you want from a honeymoon. TIP | 
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