UFOs and a Tardis - why unusual holiday stays are booming

UFOs and a Tardis - why unusual holiday stays are booming1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLena-Zaharah MohammedBBC WalesMelin MabesThis is not a film set or theme park installation, it's known as Spodnic UFO and it is part of a growing trendIn a secluded corner of Pembrokeshire, a structure resembling a landed spacecraft rises unexpectedly from the landscape.Set against rolling farmland and dark night skies, the UFO-shaped pod feels deliberately out of place - and that, increasingly, is the point.The Spodnic UFO forms part of a small, independently-run glamping site owned by Martin and Carol Anne Johnson, who have spent more than a decade transforming what was once an "overgrown plot" around a derelict mill into a collection of unconventional holiday stays."People want to feel more from their holidays, often choosing the accommodation itself...over the location," as one industry expert puts it.Melin MabesPeople want something different, says one travel specialistThe couple's approach taps into a bigger shift in UK tourism, straying away from standard accommodation and towards what industry observers describe as "experience-led travel", where the stay itself becomes the destination. Alex Wilson, co-founder of Host Unusual said: "We have seen a huge growth in this sector, with searches for more experiental types of accommodation growing in demand by over 32% in recent years."People just want something different"Johnson added: "They want an experience."That demand, he suggested, is less about specific cultural moments - such as space missions or science-fiction references - and more about a general appetite for unfamiliarity and escape. While themed dates like Star Wars Day, on 4 May ("May the Fourth Be With You"), bring some seasonal interest, he believes the appeal runs deeper."It's a difficult one to narrow it down to," he said."We get families who want somewhe...